8 Great Breakfast and Brunch Spots in Holborn-Clerkenwell, London

During the week The Clerkenwell Kitchen does a roaring trade for breakfast. It’s open from 8am and knocks out fab porridge, eggs, granola and pastries – all made with ethically sourced ingredients and a lot of love. There are freshly made juices and a huge range of teas to put a spring in your step on the way to work.

The Modern Pantry was made for brunch. Its light and airy restaurant space is the kind of place you want to spend all weekend in, but if you pop by on Saturday or Sunday you’ll be treated to Japanese inspired small plates as well as more adventurous takes on the classics such as miso, green chilli and spring onion waffles, bacon, sour cream, tomato salsa and miso glaze or marinated feta, chilli sautéed cavolo nero and chickpea spring roll. Plus, you can add booze in too. Book in now.

The kind of homely food at the Bench Cafe is made for breakfast and brunch, and in the summer you can have it outside. Bench is open from 8am for poached eggs or granola pots and you can also help yourself to fresh fruit salads, all arranged beautifully on its wooden counter. It’s not open at weekends but it’s definitely one of the best brekkie spots in Clerkenwell.

Fleet River Bakery is a less showy kind of cafe, but one filled to the brim with wonderful homemade food. You can call in for breakfast from 7am, the team will be there ready to rustle up Bircher muesli or a Brioche bacon bun. There are pastries and various egg dishes as well.

While Bill’s is a chain, it’s also one that’s set up for big groups, families and most definitely for brunch. Homely, welcoming and with quick service, Bill’s fits the bill (boom boom) if you’re not actually after a hipster/Instagram brunch occasion and just need actual food. Its Holborn outpost is a beautiful Georgian building, and you can order up everything from fry ups to avo on toast.

Found inside The Hoxton Holborn, this retro looking diner has an Italian emphasis when it comes to brunch, which is certainly no bad thing. The busy cafe does a roaring trade during the week with creative types meeting up, and it knocks out brilliant smoothies and sticky buns. Try their fluffy stacks of buttermilk pancakes at the weekend, or plump for Eggs Benedict. You can add on two hours of bottomless Prosecco too.

The Black Penny could be one of the best spots to grab breakfast or brunch in central London. There’s bubble and squeak, Brioche French toast, veggie fry ups and green eggs (although this isn’t a vegetarian only restaurant). It’s also known for its range of homemade hashes. Turn up, order, and take it slow.

155 Bar and Kitchen does a two hour bottomless fizz brunch on a Saturday that’s a lot of fun. Choose from sweet or savoury waffles, baked eggs with nduja or a full-on burger. If you’re suffering from the night before, then this is a good spot to go to. The modern British space is filled with plants and neutral tones, so it’s a soothing start to the weekend.