Breakfast at The Delaunay

When a close friend moves abroad, it is essential to see them off in style. Claire is my go-to friend for finding weird stuff to do in London, from all nighters in cinemas to dining in the dark, so when she told me she was moving away, I knew we had to say goodbye in style. As her schedule was incredibly busy, we managed to squeeze in a breakfast date, and decided to go to The Delaunay - the sister restaurant of The Wolseley.

Located on Aldwych, just off the Strand, it's pretty unsuspecting but the sign outside hints at the regal interior. It's only been open a couple of years, but it looks like it's been there for decades. Decked out in dark wood, warm leathers and deep greens, it has an air of formality but without being uncomfortable. There was a range of diners there, from tourists to business meetings, so we didn't stand out as we excitedly scanned the menu.

I have already made a promise to myself that on a cold winter morning, I will be going in for a bowl of hot chocolate and a baguette, as it sounds like the ultimate luxury. I'm going to take a book and a big scarf and pretend I'm in Paris before braving the icy temperatures of London. But this time, as it was a special occasion, I decided to go for pancakes as I rarely make them at home. I went for bacon and maple syrup, and Claire plumped for berries and cream. The pancakes were light and fluffy, and we washed them down with a pot of English Breakfast tea and some freshly squeezed orange juice.

It was the perfect way to say goodbye to a dear friend and send her off to her new life in the Middle East.

Have you been to The Delaunay? Where are your favourite places to go out for breakfast?