London's best bottomless brunches
Looking for somewhere to eat and drink to your heart's content? Here are some of London's best brunches
London's best bottomless brunches
Our guide to the best traditional brunches in London shouldn't go overlooked, but if you're after something noisier, with free-flowing alcohol, London's best bottomless brunches are the naughtier younger siblings of traditional brunches. Bottomless brunches are served in many different types of restaurant, regardless of cuisine, which is great news for us: feasting is now likelier to be in the company of a regularly-filled Champagne glass than a lonely one you paid over the odds for.
Expect to pay a set price, and typically enjoy a three-course meal, partnered with as much sparkling wine, or cocktails as you can drink when you book for bottomless brunch.
The Fabulously British One: Gaucho Electro Brunch
The lowdown: Expect a range of dishes offered at manageable sizes. Choose from traditional brunch favourites (bacon sandwiches, Eggs Benedict/Florentine/Royale), or be more experimental. The oven baked chorizo with egg and mushroom takes some beating, as does their take on steak and egg, the churrasco de cuadril. You'll be liberally watered with (excellent) Argentine sparkling wine, but if you're after one of Gaucho's excellent Bloody Mary's, that is included in the £45 price per person as well.
Best for: A party atmosphere. Selected Saturday and Sunday brunches at Gaucho (Piccadilly, Smithfield and Chancery Lane) are accompanied by a DJ.
find out more about the Electro Brunch at Gaucho
The French One: Bon Vivant
The lowdown: The last thing we'd typically associate with the French is a bottomless brunch. Yet, here we are, eating magret du canard and flat iron steak with unlimited bubbles. Go here for the sheer novelty of it all, and the food's good too.
Best for: A sophisticated setting for bottomless bubbles, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and upholstered lounge seating.
find out more about brunch at Bon Vivant
The Middle Eastern One: Bababoom
The lowdown: Careering from France to Israel, Turkey and Persia, Bababoom serves a Middle Eastern brunch to write home about. Expect fiery kicks from the spiced plums in the natural yogurt granola, and the harissa labneh with the lamb sausages, or the roasted squash and fattoush salad.
Best for: Bottomless margaritas for something a bit different, although playing it safe is also okay, because there's Marys and mimosas too.
find out more about brunch at Bababoom
The MidWestern One: Smokey Tails
The lowdown: Run by popular DJ Seth Troxler, this MidWestern take on brunching is typically US and OTT. Unmissable are the crunchy brioche French toast slices with fried chicken, bacon and maple syrup, which demands counteraction by the gentler - but still hefty, everything's hefty - pancakes with fruit compote and vanilla cream. There's also a terrace for the better weather.
Best for: Bottomless food, which is some of the weirdest in town. Cherry cola gammon, anyone?
find out more about brunch at Smokey Tails
The Mediterranean One: Aquum
The lowdown: Aquum's brunch features flutes of bottomless prosecco alongside plates of Mediterranean-style breakfast. The Mediterranean influence means some great hearty dishes, generously portioned, that will soak up any morning regret (Aquum is a club later at night). The biggest breakfast - a Greek take on the Full English, has delicious fried pitta and falafel-topped tomatoes - it's healthier than the Full English, but still a salty, fried up plate.
Best for: The highlight, undoubtedly, are the pancakes. Fluffy and flavoursome, they are topped with a great balance of sharp blackcurrants and sweet custard. A lightly whipped, winter-spiced mascarpone between each layer stops the whole thing being too heavy.
find out more about brunch at Aquum
The Unlimited Food One: L'Escargot
The lowdown: The bad news first: the 'unlimited' part here, in one of Soho's oldest and most famous restaurants, only extends to the food. However, with Bloody Mary's at £7.50, and Laurent-Perrier Bellinis at £8, the prices are hardly bank-breaking. And that's just as well, because you can have as much as you can eat from either the kitchen or the buffet – for £25 including tea and coffee.
Best for: We think this is about as comprehensive as brunch could possibly get. There's croque monsieurs, omelettes, French toast, a crèpe bar, L'Escargot's signature snails, Sunday roast beef and Yorkshires, Tabbouleh and Goat's cheese salads, and cakes and pastries.
find out more about brunch at L'Escargot
The Outlandish One: GlowyMcGlow Bottomless Brunch
The lowdown: BallieBallerson is an adult ball pit slash club that features 250,000 clear balls on a £10,000 LED dance floor. The best time to go and experience the magic is at their bottomless brunch, when only forty guests are granted entry, so there's more room. You can either choose bottomless prosecco or bottomless punch, then bottomless meatballs or bottomless veggie balls. Although, we hope, nowhere near the balls.
