The institution of brunch hails from Manhattan, where everything is bigger and sparklier. With this in mind, it’s only right that when our restaurants pay homage, they do it in style – with top-notch food and unlimited drinks, to be exact.
With venues across London getting in on the act, we thought it was about time we provided you with your definitive guide to the capital’s best weekend sessions, where the bill won’t come with any nasty surprises…
Almeida, Islington
Head to Islington for brunch at Almeida, complete with bottomless bubbles! Served every Saturday and Sunday from midday, when you can choose eggs any way you like - maybe truffled duck egg benedict with smoked duck ham - from the set menu which offers two courses for £20 or three for £25, or peruse the a la carte offering. Either way you can upgrade to unlimited prosecco for just £10.
Avenue, Mayfair
Ideally located for some fizz-fuelled shopping, Avenue has already garnered quite the reputation for its weekend brunch. Two courses for £23.50, three for £26, and unlimited prosecco or Bloody Marys for an extra £15 would be a great deal, but when the menu’s this good it tips over into something even more exciting. Southern-fried chicken? Stack of buttermilk pancakes? Eggs however you like 'em? No problem. Where better to dissect last night?
Blueprint Café, Shad Thames
Enjoy a few flutes of fizz while you look out over one of London's most beautiful views at Blueprint Café. Its new Saturday brunch menu offers a leisurely start to the weekend, with unlimited bubbles for just £15 per person. There's classic eggs benedict, potato soufflé pancake with dressed dorset crab and lemon and much more besides, on offer every Saturday.
Fish Market, Shoreditch
Weekend brunch at Fish Market offers some of the best value in town, with two courses for £16.50 and three for £19.50 every Saturday. Classic brunch dishes like buttermilk pancakes with crispy bacon and maple syrup are available alongside signature Fish Market dishes like a mackerel and dill burger with pickled cucumber, chilli mayonnaise and spiced sweet potato fries - the best bit though? Endless fizz is yours for only £15 extra!
Le Pont de la Tour, Shad Thames
This iconic riverside restaurant is getting in on the act with its weekend brunch in the Bar & Grill. There's a varied menu including dishes like French toast, eggs benedict, rib-eye steak with chips and hollandaise, with sweet treats including homemade doughnuts with crème fraîche, available at two courses for £20 and three for £25, with free-flowing fizz for an extra £17. Bag a table on the terrace if you can.
Madison, St Paul's
Live music, a damn fine roast and unlimited Bloody Marys are a few of our favourite things... Every Sunday, Madison (yes, the one with that roof terrace) hosts blues musican Errol Linton, shakes gallons of everybody's favourite hangover cure (opt for unlimited spicy goodness for just £15) and cooks up some of London's best roast potatoes. Don't miss it!
New Street Grill, Shoreditch
When you’ve got a real hunger on, New Street Grill is on hand to swoop in to your rescue. Its weekend brunch menu includes its famous sirloin steak, the best blueberry crumpets you’ll ever get your chops around andJosper grilled Barnsley chop with sauteed new potatoes, runner beans and minted jus. You can eat a la carte or opt for the great-value set menu: £20 for two courses or £25 for three. Unlimited prosecco is available when you have at least a main course, for an additional £15. You’ll be full and your wallet won’t be empty.
Paternoster Chop House, St Paul's
In the shadow of St Paul's is a place dedicated to the pleasures of the flesh, a place where every part of the body, no matter how misunderstood or maligned is celebrated. This is Paternoster Chop House, a restaurant dedicated to the concept of nose-to-tail eating, using every part of an animal to create some spectacular dishes. The Sunday lunch menu is a touch more traditional though: game terrine, smoked salmon mousse, and not one, not two, but THREE different roasts. You can score two courses for £20 and three for £25, with unlimited prosecco for an additional £15.
Plateau, Canary Wharf
Brunch at Plateau really does have something for everyone… Eggs: be they benedict, florentine or scrambled, with salmon. We’ve also got comfort food like caesar salads and hamburgers, rounded off with a pear and chocolate bakewell tart. What we’re really loving though, is that delicious char coming off our Josper grill. Grilled sirlioin steak? With London's best pomme frites, of course! All three courses for £30 – and just £13 extra for as much prosecco as you fancy.
Quaglino's, Mayfair
One of London's most iconic restaurants got one hell of a revamp last year, making Quaglino's more fabulous than ever. It's only appropriate then, that its Saturday brunch offering is set to be really rather luxurious. Steak tartare, oysters, truffled eggs and decadent twists on classic dishes are all available at two courses for £20 or three for £25, plus unlimited fizz for £20...
Skylon, Southbank
Skylon has just unleashed a proper feast menu - think swordfish ceviche with pickled black radish, charred cucumber lime, chilli and coriander, two types of roast all finished off with a cherry and dark chocolate mousse or a classic crème brûlée. Get three courses for £30 with the option of unlimited prosecco for £15. It's going to be a tough choice - we say bring a big group and order everything! And don't forget to wear something with an elasticated waistband...