Best Breakfasts in London: 20 Places to Start the Day

Wake up hungry: London's best breakfasts are waiting

1. 1

   E Pellicci

   332 Bethnal Green Road, Bethnal Green · Café, Full English · Mon–Sat 8am–3pm, closed Sunday

   Family-run traditional East London café established in 1900. The big breakfast includes egg on toast, Cumberland sausage, black pudding, white pudding, bacon, tomato, hash browns, mushrooms and baked beans. Walk-ins only, cash preferred, and the vintage art deco interior is part of the appeal—locals have been finishing their plates here for over a century. Come early on weekends.

   Source: E Pellicci
2. 2

   Toklas Bakery

   9 Surrey Street, Temple/Covent Garden · Artisan bakery · Mon–Fri 8am–3:30pm, Sat 9am–3pm, Sun closed

   Toklas Bakery opens from 8am and serves seasonal pastries, croissants, pain au chocolat and cardamom buns. Opened by the founders of Frieze magazine, and named after writer Alice B Toklas. The back room has mid-century canteen seating and vintage exhibition posters. Counter queues form quickly; the almond croissant sells out by mid-morning.

   Source: Toklas
3. 3

   Dishoom Covent Garden

   12 Upper Saint Martin's Lane, Covent Garden · Indian, Bombay comfort food · Weekdays 8am–11:45am, weekends 9am–11:45am

   Breakfast served from 8am to 11.45am on weekdays, and 9am to 11.45am on weekends. The menu hosts Bombay-style eggs, Irani café staples and cooked breakfasts, plus fruits, grains and breads. Book ahead to skip the queue or at breakfast time walk-ins experience little or no queue. The bacon naan is iconic enough to be worth the trip.

   Source: Dishoom
4. 4

   Hide

   85 Piccadilly, Mayfair · Michelin-starred, Modern British · Weekdays 7am–10:30pm, Sat 9am–10:30pm, Sun 9am–10pm

   Try the unique breakfast menu with pastries baked in-house and dishes like truffled eggs on toast, homemade granola, and a full English breakfast. The trees of Green Park provide the inspiration for the restaurant's decorative theme; the same menus are served throughout, including a wide-ranging breakfast offering showcasing assured, skilful dishes. Book ahead; opening at 7am weekdays means an early business breakfast is possible.

   Source: Hide
5. 5

   St John Bakery Neal's Yard

   6 Neal's Yard, Covent Garden · Bakery · Mon–Sat 8am–6pm, Sun 10am–5pm

   Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week; the two-floor venue serves bakery items including doughnuts, sandwiches and bread as well as an extensive wines by the glass offer. Renowned for serving some of the best doughnuts around, including light and fluffy vanilla donuts and a raspberry jam doughnut with proper seeded raspberry jam. The queuing crowds prove its worth.

   Source: St John
6. 6

   Granger & Co Notting Hill

   175 Westbourne Grove, Notting Hill · Australian, café · Mon–Sat 7am–10:30pm, Sun 8am–9:30pm

   This bright, airy, packed place offers casual all-day dining with a comfort-food slant, look for simple dishes like the signature ricotta hotcakes or the full Aussie breakfast. The no-reservation policy means you'll probably have to wait, but it's totally worth it. Breakfast highlights are the lemon ricotta pancakes along with the scrambled eggs on Dusty Knuckle bread. Additional locations in Chelsea, Clerkenwell, and King's Cross.

   Source: Granger & Co
7. 7

   Ottolenghi Chelsea

   261 Pavilion Road, Chelsea · Mediterranean deli · Mon–Sat 8:30am–6:30pm, Sun 9:30am–4:30pm

   Open Mon–Sat 8:30am–6:30pm, Sun 9:30am–4:30pm. In the morning, you can grab coffee, pastries or one of the classic Ottolenghi breakfast dishes such as shakshuka or scrambled rose harissa tofu. The venue has bold terrazzo floors, textured walls and a window full of towering cakes and pastries. Eat in or takeaway, with outdoor terrace seating on Pavilion Road.

