11 best brunch spots in Balham If you want to go for brunch in Balham, then the great news is that you’re spoiled for choice in this part of South London. Balham High Road and the area around it is thronged with great venues for that weekend, hen party or drag brunch in Balham you’ve been planning. Whether you prefer a meatless version of the full English, Middle Eastern flavours, sweeter options or are all about those bottomless brunch drinks, one of the following Balham eateries is sure to tickle your fancy. 1. The Apple Blue View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Apple Blue (@theapplebluebalham) 212 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BS Located on Balham High Road, The Apple Blue is one of those brunch places in Balham that can feed you on a daily basis. It’s walk-ins only here between 9am and 3:30pm, so get in early if you want to bag a table. Just take a look at The Apple Blue’s Instagram if you want to whet your appetite. As well as cooked dishes, the cafe does a great line in lattes and sweet treats. There are some inventive and very photogenic dishes to pick from here. 2. Nata’s Coffee Bar 19 Balham High Road, London SW12 9AL Nata’s Coffee Bar serves fabulous organic coffee and is also one of those venues vying for the title of best brunch in Balham. This little independent place is all pared-back brickwork and distressed wood inside. Brunch options here include a full English, baked eggs or Eggs Royale, or you can pick more unusual dishes like Spanish patatas bravas with chorizo or Picadinho made with sirloin steak, olives, mushrooms and a creamy sauce. 3. The Cyclist View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Cyclist (@cyclistbalham) 194 Balham High Road, London SW12 9BP You don’t have to arrive on two wheels to take a table at The Cyclist. Somewhat unusually this one’s a pub, and come Saturday it’s one of the top Balham brunch places around. You can order a Mimosa, Bloody Mary, Espresso Martini or Aperol Spritz – or grab a drink from the bar. The Saturday brunch menu includes the likes of a full vegan or meaty English: eggs Benedict, Royale or Florentine; pancakes with salty bacon and sweet maple syrup or portobello mushrooms on sourdough. Ideal for those seeking a vegan brunch in Balham. 4. Heart of Balham View this post on Instagram A post shared by heart of balham (@heartofbalham) 113 Balham High Road, London SW12 9AP Great coffee and a menu offering British, North African and Middle Eastern cuisine – what’s not to love about this Balham High Road eatery? You can see from their Insta feed that this place takes presentation as seriously as flavour. Whether it’s pancakes topped with generous heaps of fruit, a pep-me-up smoothie, a packed platter of breakfast favourites or a perfectly poured coffee, this is one of the best brunch places in Balham. 5. The Exhibit View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Exhibit (@theexhibitbar) 12 Balham Station Road, London SW12 9SG The Exhibit stands out among Balham brunch spots as it’s a multi-purpose space offering events, a cinema, a bar and a restaurant. It’s a bright, light and airy spot with a smart mezzanine eatery. The brunch and lunch menu is served all day on Sundays or 4pm on other days. This includes an option for those who fancy partaking of a bottomless brunch in Balham, and this covers any brunch dish plus 90 minutes’ worth of white or rosé prosecco, Aperol spritz or Heinekeen beer. 6. Foxcroft & Ginger View this post on Instagram A post shared by Foxcroft & Ginger (@foxcroftandginger) 8 Ritherdon Road, London SW17 8QD Foxcroft & Ginger makes some pretty impressive promises. They want to provide guests with a ‘kick-ass’ brunch that will blow ‘your socks off’. Can they deliver? If you love ethically-sourced coffee and inventive cocktails, then yes, this place most certainly can. As for the food, you can pick between lighter, sweeter options like porridge or banana bread, or go all-out for a veggie or meat-based cooked breakfast. For something spicier, try shakshuka or huevos rancheros. A solid choice for brunch in Balham, London. 7. Milk View this post on Instagram A post shared by Milk (@milkcoffeeldn) 18-20 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9RG For artisan coffee and an interesting menu, try Milk cafe on Bedford Hill that opened back in 2012. Even the toast isn’t run of the mill, as it comes as cornbread or sourdough served with Bermondsey Street honey or ‘nutzilla’. Inventive names are the order of the day here, where you can choose between Sweet Maria, Convict, Young Betty and Gaia. The Hangover sauce and Secret Recipe granola are must-tries too. 8. Brickwood Coffee & Bread View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brickwood London (@brickwoodldn) 11 Hildreth Street, London SW12 9RQ Tucked away on Hildreth Street in Balham is Brickwood Coffee & Bread. It’s one of five spread across south London, and all take walk-ins only. Whether you want a boozy brunch in Balham or something more saintly, Brickwood can supply it. Stand-out dishes on the menu include the chocolate chia pudding, the brekkie burritos, a bean and chilli cornbread, a snag burger or the chocolate bomb banana bread. With Australian and Mexican influences, this is a selection with something for everyone. 9. Hache Burgers Balham View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hache Burgers (@hacheburgers) 37 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9EY Hache Balham is a French-style brasserie serving up more than just meat patties. This is another of those spots for a Balham bottomless brunch, and the menu here includes unlimited Bloody Mary, Cherry Bomb spritz or prosecco for 90 minutes. There is also a ‘no boozy’ option served with coffee or old school lemonade. You can have two courses as part of your bottomless brunch. Whether to start with croque monsieur arancini or chargrilled halloumi before moving onto a VLT or breakfast burger is down to you. 10. Daisy View this post on Instagram A post shared by Daisy (@daisy_balham) 57-59 Balham Hill, London SW12 9DR Daisy on Balham Hill is a fresh eatery and deli offering Saturday and Sunday brunch between 9am and 4pm. This menu includes an appealing list of cocktails such as Velvet Smoke, Devil’s Cafe or Calva Collins. Food-wise, the brunch options include hearty dishes like a spicy chicken sandwich or sausage, biscuit and gravy. Lighter bites, meanwhile, include butternut squash or wedge salads, maple granola and French toast. 11. Megan’s on the Hill View this post on Instagram A post shared by Megan’s 💙 (@megansrestaurants) 41-43 Bedford Hill, London SW12 9EY The gorgeous interior and delicious food makes this a popular spot for brunch in Balham. With lots of baby blue and white, it has a fresh and feminine look that’s very photogenic indeed. As well as Megan’s on the Hill, there are numerous other branches in London and beyond. The menu here has a Greek to Middle Eastern slant, with regional specialities like the Turkish brunch feast, calamari or hummus. If you like baked eggs, be sure to try the shakshuka, shakshoumi or shakshorizo dishes. If you want a pamper session before your brunch in Balham, book in for a professional make-up session, or get your lashes and brows done. Book treatments
