The Best Cafés for Breakfast and Brunch in Knightsbridge

Start your day in style with a decadent breakfast on the top floor of world-renowned department store Harvey Nichols. Feast on eggs royale, melted cheese brioche toasties and buttermilk pancakes while you quench your thirst with an energy-boosting green juice and gaze out over the Knightsbridge rooftops. Heading down on the weekend? The breakfast cocktails come highly recommended, especially the house mimosa, made with Harvey Nichols’s own champagne. The outdoor terrace is a perfect al fresco brunching spot come summer.

For the ultimate in brunching chic, head to the Mandarin Oriental, a stone’s throw from Knightsbridge tube station, for an unforgettable breakfast experience. Definitely one for a special occasion, dine on smoked haddock and poached eggs, french toast with almond and honey butter or a top-quality English breakfast. Healthier options include cashew and oat pancakes and corn and lime fritters as well as an impressive selection of some of the world’s rarest teas, giving your morning brew the Knightsbridge treatment.

Ladurée, the famous Parisian creators of the pastel-hued macaron, has four shops dotted across the capital, but its outpost in Harrods is the biggest and serves up an indulgent weekend brunch. The menu is made for those with a sweet tooth, featuring everything from scrambled eggs on toasted brioche to warm french toast, Ladurée granola and macarons. Just be sure to book well in advance as the café is, unsurprisingly, a popular spot.

Tucked away in the crypt of a historic church, this charming café is an ideal spot to escape the hustle and bustle of Brompton Road. Order a flat white and settle in with a homemade pastry while you peruse the menu – the smashed avocado with feta, chilli and pine nuts on wood-fired sourdough is a must-try while the homemade bircher muesli, which comes laden with Greek yoghurt and fresh fruit, is a virtuous start to the day.

Opposite the lush expanse of Hyde Park and a short stroll from the museums on Exhibition Road, The Berkeley is a perfect place to start a day of sightseeing. Served in the recently renovated Collins Room, breakfast is a gourmet affair with something for all taste buds. Hero dishes include the crab frittata, served with melted cheese in a milk bun, and made-to-order American pancakes drizzled with maple syrup, while plant-based options include quinoa porridge, scrambled tofu and fruit-rich chia seed pudding.

With Hyde Park and Buckingham Palace on its doorstep, The Lanesborough occupies a prime position in the heart of Knightsbridge, and its Michelin-star restaurant, Céleste, is equally impressive. The richly decorated dining room, naturally lit by a domed glass roof, is a perfect setting for a special occasion, and the extensive menu caters for all appetites. From freshly baked bread baskets and smoked salmon blinis to smoked kippers and truffle scrambled eggs, Céleste is every inch the Michelin-star dining experience.

Escape the hustle and bustle of Knightsbridge and enjoy the serenity of Hyde Park. Wander on over to Patrick Gwynne’s iconic building on the eastern edge of the Serpentine in Hyde Park where you’ll find the Serpentine Bar & Kitchen. A fantastic slice of country living in the heart of London, here you can tuck into a delicious brunch while taking in the views of the Serpentine. Start with a bloody mary or a buck’s fizz, and then enjoy a full English breakfast. For something lighter, choose the porridge with blueberry and blossom honey or scrambled eggs.