There are few better ways to start the morning than with a hearty, fuelling meal that will set you up for the day ahead. So, it may come as no surprise to learn that breakfast is now the fastest-growing dining occasion in the UK, rising 13.7 per cent year-on-year according to Kantar. With more and more people returning to the office, and footfall in and around The City peaking before 9am, morning meetings over breakfast have become the norm – and we’re not complaining. Whether you need to entertain clients, colleagues or your closest friends, here’s where to be and be seen at breakfast. 

Cafe Murano, Marylebone

The latest addition to Angela Hartnett’s restaurant family opened in Marylebone this summer, and serves breakfast for the first time (as well as lunch and dinner daily). Served from 8am in the restaurant’s pink and green surroundings, morning diners will be able to enjoy dishes of grilled peaches with yogurt and toasted maple nuts, smoked trout crostini with bottarga, fennel, and chives, and peperonata with fresh warm focaccia and poached eggs. Bellissimo. 

From 8-11am on weekdays, visit cafemurano.co.uk

Franco’s, St James’s

Where better to start your day than at one of London’s longest-standing Italian restaurants? Franco’s has been appeasing discerning diners since 1945 but only recently expanded its menus to include breakfast, which can be served al fresco out on the Jermyn Street terrace or inside in the dining room. The breakfast menu caters to both the traditionalist and the gourmand with standout dishes including an indulgent lobster omelette, scrambled eggs with summer truffle, and Franco’s full English breakfast with eggs of your choice, grilled tomato, mushrooms, Cumberland sausage or black pudding, and toast. 

On the other hand, lighter options feature avocado on toast with poached eggs or smoked salmon, Greek yoghurt with honey and granola and pancakes with blueberries or banana, served with maple syrup. Pair your breakfast with a matcha latte, freshly squeezed ACE juice (carrot, orange and lemon) and even a mimosa or bellini for a more celebratory start to the day.

From 7.30am-10am on weekdays, visit francoslondon.com

Pavyllon London, Mayfair

There’s a definite buzz about breakfast at Pavyllon London: the Mayfair restaurant from world-renowned Michelin-starred chef, Yannick Alléno. Senior chef de partie Sian Almond is redefining the most important meal of the day with her meticulously crafted yet playful dishes. Blending Parisian elegance, London style and her own Australian brunch sensibilities, highlights on Almond’s menu include the Instagrammable Arabic omelette – a vibrant, eggy layering of herbs, labneh, sumac and spicy sauce – and the avocado ‘croast’: a witty reinvention of the brunch classic, swapping sourdough for a buttery croissant base, crowned with guacamole, poached egg, rocket and shaved parmesan. 

Due to this rising demand for breakfast, the Pavyllon team has also launched a weekly chef’s special – initially a social media concept that gained immediate traction and now a regular feature, with recent viral specials including the Heart of Italy, aka a pan-fried pizza with tomato and burrata. Expect the unexpected. 

From 6.30-10am on Monday to Saturday, 7-10.30am on Sundays, visit pavyllonlondon.com

Bone Daddies, Victoria

Having launched exclusively at Bone Daddies’ Victoria outpost last month, the new Japanese-inspired breakfast menu is designed to start your day with a bang. One of the most unique dishes on the menu is the Breakfast Ramen featuring homemade pork ramen broth, brown sugar bacon rashers, roasted tomato, mayu oil, a half soy egg, spring onion, beansprouts and noodles. 

The menu also includes a line-up of steamed hirata buns, featuring bacon and egg bao bun, featuring brown sugar bacon, a fried egg, smashed tots, cheese and spicy Korean ketchup, as well as sausage and egg, and hot honey chicken iterations. Elsewhere, discover a dedicated tamagoyaki section, offering the traditional Japanese rolled egg breakfast omelette with a variety of toppings. For those looking for a sugar hit to kick start their day, don’t miss the cinnamon and maple syrup-soaked shokopan (a squishy Japanese milk bread) French toast and a fresh cream-filled strawberry sando – perfectly paired with the black sesame matcha latte, caramel miso latte or the energising yuzu matcha lemonade. 

From 7.30-11.30am daily, visit bonedaddies.com

Bar Kroketa, Marylebone

Bar Kroketa at St Christopher’s Place, just tucked behind Oxford Street, has launched its first ever breakfast menu which brings traditional North Spanish tapas to London’s larks. The breakfast menu showcases the best of Spanish cuisine via a selection of toasties, eggs, classics and sides. The former are served on traditional pan de coca bread and include combinations such as sobrasada, honey and grated mahon cheese or grilled aubergine, rocket, torta de barros sheeps cheese and mojo verde, a coriander and garlic based sauce from the Canary Islands. From the eggs menu, choose from baked eggs flamenca made with butter beans, smoked noara chilli, navarran red peppers and avocado or baked devilled eggs with chorizo, while classics include torreja (Spanish-style French Toast) with agave and churros with cinnamon sugar and warm chocolate for dipping. See you there. 

