Imagine this: behemoth plates piled high with juicy sausages, sizzling bacon, hash browns, fried eggs, baked beans, plus a healthy helping of black pudding... If that’s got your stomach growling, you’re in the right place. Because we want you to enjoy them as much as we do, we’ve put together this list of the capital’s finest fry-ups. From traditional greasy spoons where simple, no-frills breakfasts are the centre of the action to trendy cafés rustling up pretty platters of the good stuff, here are the very best English breakfasts in London.
🍳🥓☕
Terry's Café
Having opened its doors back in the 1980s, Terry’s Café is a bit of an institution. The Southwark hotspot is cute and cosy, fronting tables topped with Formica cloths, walls covered in black and white photographs, plus retro knick-knacks dotted all over the shop. Pop by to tuck into hearty British grub, including The Works, a take on the humble fry-up. The best greasy spoon in town? Quite possibly.
Steve Coogan and Rob Bryon have been known to frequent this hangout.
Duck And Waffle
Stomach rumbling for a classic English breakfast? Fly high at Duck and Waffle, a swish restaurant found on the 40th floor of Heron Tower giving you a bird's eye view of the city while you chow down on some delicious European fare. Whether you're starting your day with a glamorous brunch feast or heading down for a 2am post-night-out bite, this 24/7 den of delights is always ready to offer up a fantastic spread. We'd recommend an early morning visit for a taste of their delicious take on a classic fry-up, featuring goodies like Victorian sausages and cheese scones.
Boasting floor-to-ceiling windows offering stunning vistas of London, it's no wonder why Duck and Waffle is a city favourite.
Halfcup
You can’t go wrong with King’s Cross cutie Halfcup, an indie café that offers a bright and airy space with pendant lights and pretty murals. Fronting a scrumptious full English breakfast in London, this joint is a popular spot from morning through to late-afternoon. Although there are many delish dishes on the menu that may sway you, our money's on the full English, which comes as a heavenly spread of meaty or veggie delights.
If you're after an Instagrammable breakfast, Halfcup is your best bet.
The Pickled Hen
Stomach rumblin' for a fabulous fried feast? The Pickled Hen is one cosy spot that’s coming up trumps. While in elegant surroundings, which flaunt cushy armchairs and warm lighting, chow down on pretty plates of hunger-satiating fare. This restaurant's version of a fry-up features everything you'd expect, all made using high-quality ingredients, providing the perfect pick-me-up to kickstart your morning.
Chase your feast down the hatch with tea, coffee, juice or smoothies.
The Breakfast Club
Making fry-ups cool again since 2005, The Breakfast Club is a contemporary caff where sausages, fried eggs and baked beans make up its bones, and builder's tea flows through its veins. As the brand boasts multiple outposts across the capital, including Hackney Wick, London Bridge and Croydon, you’re never far from a banging brekkie that’s sure to touch the sides.
For those of you seeking out the best English breakfast near me, you've found it here.
Arthur’s Café
Another stalwart on the breakfast scene, Arthur's Cafe in Kensal Rise is the place to be if you're on the hunt for the biggest full English breakfast in London. Inside? Not much has changed since it began business back in the 1950s which, to be honest, is just how we like it. And apparently so do the locals, as this popular find has been known to have quite the queue. Mosey on down for tasty homemade food done juuust right.
Don't worry, there are smaller options on the menu too...
Big Moe’s Wembley
You may think this one's a bit of a wild card, but just wait. Big Moe's Wembley offers a 1950s-style American diner right here in the Big Smoke. And while the menu boasts US bites such as waffles and pancakes, there is also a brilliant English breakfast. When sitting on a red leather booth surrounded by retro memorabilia, chomp on a platter of fried goods and wash it down with a steaming cup of joe.
Big Moe's is ideal for those of you who like the quirkier things in life.
Norman’s Café
While the humble greasy spoon may feel like a dying breed, Norman’s Café is actually a bit of a newbie, having launched in 2020. The Tufnell Park eatery slings out classic British comfort food, including the all-important fry-up. From the plastic tables with attached seats to the dainty half-window curtains, this feels like a classic caff from times of yore. Not sure what to go for? Opt for the set menu 1, which features the usual brekkie characters.
Norman's Café has been on the 'Gram of many a foodie influencer.
BrewDog
Found at various locations across the capital, BrewDog are always on hand to sort you (and your hangover) out with a good ol' brekkie. In places like Soho, Shoreditch and Camden, you’ll find the mouthwatering Haystack, which is a hefty plate of fried deliciousness. They even put together one helluva breakfast spread, which features delights such as BBQ seitan steak, smashed avo, hash browns and more. Was that your stomach rumbling or ours?
This banging brekkie gets a strong 10 from us.
Burr & Co.
If you fancy something a little bit trendier, this go-to is well-known for having the best English breakfast in Central London. Settle into the pretty parlour to scoff down one of Burr & Co.'s English breakfasts, which showcases all the usual contenders that are sure to give you an eggceptional start to the day. Even better? You can wash it down with fruit and veg-packed smoothies.
This beaut Grade II-listed Victoria building is perfect for mid-morning munchies.
Regency Café
Westminster's Regency Café has appeared in flicks such as Pride and Brighton Rock, and you can see why it was chosen. It offers a time capsule to way back when, fronting the same original tiles that were installed back in 1946, which proudly tote monochrome photos of old boxers and football players. Grab a seat and await the unassuming white, circular plates, which are your gateway to a delicious and cheap breakfast in London.
Make sure to get a snap of the cool Art Deco exterior at Regency Café.
On the hunt for somewhere that caters for a plant-based diet? Check out the best places to grab a vegan breakfast in London here and sign up to our London newsletter for the latest news.
