Ever since I read Breakfast At The Wolseley by A. A. Gill, I’ve been desperately trying to plan a visit there on one of my trips to London. Finally, at the end of last month, I managed to get in and partake of their rightly famous morning spreads.
The history of The Wolseley actually doesn’t stretch back as far as you would imagine, as A. A. Gill explains in the beginning of the book – it was only opened as a restaurant in 2003, but before then was actually built as a car showroom by The Wolseley Car Company in 1921!
Since then, breakfast at The Wolseley has become something of an institution, and given its surroundings – next to The Ritz and Green Park, and just across the green from Buckingham Palace – it’s certainly a great spot to visit if you want to soak in some Piccadilly grandeur at a reasonable price.
(Pink Henriettas, French Sole – sold out, similar here / Oak Bryn, Mulberry – sold out, similar here)
The bar area is where you’ll find yourself waiting for a table to be free if you haven’t booked or have arrived early. Luckily it offers you the opportunity to take a photo of the beautiful floor, immortalised on the front cover of A. A. Gill’s book!
You can also find some the beautiful viennoiserie on display here, as well as cannelès and even a basket of hard boiled eggs. If you fancy something to quench your thirst, order the juice of the day – it was pear when we visited, and incredibly delicious.
Unlike the majority of London’s cafes and restaurants who sell breakfast pastries, The Wolseley has its own tourier, whose job it is to produce the dough. This sounds like a simple job, but as The Wolseley proves, this is an art which you simply cannot appreciate if all you’ve ever eaten are sad, soggy croissants and rolls from the local supermarket.
Take a moment to appreciate the delicate layers of this gorgeous croissant! The viennoiserie at The Wolseley should definitely be on your order when you visit, even if it is a plain croissant. The almond variety was equally spectacular. I think I’m ruined for croissants for life now.
Another great drink to order is the hot chocolate, which you can mix at the table with a thick, rich chocolate sauce, and frothy milk. Very indulgent – and incredibly delicious!
And here’s the piece de resistance – smoked haddock fishcakes topped with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce. Rich, smoky fish bound in mashed potatoes, with perfectly runny, soft eggs, and a generous portion of the sauce, all perfectly seasoned and utterly delicious. If you eat well at The Wolseley for breakfast, there’s no need to plan for lunch!
(Chiffon shirt, Hush – sold out, similar here / Earrings, Azuni)
The face of a happy (and very full) diner!
You can book for breakfast at The Wolseley here. The restaurant is located at 160 Piccadilly, London W1J 9EB. Find the website at www.thewolseley.com.
You can purchase Breakfast At The Wolseley by A. A. Gill at the restaurant itself for £12.99, direct from their site shop (along with other items like teapots and afternoon tea vouchers) here. Or you can buy it from Amazon slightly cheaper here.
Like my posts? Find me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Polyvore for even more content!
I love your post! Ñamm ñamm
Beautiful pics 🙂
Kisses from Ibiza
http://dresstoimpressibiza.blogspot.com.es/
LikeLike
Thank you! It’s easy to take good pics when there are so many beautiful things to photograph!
LikeLike
Omg i just had dinner, but yet my mouth is watering! I definitely wouldn’t mind having that plate of smoked haddock, it looks scrumptious!
Lots of Love,
Ana
x
anasofiachic.blogspot.co.uk
LikeLike
Nice place, everything looks delicious!
KARAMODE
LikeLike
It certainly was! Thanks for visiting!
LikeLike
OH MY!!! Those eggs and that Hot Chocolate!!! I am HUNGRY! What a lovely post – so much more enjoyable and special to visit places that have history! Love it x
Tatyana
Secret little Stars
http://www.secretlittlestars.com
LikeLike
Thank you! I feel pretty hungry myself now…
LikeLike
Just found your blog! Loved the images and the croissant looks absolutely divine! I’m looking forward to more posts. I also just followed you on Bloglovin if you could do the same!
LikeLike
Thanks Laura, I’ve followed you too! I look forward to new posts!
LikeLike
Wow, I’m so jealous that you got to visit this amazing place! The food looks amazing and the decor is just lovely! It’s always cool to visit places that you’ve read or studied about before– I am a History student and once studied Chinese history. Therefore, it was super cool that visit China for the first time last week and visit some of the places I had once just read about for school!
xx Debbie
http://www.whatdoffydoes.com
LikeLike
That’s amazing, Debbie! I felt the same way when I went to Japan for the first time… It’s incredible to see everything in person!
LikeLike
OMG I WANNA GO… Food and pics look great. Question – is the book a recipe book? http://www.beautyjunkkie.com
LikeLike
I meant to talk about the book more but I totally forgot! It has a mixture of recipes and discussion about the restaurant. It’s actually a great little book. The smoked haddock fish cake recipe is in there, for example!
LikeLike
Beautiful pics!
Kisses
http://www.summerwine.es/
LikeLike
Thank you so much! x
LikeLike
Lovely place to have breakfast !
xx
http://www.sweet-freckles.com
LikeLike
It really is! I really had a hard time picking from the menu, I have to go back! 😀
LikeLike
Oh my! I’d love to eat there, too! It really looks amazing. So delicious!
♘ http://www.sugarpopfashion.com ♘
LikeLike
Yeah, I definitely recommend it! Thanks for visiting!
LikeLike
OMG what a cute place to sin with all this sweets!! 🙂
Melange-Boutique Blog by Noe&Lolita
LikeLike
It’s definitely a great place to visit if you’re in London – and cheaper than The Ritz! 😉
LikeLike
Wow this place looks adorable, I want to go! lovely blog posts and layout.
