DINING / BY DAWN
Words & Photography Clerkenwell Boy
Clerkenwell Boy chooses his favourite places for a delicious breakfast in the capital. From hole in the wall eateries dishing up organic porridge, to the best pastries in town, there’s something for everyone.
26 GRAINS
COVENT GARDEN
1 Neal’s Yard, WC2H 9DP
Inspired by Scandinavian cooking, this tiny restaurant in Neal’s Yard specialises in wholesome porridges (both sweet and savoury), smoothie bowls, home made bircher muesli and delicious coffee.
Highlights from the menu include their roasted peach porridge with almond milk oats, orange blossom cream with pistachio and fresh mint.
POPHAMS BAKERY
HACKNEY
197-205 Richmond Road, EC2A 4AQ
Pophams is a cosy artisan bakery and local cafe specialising in sourdough bread and super Instagrammable pastries made from croissant dough. Famous for their bacon & maple swirls, impossibly layered rosemary and sea salt twist, and seasonal fruit specials (think Nectarine & Custard or Rhubarb and Ginger), they also work with local ceramists and serve up fantastic coffee.
DISHOOM
SHOREDITCH
7 Boundary Street, E2 7JE
Dishoom pays homage to the Irani cafés that were once part of the fabric of life in Bombay. Iconic breakfast dishes include their legendary bacon and egg naan, brilliantly spiced keema per eedu (vegan options available), and the Big Bombay (a clever twist on The Full English) ~ all washed down with freshly brewed bottomless chai.
THE WOLSELEY
MAYFAIR
160 Piccadilly, W1J 9EB
The much missed restaurant critic A.A. Gill once observed “Wherever, whenever breakfast comes, it is a mouthful of stoic optimism”. He couldn’t be more right. I love the European grandeur of The Wolseley. Everyone is immaculately dressed at 7am, dining on perfectly cooked eggs (fried, poached or scrambled). You can’t go wrong with the classic English, but my favourite has to be the smoked haddock kedgeree.
DINING / BY DUSK
From casual Michelin starred dining (where food is booked only over fire), to a hispter seafood feast, follow these recommendations from our new Food Editor Clerkenwell Boy to impress your foodie friends.
BRAT
SHOREDITCH
4 Redchurch Street, E1 6JL
One of the hottest restaurants in London right now, BRAT specialises in food cooked over fire - inspired by traditional cooking techniques and dishes from the Basque region - but using the best British ingredients, including day boat fish from Cornwall (the signature whole roasted turbot is great for sharing) and beef from Wales. Everything on the menu is worth trying. Save room for the ‘burnt cheesecake’!
FLOR
BOROUGH
1 Bedale Street, SE1 9AL
From the team behind Michelin starred Lyle’s, Flor has opened to critical acclaim in London’s Borough Market. Foodies, TV chefs and food critics have flocked to the restaurant for *THOSE* Scarlett prawns, truffle flatbread, anchovy toast with lardo, plus the small but perfectly formed brown butter cakes. Although they do take walk-ins, advanced bookings are highly advised.
CORNERSTONE
HACKNEY
3 Prince Edward Road, E9 5LX
Double winner of TV’s ‘Great British Menu’ and the protege of multi-Michelin starred Nathan Outlaw - chef Tom Browne serves up some of the best seafood in the capital at his hip East London restaurant. The menu changes daily and champions produce from sustainable fishermen, whilst showcasing modern, delicious and innovative dishes including *THAT* crab crumpet. The marble topped bar is a great spot for getting up-close and personal to all the action of the open kitchen.
TĀTĀ EATERY AND
TOU LONDON
SHOREDITCH
152 Old Street, EC1V 9BW
Husband and wife team Zijun Meng and Ana Gonçalves have mastered the art of cool fusion food via their recent pop-ups and residencies. Creators of one of London’s most Instagrammed dishes (the Iberico Pork Katsu Sando) and with an ever growing fan base, you can currently find them at Tayēr + Elementary in Old Street (with drinks by the award winning mixologists Alex Kratena and Monica Berg) or at the Arcade Food Theatre (London’s fantastic new dining destination).