Brunch has really been going south recently.
And we mean that in a good way – because South London’s now loaded with excellent places to get brunch, from low-key cafés to Antipodean-styled cult classics and Michelin Bib Gourmand winners.
Here they be:
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Where the Pancakes Are | Southwark, Battersea, Fitzrovia
Pancakes are what brunches are made of, and this brunch is made of pancakes. Available all day, they come as classic American numbers with streaky bacon; savoury pancakes topped with the likes of pulled beef pastrami; sweet stacks loaded with banana, marshmallow and salted caramel… and ohso much more.
Details: Bottomless booze? No, but you can get a half-litre carafe of mimosa | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Daily, 8am-4pm
Address: Arch 35a, 85a Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 0NQ | 7 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1RG | Ground Floor, Battersea Power Station, SW11 8BZ | Visit their website
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The Laundry | Brixton
This place really hangs other brunch spots out to dry. Take a seat on their parasol-shaded terrace outside the beautiful terracotta building (once an Edwardian steam laundry), sip a bellini or two, and feel thoroughly refreshed by their Antipodean-styled menu of toasted banana bread with honeycomb butter; comforting courgette & cheddar cornbread with a perky tomato salsa; and some magnificent Turkish eggs with hot chilli butter & whipped yoghurt.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekdays 8.30am-3pm, Saturday 10am-3pm, Sunday 10am-5pm
Address: 374 Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8PL | Visit their website
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Stockton | Deptford
One third of Gordon McGowan’s triumvirate of Deptford bars and restaurants, Stockton does a fantastic brunch of southern fried chicken chilli crumpets; lavish Full English breakfasts; and ricotta pancakes with streaky bacon. Which is just well, since if you’ve sampled their cocktails until 3am the night before, you’re going to need it.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Fri-Sun from 10am
Address: 2 Deptford High Street, Deptford, SE8 4AF | Visit their website
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The Watergate | Deptford
Another third of Gordon McGowan’s triumvirate of Deptford bars and restaurants, The Watergate lives up to its older sibling with an equally gratifying brunch of bacon & cornbread french toast; seven-hour slow-cooked salt beef with poached eggs; and burrata on toast.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekends from 10am
Address: 7 Watergate Street, Deptford SE8 3HR | Visit their website
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Nandine | Camberwell
Time to get acquainted with Kurdish brunch: head to Nandine for mexlama (a.k.a. shakshuka) and samoun ba chai (flatbread with yoghurt, cheese, honeycomb, walnuts & chai) in a warm, welcoming nook seating just a dozen punters at a time.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekends from 11am
Address: 45 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8TR | Visit their website
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Mr. Bao & Daddy Bao | Peckham, Tooting
Teo Della Torre
Sourdough leaving a sour taste? Time to get down to Mr. Bao and its, er, younger sibling, Daddy Bao, where breakfast classics are served on pillowy soft bao (alongside bottomless cocktails and kimchi pancakes).
Details: Bottomless booze? Yes | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekends 11am-4.30pm
Address: 293-295 Rye Lane, SE15 4UA | 113 Mitcham Road, SW17 9PE | Visit their website
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Brother Marcus | Borough, Angel, South Ken & Spitalfields
BM will ply you with dishes like fried chicken & potato rosti; brioche French toast with bacon floss; and stacks of courgette and feta fritters with a poached egg. Just like a good brother should.
Details: Bottomless booze? No, but 2 cocktails for £20 | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekdays 8.30am-12pm, Sat 9am-4pm, Sun 9.30am-4pm
Address: 1 Dirty Lane, London SE1 9PA | Visit their website
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Lantana | London Bridge, Fitzrovia, Old Street
Modelled after the Australian cafes that the owners used to frequent in Sydney, Lantana does delicious cocktails (everything from espresso martinis to a Chai Old Fashioned), solid brunch dishes (rhubarb & custard French toast, corn fritters, bubble & squeak with black pudding, etc.), and stellar coffee.
