The Best Brunch in South London

Nandine | Camberwell

Time to get acquainted with Kurdish brunch: head to either of Camberwell’s cosy branches of Nandine for specialities like mexlama (a.k.a. shakshuka with beef mince) 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: Church St: weekends from 11am. Vestry Rd: Fri-Sat from 10am 
Address: 45 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8TR | 82 Vestry Rd, London SE5 8PQ | Visit their website
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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 Dutch babies (a kind of baked, loaded Yorkshire Pudding) that will feel weird to order, but great to eat.

Details: Bottomless booze? No, but you can get a half-litre carafe of mimosa | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Daily, 8am-5pm (9pm some days)
Address: Arch 35a, 85a Southwark Bridge Road, SE1 0NQ | Ground Floor, Battersea Power Station, SW11 8BZ | 7 Charlotte Street, Fitzrovia, W1T 1RG | 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 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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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: Weekends 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 seven-hour slow-cooked salt beef with garlic bubble & squeak; coconut bread with lemon curd cream cheese; and burrata with chilli beans 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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Murger Han | Elephant & Castle

Sometimes, it’s good to think inside the box. Like at Murger Han, the fantastic Xi’an restaurant known for its authentically prepared murger (often described as the world’s first hamburger… invented a mere 2000 years before the hamburger). Their South London restaurant has just started serving brunch on weekends, and represents one of the few places to enjoy a traditional Chinese breakfast in London. Their tasting tray features dishes like black tea spiced egg, scallion pancakes and a deep fried bun with condensed milk. You’ll never go off-grid again…

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? Available | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekends 8am-3pm
Address: 4 Castle Square, London SE17 1EN | 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 or 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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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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Lina Stores | Clapham

Sure, a typical Italian breakfast equates to a single shot of espresso, necked in a matter of minutes while standing at a counter. But brunch at Lina Stores Clapham is a far more leisurely affair with Tuscan sausage & fried egg focaccia sandwiches, truffled eggs & rosemary fried potatoes… and espresso.

Details: Bottomless booze? No | Set menu? No | Bookable? Yes
Timings: Weekends 9-11.30am
Address: 22 The Pavement, London, SW4 0HY | 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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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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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 to take home.

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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