10 Places to Have Your Next Breakfast in London
London mornings can go in very different directions.
You can sit down to a proper Full English with bacon, eggs, sausage and beans. You can grab a flaky pastry and a good coffee before heading out for the day. You can have a plate of pancakes, try an Indian breakfast, order a bacon naan or find a tiny neighbourhood café where the menu is much simpler.
The good thing is that you don't have to look far.
Breakfast is one of the easiest meals to fit into a London day because cafés, restaurants and old-school caffs open early across the city. And while brunch has become a huge part of London's food scene, there are still plenty of places that take breakfast seriously.
From traditional fry-ups and classic cafés to stylish restaurants and international breakfast dishes, here are some of the best ways to find breakfast in London.
1. For a Proper Full English Breakfast, Try a Traditional Café
If you're visiting London for the first time, there is one breakfast you should probably try at least once: the Full English.
The classic version usually comes with eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms and toast, although exactly what appears on the plate varies from café to café. Vegetarian versions are widely available too.
And you don't need to go to an expensive restaurant for it.
London still has plenty of traditional cafés where breakfast is straightforward, filling and reasonably priced.
Regency Cafe in Westminster is one of the best-known examples. It's an old-school London café where the focus is firmly on classic British comfort food rather than elaborate brunch presentation.
The setting is part of the appeal.
This is the sort of place to visit when you want your breakfast to feel like an ordinary London morning rather than a special occasion.
Another famous option is E Pellicci in Bethnal Green, a historic East End café that remains one of London's classic breakfast destinations. Time Out's current August 2026 breakfast guide still recommends it specifically for a fry-up.
Best for: First-time visitors wanting a traditional London breakfast.
2. Go to The Wolseley for a More Elegant Breakfast
At the opposite end of the spectrum is The Wolseley Piccadilly.
This grand Piccadilly restaurant is one of London's most famous places for breakfast, and it's a completely different experience from a traditional café.
The setting is elegant, the service is formal and the menu goes well beyond the standard fry-up. Visit London's current breakfast guide describes The Wolseley as renowned for its breakfasts and notes that booking ahead is normally advisable.
It's the sort of breakfast you choose when breakfast itself is part of the occasion.
You might come here before a day exploring Mayfair and St James's, or simply because you want to experience one of London's classic grand restaurants.
Time Out's January 2026 ranking also placed The Wolseley at number one in its list of London's greatest breakfast spots at the time.
It's not the cheapest breakfast option on this list, but if you're looking for a memorable breakfast rather than just something to eat, it makes sense.
Best for: A special breakfast, elegant surroundings and a classic London experience.
3. Try Dishoom for an Indian-Inspired Breakfast
Breakfast in London doesn't have to mean eggs and bacon.
One of the city's most popular alternatives is an Indian-inspired breakfast at Dishoom.
The restaurant is particularly known for its bacon naan roll bacon wrapped in a naan with additional flavours — but its breakfast menu takes inspiration from Bombay's Irani cafés and includes several dishes that feel very different from a traditional British breakfast.
Time Out's current August 2026 breakfast guide continues to include Dishoom and specifically highlights its bacon naan as a London breakfast classic.
This is a good choice if you're travelling with someone who doesn't want a Full English, or if you've already eaten traditional British breakfasts and want to try something different.
It's also a useful reminder of what makes London's food scene interesting.
You can start your morning with a breakfast inspired by another part of the world and still feel completely at home in London.
Best for: An alternative to the traditional English breakfast.
4. Head to King's Cross for a Modern Breakfast
King's Cross is no longer simply a place you pass through on your way to a train.
The area around Granary Square and Coal Drops Yard has become a destination in its own right, with restaurants, cafés and waterside spaces.
For breakfast, Granger & Co. King's Cross is one option. The Australian-inspired restaurant serves breakfast from early in the morning and fits naturally into a morning around Granary Square.
Another current option is Caravan at Granary Square, which Visit London includes in its current list of recommended London breakfast venues. Its menu includes dishes such as baked eggs, pancakes, porridge and other modern breakfast options.
This area works particularly well if you're planning to spend the morning around King's Cross, Coal Drops Yard or Regent's Canal.
Instead of travelling into central London just to find breakfast, you can make breakfast the beginning of your day in the neighbourhood.
Best for: Modern breakfast dishes and exploring King's Cross afterwards.
5. Try a Classic Breakfast in Soho
If you're staying around central London, Soho is one of the easiest places to find breakfast.
There are cafés and restaurants opening from early morning, so you don't necessarily have to travel across the city before you've even had your first coffee.
The Breakfast Club Old Compton Street is a familiar choice, particularly if you want a substantial breakfast with pancakes, eggs, American-style breakfast dishes or traditional favourites.
Visit London currently lists The Breakfast Club among its recommended London breakfast venues and notes that the group has locations around the capital, including Soho, London Bridge and Spitalfields.
Soho is especially useful for visitors because of what comes afterwards.
Once you've finished breakfast, you're already within walking distance of Covent Garden, Chinatown, Leicester Square, Carnaby and several major shopping streets.
The downside is that popular breakfast places in central London can become busy, especially later in the morning.
If breakfast is important to you, going earlier can make the experience considerably easier.
Best for: Visitors staying in central London who want breakfast close to everything.
6. Find a Neighbourhood Café in Notting Hill
Sometimes you don't want a famous breakfast restaurant.
You just want a nice café.
Notting Hill is full of places where breakfast can be combined with a morning walk through the neighbourhood.
Sunday in Brooklyn - Modern American Restaurant Notting Hill on Westbourne Grove is one modern option, with a breakfast and brunch-focused menu.
The area works particularly well because breakfast doesn't have to be the destination.
