The Ivy City Garden – Brunch spot review

I had been to lunch at the Ivy Chelsea Garden a few times and I loved it. So when my sister in law, Mel suggested a Saturday brunch date, I reserved us a spot in its city location through their website. This is a brunch spot review of the Ivy City Garden.

The Ivy City Garden is a part of The Ivy Collection and is very well known for its afternoon teas, brunches and lunches. A few of my friends have had dinner there as well and loved it. I would say it is quite a classic British spot and has been popular for as long as I can remember. Their drinks (especially cocktails) menu is also very impressive.

Location of The Ivy City Garden

Address – Dashwood House, 69 Old Broad St, London EC2M 1QS

Contact – 02031467744

Reservations – Ivy City Garden Reservations

Menus – Ivy City Garden Menus

While being centrally located in the city, the Ivy City Garden is tucked away from the usual hustle. It is located in the gorgeous Bishopsgate Garden, which also houses a church. As you approach the spot, there is a nice modern yet classic touch to how the front of the building is decorated; I can imagine that a lot of effort was put into the aesthetics as it looks very fresh and pretty. As with city spots, you are better off getting the tube, bus or a taxi as parking your car will be a nightmare. Proximity to Liverpool street train station is about 2-3 minutes depending on how fast you walk or how hungry you are.

Ambiance

Stepping in, there is a reception spot which sets the tone for what you expect as you walk further into the space. The interior is tastefully designed and you get an air of ‘boujeeness’. As the name suggests, you are whisked into a large garden setting that has an informal vibe to it. The seats are well spaced, thank God. That way you don’t have to worry about the next person listening in on your conversation. It has a romantic – mature millennial – happy vibe and I would gladly go there with a partner, a group of girl friends or my mum.

Food

The menu is very extensive and there is something for everyone on it. From vegetarian options to gluten free to meat and fish options, I had a lot of options to choose from. I settled for The Ivy hamburger (always well done lol) with cheddar cheese and thick cut chips and Mel had the Eggs Royale and chips. We also ordered the hot buttermilk pancakes served with warm strawberry sauce. Since I was having a teetotal January, I had some water and Mel had a coke. 

The meat in my burger was tender and tasty; the bun was fresh brioche and the extra cheese melted on the meat. It came with some salad as well which I added to my burger since I’m not particularly a fan of eating salad on its own. Mel’s eggs were well cooked and she enjoyed it as well.

Service

Service was top notch. From the door, we were met with smiles at the reception where our reservation was confirmed; we were directed to our seats. When I asked if we could be moved to a different seat, the waiter did not hesitate, she found a spot we liked and moved us. It was a busy Saturday afternoon and the restaurant was almost full; so I would say they were up to capacity but we did not have to wait long for our meals to arrive. From time to time, a waiter would approach our table to ask if the meal was ok and if we needed anything else. It was not too overdone and I noticed that he was careful to cut into conversations and always waited for the right time to ask ‘is your food ok’. I thought it was respectfully sweet.

Value for Money

I think it is great value for money. As a fancy spot, it is not as expensive as a lot of brunch spots on par with them. The Ivy is inexpensive in comparison. I love that the menu has prices online and is easily accessible so you can have a browse prior to going in, and you have a mental note of how much you are going to spend. Just don’t forget to add the discretionary 12.5% service charge.

I would rate The Ivy City Garden 4.5 out of 5. Holding unto 0.5 because there is always room for improvement but honestly, I have zero complaints and would happily go there again.

Have you been to The Ivy City Garden or any of The Ivy restaurants?

What did you think of your experience? Please share.

Bisous, ‘Bugo x

For other brunch spots, have a read – THE BEST BRUNCH SPOTS IN LONDON