We’ve all heard the cliche “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” This piece of wisdom rings true, for nothing comes close to kicking off your day with a sumptuous feast.
However, a really good breakfast is more than the food. It’s a whole experience that not only nourishes your body but also soothes your soul and powers you to take on the day. London, with its beautiful cityscape and distinguished sensibilities, brims with incredibly memorable breakfast experiences. A delicious morning meal with splendid views embodying English elegance is indeed an unmatched experience.
Read on to discover the best London spots for breakfast with a view.
Darwin Brasserie
At Darwin Brasserie, located on the 36th level of the Sky Garden Walk, guests can relish the best of British cuisine nestled in London’s lofty clouds.
The restaurant is lavished in chic, art-deco splendour, prepping guests for an incredibly sophisticated breakfasting affair. For the best experience, pick a window seat to feast on London’s morning sky, a resplendent vision in blue imbued with the occasional passing cloud. You’ll also be enveloped by Sky Garden’s aromatic forest, a landscaped haven blossoming with rare herbs, florid bushes, and soaring trees.
Guests are pampered with a large selection of British offerings, from a traditional English breakfast to pancake stacks, DIY omelettes, and muffin baskets. Depending on your mood, you may nourish yourselves with fresh smoothies, recharge with bottomless filter coffee, or completely let loose with premium cocktails.
Duck and Waffle
At Duck and Waffle, you’ll be, quite literally, on top of the world with the glamorous English capital at your feet.
Located on the 40th floor of Heron Tower, London’s second tallest skyscraper, dining at the Duck and Waffle is certainly an adrenaline-sparking affair. Ensconced in luxuriant ebony furniture, the only thing that separates you from London's skyline are floor-to-ceiling glass windows, covering every inch of the restaurant’s facade.
As the name suggests, guests are in for sumptuous waffles, ranging from delightful savouries such as the duck Benedict, featuring braised duck leg and poached eggs, to toothsome sweets like the caramelised banana, featuring vanilla ice cream and hazelnut spread. Continental bites like shakshuka and French toast are also on offer.
Hide
If you’re an epicurean struggling to find a truly distinguished breakfast meal, Hide’s Michelin-starred fare should just about tick all boxes.
Perched on the minted streets of Mayfair, Hide is a three-level restaurant decked out in handsome woodwork. With a winding staircase, a baroque bar, shabby-chic furniture, and marble finishes, guests are feted by a plush ambience. However, the peerless views of Green Park unfurling for miles on end are Hide’s true treasure.
The menu is simple with a sophisticated edge. You can expect freshly baked viennoiseries, daintily dressed up avocado on toast, a good old English breakfast, and even exorbitant tidbits of caviar and oysters. Coffee made with premium roasted beans and Mariage Frères teas cap off the lovely spread.
TĪNG at Shangri La, The Shard
Experience decadent, flavoursome Asian-inspired gastronomy in the soaring wings of the Shard.
Panoramic visuals of the city are accompanied by exotic yet contemporary interiors. Guests can marvel at the River Thames in all her glistening glory while sunken into intricately embroidered couches, surrounded by tall vases of sunflowers. You’re bound to truly savour London’s cosmopolitan vibrance, as all of the city’s towering skyscrapers and buzzy high streets are visible from TĪNG’s glass windows.
You may opt for the exclusive breakfast buffet, which comprises English cakes, cold cuts, yoghurts, cheeses, and Asian bites; or the Shangri-La Continental breakfast, which encompasses pastries, juices, and salads.
White Mulberries
Perched on St. Katharine Docks and in the corridors of the debonair Hay’s Galleria, White Mulberries presents the ultimate old-money dining experience.
The laps of the Thames harmonise beautifully with Hay’s stately architectural design. The galleria’s early modern opulence, embodied by the lattice grills, symmetrically panelled pillars, and gold rims accompanied by the city’s crystal waters, evokes a vision straight out of a fairytale.
Guests can enjoy the vivacity of the docks while tucking into healthy acai bowls, porridge, smoothies, and fresh fruit. If you have a sweet tooth, the cafe’s signature banana cake will not disappoint. Select coffee beans sourced from Kenya, Nicaragua, Honduras, and Costa Rica, make for delectable brews that leave you craving more.
Radio Rooftop
Radio Rooftop is a glamorous haunt for a fashionably late breakfast with your pals.
Guests are welcomed with an unapologetically boujee ambience. With dazzling light pendants, gilt wallpaper, and flamboyant tapestries, modern maximalism is employed to a tee. The all-embracing vision of London’s skyline coupled with the city's well-heeled West End is a cherry on top of the cake.
Renowned for its Asian-inspired cuisine and tapas, you can opt for their luxury brunch, which kicks off with a bellini, followed by maki rolls, and a main dish like donburi or gochujang pork. However, traditional breakfast meals from pancakes to omelettes are also on the menu for those quiet, comfort days.
Coppa Club
Dining at the Coppa Club is like wearing an invisible cloak – you can see the world pass you by while you’re tucked away in cushy comfort.
Observing Thames’ hubbub from a cosy glass igloo with a cocktail in hand is an inexplicable delight in its own right. These igloos bask in sunlight during the day and don strings of fairy lights at night, making them eternally enjoyable viewing points with exemplary food options to boot.
Munching on avocado toast, pancakes, and omelettes in these crystal enclaves is an unmatched pick-me-up. With babbling waters, handsome boats, a magnificent bridge, and Roman architecture enveloping you, unperturbed bliss is bound to set in.
Alto by San Carlo, Marylebone
Alto is one of central London’s most vogueish rooftop resto bars, crowned by the city’s skylines, Italian cookery, and Marylebone’s unabashed lucre.
Cane-backed chairs, white-clad tables, and immodestly green lemon creepers doll up the ritzy atmosphere with a bohemian touch. Sweeping views of London’s posh neighbourhoods, upscale streets, and awe-worthy skyscrapers envelop guests in a loving embrace, sun-kissed during the day and aglow with city lights at dusk.
The quintessential English breakfast takes centre stage on the menu. For an offbeat twist, the flavorful eggs Florentine and Norwegian are popular picks, while the pancake stacks and French toast are sure to tease your sweet tooth. Depending on the vibe, drinks ranging from herbal teas and fruit smoothies to bellinis and prosecco are on offer.
Dedicatedly starting your day on a good note will transform your life, and prioritising elevated breakfasting is the perfect way to do just that. Pursue decadent living – it’s time to indulge in that ideal breakfast with a view.
