It’s your birthday, you can cry (over the immense buffet spread) if you want to.
Trust us – we know the pressure that comes with inviting 10-20 of your best mates to celebrate your birthday with you. Will the seating plan work? Will the gluten-free options suffice? Will the compulsory ‘Happy Birthday’ sing-along be as pitchy and humiliating as last year? Upcoming party planners, listen up – if you’re looking for somewhere to pin your coat up and let your hair down this year, look no further. Here are the best spots for a birthday breakfast blowout in the capital.
Berber & Q
What birthday party is complete without strong cocktails and an epic playlist? Famous for it’s meat heavy Turkish BBQ fare and buzzy atmosphere, this dimly lit spot beneath Haggerston’s railway arches is a grill house specially built for guaranteed good times. Throw birthday traditions out the window and swap your classic birthday cake for an altogether more savoury spread – with everything from Campfire Moroccan pancakes to the Israeli breakfast featuring baba ghanoush, hummus, honeyed feta, dak dak salad, 8-minute eggs, avocado, roasted beets, tahini yoghurt & date syrup. Where can we RSVP?!
Berners Tavern
For a more high-end affair, tell your mates to dress fancy and head to Fitzrovia for all-out glamour. As well as several private dining options, this restaurant offers booths that seat up to eight, and a table for 12 in the main restaurant. You’ll be spoilt for choice with an extensive breakfast menu, and don’t miss the opportunity to get involved with the Bloody Mary ‘trolley’ which holds Classic, Mexican and Mediterranean varieties on it’s tomato-heavy trays. All guests should be on their best behaviour, as you can expect polished service and just as polished Anglo-European cooking. Finally – a birthday venue even your most bouji relatives will approve of.
The Blues Kitchen
As it’s name suggests, this restaurant/bar boasts Deep South revelry. With three locations in it’s portfolio, party animals can head south to Brixton, east to Shoreditch or north to Camden depending in on the district-specific vibe you’re after. Before you hit the dance floor (there’ll be no getting out of it here, even at brunch time), line your stomach with morning menu items such as Beef Brisket, Buttermilk Fried Chicken and Cajun Popcorn Squid. With live bands performing seven nights a week and DJs playing until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays, we suggest you set up camp for the whole day and long into the night – these hosts know how to throw a party.
Dishoom
Everyone’s favourite Indian restaurant doesn’t disappoint when it comes to group bookings, especially birthdays. This spot puts a real an emphasis on the Indian tradition of gathering around large central plates to share food (so if Dishoom is your venue of choice, we suggest striking any selfish eaters off your birthday g-list). According to it’s website, ‘this old tradition comes from a strong belief that sharing food reinforces the precious bonds of family and community.’ The brunch menu features a number of meat and veggie dishes. Highlights include the Bacon Naan Roll and The Big Bombay, featuring char-striped smoked streaky bacon, Shropshire pork sausages, abundant tofu akuri, masala beans and home-made buns.