Brunch is a phenomenon rather than a meal. It can be served at any time of day. Tastes can be accentuated by the comfort of being served in bed, or as the cafe opens its doors with a cinnamon infused aroma, or at midday at one of these top finds in London.
Ben’s canteen
Consistently buzzing with eager frequenters. Go for the smashed avocado on toast which comes with roasted tomatoes and poached eggs. If this doesn’t strike your fancy, all possible combinations are available with any extra you like. An absolute must at Ben’s Canteen is their hot and spicy Bloody Mary. They use chili infused vodka which gives you an adrenalin kick before you soften the blow with a hollandaise soaked egg.
benscanteen.com 140 Saint John’s Hill, London SW11 1SL; 020 7228 3260
The Brew
Small and quaint with old wine bottle light fixtures and wooden floating shelves as decor. To avoid the queue, go around 12:30 and delve into any type of egg possible. Be sure to take a look at their vegetable juices for a healthy kick and do not avoid the extras — these include crispy (and yes really crispy) bacon, balsamic infused tomatoes with feta, garlic mushrooms and, of course, smashed avocado.
brew-cafe.com/location/london-battersea 342 Old York Rd, London SW18 1SS, UK; 020 8871 0713
Granger and co
Although I haven’t yet mastered when the best time to beat the queue is, it is still worth the wait. Wander around the Portobello market in Notting Hill before having the best boiled eggs and soldiers you can imagine. Reignite your childhood memories as you dip each freshly baked toast finger into perfectly cooked yolk.
grangerandco.com/#notting-hill 175 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SB; 020 7229 9111
Hally’s
Being similar in style to the Brew, Hally’s manages to accommodate more tables and has a way of drawing you in from the streets with their selection of buttery pastries on the counter top. I tend to be a creature of habit and always go for the Eggs Florentine with added salmon. It is accompanied by a small crispy salad to help you avoid that tasty bread eyeing you out. If you are not in the mood for eggs, be sure to try out their Ricotta Pancakes with Berries, Fig, Honey and Crème Fraiche — without a doubt, they sing sweet perfection.
hallysparsonsgreen.com 60 New King’s Road, Fulham, London SW6 4LS; 020 3302 7408
The Powder Keg
Being one of my favourite dinner spots in London, I thought I owed the Powder Keg a sampling of their brunch menu. I have three words for you… value for money. The poached eggs with portobello mushrooms, accompanied with a glass of prosecco, is an unbelievable marriage of buttery hollandaise, herby richness and bubbly enlightenment. And all for only £11.90. Don’t forget, the tipple we like is always pricier than the food we consume!
powderkegdiplomacy.co.uk 147 Saint John’s Hill, London SW11 1TQ; 020 7450 6457
Tom’s Kitchen
Reliable and guarantees large cappuccinos and perfectly scrambled eggs. Being a top spot for Made in Chelsea stars at the namesake’s location, you might find yourself people watching while you desperately wish the scrambled eggs saw no end.
tomskitchen.co.uk/chelsea 27 Cale Street, Chelsea, London SW3 3QP; 020 7349 0202
Image: Shutterstock.com/Slawomir Fajer
Originally published on TheSouthAfrican.com
