abc kitchens at The Emory: Jean-Georges' Weekend Brunch in Belgravia
August weekends in Knightsbridge have a particular calm, with many residents away and the pace of the neighbourhood noticeably slower. It is a good moment to try a weekend brunch you might not otherwise get round to. abc kitchens, Jean-Georges Vongerichten's restaurant at The Emory on Old Barrack Yard, is the first UK outpost of his abc brand, and its weekend brunch is pitched as a New York ritual reimagined for Belgravia. On the evidence of the menu, that is not an empty promise. It is a brunch built for lingering: big plates to share, cocktails rather than coffee, and a dining room that fills with conversation rather than laptops.
The room and the idea
abc kitchens is an all-day restaurant with a relaxed, sharing approach and seasonal, produce-led menus. The open kitchen sets the tone, with warm amber lighting, curved seating and polished tables, and the hotel describes it as sitting beside Hyde Park. It is part of The Emory, the Maybourne hotel of 61 suites and studios, but it does not feel like a hotel restaurant in the usual sense: the atmosphere is lively rather than hushed. For groups there is the Market Table, a private dining space at the heart of the restaurant for up to 12.
What to order at brunch
Brunch is served on Saturdays and Sundays from 12.30pm to 4pm. Dishes on the brunch menu have included:
- B.E.C. pizza: bacon, egg and cheese, the New York deli classic, reworked as a pizza
- Avocado pizza with jalapeño, coriander and lime
- Cardamom Dutch baby pancakes, the sweet option to share
From the wider menu, Hot Dinners singles out the pea hummus, a bright, fresh dish that suits a summer table. To drink, the brunch classics are a jalapeño margarita or a Bloody Mary, and the cocktail list has featured a Mango Mezcalita and a Turmeric Mojito. Menus change with the seasons, so check the current versions on the abc kitchens page before you go.
Beyond the weekend
If weekends are taken, abc kitchens works across the week too. Breakfast runs from 7am to 10.30am on weekdays and 7am to 11am at weekends, and all-day dining is served from midday until 10pm Monday to Wednesday, until 10.15pm Thursday to Saturday, and from 12.30pm to 9.30pm on Sundays. That makes it a useful late lunch spot after the shops, or an easy dinner before a stroll in the park, and breakfast on a weekday is one of the calmer ways to see the room in daylight.
Booking and getting there
The Emory sits on Old Barrack Yard, close to The Berkeley on Wilton Place, a short walk from both Knightsbridge and Hyde Park Corner stations. Book online through the restaurant page, and for groups of 13 or more contact the team directly. Staying nearby? The Emory's own site covers the rooftop bar and spa, and our hotels guide and restaurant guide cover the rest of the neighbourhood.
