Two Brunches You Can't Miss In London
If you’re anything like me, there’s nothing better than starting your weekend off right with an epic brunch. After all, no weekend morning is complete without it. Brunch is no longer just a meal, but it’s become a social ritual that allows you to get your favorite breakfast foods after noon and makes that morning cocktail just a bit more acceptable.
As I planned my trip to London, I was overwhelmed with the number of brunch options I came across during my research. To say the London brunch scene is thriving is an understatement. A few cafes had the most beautiful aesthetic, and I couldn’t help but wonder if they were overrated. “Instagrammable” restaurants make me quite skeptical Admittedly, I have fallen victim more times than I care to admit to overengineered lattes and floral avocado toast. What can I say, I love a good aesthetic, but if the food is not delicious, why even bother.
I wanted to test my theory in London and see if this issue was isolated to the U.S. or if it was an issue that plagued other parts of the world. I chose three different restaurants: Feya, Violas, and Dalloway Terrace for brunch. All three had a similar vibe, but I was more concerned with the food. Would they live up to the hype?
Let’s jump into the delicious details, shall we
Pearl Rose Latte
Chef Zahra Khan, the founder of Feya, has created one of London’s most whimsical cafes and dessert parlors. Chef Khan graduated from Gordon Ramsay’s culinary academy and launched Feya in 2018. Feya combines Chef Khan’s love of art and food into an enchanting escape where guests can leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind. When I stepped inside Feya, it was almost as if I had stepped inside a fairytale complete with pastel-colored walls, cherry blossoms, and endless desserts. Talk about magical, and I had yet to be seated!
We arrived at the later end of brunch and missed out on several of the dishes we had our heart set on, but our server was kind enough to recommend some alternatives that were just as good. Knowing that we’d be shopping and cocktailing our way through London, we decided to keep it balanced and order one sweet and savory dish. For our sweet dish, we opted for Oreo and Lotus Pancakes, which were served with a scoop of ice cream. Need I say more? Our savory dish was a bit more practical as we ordered Shakshuka. While I enjoyed both dishes, I much preferred the Shakshuka. Even though I am a pancake connoisseur, these were more like dessert than a brunch dish. To wash all of this deliciousness down, I ordered a Pearl Latte. Of course, I got so excited when I saw rose petals that I paid zero attention to the fact that it had NO CAFFEINE in it whatsoever. Huge fail on my part, but it tasted lovely.
Feya is the perfect place to stop if you need to take a quick breather from shopping on Oxford Street.
Tip | Reservations are recommended, and alcohol is not served.
Pearl Rose Latte + Shakshuka + Oreo & Lotus Pancakes
Pretty In Pink At Feya
By far one of the most charming cafes I visited during my trip to London was Violas. Located in Covent Garden, Violas is known for both its beautiful floral installations and its magnificent food. When we arrived, I was a little concerned as the restaurant space is rather modest in size, and we didn’t have reservations. Luckily, we were greeted by the lovely server and seated at one of the picturesque tables by the window.
Violas
Violas’ menu did not disappoint. If left to our own devices, we would have easily ordered the entire brunch menu. But first things first, this girl had to get caffeinated. I wasn’t about to make the same mistake I did at Feya and order rose milk. This time I opted for something with a punch and went for the Blue Matcha. Talk about out of this world! Of course, I didn’t stop there because brunch is not complete without at least three beverages in front of me at all times. Sipping on my assortment of beverages, we decided to dive head first into the brunch menu.
Blue Matcha
Any time an entree on the menu has truffle or burrata involved, there’s a 99% chance that it will end up at my table and today’s meal was no exception. Without hesitation, we ordered the Black Truffle Forest Mushrooms Toast and the Hot Honey Burrata. Both were absolutely intoxicating. The mushroom toast was served on this incredible brioche bread which added just a hint of sweetness to each bite.
Black Truffle Forest Mushrooms Toast | Toasted Brioche + Wild Cultivated Mushrooms + Grilled Cheese + Shaved Black Truffle
The Hot Honey Burrata is sure to be a table favorite, and if it’s not, you’re clearly sitting with the wrong people. Simply put, this avocado toast was perfection. Violas has taken your basic brunch entree and elevated this dish with the perfectly chunked avocados, roasted tomatoes, and a burrata bomb on top… and we haven’t even talked about the hot honey. You all know that I am a food enthusiast, and this is easily in my top ten avocado toasts of all time.
Hot Honey Burrata | Whole Burrata + Sourdough Toast + Avocado + Hot Honey + Baked Tomatoes + Pistachio Dukkah
When placing our order, we always ask our server if there are any other can’t miss dishes. Before we could even finish our questions, she insisted that we order the Taco Pancakes. Both are foods that I love separately, but I’ve never experienced Taco Pancakes until now. What a concept. Each pancake is filled with fresh fruit and topped with fresh mint and flowers and served with two different chocolate sauces. Talk about decadence. OMG. Give it a few more months, and I am sure that this will hit the Nashville brunch scene but instead of filling the pancakes with fruit, they will be filled with hot chicken!
Undoubtedly, Violas is the prettiest brunch in London, and the attention to detail is second to none.
Tip | Reservations and recommended, and don't leave without ordering the Hot Honey Avocado Toast and the Blue Matcha.
Taco Pancakes | American-Style Buttermilk Pancakes + Whipped Mascarpone + Fresh Fruits + Edible Flowers and Glitter + White and Milk Chocolate Pots
Now brings me to the last restaurant, Dalloway Terrace. This is one of those restaurants I found on Instagram years ago, and I promised myself that if I ever made it to London, I’d go. Well, I went and couldn’t have been more disappointed.
Dalloway Terrace is one of London’s most popular outdoor dining spots. Located in the Bloomsbury Hotel, they are best known for their secret garden vibe as the space transforms seasonally. Brunch is served on Saturday and Sunday, but if that is not of interest, there are other all-day dining options available.
Guests have the option to choose coffee or tea, fresh juice along with an appetizer, and the main course all for only £35, which is incredibly reasonable.
Our starters arrived at the table and the presentation was adequate, but the food was sub-par. The bread was dry, and the puree was rather overpowering. At first, I chalked it up to the fact that I was out late the evening before and perhaps had imbibed too much and was simply off my game. I didn’t think much more until my avocado toast arrived. I think the picture speaks for itself. The avocado toast that I make at home looks much more appealing than what was plated and presented. And we haven't even discussed the taste. Typically, if cheese is added to avocado toast, it’s sprinkled on top to not overpower the other flavor as cheese can do sometimes. However, there was so much feta on top of the toast, I couldn’t taste anything else. I took a few bites and tried to find something to like about it, but I simply couldn’t.
Guests beware. This is certainly one of those restaurants that looks better than it tastes. I’m sure there are some redeeming dishes on the menu, but the floral wall was the highlight of the visit for me. If you’re traveling to London soon, have brunch at Feya or Violas and simply pop by here for a cocktail.
Banana Bread + Raspberries + Banana + Raspberry Puree
Avocado Toast + Feta + Blistered Tomatoes + Bacon
Until Next Time!