Is it ever too early for a cocktail? The team behind Little Bat, on Islington Park Street, would answer that question with a resounding 'no' – and they've created a special brunch cocktail menu to prove it.
The result is inventive and delicious, but then you'd expect no less from the sister site of Callooh Callay, Richard Wynne's much-loved, award-winning drinking den.
There are classics – the seasonal bellini was delicate and fruity, with apricot and a garnish of thyme, and there's a fun bloody mary trolley, too – alongside more creative serves that, if you ask us, are a good way to get your weekend off to a great start.
Charlie McKay
Hungover? Self-medicate with the Dilly Dally, a tangy, juicy concoction of Barsol pisco, pickle juice, aquafaba and IPA. Health-conscious? Get your avo fix with the Avorita, a smoky, moreish drink with Derrumbes Zacatecas mezcal, avocado and coriander, the glass rimmed with flakes of salt. Sweet-toothed? Order the Elevenses, one of the menu's stars: a teacup of rich, chocolatey McVitie's Digestive rumbullion, tea and fairtrade cacao, served with a little jug of velvety cream. You can pour the cream into the cocktail, but we'd recommend sipping the tea mixture and using it as a chaser – it's easier to get the balance right, it's tasty, and it feels daringly decadent when you're drinking it bright and early at 11am.
This all sits alongside a brilliant breakfast menu that goes a bit further than what you'd usually expect. Sure, there's avocado and poached egg on toast, but there's a chickpea and potato parmesan truffle rosti, too, topped with either spinach or bacon and hollandaise. Then there's a brunch 'salad' with baked ricotta, a hazelnut crust, asparagus, pickled radish and pesto, not to mention the roasted cauliflower and smoked cheddar croquettes, topped with a chilli relish. Little Bat, we salute you: brunch will never be the same again.
54 Islington Park Street, N1 1PX; littlebatbar.com
