14 Best Restaurants for Breakfast in London

Updated On: November 08, 2023 by   Ciaran Connolly

Some of the best restaurants for breakfast in London start opening their doors early, offering many tables to book. Brunch in London is no longer trailing behind avocado-obsessed Melbourne or Bloody Mary-obsessed New York. Brunch favourites from all over the world can be found in nearly every corner of London.

Middle Eastern taste at Ottolenghi’s Rovi in Fitzrovia and the must-order egg naan at Dishoom branches across the capital are among the famous places. In contrast, traditionalists can still get a classic old fry-up, with St John’s Bread and Wine serving the best bacon sandwich in town.

So, to make the most of this sacred meal, we compile a list of the top restaurants in London for a great start to your day.

1. Sunday in Brooklyn, Notting Hill

Location: Sunday in Brooklyn, 98 Westbourne Grove, London W2 5RU

Eager Londoners have been eagerly awaiting the opening of Sunday in Brooklyn. It is the first international restaurant from the group behind one of New York‘s most popular gathering spots. With such a devoted following, it’s no surprise that the Notting Hill site was already crowded days after it opened in August 2021.

Soaring windows let in plenty of natural light, and a floating central table is set beneath hanging stalks. It is ideal for large groups. Sitting out front under sunny striped umbrellas for blue-sky days is incredible.

The brunch menu features a variety of American classics. Order the Don Ruben omelette (mole sauce, roasted mushrooms, goat’s cheese, and feta) or the steak and eggs (7oz hanger steak, scrambled eggs, and cheddar). You can also order biscuits and white sausage gravy with poached eggs and hot sauce.

It is recommended to try the much-lauded hazelnut maple praline and brown butter pancakes. Meanwhile, the playful cocktail menu contains a few surprises. You can try a Bloody Mary with mezcal, tomato, horseradish, sambal, Worcestershire sauce, lemon, bay salt and black pepper.

2. Cavita, Marylebone

Location: Cavita, 56-60 Wigmore St, London W1U 2RZ

Let go of the eggs benedict, pancakes, and avocado on toast. Instead, treat yourself to Cavita’s tasty Mexican brunch, served every Saturday and Sunday between 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Chef Adrina Cavita is the founder of Cavita. She brings traditional fire-cooking techniques and ingredients from her childhood in Mexico to her small menu, making decisions easier and choices top-notch.

Mexican-style eggs are served here. The Huevos Rancheros, a deep-fried tortilla topped with green and red Salsa, fried eggs, coriander, and streaky smoked bacon, are a must-order. Tacos de Cochinita Pibil is also highly recommended.

The tender, slow-cooked pork shoulder is wrapped in a banana leaf and cut open with golden scissors. It comes with a basket of warm tacos, smooth sauce salsa, pickled onions, and a wedge of lime to squeeze over. Brunch should be followed by solid mezcal and tequila cocktails. There’s a Margarita mix for everyone, from the spicy Margarita with a portion of fresh jalapeno to the sweeter hibiscus Margarita.

3. Mr Bao

Location: 293 Rye Ln, London SE15 4UA

Mr Bao in Peckham is one of the most renowned restaurants in the neighbourhood. It is frequently booked and has a fun vibe ideal for groups of friends. So it makes sense that the brand wants to expand its offering into brunch, but how do they make a Friday night preferred work for hungover Sundays? Of course, with bacon.

The brunch menu includes many classics found on the evening list. Smashed cucumber, fried chicken, and pork dumplings are must-orders, but there are some new additions, such as a bacon bao. The bacon bao is a smoked ham hock cake with a tasty sour plum sauce, or the salmon and onsen egg bao, and of course, the egg ‘pops.’

Bottomless cocktails are available for an additional charge per person for an hour. The Zenzee Lychee, made with white rum, lychee juice, and hazelnut syrup, is also recommended.

4. The Wolseley, Green Park

Location: The Wolseley, 160 Piccadilly, London W1

Breakfast is technically served until 11.30 a.m., but the Mayfair restaurant is good enough to mention. It is elegant and grand in black, gold, and cream; there is a no-photo policy because you are expected to see a celebrity. Pressed papers and silver teapots are part of the high-end service.

The Scottish smoked salmon is excellent, as are the eggs, which are bright and fluffy. To be honest, you can have only half a grapefruit and still think The Wolseley is London’s best brunch destination. Book in advance because it is always crowded.

5. Milk Beach, Queen’s Park

Location: Milk Beach, 19 Lonsdale Road Queen’s Park NW6 6RA

Milk Beach is a London-based Australian restaurant and bar with two locations. The original one is on the lovely Lonsdale Road mews in Queen’s Park, West London, and the new one is in Soho, central London. They serve brunch all day and an evening menu of seasonal sharing plates inspired by the multiple cultures that comprise modern Australian cuisine. Since each location has its exceptional menu, each restaurant has a unique identity.

They carefully roast speciality coffees from around the world that can be traced back to the farm. They seek out organic, sustainable, terroir-driven wines from individual winemakers whose stories are inspiring to all.

6. The Barbary Next Door, Covent Garden

Location: 16A Neal’s Yard, London WC2H 9DP

Inspired by airy Moroccan courtyards and backstreet Andalusian bars, The Barbary Next Door is a laidback neighbourhood restaurant and wine bar serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The zinc counter seats ten people and is surrounded by an artisan mirror and lime-washed walls. In the warmer months, large windows at the front open to reveal the terrace, where tables and chairs are scattered for alfresco drinks and snacks.

