It’s very important to enjoy breakfast, but who can resist a hard-earned lie-in on the weekend? That’s where brunch comes in. We’ve put together a list of the best spots to find the late-morning brunch you need and deserve in London’s beautiful Chelsea.
Muriel’s Kitchen is hidden around the corner from South Kensington tube station and produces beautifully delicate dishes and great coffee. Without a doubt, the best thing it serves is the homemade scotch egg, which produces a delicious runny yolk. The small cafe is well-represented and has great service. Don’t forget to order one of its homemade cakes before you leave, if you can spare the room.
The award for best eggs Benedict goes to The Botanist in Sloane Square. The stylish bar and restaurant serves perfect poached eggs covered in rich, creamy hollandaise sauce which goes perfectly with a light cappuccino. Because it is perched on the high end of King’s Road, it is also a great place to stop off before embarking on a long afternoon of shopping.
The Ivy Chelsea Garden | Courtesy of The Ivy Chelsea Garden
Without a doubt, The Ivy Chelsea Garden on King’s Road serves the largest brunch menu each weekend. It has the most sophisticated, luxurious décor in the area. The garden, complete with its own orangery, is a great place to have a cocktail on a sunny day. Its weekend brunch menu lasts most of the day, so it doesn’t matter what time you wake up, your cravings will still be met.
If you venture to the other end of King’s Road you’ll find Mona Lisa café. It’s not as visually appealing as most on this list, but its food is just as good. You can get a traditional all-day breakfast and the more exotic Italian classics like fresh Dover sole. This truly is a long-standing Chelsea treasure, serving unpretentious food that does exactly what it says on the tin.
A more alternative brunch option is the Farmers Market on Sydney Street. It isn’t a traditional market filled with farmers selling their produce, but an array of individual stalls delivering the ultimate al fresco dining in true Chelsea style. The marketplace restaurant serves the best brunch, and its menu changes with each season. There are also pizzerias, Argentinian steak houses and other cuisines available. Be sure to check out the cigar and fine wine stalls afterwards.
Megan’s on King’s Road is a lovely and warming place to enjoy a comforting brunch with fair-trade organic coffee. If you’re recovering from the night before, you can enjoy a ‘hair of the dog’ cocktail. Alternatively, their smoothies and juices are delightfully refreshing. The café has the most intimate courtyard where you can enjoy your weekend brunch in the sun.
Bumpkin is next on the list with its down-to-earth rustic feel. Walk in and feel refreshed by the abundant green décor; the beautiful secret garden room is easy to spend hours in. Bumpkin has a simple but well-executed brunch menu that serves proper portions to refuel you. It really is a little oasis among the vast cityscape.
The traditional American-style PJ’s Bar and Grill on Fulham Road is lined with aged wooden walls and adopts an old-fashioned atmosphere. The centerpiece of the bar is a huge fan made from an old plane propeller which seems to hypnotize you every time you look at it. The stylish bar produces traditional weekend brunches, but their oysters are the best in Chelsea – plus they come with a glass of champagne. Be sure to book ahead as the weekends are always busy.
L’ETO’s culinary creations are so pretty you might find yourself oversharing just a little on social media, but it’s perfectly normal there. Brunch offers pretty much everything you could want to order from granola to Australian Avocado Rye Bread Tartine; buckwheat and berries pancakes to an oyster, mushroom and cheese croissant. Everything you could imagine, right? We recommend digging into the larger dishes of the red shakshuka or the Italian-style breakfast with Pugliese burrata, scrambled eggs, mushrooms, tomatoes and sourdough toast if you’re feeling a little fragile from the night before.