You can eat, get a coffee and then spend the rest of the morning walking around Notting Hill, browsing shops or continuing towards Portobello Road.
That makes it a good choice for visitors who prefer a slower London morning.
Rather than waking up, eating and immediately heading underground to the next attraction, you get to experience a neighbourhood while the day is beginning.
Best for: A relaxed breakfast followed by a neighbourhood walk.
7. Go to East London for an Old-School Caff
If you want breakfast with a little more history and character, head east.
East London has some of the city's most recognisable traditional cafés, and E Pellicci in Bethnal Green is one of the names that repeatedly appears in current breakfast recommendations.
Time Out's August 2026 guide describes it as an old-school East End hangout and recommends it as one of London's best classic caffs.
The experience here is less about making breakfast look perfect for Instagram and more about sitting down and eating something substantial.
This part of London is also useful if you're planning to explore Brick Lane, Spitalfields or Shoreditch afterwards.
You can start with breakfast in Bethnal Green and then gradually walk or travel west through some of East London's most interesting neighbourhoods.
And if you're interested in food history, cafés like this are worth seeking out because they represent a part of London dining culture that has existed long before the modern brunch boom.
Best for: Traditional East London atmosphere and a classic café breakfast.
8. Try Something Completely Different
London is one of the best cities in Europe for eating breakfast from different food traditions.
If you've already tried a Full English, don't feel like you need to order another one simply because you're in Britain.
Current London breakfast recommendations include everything from South Indian food and Japanese breakfast to Hong Kong-style French toast. Time Out's August 2026 guide specifically highlights The Tamil Prince in Islington for South Indian food, Hoko Cafe on Brick Lane for Hong Kong-style French toast and Ikoi in King's Cross for Japanese breakfast.
That's one of the most interesting things about breakfast in London.
Your morning could start with:
A Full English
Indian-inspired dishes
Japanese breakfast
South Indian food
Hong Kong-style toast
Pancakes
Eggs and avocado
Pastries and coffee
A bacon sandwich
A classic fry-up
You don't have to treat breakfast as a fixed British tradition.
London's diversity is reflected on the breakfast plate too.
9. If You're Near Covent Garden, Keep It Simple
Covent Garden is one of the busiest parts of central London, but it's also extremely convenient for breakfast.
Drury Covent Garden | Cafe & Brunch is one option if you want a café-style breakfast before exploring Covent Garden and the surrounding streets.
The advantage here isn't necessarily that you have to travel specifically to Covent Garden for breakfast.
It's that if you're staying nearby or have a morning planned around the West End, there are plenty of breakfast options within easy walking distance.
You can eat early, then continue towards the theatres, Seven Dials, Soho or the Strand.
For visitors, convenience matters.
You don't always need to find London's most famous breakfast. Sometimes the best breakfast is simply the one that is good, open early and close to where you're going next.
Best for: Visitors staying in central London who want a convenient start.
10. Don't Forget the Simple Breakfast
There is one more option that is easy to overlook.
You don't have to sit down for a big restaurant breakfast every morning.
Sometimes the best London breakfast is:
Coffee + pastry + somewhere interesting to sit.
London has bakeries, cafés and coffee shops everywhere, and this can be the better choice if you're planning a busy sightseeing day.
Grab something small, find a bench in a park or sit somewhere with a view of the street and start walking.
You'll save time and probably money too.
Then you can have a proper lunch later.
This is especially useful on days when you're planning to walk a lot. A huge breakfast can sound wonderful at 9am and feel considerably less wonderful after you've spent three hours walking around London.
What Should You Eat for Breakfast in London?
If you're unsure what to order, start here.
Want something traditional?
Get a Full English breakfast.
Look for eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, mushrooms, tomatoes and toast. The exact combination varies.
Want something quick?
Get a bacon sandwich or pastry and coffee.
This is ideal when you're heading out early.
Want something sweet?
Try pancakes, French toast or waffles.
London has plenty of modern cafés and restaurants specialising in these.
Want something different?
Try an Indian, Japanese, South Indian or Hong Kong-inspired breakfast.
London's international food scene means you have far more options than the traditional British breakfast.
Want breakfast to feel special?
Go somewhere like The Wolseley and make breakfast part of the occasion.
What Time Should You Have Breakfast in London?
Most breakfast places don't operate on exactly the same schedule.
Traditional cafés can open very early, while some modern restaurants begin later.
If you're planning a proper breakfast, 8am to 10am is generally a comfortable window.
If you're visiting a particularly popular restaurant, check its current opening hours and consider booking where reservations are offered.
And don't automatically assume that a place serving brunch is open early.
“Brunch” and “breakfast” are often used interchangeably online, but brunch-focused restaurants may start service later in the morning.
Where Should You Get Breakfast in London?
It really depends on the kind of morning you want.
For a classic Full English, look towards traditional cafés such as Regency Cafe or E Pellicci.
For an elegant breakfast, The Wolseley is one of London's established choices.
For something different, try an Indian-inspired breakfast or explore London's Japanese, South Indian and Hong Kong-influenced breakfast options.
For a modern breakfast around King's Cross, look around Granary Square.
For a central and convenient breakfast, Soho and Covent Garden give you plenty of options.
And if you're staying in London for several days, don't eat the same kind of breakfast every morning.
That's the fun of it.
Have a Full English one day.
Grab coffee and a pastry the next.
Try an Indian breakfast after that.
Then find a little neighbourhood café you've never heard of.
Because breakfast in London isn't just something you eat before the day starts.
Sometimes, breakfast is where your London day begins.
Planning your next London day out? Discover more neighbourhood guides, hidden gems, food spots and things to do on LondonYaar.com.
Follow @rohan.londonyaar for more London inspiration, recommendations and things to discover around the city.