When it comes to fine dining in London, the current trend is to make sure any such occasion is accompanied by a rather fantastic view. A few weeks ago, I jumped on the bandwagon and visited the incredible Darwin Brasserie at the Sky Garden (nearest tube is Monument) along with one of my lovely blogger friends Ellie. We booked in for brunch and were treated to one of the most relaxing and breathtaking experiences of the sort…
Situated on the 36th floor, the Darwin Brasserie maintains the stunning views that are offered throughout – but in a private and far more tranquil environment. The lower floor has a cafe and semi-vertical garden which is enjoyed all day long by tourists and passers by, however the Brasserie has an aura of calm un-rivalled by any other sky-dining offering.
Ellie and I arrived at 10.45am, which by my account… was brunch o’clock.
We both opted for a tea, eager to perfect one of those ‘pouring’ pictures with the view in the background. I unfortunately was unsuccessful in my endeavour but managed to capture Ellie’s handiwork.
After filling one another in on life (we had over two months of catching up to do), we ordered our food from the very simplistic, yet varied menu. As much as I love Ellie’s company, I also appreciate the fact she is gluten-free too – which means that I’m not the only one with restricted dietary requirements. Usually this can be a bit of an awkward situation, especially if you’re dining with someone for the first time or in a big group, however when it comes to Ellie and I, I know I don’t have to feel embarrassed.
The staff at the Brasserie were very helpful in taking us through everything we could and couldn’t eat. I eventually opted for a rather strange (but delicious) concoction, including grilled tomatoes, smoked salmon and gluten free toast. Ellie chose the Eggs Benedict on gluten free toast, which looked a little more photogenic than my plate.
Both dishes were incredible and very reasonably priced (under £15 each) considering the setting and location. We were offered top-ups of our tea throughout and we somehow managed to while away nearly two hours admiring the beautiful view and basking in the (rare) bit of London sunshine which streamed through.
I feel as though the pictures speak for themselves in terms of just how amazing the experience was, since I’ve never had a brunch (or meal) quite like it. Despite looking over the entirety of London and watching the mechanics from above, it felt so peaceful – which is a word that I hardly ever tie to the capital. It made for the most lovely of mornings and I am very eager to return, either for another picturesque brunch (maybe on my birthday) or for a dinner, when I’m sure the lit-up city makes for even more spectacular pictures.
If you’re looking for somewhere beautiful and chilled in London, which isn’t going to leave a dent in your bank balance, then this place is certainly worth a look in. I can’t recommend it enough and couldn’t fault the service, value for money nor (of course) location.
Sky Garden
20 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BY
Have you visited the Sky Garden – or dined at the Darwin Brasserie? What do you think of the experience?
