Berry-lliant Pancakes And Inventive Eggs Benedict: We Checked Out The Breakfast Club London's Brand New Soho Venue

I will admit that this wasn’t my first time at one of The Breakfast Club’s yellow-fronted London cafes – I’ve definitely been tempted by their stunning brunch plates in the past. So when I got the chance to try out their brand new venue on Old Compton Street, you didn’t have to ask me twice.

These cheerful little cafes are full of big flavour.

This is the third of their Soho locations, and despite it only having been open for a week when I visited, there was already a pretty hefty queue to get a table, speaking to the popularity of the brand. They’ve managed to squeeze a lot into a small space and there were an impressive number of tables, creating the bustling atmosphere that you'd expect from a city centre brunch spot. As for the interiors, think traditional British café vibes – bright yellow tabletops, quirky lamps and wooden walls adorned with vintage signs.

Although they offer a cracking selection of cocktails here, we decided that it was a little too early for us and opted for soft drinks instead. I went for a large, freshly squeezed orange juice (£7) which packed a seriously citrussy punch. Though it may be basic, this is literally one of my favourite drinks of all time and my go-to non-alcoholic bev, so when I say this was one of the most flavourful juices I’ve ever had that’s high praise indeed.

The drinks are almost as hefty as the meals on The Breakfast Club's London menu.

My partner opted for one of their signatures smoothies, the berries (£6), which was a combination of blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, banana, apple, lime and coconut – a good way to get in your five a day early doors. This was a sweet blend of tastes that wasn’t at all overpowering (despite the number of fruits in it), with a smooth, creamy texture.

The Breakfast Club’s menu is pretty extensive, so we both found it hard to choose just one of the dishes. Being more of a savoury person when it comes to brunch, I decided on the Club Med Benedict (£15), a twist on the classic dish that replaces bacon with fried halloumi, sundried tomatoes and avocado. As for the hollandaise sauce, it had all its usual appeal but with an added twist of red pesto, complementing the Mediterranean vibe of the rest of the dish beautifully. The poached eggs were cooked just the way I like, with a runny yolk that popped satisfyingly. This dish came with optional hash browns (£3), highly recommended by the waiter, that were perfectly crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

The breakfast Club Soho reviews all agree: the food here is egg-cellent.

My boyfriend chose one of their sweeter options, the classic pancakes, cream and berries (£14). Definitely one of the most Instagrammable dishes on the menu, this huge stack was fully loaded with vanilla cream for a hit of sugar, topped off by the freshest strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Like any good pancakes, they were drizzled with maple syrup as well. This is the ideal meal for anyone with a sweet tooth in the morning, but make sure you're hungry as both the dishes were absolutely huge.

However, that didn’t stop us from being tempted by the French toast dip (£5) on the side - which was also loaded with a healthy dose of maple syrup, while the bread itself was so soft and coated in icing sugar. This sweet treat had an autumnal spice to it, making me feel warm and cosy on a cold January morning.

The DesignMyNight Digest

The Breakfast Club has a pretty solid reputation to maintain, and their new venue did not disappoint. Despite how busy it was, the staff were very attentive and the food arrived really quickly, cooked to perfection every time. If you're looking for a mid-morning or early afternoon meal in Soho that's both filling and delicious, I'd highly recommend this destination.

Liked this The Breakfast Club Old Compton Street review? Keep up to date with all the latest by signing up to our newsletter.