LDNGuide
The East London Brunch Guide
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Say what you want about east London, but it’s got some of the best brunch spots in the city, ranging from small cafes that’ll cure last night’s hangover to party-time restaurants where you can get started on today’s. If you're looking for the best places for brunch across London, we've got you covered too.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Depending on which way you look at it, The Snapery East is a bakery that serves brunch, or a brunch spot that bakes everything in its airy London Fields railway arch. Either way, its toasties, breakfast muffins—with melted cheese and sriracha ketchup-smothered sausage—and pastries are a cut above. You could get a springy focaccia sandwich to go, but it’s worth taking a seat in the covered and (crucially) heated terrace out front. It’s a spacious, calm spot, particularly ideal for escaping the Broadway Market crowds come the weekend.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
Alongside breweries, timber workshops, and furniture makers, Blackhorse Workshop Cafe in Walthamstow is all stripped-back, exposed steel interiors, and copy and paste east London aesthetic. But the menu is worth visiting for. It’s a decadent collection of blood orange marmalade porridge, chipotle beans on doorstep bread, and a solid rotation of bagels and toasties. Come on the weekend for blackboard specials like jenga stacks of french toast and chilli crisp-drizzled eggs. You’re pretty close to Lloyd Park so if it’s full, a halloumi bagel and locally roasted coffee to go is the move.
photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch
A churchyard isn’t a conventional brunch spot, but Bad Manners isn’t a conventional place. The Mexican kiosk, round the back of St John at Hackney church, slings excellent breakfast burritos—tortilla-swaddled scrambled eggs, sausage, hash brown, American cheese, and salsa roja—plus hearty egg, bacon, and hash brown tacos. Look out for changing specials too, like kimchi-topped chilaquiles. One important thing to note about the simple seating setup is that it’s all alfresco and very much open to the elements.
photo credit: Anton Rodriguez
Koya’s location in Hackney feels like a no-brainer and that’s because it is. The tiny Japanese spot off Broadway Market is open from 10am on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays and if their English breakfast udon bowl—a combination of crispy bacon, mushrooms, gooey egg, broth, and noodles—is on, it’s a must order. Given its in-and-out space, this Koya isn't as comfortable as the others, but nonetheless, it’s a very useful and welcome place in the area.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Esters is a coffee spot in Stoke Newington where locals swear by the coffee and even more people swear by their eclectic breakfast and brunch options. Things are always changing here, from their soy-glazed, pork-filled milk buns, to meatball and labneh sandwiches, or wildly delicious takes on french toast. Expect flavourful dollops with every golden yolk, be it a spoonful of anchoïade or a smear of chimichurri. It’s walk-in only, but the turnover is fast. Mainly because you know you’ll be back.
Although their coffee is good and their homemade pastries, cakes, and cookies quite irresistible (especially the salted caramel brownies)—it’s the weekend when you want to be eating at Bake Street. The brunch spot in between Stoke Newington and Clapton makes fried chicken sandwiches that are McDz-like in the best possible way. Soft buns, crisp pounded chicken, and completely inhaleable in under a minute. But the flavours, be it a Nashville-inspired hot chicken or a silky sweet and spiced makhani fried chicken, are above and beyond anything Ronald could whip up. Don’t ignore the tacos if they’re on either.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
Snackbar is a cafe on Dalston Lane with a menu that’s just as suited to the feelin’ good brunch-goer, as it is to the fragile. Bread-based things are where this place really shines. The kimchi, cheddar, and cured ham toastie should be rated PG for being pretty gooey, while coconut jam-filled kaya toast soldiers tipped into a soy-bathing egg yolk makes for an excellently sweet and salty start to the day, if it's on. The space is ideal for twos or fours. Head out back to the garden if the weather's good.
