The 14 Best Breakfast Spots in London
The most important meal of the day, they say – though I’ve never really known who ‘they’ are – but for Londoners, breakfast is a meal you’re least likely to eat out for. We’re talking about breakfast here, not brunch, 10:30am at the latest. It’s a shame, because London has such good and varied options, you could just as happily eat breakfast out and dinner in, rather than the usual inverse. You’d probably save money too.
We’ve rounded up some of our favourite spots in the city, from 100-plus-year-old greasy spoons and the best eggs you’ll have in your life, to life-changing bakeries and Turkish specialities.
HIDE
One of London’s famous breakfasts – from its twist on the classic full English and truffled scrambled eggs to avocado on toast and homemade granola, HIDE’s breakfast is now a full-on foodie bucket list experience. Don’t skimp on the open bakery, which serves signature breads and pastries baked fresh every morning. We’re particularly partial to the pistachio, white chocolate and orange blossom soaked bun and the scorched banana and pecan croissant.
where: 85 Piccadilly, London W1J 7NB
website: www.hide.co.uk
Le Maison Ani
If breakfast is your favourite meal of the day, Maison Ani is worth setting an early alarm for. Its Petit Déjeuner à La Maison Ani captures the effortless elegance of a Parisian morning with a beautifully curated spread of freshly baked viennoiseries, artisan breads, seasonal fruit and classic French breakfast favourites. Paired with expertly brewed coffee, fine teas and fresh juices, it’s the sort of leisurely breakfast that encourages you to linger just a little longer before the day begins.
Where: The Carlton Tower, 1 Cadogan Pl, London SW1X 9PY
Website: www.lamaisonanilondon.com
Regency Cafe
An institution that has been going since 1946. It’s either a step back in time or through a portal to a Guy Ritchie film, but the Regency Cafe is a capsule we’re thankful still exists. London’s most famous greasy spoon has queue’s out the door most of the time, but wait until you hear the prices: Egg and two pieces of bacon for £3.75, and omelette for £5.50, and a set breakfast (egg, bacon, sausage, beans, toast and coffee) for just £8.75.
where: 17-19 Regency St, London SW1P 4BY
website: www.regencycafe.has.restaurant
Dishoom
The most famous dish from the most famous Indian restaurant in London melds the two cuisines together to create something special. The bacon naan – freshly cooked naan is graced with a little cream cheese, tomato-chilli jam and fresh coriander wrapped around a few rashers of smoked streaked bacon – is a phenomenon.
Essential as it is, it’s not all they have – there’s also a Parsi omelette, Kejriwal and The Big Bombay, the restaurant’s own twist on a full English.
Where: Across London
Website: www.dishoom.com
Zahter
To my mind, the greatest breakfast of them all is Turkish eggs, or Çılbır. Poached eggs swimming in garlic yoghurt and chilli, if I spot it on the menu, I have no choice but to order it. Open for breakfast on Saturdays, Zahter does a great one alongside some other Turkish classics like Menemen and Sucuklu Yumurta. On the sweet side, choose Açma and Simit alongside homemade jams and tahini butter, as well as some of the best baklava in the city.
where: 30 – 32 Foubert’s Pl, Carnaby, London W1F 7PS
Website: www.zahter.co.uk
Maison Francois
One of London’s best French bistros is also a must-visit breakfast spot, open from 7am on weekdays and from 9am on the weekend. Of course, expect irresistible pastries all baked in-house, excellent coffee and some truly miraculous things done to eggs.
Don’t miss the breakfast sandwich, packed to the brim with jambon blanc, fried egg, potato rosti, gruyére and spiced ketchup.
Of course, expect irresistible pastries all baked in-house and excellent coffee
where: 34 Duke Street, St. James’s, SW1Y 6df
Website: www.maisonfrancois.london
Fallow
We love Fallow, always big on flavour and sustainability, and cooking up slightly mad dishes that always seem to work. Their breakfast is no different, available Monday through Friday from 7:30am.
The most famous dish on the morning menu is their own fancy reinvention of the Egg McMuffin, and they also do a hell of a full English, light rhubarb granola, and honey and a truly decadent omelette stuffed with white crab meat.