The menu is inspired by the fragrant seasonings and smoky flavours of Moorish Spain and North African cuisine. The Barbary’s Head Chef, Daniel Alt, oversees the kitchen, while Wine Director and Sommelier Honey Spencer lead the wine list, focusing on Spanish, French, and Moroccan bottles. You can also enjoy a variety of other beverages such as Cafes Cortados, White Port Martinis, and bottles of Iberian Peninsula Alhambra lager.

7. Nopi, Soho

Location: Nopi, 21-22 Warwick Street, Soho, London W1

NOPI has some of Ottolenghi’s trademarks—trays of salads greet customers once they arrive, a menu that celebrates intense flavours, but it has a unique feel to the Ottolenghi delis. The marble is white, the brass is golden, the art is lively, and the pace is a little quicker.

Individual dining tables for up to 6 guests are available upstairs. They have two big communal/tables chef’s tables downstairs that look over the outdoor kitchen and store room. NOPI’s menu changes seasonally, with bold flavours and colours based on Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian ingredients and lots of herbs and spices. NOPI serves breakfast, lunch, pre-theatre, dinner, and post-theatre meals.

8. Dishoom, Covent Garden

Location: Dishoom, 12 Upper St Martin’s Lane, Covent Garden, London WC2

When Dishoom launched the first Bombay-café-design restaurant in Covent Garden in 2010, it changed the face of Indian restaurants in London. The pillowy bacon naan roll with sticky-sweet Ginger Pig bacon, cream cheese, and chilli jam is a favourite. There is also a Ludlow sausage naan and an egg option. Wash it with a breakfast lassi made with banana, oats, and mango for the whole Indian-English experience.

9. Where The Pancakes Are, London Bridge

Location: Arch 35a, 85a Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1

Where the Pancakes Are is that small joint in London Bridge that commands a queue outside, especially on weekends. When it comes to delicious brunch in London Bridge, Where the Pancakes Are has it all: savoury and sweet pancakes, English breakfast, and stunningly delicious coffee.

10. Laurent at Cafe Royal

Location: 68 Regent St, Soho, London W1B 4DY

Brunch has been a New York institution for decades and a London routine for nearly as long. The first-floor restaurant Laurent at Hotel Café Royal brings Manhattan‘s classic style to Sunday mornings. It features a handsome jazz trio and an upbeat soundtrack during the lively brunch service.

Begin with the pastry basket, brimming with flaky peach and blackberry brioche, cinnamon-pecan buns, fluffy jalapeno cornbread, sticky peanut butter, and jam doughnuts. Bottomless brunch is an additional charge for 90 minutes of sweet Mimosas or umami-rich Bloody Marys, as well as a choice of the main course, making it a reasonably priced option for such an elegant place.

Laurent serves classics such as avocado and poached eggs on toast, smoked salmon, or thickly stacked pancakes with rum and banana. Bitter-almond French toast, crispy buttermilk-fried chicken sandwiches, and truffle popovers are all New York favourites. Alternatively, order the Italian-NYC mixt of silky scrambled eggs Cacio e Pepe. Try to get a seat near the windows, which offer a great view of the beautiful chaos of Regent Street, and listen to music and have some coffee.

11. Decimo, Kings Cross

Location: Decimo, 10th Floor, 10 Argyle St, London WC1H 8EG

Every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4.30 p.m., a live music brunch takes place ten floors up in The Standard hotel. The menu is created by Michelin-starred chef Peter Sanchez-Iglesias. It features Spanish dishes with a Mexican twist, a cocktail menu full of margaritas (order a jug if you are feeling brave), and the Bloody Maria, a house twist on a Bloody Mary made with tequila and tomato water. Snacks, tacos, eggs, vegetables, and meat and fish are all available as small plates for the table to share.

12. Balthazar, Covent Garden

Location: 4-6 Russell Street, Covent Garden, London WC2

Balthazar London, a great brunch and afternoon spot in London, perfectly mimics the New York original with its red-leather booths, mosaic floors, and huge antique mirrored walls—a Manhattan interpretation of a traditional French brasserie. Since the steak and egg served with Pommes Frites is a vibrant start to any good day, and the Full English is a meal complete with fries and fried bread, the brunch menu is available until 4 p.m. The almond waffles with warm berries, maple syrup, and crème fraîche are highly recommended if you’re looking for something sweet.

13. Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings, Clerkenwell

Location: 42 Northampton Road, Clerkenwell, London EC1

At this whitewashed place near Exmouth Market, chairs are covered in tropical designs, and potted plants hang from the ceiling. Every weekend, the bar is filled with in-the-know gourmets and local hipsters who come for the jugs of spicy Bloody Marys and seasonal Bellini. Choose the bottomless option for never-ending refills and the Eggs Benedict with ham hock, which is textbook good.

14. BiBo, Shoreditch

Location: 45 Curtain Road, London EC2A 3PT

BiBo has been the go-to place to enjoy a taste of Andalusia in a sophisticated, buzzy setting since it opened in August 2021. The tapas-bar-meets-brasserie has added a brunch menu led by Dani Garcia, whose previous restaurants have won multiple Michelin stars. Garcia gives dishes from the Spanish-inspired menu a breakfast twist so deft that you’ll wonder why you haven’t been starting with tapas and paella every day.

Start your day with your favourite breakfast plate in your preferred place in London. Choose whatever restaurant you like and just head to it.