photo credit: Brunswick East
Take a moment with us to pause and imagine. It’s Sunday morning in Dalston. The sun is shining, the birds are tweeting, and your head is pounding harder than an impromptu Stomp performance at Berghain. You need sustenance. Filling, delicious sustenance—orange yolk eggs, thick cuts of sesame sourdough, chunky bacon, feta here, feta there. Maybe a sip of something tomato juice and vodka-spiked when you’re feeling a little perkier too. Now stop imagining and go to Brunswick East. It’s got everything you need.
photo credit: Giulia Verdinelli
The Dusty Knuckle’s morning bun is a constant sell-out. Swirled and dusted with sugar, golden and crispy on the outside, but soft and doughy in the centre. It’s a little bit like a cinnamon roll and it's fully delicious. Other than their legendary pastries and sandwiches—don't skip anything featuring focaccia—are changing plates every week. Always expect a ravenous queue waiting for either bread or brunch.
photo credit: Koray Firat
Ozone’s second location, two minutes from Cambridge Heath, is a white and bright warehouse space that’s just as good as the original when it comes to brunch. Specifically, this means big booths, a tonne of options, and eggs, lots of eggs. Brunch is our favourite meal to have at Ozone, whether it be meaty mushrooms with a poached orange yolk involved, or something pig-heavy with hash browns, or the never-not-good fish kedgeree. It’s walk-in only at the weekend, and a great option if you’re planning on cycling here—the bike storage is immaculate.
photo credit: Bistrotheque
The brunch at Bistrotheque was one of the first restaurants to put east London on the map. You’ll eat in a whitewashed warehouse conversion close to Cambridge Heath station and when you’re halfway through sipping cocktails and tucking into a full English, a bloke with blue hair will start playing Penny Lane on a baby grand piano. It’s pricier than the average rumble pit, but for a posh brunch—like crab rarebit benedict—it's one to put at the top of your list.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Hash E8, on Dalston Lane, is one of our favourite places in the area for brunch because they make enjoyable food that’s exactly what you want after a heavy night of drinking. True to its American-inspired theme, you’ll find filter coffee and classics like french toast and pancakes, as well as a chorizo and sweet potato hash. That’s a concept we can get behind.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Morito’s location on Hackney Road makes it feel like a neighbourhood restaurant, but once you’re inside, it’s immediately clear that this place would murder the competition anywhere it opened. It’s always busy, and that’s because the food is exceptional. You’ll find a Mediterranean/North African twist on brunch, and it’s a great way to break an eggs royale habit. The poached eggs with spinach and chilli butter are the best thing on the menu. If it’s on, the bougatsa (a Cretan filo pastry with fresh cheese, sugar, and, cinnamon) is worth trying as well. Get there early or be prepared for a wait.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Apart from a few stubborn locals in London Fields, most people who live in east London agree that Victoria Park is the best place to see grass and trees in this part of town. Get brunch in the park at Pavilion Cafe, which is where everyone seems to end up at the weekend. You’ll sit by the lake while sitting elbow-to-elbow with strangers, as well as the odd French bulldog. There’s covered seating for drizzly days but when it’s warm, it’s particularly glorious.
Dishoom serves a seriously good brunch. The Indian restaurant in Shoreditch always has a queue but breakfasts are a bit quieter, so come early for a calmer start to the day. It’s always worth asking if you can get a table in their verandah room, which is like a beautifully decorated conservatory. The masala eggs and bacon naan should be on your table (the vegan sausage is also one of the best we’ve ever tried), as should the masala chai.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
There are a couple of things to know before you visit The Good Egg for brunch. First, it’s extremely popular so be prepared to queue, and second, everything’s sharing-style, so definitely lean towards over-ordering. It’s always rammed with Stokey locals, and that’s because the Middle Eastern-ish food is consistently great. Get the shakshuka and as much challah as your table can eat.
photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch
Mae + Harvey is where you can get a plate of well-executed brunch food without having to haul ass to Shoreditch or Hackney. Know that the Bow cafe is very small, so there’s a chance you’ll end up sharing a table with strangers, but the crêpes with ricotta and blood orange you’ll want to keep all for yourself. Arriving at 11am before it fills up is a smart move.