Details: Bottomless booze? Yes | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekdays 7.30am-12pm, weekends 9am-4pm
Address: 44-46 Southwark Street, London SE1 1UN | Visit their website
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Aqua Shard | London Bridge
Nothing beats watching a panorama of London waking up hundreds of feet below you… except, maybe, doing that with a three course brunch feast including a full English (meaty and veggie); eggs Benedict; waffles with treacle-cured streaky bacon… and wine.
Details: Bottomless booze? No, but wine pairings available | Set menu? Yes | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekends and bank holidays, 10.30am-2.30pm
Address: Level 31, The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, SE1 9RY | Visit their website
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Milk | Balham
Trust us, the queue outside only serves to sharpen your appetite for what is truly the best brunch of all time. Expect the likes of buckwheat pancakes with chinotto caramel and coffee parfait; parmesan-dusted breakfast burgers; and baked eggs with veal merguez sausage and home-made labneh.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Weekdays 8am-3.30pm, Saturday 8am-4pm, Sunday 9am-4pm
Address: 18-20 Bedford Hill, SW12 9RG | Visit their website
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Juliet’s Quality Foods | Tooting
Mad, bad and dangerous to know: Juliet’s will fill your belly with breakfast bagels; whipped ricotta & kumquat doughnut bread; and sourdough waffles with lime curd & meringue – then empty your wallet with a tempting array of luxury provisions.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Daily 9am-3pm (4pm weekends)
Address: 110 Mitcham Road, SW17 9NG | Visit their website
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Caravan | London Bridge & across London
A London brunch classic, Caravan roasts coffee in-house, and dishes up numbers like vanilla pancakes with date molasses; chorizo and potato hash; and fried jalapeño cornbread with avocado and fried egg.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings (LB): Weekday breakfast 8-11.30am, weekend brunch 9am-4pm
Address: 30 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0HS | Visit their website
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Brickwood | Clapham, Battersea, Balham, Streatham, Tooting, Elephant & Castle
Brunch at this South London-exclusive empire of Aussie cafes isn’t one to take lightly; instead go heavy on the likes of a breakfast burrito (stuffed with scrambled egg, sausage, melted cheese, mushrooms and potatoes), four-cheese sourdough toasties (stuffed with aged cheddar, red Leicester, mozzarella, cream cheese and a healthy dose of Franks hot sauce) and a stack of blueberry buttermilk pancakes, that yes, you should most definitely order extra bacon with…
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Daily 7.30am-4pm (8am weekends)
Address: 16 Clapham Common South Side, London SW4 7AB | Visit their website
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Wright Bros Battersea | Battersea
Bacon & scallop roll with hollandaise. Lobster benedict. The perfect smoked salmon with scrambled eggs. The Wright Bros will give you a slap up seafood feast; and what’s more, they’ll give it to you on a festoon-lit riverside terrace right beneath the iconic Battersea Power Station.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekdays 8-11.15am, weekends 9-11.15am
Address: 26 Circus West Village, London SW11 8EZ | Visit their website
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Kudu | Peckham
Treat your friends to honey roasted ham crumpet with black pudding; French toast babka with kumquats and miso caramel; and Boerewors sausage rolls with egg and crispy shallots at South African joint Kudu… and you’re guaranteed to get kudos.
Details: Bottomless booze? No but you can get a jug of BM | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekends, 11am-2.30pm
Address: 119 Queens Road, SE15 2EZ | Visit their website
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Frank’s | Closed until summer 2024
Frank’s made its name doling out Campari spritzes to the denizens of South East London from its car park rooftop. But now it’s just as famed for its brunch, comprising potato tortillas, merguez & fried egg flatbreads and peaches on toast… on a car park rooftop.
Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? No
Timings: Closed until summer 2024
Address: 10th Floor, Multi Storey Car Park, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST | Visit their website
Looking for even more brunch inspiration? Check out our full list of recommendations for amazing brunch in London