Breakfast and brunch in London FEATURE

Whether you're looking for coffee and pastries in luxury surroundings or a more down-to-earth meaty fry-up, London boasts an abundance of cafes and restaurants offering breakfasts and brunches to suit all palates. Here's a list of ten of the best, helping you to start your day in style.

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Hawksmoor Guildhall

Located in the heart of the city, this chic restaurant is the ideal place for a more refined breakfast experience. In a large, wood-panelled basement space, you can enjoy one of the best steak breakfasts in the world. Their Full English includes plum pudding bacon, sausage made from pork, beef and mutton, black pudding and trotter baked beans. And all this comes with unlimited toast with homemade jams and marmalade. It would be a shame though not to try the renowned fillet steak, fried eggs and hash browns.

Riding House Cafe

This stylish restaurant with a New York feel has become a popular destination for those in search of a morning food binge. The breakfast menu has something for everyone, from Eggs Benedict with chorizo and hash browns to buttermilk pancakes. Situated just north of Oxford Street, the Riding House Cafe is perfect if you want a stylish brunch.

Nopi

For something out of the ordinary, try Nopi in central Soho. Serving a wide range of Mediterranean, Middle-eastern and Asian cuisine in a setting full of marble and gold, this place is a luxurious retreat for an elegant breakfast. Try the black rice with coconut milk, banana and mango, or enjoy the famous shakshuka (braised eggs with spiced tomato sauce and smoked labneh).

Cut at 45 Park Lane

Is this the best place for an American breakfast in London? Probably. Mirroring the original Cut restaurant in Beverley Hills, Cut at 45 Park Lane is a modern American steak restaurant with a breakfast menu worth getting out of bed for. One dish includes fried eggs, creamy Parmesan polenta, sage butter, maple glazed pork belly and toasted brioche. Brunch on a Sunday even includes live jazz.

The Modern Pantry

This restaurant in Clerkenwell is ideal for those looking for a unique breakfast experience. Many classic breakfast dishes are served with a twist, like eggs with chorizo and plantain fritters. For something different, try their ricotta & coconut pancakes with rhubarb compote and crme fraiche. There's plenty of room inside with lots of light due to the large windows, but on sunny days you can sit outside for the perfect alfresco brunch.

The Delaunay

You'll find this grand restaurant on the corner of Drury Lane. Inspired by the grand cafes of Europe, the Delaunay has an elegant interior space. Serving excellent steaks and eggs, lovely almond croissants, a great Full English breakfast, kippers, and so much more, the Delaunay has become a choice destination for many Londoners. If you prefer a more lavish breakfast or brunch, you could even opt for caviar or oysters.

Lantana Cafe

Located off Goodge Street in Fitzrovia, Lantana has been called 'a little bit of Australia in Fitzrovia'. With an emphasis on serving great coffee and delivering an exciting yet simple menu, it has already been awarded the 'Best New Cafe' award from Time Out magazine. Try maple French toast with bacon, banana and candied pecans, or baked ricotta with herbs, spinach, portabella mushrooms and tomato salsa. You might have to queue at lunchtime, but if you want to sample some inventive Australian nosh, it's worth the wait.

Bill's

If you're shopping around Covent Garden, pop into Bill's. It serves award-winning breakfasts in a vibrant space that also sells fresh produce, deli-style. The menu includes a vegetarian fry-up with two poached eggs, mushrooms, guacamole, sweet chilli sauce and toast, topped with basil leaves. For a simpler breakfast, try the porridge with banana and honey.

Dishoom

With a very elegant and contemporary interior, Dishoom offers diners a taste of Bombay with a modern approach to Indian cuisine. Framed pictures of Bollywood stars line the walls and give the place a cool retro feel. It's a popular breakfast destination with a menu featuring egg, bacon or sausage nan rolls with chilli jam, and a classic Bombay omelette with chilli. For a simple taste of India, just try the chai sweetly spiced Indian tea.

The Counter Cafe

If you're looking for a more traditional English breakfast, the Counter Cafe's Big Breakfast is excellent value for money, consisting of scrambled eggs, potato cakes and homemade baked beans. Set on two floors and overlooking the Olympic site, the cafe generates a lively atmosphere. The menu includes a variety of breakfasts, from Pork chop and eggs to pancakes with honey butter, maple syrup and blueberries.

For the best breakfast and brunch in London, it pays to explore the city. With dishes from around the world, your morning food fix is no longer limited to the local greasy spoon. Try something new you might be surprised how interesting the modern breakfast can be.

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