Pancake Day, otherwise known as Shrove Tuesday, marks the last day of feasting before lent begins. The Christian celebration shifts every year according to where Easter falls in the calendar and is traditionally celebrated with pancakes as a way of using up cupboard ingredients that may prove tempting during a time of abstinence. 

Don’t fancy flipping them yourself? As we hungrily await Shrove Tuesday on 4 March 2025, we’ve been on the hunt for the best pancakes in London. To help you narrow down your choices, we’ve found a number of classic pancake menus (think fluffy stacks with rich sauces, fresh fruit and smooth ice creams), as well as some non-traditional options in case you fancy going a little avant-garde with your pancakes this year. What could be batter? 

The Connaught Grill, Mayfair

The Connaught Grill is renowned for reimagining time-honoured classics with theatrical touches. Case in point, the restaurant’s signature Crêpes Suzettes flambéed tableside. Blending the rich flavours of orange, sugar, and Grand Marnier liqueur, the crêpes are prepared à la minute, creating a gentle flame as the liqueur is ignited to caramelise the sauce. Served with a scoop of Madagascan vanilla ice cream, they are designed to share – but on Pancake Day, it wouldn’t be frowned upon to enjoy them all by yourself.

16 Carlos Place, W1K 2AL, visit the-connaught.co.uk

Dishoom, across London

Fancy pancakes with an Indian twist? This Pancake Day, Dishoom will serve up the sweet uttapam stack – a delightful twist on the classic south Indian dish, featuring soft, pillowy uttapams layered with rich vanilla cream and sweet seasonal fruit. Served with a drizzle of syrup, it’s a must-try for those who love a touch of sweetness in their breakfast.

Visit dishoom.com

The Aubrey, Knightsbridge

This luxury izakaya restaurant hidden in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is a lauded sushi destination in Knightsbridge – but, in time for Pancake day, it will turn its hand to the American delicacy too. Indulge in its signature fluffy Japanese pancakes with maple syrup, seasonal fruit, whipped cream. Having already gone viral on Instagram, we know you’ll want to take a snap of these pretty-as-a-picture jiggly soufflé pancakes. 

66 Knightsbridge, SW1X 7LA, visit mandarinoriental.com

Cinnamon Kitchen, Battersea

Add a little heat to Shrove Tuesday as Vivek Singh offers two spice-infused savoury pancakes at Cinnamon Kitchen in Battersea. From 4-7 March, choose from a flavourful chicken murtabak paratha, served with a selection of chutneys, or a vegan dosa pancake: a South Indian staple with lentil sambhar, tomato and coconut chutneys, served with a filling of spiced potatoes, mustard seeds and curry leaves. 

4 Arches Lane, Nine Elms, SW11 8AB, visit cinnamon-kitchen.com

Fischer’s, Marylebone

Fischer’s, Marylebone’s quaint neighbourhood restaurant inspired by the grand cafés of Vienna, is inviting guests to enjoy pancakes all week long from 3-9 March. Those with a sweet tooth can add their own toppings, including banana, sliced oranges, Nutella and mixed berry compote, while savoury extras come in the form of ham, bacon, feta cheese and spinach. 

50 Marylebone High Street, W1U 5HN, visit fischers.co.uk

Soutine, St John’s Wood

Soutine, the gorgeous French cafe-restaurant inspired by the boulevard cafés of Paris and the artistic heritage of St John’s Wood, will be offering two specials exclusively for Pancake Day. The limited-edition offerings include pancakes with bacon and for those fancying something sweet, toppings of strawberry compote, mixed berries and a dusting of icing sugar. Enjoy with a latte or cappuccino on the terrace to dine à la Parisienne. 

60 St John’s Wood High Street, NW8 7SH, visit soutine.co.uk

Pavyllon London, Mayfair

Indulge in the ultimate pancake experience at Yannick Alléno’s Michelin-starred Pavyllon London with the restaurant’s signature fluffy salted maple pancakes. Served throughout March, these light and fluffy pancakes are drizzled with rich brown butter and served alongside a selection of fresh juices and teas for a brunch to remember.  

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane, Hamilton Place, W1J 7DR, visit pavyllonlondon.com

Mildreds and Mallow, across London

Sister vegan restaurants Mildreds and Mallow, boasting outposts in Soho, Canary Wharf, Borough, Camden and more, will be cooking up a variety of pancake stacks throughout the week. Head to Mildreds for a choice of three pancake toppings – forest berry compote and vanilla cream, Black Forest with chocolate stout sauce, or banana Biscoff caramel with hazelnut praline – while Mallow will serve equally-decadent tiramisu pancakes: buttermilk pancakes, espresso syrup and white chocolate chantilly.

Visit mildreds.com and mallowlondon.com

Where The Pancakes Are, across London

Having started out as a pop-up on Regents Canal in 2015, Where The Pancakes Are has since taken the capital by storm. Now with three locations across London, the pioneering pancake purveyor is celebrating Shrove Tuesday with a partnership with Cornish egg supplier, St Ewe’s Free Range Eggs, to create a unique dish with proceeds going to the Farming Community Network. Served from 7am-10pm on 4 March, dine on the limited-edition Cornflake Fried Chicken: buttermilk pancake, cornflake-buttermilk fried chicken, fried egg and rocket, served with either corn-on-the-cob, kimchi, and sriracha mayonnaise, or smashed avocado, hollandaise and house pickles.

The menu, unsurprisingly, doesn't stop there. Savoury stalwarts include the pulled beef pastrami on two buttermilk pancakes with fennel seeds and pickles, and the Australian, featuring a polenta corn fritter, smashed avocado, oat crème fraîche and lemon. For those who are all about the sweet pancakes, opt for the miso pear caramel or Black Forest berries, you won't be disappointed.

Visit wherethepancakesare.com

Crêpeaffaire at The Hippodrome, Leicester Square

Crêpeaffaire at The Hippodrome will be showcasing what it does best on 4 March: thin sweet and savoury hand-crafted crêpes with mixologist-worthy, bar-strength cocktails on tap. Crêpes include Love You Lotus, topped with Biscoff spread, the Whole Shebang, with bananas, strawberries, whipped cream and ice cream, and Oreo Cookie, alongside savoury options of Wiltshire ham and cheddar and smoked salmon and cream cheese. Made with organic flour and natural ingredients, Crêpeaffaire offers vegan and gluten-free options, too. 

Cranbourn Street, Leicester Square, WC2H 7JH, visit crepeaffaire.com

Riding House Cafe, across London

For one-day only, the Riding House Cafes in Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Victoria will be serving its malted deep-dish pancakes all day, available in three different guises: with clotted cream and berry compote, with triple-smoked streaky bacon, blueberries and sour cream, or Caribbean-style, with coconut cream, white chocolate and marshmallows. Don't worry, there will be lashing of complimentary maple syrup on the side too – plus, for those who never tire of pancakes, a bottomless batter offering is available for £19.50 allowing you to dine on all you can eat.

Visit ridinghouse.cafe

Abc Kitchens, Knightsbridge

Pancakes are a true American breakfast staple, and, at the London outpost of Abc Kitchens by New York chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, discover pancakes with a twist. Created by executive chef Benjamin Boeynaems, opt for healthier, gluten-free almond pancakes with house-made almond butter and whipped banana cream, or a classic American version of buttermilk pancakes with mixed berries, banana and maple syrup. The choice is yours…

Old Barrack Yard, SW1X 7NP, visit the-emory.co.uk

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