From 8-11.30am, visit kroketa.co.uk

Los Mochis, The City

Searching for your latest breakfast fix with a continental twist? Los Mochis, where Tokyo meets Tulum, serves breakfast from 7.30am throughout the week at its sky-high restaurant in the City and, therefore, makes for the perfect client meeting spot. Spotlighting Mexican flavours and Japanese techniques, Los Mochis’ chefs' breakfast menu is completely gluten, nut and celery free. Early risers will be able to choose a fresh acai bowl, Mexican churros with dulce de leche, or banana oat pancakes, while heartier options include the spicy chorizo shakshuka, resaca quesadilla or the masa chicken and waffles drizzled with maple syrup.

From 7.30-10.30am on weekdays, visit losmochis.co.uk

Langan’s Brasserie, Mayfair

A favourite with the social set since the 1970s, and aptly situated across from Green Park station, Langan’s is a discreet and refined bolthole where Londoners go to regroup, reconnect and revel in an art-filled dining room. With a classic British and French menu that transitions from morning to night, kickstart your day with a selection of health shots, freshly pressed juices and even breakfast cocktails before starting the most important meal of the day with pastries, porridge and bowls of acai or granola. 

The bulk of the menu, however, is centred around St Ewe’s eggs which you can enjoy whatever way you prefer – think omelettes with wild mushrooms, or the Arnold Bennet with smoked haddock and hollandaise, as well as classic royale, benedict and florentine. Our top pick? The Stratton Egg with potato rösti, avocado, duck egg and caviar. 

From 8-10.30am on weekdays, visit langansbrasserie.com

Cut at 45 Park Lane, Mayfair

Cut at 45 Park Lane is a modern American restaurant, created by world-renowned chef Wolfgang Puck and executed by executive chef Elliott Grover. The flagship eatery at 45 Park Lane is most famous for its expertly-cooked steaks, but its breakfast bites shouldn’t be overlooked. The 45 Breakfast (priced at £45) is made up of Applewood smoked bacon, sausages, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns, while other highlights include the Cut breakfast roll – sausage, fried Burford brown eggs, bacon and cheese – and the Cut croque monsieur with truffle. There’s just about everything on this breakfast menu, but we’d expect no less from this five-star hotel. 

From 7-10.30am daily, visit dorchestercollection.com

Harry’s, Victoria and King’s Cross

One of London’s most famous Italian restaurants, Harry’s, serves a delectable breakfast menu for the commuter crowd at two of its busiest transport hubs: King’s Cross and Victoria. Drop into the gorgeous green-hued restaurant, featuring Venetian-inspired interiors and bespoke artwork on the walls, for a sophisticated morning meeting while dining on a simple but refined menu. Expect smoked salmon on toast, folded ham and cheese omelette and the energy bowl: organic cow’s yoghurt with banana, pistachio, raspberry, toasted coconut and goji berries. 

From 8-11.30am on weekdays, visit harrysdolcevita.com

Brasserie of Light, Oxford Street

Set beneath Damien Hirst’s glittering pegasus sculpture in the heart of Selfridges, Brasserie of Light's breakfast menu blends elegance with contemporary flair – and is a top choice for both an early business meeting or a leisurely catch-up with friends and family. Enjoy light, energising options of seasonal fruit with coconut yogurt, avocado and poached eggs on sourdough or warm, flaky croissants, while indulgent classics include eggs benedict, buttermilk pancakes with berries and maple syrup, or the full English breakfast. Pair your meal with freshly pressed juices, breakfast cocktails, or a signature coffee for a buzzing start to the day.

From 8-11.30am on weekdays, 9-11am on weekends, visit brasserie-of-light.co.uk

The Ivy, across London

Since 1917, The Ivy has been a stalwart on London’s dining scene. It remains a fail-safe option for relaxed meetings or catch ups with friends, serving breakfast from 8am across several of its 16 restaurants which span Canary Wharf to Wimbledon. Menus differ per restaurant but signature plates range from The Ivy 1917 cured smoked salmon with black pepper, lemon and dark rye bread to pastries such as the indulgent caramelised spiral croissant filled with Greek yoghurt, blueberry compote, strawberries, blackberries and raspberries. Whatever you order, we’re sure you won’t be disappointed. 

From 8-11.30am on weekdays, visit ivycollections.com

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