If you get the chance, please take a look at my blog, leave me a comment and maybe a follow? any feedback is much appreciated. thankyou! its Littlemisscazzie.blogspot.com x
LikeLike
Thank you! I will check out your blog – please feel free to follow me too! 😀
LikeLike
great photos, dear 🙂
Saci
ChocolateFashionCoffee
ChocolateFashionCoffee Facebook Page
ChocolateFashionCoffee INSTAGRAM!!!
LikeLike
Thank you so much! ❤
LikeLike
looks super delicious
http://www.thefashionfraction.com
http://www.thefashionfraction.com
LikeLike
Everything looks, and sounds divine. You’ve got me craving almond croissants now too!
Chic on the Cheap
LikeLike
Oh, you can’t beat a good almond croissant! They’re my breakfast weakness!
LikeLike
Such a beautiful place!! And everything looks delicious!!
xoxo
Style and Paper
Bloglovin
LikeLike
It really was, I’m definitely going back!
LikeLike
i’ve never been!! but looks so good!!
xx
is
http://www.un-likely.com
LikeLike
Delicious!!! Amazing place!!!!!
Ciao bellissima!!!
Kisses
http://expressyourselfbypaolalauretano.blogspot.it
LikeLike
wowie! This Location Looks great!
Lena
http://skinnycature.com/2014/07/16/thomas-sabo-press-cocktail-berlin/
LikeLike
Really nice pictures! Looks great!
Have a nice day, dear!
❤
http://theshimmeroflife.blogspot.de/
LikeLike
Muy bonito post!!
Bss
http://unvestidorconideas.blogspot.com.es/
LikeLike
Thanks very much!
LikeLike
unas fotos geniales me encantan.Un besazo
http://www.thedesire.es/
http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/10612739
LikeLike
Nice post!!! xx
http://www.trendsgalleryblog.blogspot.com
LikeLike
Looks like some really lovely food! Yum!
http://www.sarahprowse.co.uk/
LikeLike
amazing photos, looks yummy!
Click to see my summertime escape
Love, chantilly voeux.
LikeLike
This looks like the most beautiful restaurant. I would love to eat breakfast there and sip on a coffee. Everything looks divine! And thanks so much for stopping by my blog. Really appreciate it!
Warmest,
Mindy
http://www.ArcLineSpace.com
LikeLike
Love your blog! And this looks really nice 🙂
http://www.paseandoamissreichel.com – New new post ❤
LikeLike
Gorgeous pictures!! Looks heavenly!!
xx. Michelle
http://www.themichmix.com
LikeLike
Wow! This restaurant looks amazing, and I love all of your pictures. I’m really craving that hot chocolate at the moment, since it looks simply delicious!
-Helen Grace
http://www.sweethelengrace.com
LikeLike
That place looks amazing! Love the photos too.
http://blogthebutterfly.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
cuisine looks yum!
Kisses
Manasi
http://www.indianfashionandlifestyle.com/
LikeLike
Oh my goodness, we are drooling. Everything looks way too incredible!
xx 365hangers
LikeLike
nice!
http://blondieanchors.com/
LikeLike
Very nice place, I would like to go there 😉
http://oneusefashion.wordpress.com/
LikeLike
Lovely post, those croissants look amazing! I wish I had eaten breakfast here when I was in London, but maybe the next time! 🙂
Love, Rachel
http://www.herheadintheclouds.com
LikeLike
Ohhh my goodness this looks amazing– dying for a darling little (or big) breakfast like this now!
xx, Emily
shell chic’d
LikeLike
Looks like such a great great spot! Great photos.
LikeLike
Aaah definitely want to go here, it’s on my list!
Ally x
http://itisalltherage.blogspot.co.uk
LikeLike
Nice photos! It looks like a very lovely place
http://www.stylevanity.com
LikeLike
Great post.
me-andmybag
LikeLike
what a beautiful place! those pastries look AMAZING and i’d love to try the hot chocolate. looks so decadent!
xo,
gabby
http://www.likealittlefox.blogspot.com
LikeLike
what a beautiful place! the pastries look AMAZING and i’d love to try the hot chocolate. it looks so decadent!
xo,
gabby
http://www.likealittlefox.blogspot.com
LikeLike
wow!!! fancy!!! 😀
Animated Confessions
LikeLike
Looks so posh and the food so yummy.
x
Stella from a A Shiny Place
LikeLike
wow that hot chocolate looks delicious indulgent!
http://heyprettything.com
LikeLike
I’ve wanted to check out the Wolseley for so long and am now that I’m in Edinburgh, I’m just going to do so vicariously through your post!
http://www.quirkylifestyle.com/
LikeLike
they look so yummy,
http://www.calluswhatever.com/
New Post: SILK
xo,
-Anita
LikeLike
What a lovely place for having breakfast ….looks very pretty ❤
http://www.theeche.com
LikeLike
Oh yum – this looks delicious!
I’ve walked past loads of times, but never thought to go in.
Hmm maybe…
LikeLike
my all time favourite spot in London, I am in there way too much! the breakfast is awesome, and afternoon tea is even better xxx
Thanks for visiting my blog!
http://fashionunhinged.co.uk/
xxxx
LikeLike
I love the breakfast here! This is one of my favourite spots in London, I am there way too much! Afternoon tea is delightful xx
Thanks for visiting my blog!
http://fashionunhinged.co.uk/
xxxx
LikeLike