The biggest day in our social calendar is coming up quickly – Shrove Tuesday. We’re not sure if that’s sad or pretty damn great, but our gut tells us to stick with the latter. Are you pancake-loving people with us?
We’re no stranger to leaving things until the last minute, so this time we’ve planned ahead on where to get our special stack. Whether you’ve committed your morning to a single plate, having to wait until the weekend or you’re hotcake-hopping around town, we’ve rounded up 15 sweet spots that will have your tastebuds tingling, your followers salivating and your waistline happy to have worn those stretchy trousers. Good call.
Sunday
This glorious stack of buttermilk heaven is a sight for the sorest eyes and rarely needs a filter. Topped with berry compote, bacon, a slab of honeycomb butter and drenched in maple syrup, the salty-sweet combo never misses the spot. Find them here.
169 Hemingford Rd, London N1 1DA
NAC
Usually only on the brunch weekend menu, we’re campaigning to have this bad boy on our beloved Shrove Tuesday. Otherwise, we’re making it a whole pancake week, because these ricotta pancakes smothered in dulce de leche and topped with banana are worth the wait. Find them here.
41 North Audley St, Mayfair, London W1K 6ZP
Truth Cafe
A hidden gem in Hammersmith, Truth Cafe’s American pancakes are topped with a choice between homemade berry compote, crème fraîche, mixed berries and maple syrup, or banana, crème fraîche, nutty granola, butterscotch sauce and maple syrup. One of each, maybe? Find them here.
34 Fulham Palace Rd, London W6 9PH
Berners Tavern
Berner’s Tavern may be one of the most glamorous settings to eat your pancakes. Luckily for us, the winning combination of buttermilk pancakes, banana, Nutella and hazelnuts never make us feel out of place. Our only complaint is that there’s never enough! Find them here.
10 Berners St, Fitzrovia, London W1T 3NP
The Breakfast Club
The Breakfast Club’s annual Pancake Challenge is highlighted, bolded and underlined on our calendars every year. Support charities as you prove your worth by eating your way through 12 fluffy pancakes in under 12 minutes to claim your victory. If you win, it’s on them. If you lose, you’ll pay full price, but they donate all profits to London charities, so really it’s a win-win situation.
For those not up for the challenge, opt for their standard (but just as delicious) version, topped with berries, maple syrup and vanilla cream, or one of their insane specials. Either way, expect pride, indigestion and lots of likes. Find them here.
Various locations across London
Chiltern Firehouse
The Chiltern Firehouse is exclusive enough that if you’re not a name around town, you’ll want to book in advance. Between your champagne cocktails, you’ll be inhaling their Buttermilk Pancakes topped with blueberries and maple crème fraîche. These melt-in-the-mouth beauties are enough to get your heart racing, and there’s nothing quite like the smug location tag. Find them here.
1 Chiltern St, Marylebone, London W1U 7PA
Granger & Co.
These Ricotta Hotcakes are no stranger to the breakfast limelight, and make a perfect Shrove Tuesday choice. Paired with banana and topped with a slab of honeycomb butter, it’s no wonder why these thick hotcakes have become the most famous item on their menu. With three locations around London, these bad boys are never too far away. Find them here.
Locations in King’s Cross, Clerkenwell and Notting Hill
Hash E8
Hash E8 should be called Pancake E8 – they’re that damn good. Topped with a healthy helping of maple syrup, your mouth-watering 4 stack of Buttermilk Pancakes has the option to add on bacon, blueberry and yoghurt (pictured above) or white chocolate and banana. Sounds like breakfast, lunch and dinner to us! Find them here.
170A Dalston Ln, London E8 1NG
MUD
Although the menu changes frequently (alas, so do the pancakes), MUD can guarantee that your stack will be picture-perfect. One for those in South London, they’re also worth the trek for anyone across town. Did someone say “edible flowers”? Find them here.
Locations in Tooting and Boxpark Croydon
The Wolseley
The Wolseley’s pancakes (with bacon or berries) are like pillows of heaven. The order comes with a pouring jug of maple syrup for you to add as much as your pancake-loving heart desires. It’s best eaten alongside a steaming cup of English Breakfast tea. Find them here.
160 Piccadilly, St. James’s, London W1J 9EB
Pavilion Cafe & Bakery
It may not be the Summer sunshine you’ll be sitting under, but the winter sun and gorgeous view of the lake as you eat your pancakes works wonders for us (or, you know, eat inside). Located in Victoria Park in East London, their menu is subject to change, but the pancakes will always be a winner. Find them here.
Victoria Park, Crown Gate West, Bow, London E9 7DE
My Old Dutch
The house of pancakes in London, you can’t ever go wrong at My Old Dutch because there are just so many damn options. Maple syrup and butter? A classic. Apple and bacon? Yes please. It’s all about their specials though, because if ‘Marshmallow Lover’ and ‘Star-Treck on Nutella’ pancake with a Fresh Apple Pie Milkshake on the side doesn’t appeal to you, nothing will. Find them here.
Various locations across London
The Riding House Cafe
There’s nothing about these Buttermilk Pancakes with berries, vanilla clotted cream and maple syrup that doesn’t make us tingle all over. Along with the soft and fluffy stack, we could eat that vanilla clotted cream. Every. Single. Day. And especially on Shrove Tuesday. Find them here.
43-51 Great Titchfield St, Fitzrovia, London W1W 7PQ
The Book Club
If The Book Club’s standard pancakes with caramel sauce, banana, fresh berries, blossom honey and berry compote wasn’t already enough for you, they’re launching a special menu dedicated to this beloved day. Their Instagram spoiler teases some thick stacks, chocolate sauce and peanut butter cups. Oh mama. Find them here.
100-106 Leonard St, London EC2A 4RH
OPSO
If you have to wait until the weekend to celebrate your favourite day, this one is for you, as OPSO’s brunch is strictly weekend-only. Greece inspired and London made, the trick of choosing between the ‘cream cheese, strawberry jam & fresh berries’ and the ‘praline spread & hazelnuts’ is ordering them both. They’re almost too stunning to eat. Almost. Find them here.
10 Paddington St, Marylebone, London W1U 5QL
Header Credit: @teamfatfat + @eatlondoff