Breakfast has become a culinary art form all over the globe in the 21st century, and the towns and villages of the Home Counties in the UK have embraced it wholeheartedly with some stellar options for their early morning feasts.
The town of Cobham is fortunate to add some incredibly picturesque vistas into the mix when making the important decision on where to take the most important meal. Let’s take a look at some of the very best in our guide below.
The Juice Smith
Creating a plant-based eatery that appeals to all tastes is a difficult challenge, but Richard Smith-Bernal seems to have found the magic formula at The Juice Smith. His own story of recovering from illness to explore the benefits of a diet that remains free from gluten, dairy, refined sugar, and soya has led to this wonderful, if rather unique breakfast spot on Oakdene Parade in Cobham. The urban and stylish interiors of pale wood floors and metallic furniture act as the perfectly appropriate setting for a vibrant atmosphere that is welcoming and refreshing. The Breakfast Bowl here of acai, bowl-granola, kiwi, banana, and fresh berries is a riot of colour that will have you energised for a busy day and beyond.
Ockham Bites Café
The location and surroundings are the real stars at Ockham Bites Café. With the incredible scenery of Ockham Common as the view, you can survey the heathlands, ancient woodlands, ponds, and lakes, enjoying a morning coffee to shake you into the day with nature as your companion. This place has been a well-known community hub for around 20 years and the trick here is to make sure that you take the time to have a good wander around before, after, or even during your breakfast meal. If you do plan to walk before eating to work up an appetite, then their famous hearty Bacon Butty is always a sensible and filling choice to end your journey with.
Gail’s
The story of Gail’s Bakery over the last few years has been a triumph for artisanal breakfast dishes on prestigious high streets. Their approach has been to identify where they feel residents would appreciate what they have to offer, and when they arrive, they are never wrong. With so much of their menu now enjoying Great Taste Awards 2024 status, the only difficulties will be finding a seat and deciding what to order. The Soho Bun, a delightful bite-sized cream bun studded with chocolate chips, is a great coffee companion to go for here. Located directly on Cobham High Street, Gail’s offers quality and convenience that hits the spot every time.
The Ivy – Cobham Garden
There is a reassuring luxury about The Ivy and its Cobham Garden spot is allowed to blend beautiful scenery with the quality of food it has built a great reputation upon. Eggs Royale with the world-famous Ivy 1917 Cure Smoke Salmon is a stirring savoury option for your day starter here with the sweet tooth taken care of through fresh buttermilk pancakes and red berries sauce. The lush orangery delivers a wonderful atmosphere as an alternative to the main restaurant and a semi-private mezzanine can always be booked in advance for early morning business meetings too.
Coppa Club
The wonderfully named Between Streets in Cobham is the perfect representation of what this area has to offer, with a mix of boutiques, residencies, and café bars all adding to a welcoming community. The appearance of Coppa Club here is a great fit, with breakfasts served across their lounge and terrace to soak up all that atmosphere while enjoying fresh and innovative food. The Skillet Breakfast here is a refined version of the traditional Full English of bacon, sausage, eggs, mushroom, and black pudding, with a vegetarian version available as the Garden Breakfast. Be warned, this is by no means a quick snack though so be prepared to order another coffee and enjoy the view after eating.
Fego
Fego is a rare example of unfussy café culture done in just the right way for a modern town. Their whole philosophy is to bring what the owners experienced growing up in South Africa to English towns – the café as a hub for informal meetups, gatherings, and chats over great food and drinks. It is an alluring philosophy that suits the centre of Cobham community down to the ground. A Full South African is one to be recommended here with Boerewors sausage and chakalaka relish providing a fantastic spin on breakfast, accompanied by crispy potato cake and poached eggs. A special mention must go to the Breakfast Smoothie that adds peanut butter to the usual suspects of berry, banana, pecan, and orange juice.
Café Barbera
For many of us, the most important part of the most important meal of the day is the coffee. Long gone are the days when cafes and breakfast establishments would offer a limited choice of plain filter coffee as an alternative to English Tea. Café Barbera brings over 150 years of passionate coffee brewing experience to Cobham here with all of that know-how infused into every barista. Choose from an excellent selection that counts some relatively left-field additions including the Cold Drip Coffee Brew – expertly created using over 18 hours of drip extraction on site. Add in a slice of Pan De Spagna for a sweet morning treat and this is a heavenly place to be.
There is so much temptation to eat on the go and let our early morning routines fall into a familiar rush. As these wonderful Cobham establishments demonstrate, it is better to stop and sit once in a while to enjoy breakfast in a more mindful way. With so many superb choices here, you can easily make a good morning into a great one.
