After COVID restrictions put last year’s celebrations on hold, we’re pulling out all the stops to make this Mother’s Day one to remember. With restaurants open and restrictions lifted, we can once again meet up safely to enjoy fabulous food and make special memories with our nearest and dearest.
This Mother’s Day, leave the cooking to the experts and treat mum to a dining experience that’s as special as she is. We’ve rounded up some of the best experiences to book now in London, from traditional Sunday roasts to luxurious afternoon teas.
Top spots for brunch
Farzi Café – If you’re in the mood for something a little different, head to Farzi Café near Piccadilly Circus for bottomless brunch with a modern Indian twist. On their Mother’s Day menu, you’ll find familiar favourites like lamb shank vindaloo and paneer butter masala alongside spiced-up brunch classics like eggs Royale with kadhai hollandaise. Upgrade to bottomless drinks for £22pp and enjoy unlimited beer, wine, Prosecco or sparkling cocktails for two hours. Book now.
The Montagu Kitchen – What better way to spoil your mum than with a sumptuous buffet brunch at a five-star hotel? At the Hyatt Regency – The Churchill, their Mother’s Day brunch includes two hours of free-flowing Champagne, live music, and a Newby tea goodie bag for mums to take home. The hotel is an easy stroll from Oxford Street, so it’s ideal if you plan on hitting the shops later. Book now.
Theo Randall at The Intercontinental – A regular fixture on our TV screens and cookbook shelves, Theo Randall has established himself as one of London’s most accomplished chefs. On March 27th, his award-winning Park Lane restaurant is serving a family-style Italian feast accompanied by live music. It begins with a trip to the antipasti table, followed by rotolo di spinachi to share and a choice of mains including roast lamb with caponata and sea bream with capers, tomatoes and white wine. Priced at £75pp, the menu includes dessert and bottomless Prosecco, Negroni, or Aperol Spritz for 90 minutes. Book now.
Traditional afternoon tea
Mr White’s – World-renowned chef Marco Pierre White has returned to the capital with a new restaurant specialising in steaks, pizza, and their own London Dry Gin. Situated on Leicester Square, the restaurant also serves afternoon tea with a selection of sweet and savoury delights and a choice of Teapigs teas and infusions. You can upgrade to include a chilled glass of Prosecco or Champagne and on Mother’s Day all mums will receive a complimentary pink grapefruit gin cooler on arrival. Book now.
Oscar Wilde Lounge – Hotel Café Royal has partnered with ‘Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience’ to create the ultimate afternoon tea for art lovers. After savoury bites, sandwiches, and scones, head pastry chef Michael Kwan will take you on a magical tasting journey through Van Gogh’s most famous art works. Highlights include a lemon crème fraîche ice cream paintbrush and an edible portrait of the artist filled with coffee mousse. For an extra £20, the hotel will surprise your mum with a bouquet from their in-house florist. Book now.
The Montague on the Gardens – If your mum is always on the go, treat her to a few hours of rest and relaxation at this boutique hotel in historic Bloomsbury. Here, you can savour dainty sandwiches and freshly baked scones overlooking the hotel’s peaceful gardens. Take luxury to the next level and upgrade to their bottomless afternoon tea, which includes 90 minutes of unlimited food and Lanson Champagne for £85pp. Book now.
The Lanesborough – Served daily in the majestic surroundings of Céleste and the hotel’s stylish Withdrawing Room, afternoon tea at The Lanesborough is an experience to be treasured. After a year of missed celebrations, there are few finer places to raise a glass of rosé Champagne to the mum, or mother figure, in your life. Book now.
Boulevard Brasserie – Just a stone’s throw from the piazza and the Royal Opera House, this charming French brasserie has been a Covent Garden favourite for over 30 years. In addition to their menu of time-honoured French dishes, they have also embraced the British tradition of afternoon tea. After a few hours of shopping and sightseeing, you can catch up with mum over smoked salmon bagels, cucumber sandwiches, and scones piled high with jam and cream. At just £24.95 per person, or £29.95 with 90 minutes of bottomless Prosecco, it’s an absolute steal! Book now.
