King’s Cross Brunch Guide – Top Spots for a Late Morning Feast

Best Brunch Near King’s Cross

Following my ‘brunch in Bloomsbury’ blog where I shared my family’s recommendations on the best places to experience this trendy dining phenomenon, I thought I’d go a bit further afield and provide a few suggestions for the best brunch near King’s Cross too.

What is “Brunch”?

As I explored in my Bloomsbury brunch blog, brunch basically started out as a quick snack to bridge the gap between an early breakfast and a late lunch.

But now – especially here in West London – it’s turned into a weekend tradition where people meet up specifically for the “brunch experience”. This can be anything from a classic Full English, to any number of variations of things-on-sourdough or egg-or avocado-based creations, to specialities like shakshuka and fried chicken benedict. All washed down with anything from iced tea to bottomless Prosecco, Bloody Mary or maybe even a cocktail (or mocktail) or two.

So here are a few recommendations from me for brunch places near King’s Cross.

Brunch at Granary Square

I’ve talked about Granary Square in my Kings Cross Things to do blog, and I always recommend a visit here to anyone staying at the Mentone.

You can think of Granary Square as the heart of King’s Cross. It’s a Grade II listed building situated on the banks of Regent’s Canal. A former Victorian grain store, it’s now most famous for its 1,000 fountains which ‘dance’ and light up. It’s quite a thing to see, especially at night.

There are loads of places to eat and drink here, and they all have outdoor terraces, so you can enjoy a bit of that holiday-style, al-fresco dining in the spring and summer.

As far as brunch near King’s Cross at Granary Square goes, I’d say have a look at these:

Caravan King’s Cross

1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA
Weekend brunch served Saturday & Sunday 9am-3.45pm
Website

The very first restaurant to open at King’s Cross, Caravan is a really popular place to get together for brunch near King’s Cross.

Set in stripped-back warehouse-style surrounds, it’s very much about the sharing experience. Dishes include things like jalapeño cornbread with chipotle butter, coriander and lime, and jamón and smoked San Simon croquettes with saffron aioli.

There’s also a range of grains and bowls, as well as your token things-on-sourdough which include hot-smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, and smashed avocado with optional poached egg.

Bigger brunch plates include ricotta pancakes; peanut butter and blueberry jam brioche French toast; Korean style buttermilk fried chicken; Dingley Dell pork schnitzel, and chargrilled lamb Barnsley chop with crushed new potatoes, salsa verde and preserved lemon yoghurt.

Naturally brunch wouldn’t be brunch without the fry-up, which at Caravan comes in the shape of a meat lover’s option and a veggie alternative.

There’s even a pudding course, offering up things like caramelised brioche with miso caramel and vanilla ice cream, and warm boiled orange and almond cake with blueberry compote.

Granary Square Brasserie

1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AB
Weekend brunch served Saturday & Sunday and bank holidays 11am-3.45pm
Website

This is brunch with a difference, because here you have DJs taking to the decks for a musical soundtrack to your weekend treat.

On offer you’ll find traditional classics like eggs benedict, and buttermilk pancakes with red berry sauce. Eggs Royale with smoked salmon is a favourite according to all accounts. But there are some interesting takes on brunch with the likes of salt and pepper squid tempura, Rendang duck curry, lobster linguine, and blackened cod fillet.

The full menu is here – it’s pretty extensive – so prepare yourself if you find it tricky to choose.

The Lighterman

3 Granary Square, London N1C 4BH
Website

As far as brunch places near King’s Cross go, The Lighterman is a very nice-looking restaurant with floor to ceiling glass walls and wrap-around terraces offering lovely views over the Regents Canal on one side, and Granary Square on the other.

Brunch is available on weekends, with some dishes available from 10am and others from midday.

Get stuck into the likes of house pancakes with mixed berries; sweetcorn and courgette fritters with avocado, feta and poached egg; eggs benedict with honey glazed ham on a toasted muffin; fried chicken benedict with sriracha hollandaise and a poached egg on a toasted muffin, or scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, dill cream and a toasted brioche.

If you’re into flatbreads you won’t go far wrong. Creations include buffalo mozzarella and tomato; roasted butternut squash with macadamia cheese, chestnuts and crispy sage; Atlantic shrimp, harissa, pickled shallots, mozzarella and fresh chives, or Suffolk chorizo, fennel, smoked mozzarella and chilli.

Quite a few unusual things to try, so maybe worth booking a table here if you’re looking for brunch near King’s Cross that involves things other than sourdough specials.

Brunch at Coal Drops Yard

Coal Drops Yard just off Granary Square has more than 50 shops, bars, cafés and restaurants, with a few pretty good places to seek out if you’re on the hunt for the best brunch near King’s Cross.

Here are a few suggestions:

Morty & Bob’s

49 Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ
Website

If you’re into your toasties – or ‘grilled cheese sandwiches’ to give them their ‘posh’ name – then Morty & Bob’s is the place to go. This all-day café and bar has a secret weapon – its signature cheese sauce which is apparently classed as ‘legendary’.

On the brunch menu, there’s wild mushroom toast with grilled focaccia, Portobello, oyster and chestnut mushrooms, fried egg, rocket and hazelnut pesto. Or maybe try the smoked salmon bagel plate with ‘Secret Smokehouse^TM salmon, whipped chive cream cheese, tomato, red onion, capers and pickles.

There’s also a bacon brunch bun with soft scrambled eggs, smoked streaky bacon, parmesan and harissa aioli on a demi brioche bun with fries, or swap the bacon for house cured salmon for the fish-lovers’ alternative.

