Guide to brunch in Islington

Guide to brunch in Islington

Islington is an area of London famed for its eclectic variety of incredible restaurants, bars and cafés, with Upper Street acting as the borough's bloodline. There's a restaurant for every kind of mood, from the salad-lined windows of Ottolenghi and mouthwatering kebabs of Brother Marcus to The Breakfast Club's hard-to-beat brunch menu and Caravan's speciality coffee. Islington certainly isn’t short of great places to enjoy a bite to eat; here’s our guide to brunch in this diverse area of the city.

In this guide
  1. The best brunch in Islington
    1. Megan's – A taste of the Med
    2. Ottolenghi – Fresh Med-style plates
    3. La Petite Auberge – A charming French bistro
    4. Caravan – A brunch staple
    5. Brother Marcus – Trusty older Brother Marcus
    6. The Breakfast Club – A legendary brunch establishment
    7. Sunday – British specials in a trendy space
    8. Tootoomoo – A bottomless pan-Asian brunch
    9. Bellanger – Mediterranean bistro-style cuisine
    10. Frederick's – A relaxed European establishment
    11. Sawyer & Gray – A neighbourhood favourite
    12. The Blue Legume – Mouthwatering Mediterranean fare

The best brunch in Islington

Megan's

A taste of the Med

Megan's has been voted the best brunch in London on many occasions, and it isn't hard to see why. There's a Mediterranean-inspired menu served here, including dishes like Eggs benedict and shakshuka-baked eggs with halloumi, with the option to add on free-flowing prosecco. The design of the place is just as impressive as the menu; think potted plants, wicker furniture and aesthetic hanging lights.

Ottolenghi

Fresh Med-style plates

Ottolenghi in Islington serves a menu of fresh Mediterranean fare in a bright contemporary space on lively Upper Street. It’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a deli-style menu of salads and mountains of zingy vegetables, healthy Mediterranean-inspired dishes and walls of cakes and low-intervention wines. They function as a walk-in restaurant with long communal tables for casual dining.

La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge
La Petite Auberge – Brunch in Islington
La Petite Auberge

La Petite Auberge

A charming French bistro

This bistro on Upper Street is a quintessential French spot with chequered tablecloths, exposed brickwork and framed artwork. You can choose from a variety of menus, including an à la carte menu filled with French favourites, like baked brie and frogs legs. They’re open for breakfast and brunch, with dishes like shakshuka, traditional fish and chips and eggs Benedict taking centre stage.

Caravan

A brunch staple

This modern restaurant has ample inside and outside seating for all-day dining in a casual, laid-back environment. They're big on coffee and source the finest beans from around the world, freshly roasted in London. The menu features everything from sourdough pizza and healthy grain bowls to desserts and pancakes.

Brother Marcus

Trusty older Brother Marcus

Brother Marcus is one of London's most popular brunch branches, offering a light Eastern Mediterranean menu in a trendy, relaxed restaurant. The Angel branch in the Camden Passage has outdoor seating for alfresco dining, where you can enjoy specialities like lamb kofta, and warm fluffy pita dipped in creamy hummus. The brunch menu is chock full of creative classics, like harissa eggs and shakshuka, with a cocktail menu to go alongside the food.

The Breakfast Club

A legendary brunch establishment

With a name like 'The Breakfast Club', it's fair to expect big things from this iconic branch. They plate up stacks of fluffy pancakes, fully-loaded breakfast burgers and classic Full Monty breakfasts in their cosy, stylish eatery, which you won't miss down Camden Passage, thanks to its bright yellow façade.

Sunday

British specials in a trendy space

Sunday is a neighbourhood café and restaurant serving a British brunch and dinner menu in a bright, light restaurant space. It’s trendy, with mismatched tables, a pristine white-and-wood interior, and a handful of seats for an intimate dining experience. They serve a menu of changing specials, like sweet potato and salt beef hash and toasted banana bread with cinnamon butter.

Tootoomoo

A bottomless pan-Asian brunch

Enjoy creative pan-Asian cuisine at Tootoomoo in Islington, where a varied menu features everything from curry and noodles to dim sum and more, alongside meat, vegetarian, and fish dishes. It's a lively spot that also serves a delicious bottomless brunch which consists of 90 minutes of food and free-flowing drinks, all packed with pan-Asian flavours.

Bellanger – Brunch in Islington
Bellanger
Bellanger – Brunch in Islington
Bellanger
Bellanger – Brunch in Islington
Bellanger
Bellanger – Brunch in Islington
Bellanger
Bellanger – Brunch in Islington
Bellanger
Bellanger – Brunch in Islington
Bellanger

Bellanger

Mediterranean bistro-style cuisine

Enjoy Mediterranean cuisine in the heart of Islington, where the all-day menu features dishes like omelettes, sandwiches and other brunch-style plates, including a selection of salads. The restaurant is a vibrant spot with framed artwork on the wall, chequered tablecloths and spacious booths that provide ample dining space.

Frederick's

A relaxed European establishment

Head to Frederick's in Camden Passage if you’re after a relaxed European-style restaurant with a swanky contemporary bar. The menu is chock full of plant-based dishes and European classics, like salmon en croûte and beef carpaccio. There’s also a spacious garden where you can dine alfresco next to a lush grassy lawn.

Sawyer & Gray

A neighbourhood favourite

This chic restaurant in Highbury is a local favourite where you can chow down on a selection of freshly-made pasta dishes, breakfast and brunch dishes and an assortment of homemade cakes and desserts. It's a social spot where dogs are welcome, but you're not allowed to bring your laptop.

The Blue Legume

Mouthwatering Mediterranean fare

The Blue Legume is a Mediterranean restaurant serving a mouthwatering menu of breakfast and brunch dishes and à la carte and set menus chock full of paella, salads, pasta, burgers and more. It’s a trendy spot kitted out with exposed brickwork, pretty tiled flooring and shabby rustic furniture.

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Editors

At Thatsup, we have extensive experience of guiding our readers to a city’s hidden gems. Since 2008, our editors have been writing insightful guides covering restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, and hairdressers, among other things. Our guides consist of carefully selected tips based on our local knowledge and are regularly updated with the help of our focus group, where we collectively discuss selections and content. We are constantly working to inspire and provide you with the best possible experience, no matter where you are or what you are looking for.