   Source: Ottolenghi
8. 8

   The Wolseley

   160 Piccadilly, Mayfair · Grand café, Modern British · Mon–Fri 7–11:30am, Sat–Sun 8–11:30am

   One of London's most dependable breakfast institutions, the porridge is famously good, devilled kidneys are unapologetically old-school, and the kedgeree is rich and satisfying. The full English is substantial without being heavy, and grilled kippers with mustard butter are a rare treat. The English £24.50; lighter dishes from £3.95. Book in advance; The Wolseley is renowned for its breakfasts so much so that you normally have to reserve a table in advance.

   Source: The Wolseley
9. 9

   Mount Street Restaurant

   41–43 Mount Street, Mayfair · Modern British fine dining · Mon–Fri 7:30–10am, Sat–Sun 9am–noon

   Open from 7.30am on weekdays, you can feast on super trad British breakfasts, such as kippers, devilled kidneys on toast or a bacon chop with bubble and squeak and a fried duck egg. For something lighter but just as old school, there's porridge with honey direct from Durslade, Artfarm's very own Somerset farm. Bacon sandwich £10.50, Full English £26.50, Kedgeree £22.50. Breakfast ends at noon on weekends.

   Source: Time Out
10. 10

    Colbert

    50–52 Sloane Square, Chelsea · French café · Mon–Sat 8am–10:30pm, Sun 8am–10pm

    An intensely sophisticated yet slyly fun French café overlooking Sloane Square, a well-judged combination of shiny Gallic class and typically rambunctious charm. Colbert has a world-class omelette and a banging kedgeree. The Arnold Bennett omelette is right up there with Mount St Restaurant's in the 'best in London' conversation. The art deco interior rewards lingering.

    Source: Time Out
11. 11

    Bad Manners

    119 Shoreditch High Street, Shoreditch Church grounds · Mexican, breakfast burritos · Daily, weather dependent

    The burrito spot is set up in a gleaming Airstream on the grounds of Shoreditch Church, where bleary-eyed media nodes can pick up a coffee and a comfortingly gooey egg and bean burrito. Food truck in a churchyard serving proper breakfast burritos made with thick, crispy tortillas; Plot Roastery coffee and picnic bench seating on grass with the egg and bean burrito featuring slow-braised beans, crispy tater tots, and salsa verde. On weekends, the few tables outside quickly fill up so go early.

    Source: The Infatuation
12. 12

    Dishoom King's Cross

    5 Stable Street, King's Cross · Indian, Bombay comfort food · Weekdays 8am–11:45am, weekends 9am–11:45am

    Served from 8am to 11.45am on weekdays, and 9am to 11.45am on weekends, within a former railway transit shed (or for Bombayites, a godown), the menu hosts many early-morning delights: Bombay-style eggs, Irani café staples and cooked breakfasts. Same menu as other Dishoom locations. Your plate will be laden with abundant akuri, char-striped smoked streaky bacon, peppery Shropshire pork sausages, masala beans, grilled field mushrooms, grilled tomato and buttered, home-made buns.

    Source: Dishoom
13. 13

    Pophams Croissants Islington

    Prebend Street, Islington · Bakery, viennoiserie · Daily from opening (hours vary by location)

    There's no hotter croissant in London right now, so get down to Pophams in Islington, Hackney or newly opened Arcade Food Theatre. You can choose from more traditional plain, almond and pain au chocolat croissants, or be adventurous and try Pophams' apricot and tonka bean custard croissant, rosemary and sea salt twist, or Marmite, Schlossberger and spring onion twirl. Pophams does weekend specials, too: the peanut butter, jam and banana is a particular standout. Arrive early or miss out.

