The Breakfast Club, Angel, Islington, London

The Breakfast Club - Angel
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31 Camden Passage
Angel, Islington
London, N1 8EA
Phone: 020 7226 5454

There is something special about this brunch cafe tucked away in the back lanes of Angel, Islington. It feels very Islington - quirky and charming. The building is painted an inviting yellow, tables are covered with cheerful red checked tablecloths, and the glass conservatory breakfast room gives the whole place a light and airy feel. The staff are also extremely helpful and friendly, which is always a big plus in London.

The breakfast menu is innovative and extremely stodgy, but in a good way. The servings are very generous and meals arrive in a variety of interesting combinations. The "Big Stack" of pancakes is served with maple syrup, seasonal berries and vanilla icecream. Whilst the "All American Breakfast" features pancakes, eggs, sausage, hashbrown, streaky bacon and maple syrup. They also have simpler breakfast options such as Eggs Florentine, Eggs Benedict and the humble bacon butty.

Other interesting breakfast concoctions include "Bacon & Banana French Toast"; "Chorizo Hashbrowns"; the "Breakfast Wrap" with bacon, sausage, egg, mushrooms and 3 tomato chutney; and the "Huevos Rancheros" with fried eggs, tortilla, refried beans, chorizo, salsa, sour cream and guacamole.

If you are looking for something a little less likely to give you a heart attack they also have porridge, fresh fruit salad and mueslie & yoghurt.

Vegetarians are well looked after with two big breakfast options. "Reggie the Veggie" offers falafel, hashbrown, mushrooms, beans, grilled tomato, beans and toast. Whereas the "Veggie All American" has pancakes, eggs, falafel, mushrooms, hashbrowns and maple syrup.

You are still likely to have a heart attack though, particularly if you add one of their Bloody Mary's to the breakfast equation.

The Wolsley, Piccadilly, London

The Wolsley
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160 Piccadilly, London, W1J 9EB
020 7499 6996

Brunch at the Wolsley is a London institution. This is because no one does bacon like the Wolsley - and I mean no one! I know this is quite a grand statement to make in terms of breakfast blogging, but it is the perfection of the Wolsley bacon that keeps me going back again and again. I swear they send their chefs to bacon cooking school to perfect "The Wolsley Method" where the bacon is just the right side of crisp.

The building itself provides another reason for The Wolsley's popularity with Londoners. Previously a 1920's prestige car showroom - complete with grand pillars, Florentine arches, sweeping stairways and marble flooring - The Wolsley retains the glamour and charm of this bygone era.

Now, more on the menu. The Wolsley offers not only your usual "Full English" breakfast fare, but also other traditional English treats such as buttered crumpets, cumberland sausage sandwiches, bacon rolls, porridge, prunes with orange & ginger, and boiled eggs & soldiers.

Pancakes, fresh herb omelettes, Eggs Benedict, smoked salmon & cream cheese bagels, french toast and a wide selection of homemade pastries are also on offer as are healthier breakfast options such as granola & yoghurt, mueslie, bran flakes, pink grapefruit and fresh fruit salad.

Plus they have fantastic milkshakes... and coffee. Oh the coffee concoctions these breakfast geniuses have come up with! You have to try the "Affogato" which is Wolsley speak for espresso poured over vanilla icecream. Or perhaps the "Mozart" which consists of hazelnut liqueur, long espresso, hot chocolate with créme chantilly and almond flakes. Mmmmmmm. (And for the record, I also have to mention that they do a damn fine cream tea with fresh fruit scones, home made preserves and clotted cream... though this is only available from 3:30pm.)

Because of its grandeur, fantastic central location and mouthwatering breakfast menu, The Wolsley is extremely popular with the locals, so you might like to make a reservation. However as they also like to accommodate tourists who are visiting central London for the day, The Wolsley always keep tables available for walk-in traffic which is nice and quite unusual for this kind of up-market, London establishment.