Best for: A brunch that's very little to do with the food.
find out more about the GlowyMcGlow brunch at BallieBallerson
The Stunning One: Hot Box
The lowdown: Mix and match prosecco, mimosas, and five special Bloody Mary blends at this brunching hot-spot in the stirring surrounds of Hot Box, Spitalfields, which has an interior that brings the outside world inside. The food menu is as extensive as the drinks one, sporting truffle chicken waffles, cinnamon French toast and 18-hour smoked brisket buns.
Best for: The feel of Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings (a naturalistic and elegant restaurant, with plenty of natural light), but with much better food.
find out more about brunch at Hot Box
The Craft Beer One: The Draft House
The lowdown: In addition to bottomless craft beer, sharing platters encompass nachos, fried jerk halloumi fingers, burgers and sandwiches, and there's Nutella doughnuts too. Only available on Saturdays and Sundays at Draft House Milton Keynes.
Best for: Fans of craft beer, who feel their tipple has been overlooked by the brunching hordes who typically favour prosecco.
find out more about brunch at the Draft House
The Sharing One: KuPP
The lowdown: KuPP creates glorious sharing platters for a communal experience. In addition to bottomless boozy beverages, KuPP boasts a vast selection of specialty coffees. The restaurant promotes a relaxed lifestyle, and taking a break to appreciate the good things in life. What better way to slow down than by sharing a foodie platter, and couple dozen rounds of Czech Pilsner Krusovice.
Best for: A brunch of sharing platters (don't worry, the booze is all yours).
find out more about brunch at KuPP
The Japanese One: Flesh & Buns
The lowdown: Flesh & Bone is a subset of the Bone Daddies Japanese restaurant group. This offshoot is more luxurious than Bone Daddies though, and specialises in sushi, and their signature buns; unmissable is the crispy piglet belly, or portobello mushroom. Unlimited hot and cold dishes, and a dessert for the table, is included.
Best for: The best of both worlds. A cocktail is included on arrival, then there's unlimited wine, as well as prosecco, and the food is unlimited too, including the signature buns.
find out more about brunch at KuPP
Expect to pay a set price, and typically enjoy a three-course meal, partnered with as much sparkling wine, or cocktails as you can drink when you book for bottomless brunch.
The Fabulously British One: Gaucho Electro Brunch
The lowdown: Expect a range of dishes offered at manageable sizes. Choose from traditional brunch favourites (bacon sandwiches, Eggs Benedict/Florentine/Royale), or be more experimental. The oven baked chorizo with egg and mushroom takes some beating, as does their take on steak and egg, the churrasco de cuadril. You'll be liberally watered with (excellent) Argentine sparkling wine, but if you're after one of Gaucho's excellent Bloody Mary's, that is included in the £45 price per person as well.
Best for: A party atmosphere. Selected Saturday and Sunday brunches at Gaucho (Piccadilly, Smithfield and Chancery Lane) are accompanied by a DJ.
find out more about the Electro Brunch at Gaucho
The French One: Bon Vivant
The lowdown: The last thing we'd typically associate with the French is a bottomless brunch. Yet, here we are, eating magret du canard and flat iron steak with unlimited bubbles. Go here for the sheer novelty of it all, and the food's good too.
Best for: A sophisticated setting for bottomless bubbles, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows and upholstered lounge seating.
find out more about brunch at Bon Vivant
The Middle Eastern One: Bababoom
The lowdown: Careering from France to Israel, Turkey and Persia, Bababoom serves a Middle Eastern brunch to write home about. Expect fiery kicks from the spiced plums in the natural yogurt granola, and the harissa labneh with the lamb sausages, or the roasted squash and fattoush salad.
Best for: Bottomless margaritas for something a bit different, although playing it safe is also okay, because there's Marys and mimosas too.
find out more about brunch at Bababoom
The MidWestern One: Smokey Tails
The lowdown: Run by popular DJ Seth Troxler, this MidWestern take on brunching is typically US and OTT. Unmissable are the crunchy brioche French toast slices with fried chicken, bacon and maple syrup, which demands counteraction by the gentler - but still hefty, everything's hefty - pancakes with fruit compote and vanilla cream. There's also a terrace for the better weather.
