When you’re asked to Eat, Live and Nourish you do need a few moments to consider this invitation. Imagine a transcendent, pink paradise setting, an inventive menu offering you food and drinks that invite you to eat with your eyes first, and delectable flavors that stay with you long after you’ve uploaded your picture-perfect meal to the gram. You’re left with a positive feeling that has surely nourished your mind and soul. This is the EL&N experience, magical, enticing and uplifting, all framed for you within an irresistibly chic, pink perfect setting.
Considered as the leading Instagrammable café and lifestyle brand, EL&N hails from the heart of London’s swanky Mayfair district, and has captured the hearts and minds of diners and followers all across the world. Lucky for us, EL&N London is now available in Kuwait, with its iconic flower-clad walls, stylishly pink interiors and gorgeous lattes and desserts that are taking our social media feeds by storm.
Located at Grand Avenue – The Avenues, you can’t help but feel drawn toward EL&N’s gorgeous design, with various shades of pink and stunning flower arrangements ushering you in, it’s an experience you simply cannot resist! With its open plan and positive vibes, your eyes will joyfully wander to explore every corner of the space, from the mouth-watering display of picture-perfect sweet treats on offer, to the deep hues of the almost marshmallow-like ceiling, and the neon signs featuring positive messages will instantly uplift your soul. All of this, and you haven’t even seen the menu yet. This is definitely the type of space that we would love spending all morning sipping on a warm coffee and whiling the hours away, and that’s why we opted to brunch at EL&N, and we were so glad we did!
A quick scan of the menu will surely invite you to eat with your eyes first, because every offering looks beautiful. EL&N’s menu is also clever, showcasing the most visually stunning offerings for each of your socials. Choose the No 1 rated drink to share on Instagram, have your cameras ready for a color changing drink, to perfectly pinnable brunch offerings, the menu is ultra engaging! We clearly spotted a sign that read “But first, coffee” and that’s precisely what we started with. With options like the Ghawa Coffee that is brewed with cardamon and served with brownies, to the classic Alex’s Coffee sweetened with maple syrup and oat milk, classic offerings to Instagrammable Lattes (yes, all clearly shown on the menu too!), you’ll be spoiled with endless options at EL&N.
But it’s not just about the single origin, Brazilian fair trade coffee, as alternative drinks at EL&N reign supreme, and each offers an experience like no other. We settled on the color changing, vibrantly purple and flavorful Butterfly Pea Flower Mocktail and an Iced Spanish Latte, and began to explore our brunch options.
With all-day brunch at EL&N, you can choose healthful offerings like the classic smoothie bowl with acai, or peruse their grand ‘Eggs of the World’ list with Middle Eastern-inspired faves like Shakshuka, and the Kuwait-exclusive Turkish Breakfast for Two. But our eyes widened when we spotted Balaleet, another Kuwait-exclusive offering and we immediately ordered that along with a classic Eggs Florentine. Let us tell you this, Balaleet never looked this stylish! Presented with a sweet Saffron syrup, cardamon and sauteed onions, the Balaleet were served up in an omelette with crispy onion rings and a super rich tomato and red pepper sauce, beautifully garnished with edible flowers. If you fancy yourself a sweeter take on brunch, then Sweet Plates like the Dutch Pancakes, the Mascarpone & Fig on Sourdough or the Cinnamon S’Mores Waffle, which is pink, of course, will surely tantalize your palate! There’s also a plethora of French Toast renditions, from classic to Banana and Nutella.
We weren’t quite ready to end our picture-perfect experience just yet, which is why we decided to delve into EL&N’s Main Dishes offerings. Our eyes immediately gravitated toward the Chicken & Saffron Risotto, envisioned for local diners, and one bite of this beautiful dish instantly said it all. The scent of saffron flavoring a classic risotto, tender pieces of chicken breast and a rich tomato and mascarpone sauce that reminds you of your mom’s classic daquous sauce, all artfully presented in this penultimate modern dish. We were amazed by how the flavors married so cleverly, yet this dish, in particular, looked ultra clean and modern. If you’re not sold on our experience, try it out for yourself! Rest assured that there are so many other incredible options, like lighter wraps, refreshing salads and even a Cheetos Cheese Burger!
After experiencing dessert at EL&N, we strongly urge you to come hungry, because you simply don’t want to miss out on their amazing sweet offerings. We took a leisurely stroll to check out the dessert display, and our eyes danced with glee. From deliciously glazed donuts, artfully decorated tarts, cheesecakes, brownies and cookies galore to a towering Dulce Mille Feuille from their selection of cakes, we honestly never wanted to leave. Had it not been for the queue forming behind us to share in this experience, we really didn’t plan on going back to our table.
Don’t forget to end your dessert foray at EL&N by pairing your chosen treat with a Latte. We opted for the Red Velvet Cake Latte, prepared with a beetroot base, red velvet cake syrup, melted milk chocolate chips and topped with fun sprinkles!
We walked away from EL&N feeling loved, nourished and uplifted, already planning our next selection from their incredible menu. With queues becoming a regular feature at this special destination, you’re definitely advised to get there as soon as they’ve opened their doors at 10 am.
EL&N Café is located on Grand Avenue – The Avenues. For updates, follow @elan_cafe on social media and visit kw.elnlondon.com.
