Brunch is probably one of the best things to ever happen. Whoever had the idea to take breakfast and alcohol and smush them together, knew exactly what they were doing. As one of those people who really values sleep over food (which means I don’t really have breakfast a lot anyway), brunch is the perfect alternative. I don’t go out for brunch enough, so it feels like a really special occasion when I do and The Breakfast Club hits the spot every single time (which is three times so far but still):

One of the best things about Breakfast Club, apart from the food of course, is the décor. It looks like a homey cluttered café, brick walls covered with ’80s memorabilia – from record sleeves to a T-shirt bearing the surnames of the original Breakfast Club actors. I’ve been to three different ones now, Spitalfields, Canary Wharf and Hackney and even though each of the restaurants has similar memorabilia dotted around, they’re still distinctive on their own. For example, the Canary Wharf one is huge (and almost as confusing as Canary Wharf is as a whole) and even has a vintage arcade game while the Spitalfields is a lot smaller and more homey.

Even though they have a lunch and dinner menu, breakfast and brunch are the stars of the show: from a full English and a US variation featuring maple syrup pancakes, to a Latin American breakfast burrito. I always end up getting the same thing, just because it’s that good, the All American! This comes with pancakes, bacon, sausage, eggs and fried potatoes, it’s as amazing as it sounds. Apart from Croydon, each time I've gone, the food has taken a while to get to the table, probably because of how busy it is so I always expect the food to be lukewarm but it comes hot every time. The pancakes with the bacon taste so good but then again mixing salty and sweet always tastes great. And the potatoes, they are to die for, seriously, they're the best thing on the plate. Not only do they have great options for meat eaters but they also have great vegan and vegetarian options!

Also in great brunch form, they have a range of homemade smoothies, milkshakes and delicious cocktails. The staff at each restaurant I've been to have always been chill and friendly, the only other negative thing I can think of is some of the locations are difficult to get into, especially Spitalfields, there was literally a queue outside the door!

So if you're looking for the perfect place to nurse a hangover or just somewhere new to try, check out any of The Breakfast Club’s many locations including their ‘secret’ bars, using this link: https://www.thebreakfastclubcafes.com/locations/

Best Places to Brunch: The Breakfast Club