Ah Brunch. The eternal excuse to eat breakfast food at midday (or later). I mean, its essentially just a meal for people too lazy to get up for breakfast on the weekend but too eager for bacon to skip straight to lunch. Needless to say, i'm a huge fan. As a homage to the humble brunch, I've gone ahead and picked three of my fave brunch spots from 2017.
1. Farm Girl, Portobello Road, Notting Hill
Firstly, I feel its my (brunch) duty to inform you that if you visit on the weekend, there will be a queue. There isn't a great deal of space inside and they don't take bookings. The food is super good and the vibe is laid back and friendly hence why they are packed out all weekend long. However, if you can go in the week, or brave the queue, its definitely worth it. The menu caters to a variety of food allergies and definitely errs on the side of health. But none of that takes away from the genuinely creative and delicious dishes and drinks they have to offer. I had the BLT with, wait for it, coconut bacon.. Yeah, it's a thing, and its actually pretty legit!
Highlights: Coconut bacon and a killer Matcha Latte
2. Barbecoa, 194 Piccadilly, St James's
This beautiful piccadilly spot is Jamie Oliver's latest addition to his restaurant empire. The second restaurant in the Barbecoa family, this one is also centered around steak, but also offers breakfast/brunch and afternoon tea menu as well as a full dinner menu of meats and fish.
It's worth a visit for the decor alone, you walk in to a long brushed copper bar and a old fashion lift at the center of the room. The ambience captures the mood of the iconic piccadilly area itself, to me it felt like a nod to the 1920's, very Gatsby-esque with art deco lighting and plush velvet seating.
Highlights: Decor! Think brushed copper as far as the eye can see.
3. Pachamama, 18 Thayer Street, Marylebone
So don't go here expecting the standard trendy baked eggs/smashed avo brunch options. This Peruvian inspired, insta-worthy Bar and Kitchen is a refreshing addition to the brunch game. Theirs centres around waffles, either quinoa or sweet potato, with a variety of sweet or savour toppings. If you aren't into waffles, they also have a selection of small plates and main dishes. The main dishes are huge and definitely can be shared, we tried the Pollo a la Brasa - 2 day marinated chicken served with house jerk sauce. It was some of the best chicken i'd ever tasted, in the words of the chicken connoisseur, it was the 'pengest munch'.
Highlights: Waffles, Waffles and more Waffles