Celebratory Sunday lunch
Galvin Bar & Grill – With its marble columns and antique mirrors, Galvin Bar & Grill is an elegant setting for any special occasion. The restaurant was originally designed by the architect Charles Fitzroy Doll and later inspired his first-class dining room on RMS Titanic. On Mother’s Day, mums can soak up the surroundings whilst sipping a complimentary glass of English sparkling wine. The lunch menu, priced at £55pp, includes decadent seafood dishes like grilled lobster and Cornish crab linguine, alongside traditional Sunday roasts. Book now.
Sartoria – At Francesco Mazzei’s Savile Row restaurant, mums and their guests can enjoy a Southern Italian seafood selection, followed by wild turbot with saffron shellfish ragout and potato crisps. For dessert, there’s typically Italian Mimosa cake – a creamy sponge cake traditionally served on Festa della Donna (International Women’s Day). If mum’s not a seafood fan, she can choose her favourite Italian dishes from the restaurant’s a la carte menu. After lunch, why not retire to the Libare Bar for a Negroni or a Blood Orange Spritz? Book now.
Charlie’s – With a menu overseen by chef Adam Byatt (of Trinity fame), Charlie’s offers a quintessential British dining experience in the heart of Mayfair. Mums will love the atmospheric, warmly-lit dining room and Sunday roasts carved tableside on a sparkling silver trolley. Charlie’s Mother’s Day menu features classic dishes like seafood cocktail, duck liver parfait, roast lamb, and lemon sole with asparagus and wild garlic. Book now.
The Pem – Head to Westminster for a show-stopping lunch menu devised by chef Sally Abé, who mum might recognise from her recent appearance on Great British Menu. Her flagship restaurant, The Pem, was voted ‘One to Watch’ at the National Restaurant Awards and OpenTable diners regularly praise the ‘exquisite flavours’ and ‘attentive yet unobtrusive service’. Book for Mother’s Day and you’ll be rewarded with dishes like roast Herdwick lamb with morels and poached Scottish langoustine with malted shellfish consommé. Book now.
Wild Honey – At his award-winning restaurant in Mayfair, chef Anthony Demetre has created a three-course menu that’s guaranteed to get you in mum’s good books. Priced at £55pp, dishes include slow-cooked daube of beef, grilled halibut with nut brown butter, and a vibrant risotto made with early spring wild garlic. As an extra treat, all mums will receive a surprise gift from Aspinal of London. Book now.
Something a little different
Barcelona Tapas – This Spanish restaurant in the heart of the City is celebrating with three menus showcasing some of their most popular tapas dishes. Recreate the magic of family holidays to Spain with a glass of cava or sangria while musicians set the mood with Latin Jazz. No Spanish feast would be complete without some freshly fried churros con chocolate, so be sure to save room for dessert. Book now.
FishWorks – FishWorks are offering a specially created menu (£37.50pp) showcasing the freshest British fish and seafood. Available across all three restaurants – Marylebone, Covent Garden and Mayfair – guests can choose from starters of lightly seared scallops or fresh Jersey oysters, followed by mains of sea bream, grilled whole lobster, or seafood and samphire linguine. Book now.
Benares – Award-winning Indian restaurant Benares is celebrating the leading ladies in our lives with an indulgent eight-course tasting menu. After initial courses of Benaresi chaat and a Galouti kebab platter, diners will be served a special thali featuring lamb, chicken and seafood dishes with delicious accompaniments. Top the experience off with sweet rasmalai and petit fours. The tasting menu is priced at £99pp, with a vegetarian option available for £89pp. Book now.
Visit the OpenTable experiences hub to discover Mother’s Day menus and events at restaurants near you.
Photo Credit: Justin De Souza for Junsei, Johnny Stephens for Rotunda Lounge.
