by Liza Chernobay, photography by Liza Chernobay
With Shrove Tuesday (aka Pancake Day) just around the corner, I have gathered a selection of the most delicious, picture-friendly and worth-your-budget pancakes London has on offer. While I have sampled many stacks in my humble lifetime, these 5 left me grinning with gastronomical delight for days! Hopefully, this article will inspire you to treat yourself and/or your significant others (besties and family included) during reading week.
Farm Girl – “The Healthiest” (which also taste great!)
Diet: Vegan, Gluten Free
Location: Notting Hill
Description: “Cherry Ripe Pancakes” are two gigantic buckwheat pancakes adorned with a generous dollop of coconut yoghurt, sour cherry compote and a cacao nib crunch. Despite being gluten free, these pancakes are incredibly fluffy and are not overbearing in sweetness.
Farm Girl is an Aussie café chain, which opened its very first branch in Notting Hill. Hidden a minute away from Portobello Road, it has a small garden which offers a much-needed city escape! I strongly suggest the Notting Hill café because for some reason, other locations use a different pancake recipe which doesn’t taste as good.
Price: £14
Mildred’s – “The most satisfying vegan pancakes”
Diet: Vegan
Location: multiple (I recommend Soho)
Description: “Forest Berry Pancakes” at Mildred’s epitomise everything you might want in a pancake: crispy edges and a soft centre with a gentle buttermilk flavour, generously layered with berry compote and served with maple cream on the side – unbelievably, they are vegan too! I have been craving them since the beginning of Lent Term and when I finally got a chance to treat myself, they didn’t fail to impress! Beware, their portions are massive, so bring a hungry friend along!
Price: £11
The Breakfast Club – “American Dream”
Diet: Vegan options available
Location: Angel/Soho
Description: Make sure to get here before 9 AM on the weekend or book a table, as otherwise you will most definitely have to queue! The Breakfast Club serves diner-style brunch throughout the day, including their famous “Blueberry Pancakes” with bacon and maple syrup. They kindly offer to make your pancakes vegan should you wish, which have a balanced ‘soft middle-crispy edge’ ratio and taste as good as the original. If you have ever wondered what being a Gilmore Girl was like, The Breakfast Club is a place to go!
Price: £13
The Locals Chelsea – “Matcha pancakes”
Diet: Hedonist (but sadly not vegan)
Location: Ealing Broadway (jokes, Chelsea)
Description: These pancakes are an ultimate transportation to the world of gastronomic delight: fluffy and chewy matcha pancakes, embellished with matcha cream, berry coulis, coconut yoghurt and fresh berries. This luxurious combination is incredibly photogenic, which explains why so many uni students enjoy gathering there for weekend brunch! For my matcha connoisseurs, I can assure you that they use high-quality matcha, so you can *actually* taste it!
Price: £ 16.5 (Chelsea prices, I know, but worth the hype!)
Megan’s – “Girls day out” pancakes
Diet: Vegan
Location: multiple
Description: I took my mum to Megan’s for Mother’s Day last year and she was in awe of their vegan pancake stack layered with bananas and chia coconut yoghurt, finished with blueberry compote, tahini drizzle and a sprinkle of crunchy pistachios and freeze-dried raspberries. This might strike you as an unusual combination, but trust me: tahini + sweetness=heaven! Megan’s has a Mediterranean flair and many locations throughout London, which is rather convenient for students living away from the city centre!
Price: £11.9