Where: 2 St. James’s Market, SW1Y 4rp
Website: www.fallowrestaurant.com
Milk Beach Soho
Sometimes you just need to embrace the brunch. Oat flat whites, avocado on sourdough, an acai bowl – give it all to me. Milk Beach Soho is one of our favourite central spots for all the above, with some virtuosic twists included. Try their homemade banana bread, the fermented chilli scramble, beef and Guinness sausages and Lancashire farm yoghurt hotcakes served with chantilly cream and lemon curd.
where: 14 Greek St, James Court, London W1D 4al
Website: www.milkbeach.com
Tamil Prince
Dishoom might be a great hybrid, but our pick for the best traditional Indian breakfast goes to the Tamil Prince. It serves up a South Indian spread on the weekends from 9am to 11am.
Expect Indian filter coffee alongside classics like uttapam, a savoury Indian style ‘pancake’ topped with gunpowder beetroot, carrot and onion, and gunpowder idlis made from a lentil and rice fermented batter.
Our pick for the best traditional Indian breakfast goes to the Tamil Prince
where: 16 Elia Street, London, N1 1bz
Website: www.thetamilcrown.com
E Pellicci
Another time capsule of a café, E Pellicci delivers its own unique Italian and British twist to the grade II-listed greasy spoon, and has been going since 1900.
The style is just as good as the substance – the art deco interiors feel opulent and classic. The food is great, with prices that also feel like they come from another time. A full English will set you back just £8.40, pancakes for £4.40, and a cappuccino for £2.40.
where: 332 Bethnal Green Rd, London E2 0ag
Website: www.epellicci.com
Inis
Inis is a great all-day Irish spot in East London, and an example of the differences between the full Irish and the full English. The Irish version is more likely to feature both black and white pudding and soda bread, whereas the English version has plain white toast and the addition of baked beans. There’s also a big difference in the sausages, but now is not the time to get into that particular debate.
There are some other Irish classics like Guinness cake and a breakfast bap, as well as continental favourites like brûléed French toast and herby omelettes.
where: 13 Rookwood Way, Fish Island, London E3 2xt
Website: www.inisfishisland.com
Yopo
Did you know that acai bowls originated from Brazil, and not Bali? South American spot Yopo, situated within a green oasis in The Mandrake, showcases breakfast specials from the continent.
Indulge in new sweet plates on the menu, including the mango, lime and spiced agave and caramelised brioche French toast, served with strawberries and coconut ice-cream. Savoury dishes include huevos rancheros and Portland crab and egg muffin, plus an all-time favourite, yellow tail and black sesame mole, will return to the kitchen.
Where: YOPO, The Mandrake
Website: yoporestaurantlondon
Don’t Tell Dad
A buzzy East London opening that doubles as a bakery and restaurant, that makes you feel like the least cool customer in the place? Who’d have guessed?
Don’t Tell Dad is one of our standout openings of the year so far, and the breakfast is not to be missed. Served from 8 every day are classics with a twist, sweet and savoury pastries, sourdough bread and creative sandwiches prepared daily. There’s also some seriously good coffee.
where: 10-14 Lonsdale Road, London NW6 6RD
website: www.donttelldad.co.uk
A buzzy East London opening that doubles as a bakery and restaurant, that makes you feel like the least cool customer in the place
Towpath
Eating canal-side is one of East London’s best summer pleasures, and the Towpath Café is the best place to do it. Only open during the warmer months and from Wednesday to Sunday, it’s definitely good vibes only at this spot, which has become integral to the Hackney food scene. Get stuck into sausage and cheese sandwiches, coconut sesame muesli, fried eggs with caramelised sage and other dishes from its ever-changing menu.
where: 42 De Beauvoir Cres, London N1 5SB
Website: www.towpathlondon.com
45 Jermyn St
If you’re someone who really likes options with your breakfast spot – maybe the chance to go for a whole starter, main and dessert? – then Jermyn Street should be on your radar. They take breakfast seriously here and have the menu to match. Healthy buckwheat pancakes and full English fry-ups sit alongside old-school throwbacks like Orkney kippers and Welsh rarebit. They also have an entire section dedicated to bloody Mary’s, because why not?
where:45 Jermyn St, London SW1Y 6DN
website: www.jermynst.com
