I love brunch. Firstly it usually means it’s the weekend, most employers not being that keen for their employees to disappear for hours on end in the middle of the day during the week. Secondly it usually involves eggs. This is a good thing. Thirdly drinking alcohol is encouraged, even if it’s still officially the morning. Here’s my three current favourite places in East London to hang out with friends, eat eggs and possibly sink a Bloody Mary, or two.
Rita’s, 175 Mare Street
Recently upgraded from being a Dalston pop-up to a Hackney permanent, Rita’s (pictured above) serves up what one of my friends calls hipster food. Think American classics with a twist such as fried chicken in a bag and chilli mac and cheese. For me Rita’s is all about brunch (served 12-4pm Saturday and Sunday) specifically the scrambled eggs with miso butter muffins. I’ve tried to recreate it at home but it’s just not the same. Please never take it off the menu, OK?!
Mr Buckley’s, 277 Hackney Road
You’ll spot Mr Buckley’s by the neon sign outside. Inside it’s all exposed brickwork, plywood tables and stacking chairs. Brunch is served all day, which is brilliant if you like a lie in of a weekend. The menu changes regularly, recent favourites include a skillet of eggs, potatoes, spinach tomatoes and feta and a potato (I’d really like to see that one come back) and courgette rosti, with bacon, avocado and poached eggs. Yum.
Pavilion, Victoria Park
Go to the Pavilion on a sunny day, grab an outdoor table and sit facing the boating lake and it’s like you’re a million miles from grimy (but I love ya!) East London. I usually have the scrambled eggs and smoked salmon on toast or the veggie breakfast which changes seasonally but currently comprises egg, mushroom, spinach, squash, bubble and squeak, beans and toast. They bake their own bread, which is far too good to waste on the ducks that hang out by the lake.
Are you a brunch fan too? Where’s your favourite place for brunch? Do share!
Relish at the Cotswold Water park, great eggs Benedict, pancakes & lake views!
That you sis?
Sounds delish!
This is SUCH a Miranda Eason post. Love it!
My current brunch favorites are generally most places in Brixton Village & Dishoom nr Old Street. Amazing old colonial Bombay style restaraunt with Indian style brunch. And good cocktails for later…or for brunch.
I still haven’t tried Dishoom for brunch. It’s on the list. As is a trip to Brixton Village!
Brunch is by far, my favourite meal. These look great! I am a big fan of Caravan and Breakfast Club. Also agree with Alice on Brixton Market. Prima Donna does great pancakes.
Is caravan in London? LOVE the sound of that!
It is! There is one at Kings Cross and at Exmouth Market. I recently had a delicious two course brunch (eggs followed by pancakes, obvs) at the Kings Cross one which was lush!
Wow – eggs followed by pancakes?! That might be one of my most favourite meals ever!
Love Caravan (strong competitor for best coffee in London, I reckon) and Breakfast Club. I’ve got to get down to Brixton Market…
i gigi in Hove is my absolute favourite place for Brunch. Locally sourced food and organic too. It’s just a shame I live three hours away….
Brunch is just the best!
Lordy do I miss runny eggs though, as soon as I’m not pregnant anymore I am going to have runny eggs in some form (this might be wishful thinking with a new baby but I can dream…)
Bills restaurants do lush brunches, they have quite a few dotted around and I’ve just found out we might be getting one where I live in Newbury, hurrah! xxx
I agree, Bill’s do a lovely brunch! x
I hope we are arranging to have Rock My Style meetings in the above mentioned eateries?! Do I spy that Rita’s has a peach counter?! I want to go there!
Brunch is also my favourite meal of the day. If I had my way I would have the longest brunch ever (I’m thinking, big bowl of fresh fruit, some kind of eggs with spinach and a delicious pastry) not bother with lunch, and for dinner just have a MASSIVE dessert!
One can but dream.
Yes, our next meeting must be over brunch. It’s decided!
OMG brunch is definitely my favourite meal, everyday should be brunch day!!
Sadly, I live in the sticks so no good brunch eateries for me, I do whip up a mean pancake though (and when you have it at home, there’s no-one to judge how much syrup you’re putting on right??)
I don’t think anyone should ever judge how much syrup one puts on a pancake!!!
Ha! Rita’s is run by Gabriel – my sister’s best friends boyfriend so she’s there a lot and my whole family was there the other day for a birthday- and Pavilion is (was?) run by Eliot, the same sister’s friend. One small world!
No way, they’ve pretty much got brunch in East London sewn up between them!
[…] weekends for me are all about meeting friends for brunch and shared three of my favourite places (here if you missed it). Since I wrote that feature (six months ago, time really does fly) I’ve […]