Friends of Ours at The Serpentine North Gallery

Visitors to the Serpentine Galleries and Hyde Park now have a lovely new option for casual dining. One of Hoxton’s favourite brunch spots - Friends of Ours has a new pop up in The Magazine restaurant site located at the Serpentine North Gallery. It is an Australian inspired café with some worldly influences that has moved onwards and upwards to land in this most stunning space. The Zaha Hadid designed gallery is steeped in two centuries worth of history, originally built as a magazine artillery store. The restaurant is housed in the curvaceous contemporary extension which sits strikingly on the side of the building and is a stellar piece of architecture. On the inside is high ceilings and a beautiful view of the park a small area with a long comfortable sofa. Currently tables are spaced out making private conversations easy. It is a big space and can imagine they have space for more comfy low sofa seating.

One of Hoxton’s favourite brunch spots - Friends of Ours has a new pop up in The Magazine restaurant site located at the Serpentine North Gallery. Image courtesy of Friends of Ours. 

The back garden is small but perfectly formed with a huge mural. On view currently in the garden at Serpentine North until 28th September 2025 is the monumental painting by artist Esther Mahlangu celebrating concepts of community and unity. Umuntu ngumuntu ngabantu, which translates directly from Ndebele as ‘I am because you are’, marks Mahlangu’s first public artwork in the UK.

Baked French Toast - Baked brioche, quince compote, sour blackberries, pistachio custard, toasted pepitas & lemon sorrel. Image credit MTotoe.

As Friends of Ours settle into their new space, they are bringing customers their brunch menu which features many of their popular dishes. We tried, Baked French Toast - baked brioche, quince compote, sour blackberries, pistachio custard, toasted pepitas & lemon sorrel. The beautifully baked cube of French toast sits on a pistachio custard which is a tasty twist and they are not stingy with the amount either (an understatement).

The Mushroom Toast featured truffled wild mushrooms, creamed corn, walnut gremolata on sourdough toast. The creamed corn was an unexpected addition, something I hadn’t had with mushroom toast before, but it turned out to be a clever and delightful complement.

Mushroom Toast with Truffled wild mushrooms, creamed corn, walnut gremolata on sourdough toast. Image courtesy of Friends of Ours. 

If you are wanting items that are less breakfast and more lunch there is a fine-looking dish that is similar to Turkish Eggs called Cilbir - Poached eggs, citrus labna, nduja butter, smoked eggplant, dill & toasted focaccia as well as Bo Kho - a spicy Vietnamese brisket stew, pickled carrots, crispy shallots & herb, garlic & coriander.

There are some rocking sides not to be missed such asHalloumi served with a drizzle of hot honey and the Smashed pea, sumac and feta which is a colourful and delicious option that would go well with most of the menu items. We didn’t manage to fit in the Hash browns with Manchego and fermented chilli but they looked amazing as they landed on a table nearby.

Their choice of suppliers speak for themselves. Milk is provided by the Estate Dairy, and is pasteurised but not homogenised, to retain creaminess, fats and protein. Bread, pastries are provided by Dusty Knuckle in Dalston. Free range eggs are Arlington Whites from the Cacklebean farm and of course their own carefully crafted speciality coffee launched last year.

Friends of Ours have opened in the Zaha Hadid-designed café and restaurant attached to the Serpentine North Gallery. Image credit: Andy Stagg 2023.

The good news is this stunning space is bookable for events, in collaboration with Serpentine, and catered for by Friends Of Ours. More simply if you love their food and are located in the neighbourhood customers can order sharing boxes for party/office meetings.

Head on over and give Friends of Ours a try and maybe pop in to see Lauren Halsey’s impressive brightly hued “Funk Garden” solo exhibition for a perfect day out in London.

Opening hours: Tuesday - Sunday, from 8.30am – 4.30pm. Location: Serpentine North Gallery, West Carriage Drive, W2 2AR. friendsofourscafe.com. Instagram: @thefriendsofours.

Review by Natascha Milsom