    Source: Foodism
14. 14

    Jolene

    Bermondsey · Bakery, neighbourhood · Daily from early morning

    The daily-changing bakery counter feeds locals from early morning, with a candlelit restaurant experience in the evenings. Championed by The Infatuation, Hot Dinners, and the Good Food Guide, and praised consistently for its sustainability credentials, Jolene is the kind of neighbourhood bakery that makes people genuinely grateful to live nearby. A strong coffee and a fresh pastry here beats most London breakfast occasions.

    Source: Jolene
15. 15

    The Dusty Knuckle

    Dalston, East London · Bakery and café · Tue–Sat 8am–3pm

    Superlative loaves and sarnies, with a café space to dine in, found in an airy brick-and-steel café/shop across from its original shipping container home in a Dalston industrial yard, The Dusty Knuckle has ascended to legendary status for sourdough-loving Londoners. Racks of loaves (including rye and an excellent potato sourdough) line the walls, while the counter is piled up with glistening sticky buns, croissants, chocolate and fruit brioches, apple turnovers and savoury bakes. Their café serves breakfast focaccias and packed sarnies with imaginative fillings.

    Source: Time Out
16. 16

    Duck & Waffle

    110 Bishopsgate, 40th floor Heron Tower, City · Modern British with European influences · Sunrise to sunset daily

    Take the lift up to the 40th floor of the aptly named Heron Tower to enjoy breakfast in London with a breathtaking view of this metropolitan city. Serving from sunrise to sunset, Duck & Waffle offers an all-day dining experience combining traditional British dishes with European influences and championing local, seasonal and sustainable produce. The restaurant's namesake, the duck and waffle, is a crispy confit duck leg and fried duck egg drizzled with mustard maple syrup, placed on a waffle. Book ahead.

    Source: Cozymeal
17. 17

    Farm Girl Notting Hill

    79 Ledbury Road, Notting Hill · Health-conscious café · Daily from opening

    When Australian-born Rose Hood moved to London, she was disappointed at the healthy brunch options available – so decided to bring a bit of her hometown to the capital. She launched the first Farm Girl in Notting Hill in 2015, and it was an instant hit, with brunchers flocking there to try its famous super lattes. Two more branches followed, one in South Kensington and another in Soho, all offering an array of nourishing dishes: think cherry pancakes, poached eggs with spinach, and hazelnut granola, alongside superfood smoothies aplenty.

    Source: Country & Town House
18. 18

    Caravan King's Cross

    1 Granary Square, King's Cross · Modern café, health-conscious · Daily from opening

    With freshly roasted coffee, pancakes and health-conscious treats, Caravan in King's Cross is a great place for a nourishing start to the day. Dip your flatbread into the baked eggs, which come with merguez sausage, pepper and chickpea ragout, or try something lighter such as spiced yoghurt or porridge with dates and black sesame. The setting overlooks Granary Square; arrive early to grab a table by the windows.

    Source: Visit London
19. 19

    Fortitude Bakehouse

    Bloomsbury · Bakery · Daily from early morning

    Opening back in 2018, Fortitude Bakehouse has become one of the capital's most loved bakeries. You'll often find this Bloomsbury gem with queues snaking down the streets from their iconic blue doors, as people pile in to get a taste of one of their famous beignets or buttery pastries. Chow down on savoury puff pastries, oozing with rich filling such as cheese and leek, as well as feta and spinach. There's only a couple of benches outside, so get there early if you're looking to secure a space.

    Source: DesignMyNight
20. 20

    Where the Pancakes Are

    Near London Bridge, South London · Breakfast, pancakes · Weekdays 7:30am, weekends 8am

    Located near London Bridge and Borough Market, Where the Pancakes Are serves delicious pancakes all day long. A breakfast dish costs around 10 pounds; they open 7:30am on weekdays, and 8am on weekends. Recommend the buttermilk blueberry pancakes. No reservations, so go early to avoid queues, particularly on weekends.

    Source: Julia's Days Off