The Best Brunch and Breakfast Spots in Gibraltar

Reputedly Gibraltar’s oldest pub, Christopher Columbus is said to have enjoyed a steak (and perhaps a pint, too) at The Star Bar before embarking on the expedition during which he would discover a new world. Their award-winning cooked breakfast – the works, plus black pudding and complimentary tea or coffee – is enough to set anyone up for a day of sightseeing on the Rock. It is also decently priced at less than £7 (about $9 USD) per dish. A half-size version is available for smaller appetites, and veggie options are also on offer.

Lord Nelson is one of Gibraltar’s most loved pubs. Their breakfast menu caters to all appetites, including vegetarians and meat-eaters and offers everything from a substantial full English to the Mediterranean-style Pan Tumaca – a toasted roll topped with crushed garlic, tomatoes and olive oil. Service here is super friendly, and Casemates is a great place to people watch as you enjoy breakfast on the terrace.

As well as offering the standard breakfasts – the full English and a veggie option, both available in two sizes – Corks impresses with the variety of egg-based dishes, making it a great spot for non-meat-eaters to kick-start the day. The Guacamole Eggs, for example, is a delicious concoction that you’re unlikely to see on many other menus in Gibraltar: two eggs, cooked any way you like them, served on granary bread with mozzarella and guacamole. The décor strikes a pleasing balance between modern and cosy, and the restaurant caters well for children.

Situated next door to The Ship on Marina Bay, Biancas offers high-quality food in a smart, contemporary setting. Its three main breakfasts – the Builders, Biancas and Vegeterian – are complemented by a selection of lighter dishes, such as smoked salmon and eggs, huevos ranchos, American pancakes and muffins. Enjoy any of these in the sleek dining room inside, or choose one of their many outside dining options. The service is consistently singled out for praise, too.

Featured on the old town’s principal thoroughfare, Verdi Verdi is the place to head if you want a lighter breakfast that’s a bit different. The Shakshuka will set you up for the day; described by the café as a “Middle-Eastern delight”, it consists of eggs poached in tomatoes and garlic and is served on toasted bread or a bagel. There’s also the Not Quite Welsh Rarebit with melted cheese and Worcestershire sauce on toast or a bagel. All ingredients are fresh and from local suppliers, and the excellent coffee is from Naples, which is said to be home to the best coffee in Italy.

Jury’s is a smart little eatery and coffee shop next to Gibraltar’s courtrooms. It offers customers a lovely outside terrace from which to watch the world go by on Main Street, as well as an extensive breakfast and brunch menu. Carnivores and vegetarians alike will find something tasty, from the full English (Jury’s Breakfast) and the half-sized Courtroom Early Starter (see what they did there?) to the freshly baked croissants, smoothies and pancakes. Customers also rave about the tarts and cakes, and some locals say Jury’s coffee is the best in Gibraltar.

Another popular local eatery on spacious Casemates Square, Latino’s has a breakfast of chorizo and eggs – a dish that reflects the influence of nearby Spain. They also offer all the standard British breakfasts and brunches, including a vegetarian option, and there’s a selection of rolls and toppings for toast for those who want a lighter meal. Its main draw is a lovely outside terrace in the heart of the old town’s main square, which offers a lively environment in which to start a day of attraction-hopping on the Rock.

If you’re not a strict conventionalist about breakfast, order the chips at Timeout – some say they’re the best in Gibraltar. This no-nonsense café offers the standard cooked English breakfast, as well as lighter bites, such as toast with a choice of toppings, sandwiches and rolls. Even better, there is a nice outside terrace on which to enjoy the first meal of the day as you people watch on busy Europort Avenue. And if prefer a sweet brekkie, try their highly praised homemade cakes, which are something of an in-house speciality.

Located on the stylish thoroughfare of Irish Town, Sacarello’s is a household name in Gibraltar and one of the old town’s most popular hangouts. They offer full English and vegetarian breakfasts, which are served with the coffee that the Sacarello family has been roasting in Gibraltar since the late 19th century. In fact, Richard Sacarello’s company still supplies coffee for many of the other local cafés and bars, as well. What makes a visit here even more pleasurable is that the walls are colourfully adorned with works from Patrick Sacarello’s private art collection.