lemiCultures and traditions converge in the United Kingdom. Explore the amalgamation of old and new.
English Mornings
London, High Wycombe
They say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so Brits make certain that they kick off their mornings the best way possible—with a Full English Breakfast. Also called a Fry-up, the hearty dish usually features several pig items such as bacon, sausages, black pudding, fried eggs, baked beans, toast, and mushrooms or tomatoes. The beloved Full English Breakfast takes its roots from the gentry (social class of noble-blooded families) of 13th century England who started their days with extravagant breakfast feasts to show off their wealth. Today, Fry-ups are served at every London corner, but we’ve rounded up the most reliable, most innovative, and most over-the-top renditions of the classic English must-eat.
Head on over to E Pellicci for the friendliest London breakfast you’ll ever have! The quaint family-run café on Bethnal Green has served locals their delectable Italian and English dishes for over a century. Their famous Pellicci’s Full English, which is available all day long, comes with generous helpings of sausage, eggs, and bacon, a strong cup of coffee, and even a playful conversation with your waiter.
- +44 20 7739 4873
332 Bethnal Green Road, London, United Kingdom
John Hughes fans, rejoice! The Breakfast Club has you covered with odes to the director’s cult classic masterpiece plastered on its 80’s themed walls. Chaka Khan blasts from the speakers for an extra kick of nostalgia. While there are plenty of brunch options, from traditional British dishes to contemporary French, Italian, and Spanish cuisine, the restaurant’s The Full Monty is everyone’s go-to for a reliable Full English Breakfast.
- +44 20 7434 2571
33 D'Arblay Street, London, United Kingdom
- https://www.thebreakfastclubcafes.com/
For an alternative take on the Fry-up, try Dishoom’s The Big Bombay. The Indian flavor-infused dish includes Akuri (spicy chili scrambled eggs), high-quality smoked streaky bacon, peppery smoked sausages, masala baked beans, grilled field mushrooms, charred tomatoes, and homemade buttered buns. Pair your morning meal with bottomless chai and Dishoom’s acclaimed Bacon Naan—you’ll be dreaming of what you had for breakfast for days!
- +44 20 7420 9320
12 Upper Street, Martin's Lane, London, United Kingdom
- https://www.dishoom.com/
Blighty UK Café’s Full English Breakfast comes in three variants: The Winston, a traditional Fry-up (which was recently voted the best in the UK!); The Clementine, a vegetarian alternative; and The Ghandi, a vegan option. The restaurant’s attention to detail—from the wood-planked counters to the Union Jack flags on your sausages—brings you back to England in the 40’s. The bright, cozy joint advocates the brotherhood of the Commonwealth countries by sourcing ingredients, particularly coffee beans, from the community of 53 states.
- +44 20 8318 9577
35-37 Blackstock Road, London, United Kingdom
- https://www.blightycafe.co.uk/
For a glamorous Full English Breakfast, take a seat at the English Restaurant housed in the extravagant Crazy Bear Beaconsfield. The 15th century coaching inn, which is the oldest documented building in town, was transformed to the dramatically luxurious hotel it is today. Grand tufted sofas, elegant wooden tables, and posh chandeliers backdrop your dining experience. The restaurant’s classic Fry-up is composed of produce and meat from Crazy Bear’s own farm in Oxfordshire, so you know you’re in for a delectable treat!
- +44 1494 673086
Old Town, Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
- https://www.crazybeargroup.co.uk/beaconsfield/english-restaurant/
A much-loved breakfast spot since 1946, Regency Café keeps people coming back for a hefty serving of Full English Breakfast—and an effective wake-up call from the lady at the counter barking your orders out with great ferocity. The bang-for-your-buck plate of thick bacon, herby sausages, and perfectly-cooked eggs fills you up enough, but spare a little change for a side of fluffy hash browns!
- +44 20 7821 6596
17-19 Regency Street, Westminister, London, United Kingdom
- http://www.regencycafelondon.com/
Whether you’re craving for a Fry-up first thing in the morning, in the middle of the afternoon, or past midnight, Polo Bar is open 24/7 to dish out a dependable plate of delicious English grub. Their Traditional English Breakfast contains grilled bacon (grass-fed and specially cured for the restaurant), Cumberland sausages, free-range eggs, roasted thyme tomatoes, baked beans, roasted mushrooms, black pudding, and Bloomer toast, which goes perfectly with a cup of flat white, a glass of apple cider, or a bottle of craft beer—whatever you’re in the mood for.
- +44 20 7283 4889
176 Bishopsgate, London, United Kingdom
- https://polo24hourbar.co.uk/
Warm vintage interiors accompany a generously-sized Full English Breakfast at River Café by Putney Bridge, making you feel right at home! The old-fashioned joint is beloved by locals and tourists alike for meals that taste just like how your mom made them—if, you know, your mother’s British. The place gets packed when Chelsea plays so unless you want to join the crowd of fans, visit on a game-less day.
1A Station Approach, Fulham, London, United Kingdom
A Japanese noodle joint may strike confusion when you’re looking for a Fry-up, but hear us out! Koya Bar’s English Breakfast Udon seamlessly blends your favorite components to its special bowls of soup, making for a wonderful fusion that’s out-of-this-world yet familiar at the same time. The helping of earthy Dashi (Japanese cooking stock typically used as a base) broth and thick udon noodles topped with slices of bacon, fried egg, and shiitake mushrooms will tickle your tastebuds to keep you wanting more!
50 Frith Street, London, United Kingdom
- http://www.koya.co.uk/soho
Put on your loosest trousers as you gorge on Hawksmoor Guildhall’s infamous Full English Breakfast! Take a hungry friend and order the Hawksmoor Breakfast For 2 to Share, which goes to the next level with short-rib bubble and squeak, grilled bone marrow, sausages made with pork, beef, and mutton, and baked beans cooked in pig’s trotter, added to the usual suspects.
- +44 20 7397 8120
10 Basinghall Street, London, United Kingdom
- https://thehawksmoor.com/
Three letters: DIY! Maggie’s Café and Restaurant has been going at the do-it-yourself trend even before the storm of Pinterest and hipster concept brunch places. Choose from over 20 items of breakfast fare to create your very own Fry-up—they even have liver to add an old-school punch to your plate. Gulp down your perfect meal with unlimited tea and coffee!
- +44 20 8244 0339
320-322 Lewisham Road, Lewisham, London, United Kingdom
- http://maggiesrestaurant.co.uk
Sunny days in London call for a picnic! Pavilion Café’s al fresco dining space is the ideal setting to soak up some heat while filling up with a Full English Breakfast complete with chunky bacon, homemade organic beans, and fried eggs wedged in sourdough bread. Sip your cup of joe as you delight in a picturesque lakeside view.
- +44 20 8980 0030
Victoria Park, Old Ford Road, London, United Kingdom
- http://www.pavilionbakery.com/
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