Or if you’re really hungry, opt for ‘Bob’s Big Breakfast’. This comprises poached eggs, streaky bacon, HG Walter^TM country pork sausage, house baked beans, grilled tomato, Portobello mushrooms, hash browns and toasted sourdough.

If you’re into your grilled cheese sandwiches, glance over lunch menu to check out your options there.

Vermuteria

38/39 Coal Drops Yard, London N1C 4DQ
Website

Apparently inspired by the bars and restaurants found along the grand tour cycling routes of Spain, France and Italy, this nice little restaurant has one of those ever-changing menus that works with current seasonal ingredients. It’s very much Mediterranean-influenced, so expect all those things you’d usually get on your continental holidays.

Brunch/breakfast is served Saturday from 10am to 12pm and Sunday from 11am to 12pm. But if you’re a late riser, maybe just head in for lunch from 12 until close (10-11pm depending on the day) where you’ll find plenty to remind you of your last adventure abroad, such as Tuscan salami with fennel seeds, mixed charcuterie, all sorts of croquettes, sausages of many kinds, and grilled Provençal veggies.

Brunch (or breakfast as it’s listed on the menu) options include a selection of croissants and pastries; sourdough specials featuring the likes of black pudding and poached eggs, or sautéed mushrooms and fried duck egg, and the Vermuteria Full Breakfast made up of Cumberland sausage, poached egg, sautéed mushrooms, bacon, tomato and toasted sourdough.

As brunch places near King’s Cross go, and if you’re into your Mediterranean food, it’s definitely one to put on your list.

German Gymnasium

1 King’s Blvd, London N1C 4BU
Website

This restaurant is a personal family favourite, and it’s no surprise to us that it once held the title of ‘Most Beautiful Restaurant in the World’. The setting is very striking, a Grade II listed historical building which was originally opened in 1865 for the German Gymnastics Society and hosted London’s first indoor Olympic Games in 1866.

The Victorian architecture and grand vaulted ceiling are something else. There are three floors, and it’s on the ground floor where you’ll find the Grand Café which is where you’ll get your brunch at weekends. There’s an open kitchen, a lovely bar, and outside there’s a gin garden with covered seating.

Trust me you won’t be able to stop snapping away with the phone camera, the surroundings are so fantastic. And the food is pretty special too, with German and Central European influences.

Looking specifically at the brunch menu, it’s quite extensive so you might want to check it out and make your choices before you arrive, or you could be there a while.

German Gymnasium Brunch Menu

There’s a variety of breakfasts including the GG Breakfast with eggs, grilled Nürnberger sausages, dry cured crispy bacon, tomato and potato rösti. Or the GG Benedict with black forest ham, poached egg, hollandaise and potato rösti,. There’s also the GG Arlington, which is the same as the Benedict but just swaps the ham for smoked salmon.

Obviously with the German influence, there’s an extensive sausage selection too. Maybe try the Münchener Weißwurst (poached pork & veal sausage with parsley sweet mustard), or the Smoked Schinkenknacker (smoked & grilled pork sausage, Sauerkraut, potato purée and crispy onions). Or perhaps the Käsekrainer (smoked & grilled cheese pork sausage, Sauerkraut, truffled potato purée and crispy onions).

Or maybe just go all out and treat yourself to some oysters or Oscietra caviar.

Plant-based options get a good look in too, from green wheat salad with feta cheese, watermelon, asparagus, hazelnuts and a lemon mustard dressing, to vegan schnitzel, and ‘redefine’ beef burger, lamb kofta or beef flank steak.

I would wholeheartedly recommend a visit here if you’re looking for a memorable brunch near King’s Cross, or any meal for that matter.

Coal Office

2 Bagley Walk, London N1C 4PQ
Website

Again if you’re looking for brunch near King’s Cross with a difference, this could be a good one to try. Coal Office specialises in Middle Eastern cuisine, and it’s set in striking industrial-style surroundings, with an outdoor terrace overlooking Coal Drops Yard and Granary Square.

Brunch is served at weekends. Typical plates include Tarteri Oto (aubergine tartare with aubergine cream, parsley and chilli), Al Ha’Oketz (blue fin tuna carpaccio with Granny Smith, Urfa chilli, horseradish and lime), Kevin Katotz (chicken liver, hazeret, shallots and sourdough), Tripolitait (crispy stone bass, seared artichokes, pink fir potatoes, olives and crème fraiche), or Shisklik Tamnon (Cornish octopus, braised radish, crispy lachuch, pomegranate, truffle and harissa).

Coal Office brunch menu

Rails

Great Northern Hotel, London N1C 4TB
Website

This cosy little restaurant looks very much like a Parisian café and is located on the first floor of the Great Northern Hotel at King’s Cross Station.

They offer a special Sunday Brunch experience which they serve between 12pm and 5pm.

Highlights include their famous Croque Monsieur, and the Rails Burrito with chorizo, scrambled egg, avocado, applewood smoked cheddar and chipotle mayo. Or to share, there’s baked brie in a sourdough bread bowl with walnuts and honey; roasted whole Cotswold chicken; veal chop Milanese with fried duck eggs, or a kale and roasted pumpkin superfood salad.

Rails Sunday Brunch Menu

Visiting London King’s Cross? We look forward to welcoming you at the Mentone Hotel.

If you’d like to make a booking at The Mentone, please get in touch. All direct bookings benefit from a 10% discount and complimentary breakfast. And we’ll be delighted to direct you to the best brunch near King’s Cross too, so you can see for yourself what this popular London dining trend is all about!

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