Maps: Handpicked London Brunches

Oh no, not another brunch guide.  But yes, when The Breakfast Club has been demoted to a chain, and when even your aunt's distant cousin is hosting bottomless brunch parties, someone needs to cut through the clutter. So here it is, a non-exhaustive list of the favourite meal the world never knew it had.  Until some hipster smashed some avocado and put it on toast, and the rest was history.

Some are cafés. Some are restaurants. The red dots mean a bottomless option. Places that served me overcooked poached eggs got immediately disqualified. Do keep coming back, as there will be more options added. As with all handpicked recommendations, these needed to be places I've tried. 

Apologies to West and South London. I will do you justice in due time.

Without further ado, and in no particular order - here are my handpicked London brunches.

1. The Barge House – Restaurant
46a De Beauvoir Cres, London N1 5RY
http://www.bargehouse.co.uk/
A small restaurant on a canal, with outdoor seating, killer Bloody Marys and the most indulgent brunch you will ever have. They offer variations of the same dish, their infamous 'Breakfast In Bread'. Go hungry. But they don't take brunch reservations on the weekends, so maybe have a snack beforehand. Or, if you're free on a Friday, you can book a table here and start the weekend early.

2. Ozone Coffee Roasters – Café
11 Leonard St, London EC2A 4AQ
http://ozonecoffee.co.uk
This Aussie café is one of East London's most popular brunch destinations, complete with wooden/industrial interiors, counter seats, cosy booths and the occasional plant. The queue tends to spill out onto the street, the staff has a bit of an attitude, but the food is great, the coffee's good, and brunch is basically the only thing they do, 'All day every day' as it says on their menu. And if you're a group of 8 or more, you can book (but they'll sit you in a dark private room downstairs - that could be your thing though, so...)

3. Friends of Ours - Café
61 Pitfield St, Hoxton, London N1 6BU
http://www.friendsofourscafe.com/
Small, friendly, cosy, also with outdoor seats, and does delicious brunch. The menu changes seasonally, the portions are generous and, of course, they don't take reservations. But it will be worth the wait.

4. Caravan - Restaurant/Coffee Roasters
Multiple locations
http://www.caravanrestaurants.co.uk/
A firm favourite, with a number of locations around London. Caravan never disappoints, with a unique and versatile menu that also lends itself to trying various dishes. Some of their restaurants will take bookings for larger groups, check out their website for more information. 

5. The Riding House Café - Restaurant
43-51 Great Titchfield St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7PQ
http://ridinghouse.cafe
This one's been around for ages, so it misses out on the 'hip and cool' factor. But sometimes you just want something safe and comforting, especially if you find yourself in the jungle that is also known as Oxford Circus on a weekend noon. Book in advance, take your parents if they're visiting and they've forced you to go shopping. I always have the Chorizo Hash, but one day I might try something new.  

6. The Delaunay - Restaurant
55 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BB
https://www.thedelaunay.com
And for a more upmarket choice on where to take the parents, The Delaunay is the place you've been looking for. Under its Viennese grand café guise, it really feels like old London, and classy London. There's a price to pay, of course. But go on. You're worth it. 

7. Chiltern Firehouse - Restaurant
1 Chiltern St, Marylebone, London W1U 7PA
http://www.chilternfirehouse.com/
One of London's most celebrated restaurant openings in recent years, Nuno Mendes' Chiltern Firehouse offers food that is delicious, exciting and borderline extravagant (but less expensive than it sounds). It's highly popular, so I would employ a friend's technique here: pick a random weekend a couple of months in advance, book a table for a realistic number of people, wait until it gets closer to the date and ask said people/friends to join you. There are only 52 weekends in a year, which means a maximum of 104 brunch opportunities. Make sure this is one of them.

8. Opso - Restaurant
10 Paddington St, Marylebone, London W1U 5QL
http://www.opso.co.uk
Not too far from Chiltern Firehouse, is a place that serves Greek-inspired brunch dishes with a touch of imagination. Eggs on koulouri should be a firm staple at every self-respecting brunch institution. Opso takes reservations, serves proper freddo espresso, has a modern, well-lit interior (if they sit you upstairs), and is just around the corner from Marylebone High Street. 

9. Pachamama - Restaurant
18 Thayer St, Marylebone, London W1U 3JY
http://pachamamalondon.com/
Within the same neighbourhood, but with cuisine stemming from an entirely different continent, is Peruvian Pachamama. Slightly hidden, its entrance being a door that leads to a basement, Pachamama is a great destination if you're venturing to Central London, are up for trying something new, and especially if you love waffles.

10. Granger & Co - Restaurant
175 Westbourne Grove, London W11 2SB + King's Cross, Chelsea and Clerkenwell locations
https://grangerandco.com
Who would have thought that Australians are brunch pros. Celebrity chef Bill Granger opened the first Granger & Co on Westbourne Grove, and its success was imminent and contagious. Four restaurants later, Granger & Co is still a group favourite at all times of day.  It's also probably one of the reasons why you'll have heard of the word 'Antipodean' (not to be confused with Oedipodean). The catch: brunch here is actually breakfast, being served only until 12pm. Come after that, you can order only off the lunch menu, but there is still a more limited selection or brunch-type dishes available. In other words, eggs.

11. Hotbox - Restaurant
46-48 Commercial St, London E1 6LT
http://www.hotboxlondon.com
If Granger & Co is clean and bohemian, then on the other side of town you can almost find its counterpart. Hotbox puts you on long tables, sits you on benches, and serves gloriously filthy food, along with a bottomless booze option. If you know what the meat sweats are, you are my friend, and you should go here. They also take bookings, which means you can spend more time eating and drinking, and less time waiting.

12. Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings - Restaurant
42 Northampton Rd, Clerkenwell, London EC1R 0HU
http://bandhbuildings.com
Bottomless brunch in an airy interior, complete with a fireplace, hanging plants and great food. If you're stuck in the middle of winter, craving something cosy, but also the feeling of being outside, B&H ticks all the boxes. It has the vibe of the more relaxed members' houses, but it's open to all, as long as you remember to book. 

13. Lantana - Café
2, Oliver’s Yard, 55 City Rd, London EC1Y 1HQ + Fitzrovia and London Bridge locations
https://lantanacafe.co.uk
Yet another Australian brunch spot. The menu is Antipodean, of course, and invites you to explore new dishes and flavour combinations. Get the corn fritters (with an added poached egg, always), enjoy every mouthful, wash the guilt away with unlimited prosecco. Prepare to queue, though perhaps not as hard as you would at its neighbour Ozone. 

14. Duck & Waffle - Restaurant
Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AY
http://duckandwaffle.com
This one's for special occasions, and due to the 40th floor views it offers to the entire city, highly -see what I did there- popular (even with the tourists, yes). They're so proud of their classic brunch dish, they even named the entire restaurant after it. Booking is absolutely mandatory and they accept reservations 2 months in advance, so be a true Londoner: book now and decide later. 

15. Franze & Evans - Café/Deli
101 Redchurch St, London E2 7DL
https://www.franzeevans.com/
Great casual brunch spot on one of my favourite streets in the capital. Redchurch street offers itself for a stroll and exploration of the various boutique shops, while it's not too far from Columbia Road, so brunch here can be combined with a visit to the Sunday Flower Market. Brunch dishes with an Italian twist, a fresh salad counter and outdoor seating. It's a si from me.