"For the seasoned (no pun intended) gastronome, the word ‘buffet’ is often met with an air of cynicism, thanks to numerous sub-par dining experiences. Below is a list of all-you-can-eat weekend brunches which are not only delicious, but which also come with plenty of liquid refreshment.
All you can eat and drink
Having your cake and eating it. And by cake, we really mean alcohol.
Cookbook Cafe
One of the most (potentially) healthy brunches in the capital is at Cookbook cafe, nestled in the Intercontinental Park Lane, with a market table of seasonal salads. Think fresh artichoke, asparagus and butter bean with tomato. However, there’s also syrupy waffles on demand and a plethora of good ol’ fashioned English comfort food, including perfectly formed eggs Benedict and sunday roast. To offset any initial virtuous intentions, it’s impossible to resist a visit to the dessert stand, a Mecca of sugar with a whopping 12 treats (and a virtually untouched plate of fruit). Hence why we quantified this entry with ‘potentially’.
Cookbook Cafe at InterContinental London Park Lane, 1 Hamilton Place, Park Lane, London W1J 7QY. Weekend brunch is £49 on Saturdays and £55 on Sundays, 12.30-3.30pm.
Flesh & Buns
We’re firm believers that the second best thing to actually being in Japan is stuffing your face at a cracking Japanese ‘izakaya’ (their version of a pub, but tapas style). It’s a boozy affair, with a cocktail on arrival and a selection of delicious hot and cold plates, including sashimi, tempura and soft shell crab, all rounded off with a main course of hirata buns with your choice of filling. The staff are pretty attentive when it comes to topping you up with the unlimited fizz too.
Flesh & Buns, 41 Earlham St, London, WC2H 9LX. 020 7632 9500. Unlimited Sunday Brunch is available noon to 5pm. Two menus at £29 or £36 per person, both include Unlimited Prosecco, red or white wine. 2 hour time limit on all bookings.
Aqua Kyoto
If you’re all about rooftops and champagne (regardless of the weather), check out the Infinity Sundays at this Oxford Circus venue. Free flowing Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label, an endless supply of Japanese appetisers (sushi, yakitori, noodles) accompanied with amazing views across the London skyline, make this a comparatively reasonable treat, given that it circumnavigates the usually quite spendy a la carte option. After (just about) filling up on the bubbles and snacks, there’s a charcoal-grilled main and, of course, desserts.
Aqua Kyoto, 5th Floor, 240 Regent Street (Entrance on 30 Argyll Street), London, W1B 3BR. 0207 478 0540. Infinity Sundays is £55, 12-7pm, 2 hour time limit on champagne."