Best for: Bottomless food, which is some of the weirdest in town. Cherry cola gammon, anyone?
find out more about brunch at Smokey Tails
The Mediterranean One: Aquum
The lowdown: Aquum's brunch features flutes of bottomless prosecco alongside plates of Mediterranean-style breakfast. The Mediterranean influence means some great hearty dishes, generously portioned, that will soak up any morning regret (Aquum is a club later at night). The biggest breakfast - a Greek take on the Full English, has delicious fried pitta and falafel-topped tomatoes - it's healthier than the Full English, but still a salty, fried up plate.
Best for: The highlight, undoubtedly, are the pancakes. Fluffy and flavoursome, they are topped with a great balance of sharp blackcurrants and sweet custard. A lightly whipped, winter-spiced mascarpone between each layer stops the whole thing being too heavy.
find out more about brunch at Aquum
The Unlimited Food One: L'Escargot
The lowdown: The bad news first: the 'unlimited' part here, in one of Soho's oldest and most famous restaurants, only extends to the food. However, with Bloody Mary's at £7.50, and Laurent-Perrier Bellinis at £8, the prices are hardly bank-breaking. And that's just as well, because you can have as much as you can eat from either the kitchen or the buffet – for £25 including tea and coffee.
Best for: We think this is about as comprehensive as brunch could possibly get. There's croque monsieurs, omelettes, French toast, a crèpe bar, L'Escargot's signature snails, Sunday roast beef and Yorkshires, Tabbouleh and Goat's cheese salads, and cakes and pastries.
find out more about brunch at L'Escargot
The Outlandish One: GlowyMcGlow Bottomless Brunch
The lowdown: BallieBallerson is an adult ball pit slash club that features 250,000 clear balls on a £10,000 LED dance floor. The best time to go and experience the magic is at their bottomless brunch, when only forty guests are granted entry, so there's more room. You can either choose bottomless prosecco or bottomless punch, then bottomless meatballs or bottomless veggie balls. Although, we hope, nowhere near the balls.
Best for: A brunch that's very little to do with the food.
find out more about the GlowyMcGlow brunch at BallieBallerson
The Stunning One: Hot Box
The lowdown: Mix and match prosecco, mimosas, and five special Bloody Mary blends at this brunching hot-spot in the stirring surrounds of Hot Box, Spitalfields, which has an interior that brings the outside world inside. The food menu is as extensive as the drinks one, sporting truffle chicken waffles, cinnamon French toast and 18-hour smoked brisket buns.
Best for: The feel of Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings (a naturalistic and elegant restaurant, with plenty of natural light), but with much better food.
find out more about brunch at Hot Box
The Craft Beer One: The Draft House
The lowdown: In addition to bottomless craft beer, sharing platters encompass nachos, fried jerk halloumi fingers, burgers and sandwiches, and there's Nutella doughnuts too. Only available on Saturdays and Sundays at Draft House Milton Keynes.
Best for: Fans of craft beer, who feel their tipple has been overlooked by the brunching hordes who typically favour prosecco.
find out more about brunch at the Draft House
The Sharing One: KuPP
The lowdown: KuPP creates glorious sharing platters for a communal experience. In addition to bottomless boozy beverages, KuPP boasts a vast selection of specialty coffees. The restaurant promotes a relaxed lifestyle, and taking a break to appreciate the good things in life. What better way to slow down than by sharing a foodie platter, and couple dozen rounds of Czech Pilsner Krusovice.
Best for: A brunch of sharing platters (don't worry, the booze is all yours).
find out more about brunch at KuPP
The Japanese One: Flesh & Buns
The lowdown: Flesh & Bone is a subset of the Bone Daddies Japanese restaurant group. This offshoot is more luxurious than Bone Daddies though, and specialises in sushi, and their signature buns; unmissable is the crispy piglet belly, or portobello mushroom. Unlimited hot and cold dishes, and a dessert for the table, is included.
Best for: The best of both worlds. A cocktail is included on arrival, then there's unlimited wine, as well as prosecco, and the food is unlimited too, including the signature buns.
find out more about brunch at KuPP
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