Brunch Review at The Piano Works, Farringdon

Last updated: 24 February 2024

We visited the Piano Works in Farringdon before the Pandemic so the below review is based on that experience. Please keep in mind that the menus have changed in that time but I have updated the key information for 2024 and tagged it with a 2024 update header to highlight current information in order to help you with your brunching decisions. 

On a relatively quiet street in Farringdon is a listed Victorian warehouse.  Within the confines of the basement lies the Piano Works, London’s only non-stop live music venue where you choose the songs. We swung by on a chilly Sunday to review their brunch menu. 

2024 update. Piano Works Farringdon is closed on Sunday and Monday and the Brunch to the Beat offering is available on Saturdays and bank holiday Sundays)

The Food

There’s no denying it, we, and many Londoners like us, can’t get enough of brunch. Half breakfast, half lunch, what’s not to love? The brunch menu at the Piano Works consists of just eight items, featuring many traditional hearty egg dominated dishes to fill Prosecco-laden tummies.  Alongside that, there’s one light option, granola with seasonal berries and Greek yoghurt and a quirky addition of a Cajun spiced bacon bap (2024 update. The light option is not currently available on the brunch menu)

The typical brunch-loving Australian is drawn to anything with avocado and this Aussie is no different.  My eye caught the Standard Smashed Avo, with poached eggs on sourdough with avo and my eyes instantly lit up. The Piano Works has a no substitution rule so, I instead opted for my second choice of Eggs Florentine.  Structurally sound runny-centred poached eggs and perfectly blanched spinach on an English muffin topped with a generous helping of rich and creamy hollandaise sauce. Perfectly spot on.   

2024 update. The Standard Smashed Avo goes by Smashed Avocado on Toast on the menu and the Eggs Florentine is still available and highly recommended!

Russ on the other hand opted for the Full Works.  With no place to specify how you’d like your eggs cooked, it comes served as a classic full English breakfast, fried eggs, sausage, pudding, beans, an onion/bacon/potato hash and a side of toast.  Somewhat unusual, the only bacon served comes via the potato hash. 

2024 update. Unfortunately the Full Works is no longer on the Brunch menu, however knowing Russ, I am almost certain that he would today opt of the pancakes because they’re served with bacon, maple syrup, and clotted cream. Yum! 

I’m not normally one for dessert following brunch but the Piano Works offers a tempting list of sweet yummies.  Pancakes with ice cream, cheesecake, Russ elected for the tiramisu while the Brazilian Lime Sorbet was too much for me to pass up.  A zesty burst of citrus, cleansed my palate leaving a refreshing finish.  

2024 update. Whilst the Brazilian Lime Sorbet is no longer on the Brunch menu, there is however a Coconut and Mango Sorbet which has definitely piqued my interest.

The Drink

There’s no denying the bottomless brunch continues to popular throughout the capital and the Piano Works is no exception with it’s very popular Brunch to the Beat offering where you can feed your love of day-time bubbles with two hours of bottomless Prosecco or one of the many other drinks on offer, including pink sparkling wine, Bellini, beer, Rum Punch, Mojito, Passionfruit Spritz, Apple Nojito, and soft drinks. 

2024 update. Brunch to the Beat is offered on Saturday’s between 11:30am and 4:30pm. Your booking is for 2 hours and your reservation needs to be for 4 people minimum. The cost is £55 per person. Your booking includes two courses and bottomless drinks for two hours. As mentioned above, the drinks include prosecco, cocktails, and beer but no mixing of drinks so choose your drink of choice carefully.

Also, you’ll be happy to know that even though your brunch booking will last 2 hours, you are welcome to stay at your table, enjoy the music, and even pay for more drinks until 4pm, at which points you’ll be asked to vacate the venue. 

The Venue

Situated in a listed Victorian warehouse and just a short stroll from Farringdon tube station, the location is a distinct plus for the Piano Works. Initially needing to navigate the crowd control queueing barriers outside seemed superfluous for a quiet Sunday and a bag check needed to gain entry.  As we descended the stairs into the basement I really wasn’t sure what to expect.  The dark painted walls, dimly-lit tables and neon lights over the stage had a nightclub feel, certainly not what I expected for a leisurely Sunday brunch.

Downstairs, the atmosphere is pumping with the onstage band belting out top 40, classics like Britney Spears, The Jackson 5 and more recent hits from Beyonce. Song choices come from the audience in the form of pre-printed napkins and pens on every table to write song requests. A full drum kit kept the band in check, a trumpet making the odd appearance and, as the name suggests, a piano. 

The Piano Works caters to groups with many birthday celebrations and the odd hen party in full swing on the dance floor and clearly having a jolly good time.  

The Verdict

The atmosphere is a bit too rambunctious for me on a Sunday afternoon for us. We prefer a more relaxed brunch venue with some mellow smooth jazz or some tinkling of the ivories. However, if you want to kick on, hair of the dog style then don on your best dress and your dancing shoes because this is the place for you.

The Essentials | The Piano Works

• Where: 113-117 Farringdon Rd, London EC1R 3BX
• Information & Menu: The Piano Works
• Nearest tube: Farringdon

Our brunch experience was kindly provided by The Piano Works in conjunction with Love Popups London in return for an honest review. We were not financially compensated for this post.