If you’re having a crêpe week, there’s nothing like a pancake to cheer you up. The simple, traditional variety can easily be made at home, and dare we say it, can be a little dull. So, you might as well venture out to a restaurant where chefs have been busy cooking up stacks that are truly inspired/bonkers (delete as appropriate). If you’re looking for some flipping good options this Pancake Day, whisk yourself off to one of these London spots and get stuck in.
Asia De Cuba, Covent Garden
What: Find yourself in a pancake paradise this Shrove Tuesday, by stopping by Asia De Cuba, which is serving up a pancake soufflé to mark the big day. Featuring an oozing filling of rum and coconut, the soufflé also comes topped with a rich hot chocolate sauce. Now, that’s what we call a classy way to get battered.
Where: St Martins Lane Hotel, 45 St Martin's Lane, WC2N 4HX
How much: £8
Aviary, City
What: If you find maple syrup just isn’t sweet enough, opt for City rooftop bar and restaurant Aviary this pancake day. It’s turning out a sweet-toothed Terry’s Chocolate Orange creation which is filled with a generous helping of chocolate mousse, popping candy caramel and vanilla ice cream – guaranteed to cause a sugar high.
Where: 22-25 Finsbury Square, EC2A 1DX
How much: £6.50
The Book Club, Shoreditch
What: Known for its off-the-wall events (they once held a baby shower to mark Beyoncé’s pregnancy) The Book Club’s offering is an Espresso Martini stack. The boozy concoction comprises fluffy pancakes sandwiched together with Kahlua cream, espresso and vodka and chocolate sauce. Three coffee beans atop the stack act as a garnish, naturally.
Where: 100-106 Leonard Street, EC2A 4RH
How much: £8
Christopher’s, Covent Garden
What: American’s aren’t exactly known for their subtlety, and US-inspired Christopher’s is proving that with its savoury lobster pancake. Diners can tuck into an indulgent mix of grilled lobster with sea kale and chorizo, served on top of a purple sweet potato pancake. We’ll take five please.
Where: 18 Wellington Street, WC2E 7DD
How much: £26
Dirty Bones Kensington and Shoreditch
What: If you’d rather save your celebrations until the weekend, try out Dirty Bones’s new brunch offering, available at the Kensington and Shoreditch sites. The menu includes the Double Dutch pancake, which is a deep dish pancake topped with fresh clotted cream, blueberries, and a shot of maple syrup.
Where: 20 Kensington Church Street, W8 4EP; 1 Club Row, E1 6JX
How much: £8
Farm Girl Portobello Road, Notting Hill
What: If you’ve managed to keep on top of that New Year’s health kick (major props to you), you might consider Farm Girl for pancake feasting. We like the look of its apple pancakes – a buckwheat pancake mix served with maple syrup, apple and cinnamon and sprinkled with coconut shavings.
Where: 9 Park Walk, SW10 0AJ; 59a Portobello Road, W11 3DB
How much: £12
Hoppers, Marylebone and Soho
What: At both Hoppers sites, you can find a one-off sweet version of its staple hopper. The jaggery milk hopper is made of coconut and filled with a delicious coconut cream, then finished with a sprinkling of kithul jaggery (otherwise known as unrefined cane sugar). Instagram this one for extra cool points among your food-loving friends.
Where: 77 Wigmore Street, W1U 1QE; 49 Frith Street, W1D 4SG
How much: £5
Long Bar at Sanderson, Fitzrovia
What: If you prefer your lemons on top of shot glasses rather than in pancakes, make your way to Long Bar, where you can find the Shrove It Don’t Shove It cocktail: a sip designed to taste like pancakes with blueberries, lemon and maple syrup, which comes served with a dash of mustika liqueur, topped with fresh cream for good measure.
Where: The Sanderson, 50 Berners Street, W1T 3NG
How much: £14
Mac & Wild, City and Fitzrovia
What: In case you didn’t realise, Mac & Wild is an ode to all things Scottish and that includes its pancake offering. For mains, it’s dishing up a fried, haggis-filled variety, while dessert is taken care of via a deep-fried Mars Bar option: Scotch pancakes with Mars Bar bites, salted caramel ice cream, whisky toffee sauce and a topping of candied bacon bits.
Where: 9A Devonshire Square, EC2M 4YN; 65 Great Titchfield Street, W1W 7PS
How much: £8
Polo Bar, City
What: 24-hour restaurant Polo Bar has teamed up with Jude’s Ice Cream to create a collection of Shrove Tuesday eats which make Lady Gaga’s wardrobe seem subtle. Take the red velvet & cherry ripple, which unites red velvet pancakes with cherry ripple ice cream, glacé cherries and vanilla cream, and comes topped with a hefty slice of red velvet cake.
Where: 176 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4NQ
How much: £12
If you want to enjoy pancakes and the like all year round, check out our list of the best breakfasts in London, or get ahead on your weekend planning with great restaurants for weekend brunches in the capital.