Beany Green Paddington was the starting point for a Saturday of Australian-inspired brunch and a walk through Little Venice. We had been invited to try the bottomless brunch, and the meal turned into a leisurely afternoon beside the canal. This film was originally published on 10 September 2016; the dishes and service described here belong to that visit.
A late arrival at Beany Green Paddington
The day began with transport trouble. With the Tube disrupted, I took a black cab from South Kensington to Paddington and still arrived late. Once through the station, I headed towards the canal, trying to find the restaurant while also trying to remember its name.
Beany Green, part of the Daisy Green group, had a colourful interior and windows overlooking the canal. Outside, people wandered past the boats. Inside, we settled in for brunch and chose prosecco, with coffee ordered alongside it.
The Bondi breakfast and a fancy bacon roll
I ordered the Bondi: poached eggs, back bacon, sausage, mushrooms, avocado and house-made chilli pesto on activated charcoal sourdough. Chloe chose the fancy bacon roll, served on paratha roti with poached eggs, bacon, hollandaise and fresh chilli. She added avocado too.
My eggs had nicely runny yolks. The charcoal bread was an interesting change from ordinary toast, while the chilli pesto gave the plate another layer of flavour. I enjoyed the bacon, sausage and avocado, and the portions were substantial. This was a breakfast to take your time over.
There was one noticeable delay: our coffees arrived after we had finished the main dishes. I mentioned it in the film, although I enjoyed the coffee when it finally reached the table. That was the service experience on this particular afternoon.
Banana bread to share
After a full brunch each, we shared the banana bread sandwich. It came with mascarpone, fresh berries, flaked almonds and honey. The combination was excellent, and sharing it made sense after such generous savoury plates.
Leaving Beany Green Paddington, my verdict on the food was enthusiastic. The brunch offer on that visit included a two-hour drinks window, but we were already full after one main dish each and the shared banana bread. In the film I suggested ordering individual dishes if you were not especially hungry.
Along the canal to Little Venice
From the restaurant we followed the towpath beneath the bridges towards Little Venice. The broad pool, moored narrowboats and leafy surroundings made a change from the busy station nearby. I had filmed the Canalway Cavalcade here earlier in the year; this visit had a much quieter feel.
We stopped at Waterside Café, housed inside a canal boat. From outside it looked narrow, but the interior held a seating area and a kitchen at the back. I bought a takeaway coffee before continuing towards the bridge for a wider view of the water.
There were canoes on the canal, boats moving through the pool and people enjoying the paths around it. Much of this part of the film is simply a walk and a conversation, with the changing views of the water doing the rest.
Clifton Nurseries and back to Paddington
We also made a short detour to Clifton Nurseries, tucked away among the residential streets. Its café was closed for a private event when we called in, so this was a quick look around rather than another food stop. On the way back I pointed out the Warwick Castle pub before returning to the canal.
The walk ended at Paddington Station. Brunch, banana bread and the waterways had filled the afternoon without needing a long journey across London. For another visit to the area, see my Little Venice canal walk and Warwick Castle pub film from 2017.
Watch the original 2016 film
The full video follows the journey from the delayed taxi arrival through brunch and the walk back to Paddington. It preserves the places, menu and atmosphere as I found them in 2016.
