Breakfast at Granary Square Brasserie

Gentrification is often a dirty word among lifelong Londoners.

Many such projects in the capital have ripped the heart and soul out of their targets, with history and tradition razed in an instant by the digger trucks of the latest multimillionaire property developer. 

But one you’ll find few questioning is that at King’s Cross.

When my 11-year-old daughter told me on our visit to the superb Granary Square Brasserie that this part of London was her favourite, it reinforced just what a great job has been done.

Those of you who remember what this area was like 20-odd years ago, when it was frequented by some of north London’s more interesting characters, shall we say, will know what I mean.

It is bustling year-round. In summer it hosts open air film nights along the Regent’s Canal, while in winter light shows and Christmas markets abound.

There are numerous bars and restaurants, including the superb Indian Dishoom, and one of London’s most promising young art galleries, Lightroom, which we sauntered off to after our breakfast to see Hockney: Bigger and Closer (not smaller and further away).

The Granary Square Brasserie sits right on a corner of the square, allowing you to watch the world go by under the outside heaters, as we did – or you can dine inside in the grand restaurant itself.

I ordered the free-range poached eggs with crushed avocado on a toasted muffin, which comes with hollandaise sauce and sesame seeds, while Nellie opted for her favourite – buttermilk pancakes,  with strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, accompanied with Greek yoghurt, lemon balm and a warm red berry sauce.

The staff are wonderfully attentive to your every need, while giving you space to enjoy your meal in peace.

On our visit, the diners were a mix of London tourists and locals, this being set within quite a residential area – and close to many more – while only a stone’s throw from one of the capital’s biggest transport hubs.

Nellie also enjoyed a mixed berry smoothie – with strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, banana, coconut milk and lime, while I had a pot of tea and a tropical juice – with melon, pineapple, mango and passion fruit.

Being part of The Ivy group, you could be forgiven for thinking the prices would be rather extortionate.

But we were pleasantly surprised. My poached eggs were just £12.50, while Nellie’s pancakes were only £11.50 – well worth the price for the food alone, but with the added bonus of the surroundings, an absolute bargain.

You could easily spend a whole day at Granary Square and the nearby Coaldrops Yard – a wonderful converted coal distribution and storage building for the nearby railway stations built in 1850. There is so much to do here.

In addition to the bars and restaurants, there are a number of boutique shops, art galleries and supermarkets.

It’s all within a seven or eight-minute walk of both King’s Cross and St Pancras railways stations – and the Tube.

All in all this was a wonderful start to a perfect day in one of our favourite parts of town. You could do worse than to give it a try yourself. Thank you, Granary Square Brasserie.

Charlie and Nellie were guests of the Granary Square Brasserie

Granary Square Brasserie, 1 Granary Square , London N1C 4AA. For bookings call 020 3940 1000; https://ivycollection.com/restaurants/granary-square-brasserie/

Pictured top: Charlie and Nellie at the Granary Square Brasserie (Picture: Charlie Stong)