Review: Weekend Brunch at The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge

There are times when the end of the week deserves an indulgent brunch at the weekend and we may have found the perfect spot. The Japanese-influenced brunch at The Aubrey is luxurious and packed full of both sweet and savoury dishes executed beautifully.

The Aubrey forms part of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge, with its own street entrance leading to this basement restaurant. Windows sit halfway below street level, allowing natural daylight to filter in, offering a gentle connection to the outside world while simultaneously creating the feeling of having escaped the bustle of Saturday shoppers.

The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge. Image courtesy of The Aubrey London

Calling it a basement restaurant does not do it justice. The Aubrey is a salubrious, richly layered setting that regulars of the Mandarin Oriental group would come to expect. The space blends Japanese izakaya culture with European opulence inspired by the home of British illustrator Aubrey Beardsley and is truly worth exploring. Guests arrive via the main bar, which leads into multiple dining spaces, including a sumptuous private dining room, a library and salon, and a series of concealed nooks. Each area merges English glamour with over 250 hand-procured pieces of Japonistic art, offering endless details to admire. The interiors alone make it worth a visit. Eclectic yet elegant, the space transforms into an exceedingly romantic destination in the evenings and into a hub of hedonistic fun from Thursday through Saturday, with live DJ nights setting the tone.

The Aubrey offers a weekend brunch menu with a Japanese twist, serving inventive takes on classic brunch dishes. There is a reasonably priced set brunch menu, but the variety on the à la carte menu is hard to resist. To start, we had salted edamame followed by shishito peppers with katsuobushi, with perfectly blistered skins and a generous topping of dancing bonito flakes adding extra depth and umami flavour. Mushroom gyoza were soft and juicy inside with a crisped base for texture and a simple dipping sauce.

Weekend Brunch at The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge. Image credit @lateef.photography

We then moved on to a stunning sashimi platter featuring pristine, top-quality cuts of yellowtail, sea bass and salmon, all exceedingly fresh and full of flavour. The yellowtail stood out for its buttery texture and depth. The Seared Hamachi & Prawn Tempura Roll featured crisp tempura prawn wrapped with delicately seared and basted yellowtail, topped with crispy rice adding a gentle crunch to every bite.

Weekend Brunch at The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge. Image credit MTotoe

We arrived at the larger plates with a Tempura Platter, light, airy, perfectly executed batter on prawns, seafood and vegetables, keeping everything crisp while letting the natural flavours shine. The presentation of the shiso leaf stood out, showing real attention to detail, well battered on one side, yet delicately light on the other, allowing the vibrant green leaf to remain visible.

Tamagoyaki Bun Weekend Brunch at The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge. Image credit MTotoe

The Tamagoyaki Bun is a standout brunch dish: a Japanese omelette inside a fluffy white soft bun, lifted by a spicy sauce and topped with spring onion and a cluster of nori slivers. Comfort food elevated with finesse.

The BBQ Tonkatsu Beef Rib with Kimchi Rice is rich, smoky and indulgent. The fat is beautifully rendered and the beef tender and deeply flavoured. Thinly sliced pickled cucumber cuts through the richness with welcome acidity, though the quantity was slightly lacking, ideally, the number of cucumber slices should match the slices of beef. The kimchi rice is a lovely concept, though slightly overcooked and sticky for my liking. Still, it remains a satisfying dish and one I would happily order again.

The BBQ Tonkatsu Beef Rib, Weekend Brunch at The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge. Image credit @lateef.photography

One could easily just pop in for their Signature Classic Japanese Fluffy Pancakes or Matcha French Toast and a glass of their Aubrey Tradition Brut Cuvée by Hostomme champagne. We continued to overindulge and ordered pancakes for dessert. We aimed to share as we were rather too full for such an ample dessert, impossibly soft, airy and lightly sweet, tasting like a cross between a soufflé and a retro floating island dessert, and they were consumed all too easily. Served with maple syrup, mango and whipped cream, they provided the perfect ending to the meal.

Japanese Fluffy Pancakes, Weekend Brunch at The Aubrey, Mandarin Oriental, Knightsbridge. Image credit @lateef.photography

Danielle, the sommelier, has honed his knowledge on all things sake and suggested an exquisite sake to enjoy with lunch. Denshin Ine Tokubetsu Junmai is made from the rare Koshi no Shizuku rice, providing a gentle, round and smooth taste with notes of cucumber, mint and young apple,  a perfect accompaniment to our main dishes. My teetotal dining partner raved about the non-alcoholic offerings and is all set to source a private stash of Saicho, of which she tasted the sparkling Jasmine Tea (a wonderful champagne substitute), as well as the Hojicha sparkling green tea with delicious umami notes of nori seaweed, roasted hazelnuts and a slight smokiness. Some of the best non-alcoholic offerings we’ve had to date, all great alternatives to beer or wine, pairing excellently with sushi or mushroom-based dishes.

The staff treat every customer coming through their doors as the VIPs we all aspire to be, gently checking if you are comfortable or if there is anything you might need, including ensuring the temperature of the room meets your needs. Nothing is too much trouble. The Aubrey certainly earns a repeat visit and will be getting some serious word-of-mouth recommendations from us.

Location: Mandarin Oriental, 66 Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7LA. When: Saturday & Sundays, 12-5pm. Website:mandarinoriental.com   Instagram: @theaubreylondon

  Review by Natascha Milsom