A local’s guide to the best breakfast in East London – from cinnamon buns to colorful latte and halal English breakfast, cute cafes and lesser-known bakeries!
I can’t recall exactly how many times I’ve told you about secret London cafes I love to visit on a regular basis.
Still, one thing’s for sure, these East London spots are part of them.
So, whether you’re after a more rustic coffee shop or just new places to eat off the beaten path, you’ll hopefully find here a couple you’ve never tried before!
Breakfast in East London: The Cutest Cafes and Bakeries
London is filled with really cute bakeries and pastry shops; of the kind you pop by to get a couple of cakes and a colorful latte to go.
Most of the breakfast places I’ve chosen to share here are coffee shops in which you can comfortably sit and stay chatting with your friends for a good couple of hours.
In the case of Rinkoff Bakery in the Stepney Green neighborhood, there are no spots to sit inside, but a spacious terrace which makes for a perfect start to the day when it’s warm outside.
What I know for sure is that you’ll have a blast trying the food in each of these.
Whether you’re looking for a great Full English breakfast, doughnuts or cinnamon buns, these are simply unmissable breakfast spots!
Best Breakfast Places in East London: Grounded Coffee Company, Bow
Just outside of the Bow Church station, and close to Bow Road on the Hammersmith & City and District line, you will find Grounded Coffee Company, housed in an impressive building with a terrace.
Many of the cakes and specialties on the menu are vegan – and delicious, making Grounded Bow a great place to fill your belly with a completely vegan breakfast.
In addition, Grounded Coffee Company, which also has another branch in Aldgate East closer to Liverpool Street and Spitalfields, is also known amongst Londoners for offering carefully-curated halal Full English breakfast.
However, the Bow branch is much more spacious, and since the coffee shop also has power outlets all around, it also makes for a great East London study cafe.
PS. In my experience, Grounded also makes some of the best chai latte in London!
Best Breakfast Places in East London: Kahaila, Brick Lane
Kahaila on Brick Lane is that unassuming coffee shop which turns out to be one of the best hidden food gems you’ll ever find in London.
First of all, we’re close to three other great food spots on Brick Lane, namely:
- Beigel Bake, closer to Bethnal Green Road, which offers some of the best bagels in London
- Dark Sugars, with their gorgeous chocolate truffles and indisputably best hot chocolate in town
- Sleazy Pizza, closer to the Brick Lane Vintage Market, which is not only a really trendy spot, but also cooks up chewy, cheesy, decadent Neapolitan pizza
Back to the Kahaila coffee shop, I happen – like many others – to feel like it’s one of the best cafes to work in London.
It’s spacious, rustic with its wooden and leather furniture, has power outlets dotted around the cafe, and for anything from sweet to savory specialties, has all you might wish for in terms of breakfast bites.
My favorite at Kahaila is the rainbow cake, layered with thick cream – really an amazing way to start the day before you keep discovering the street art on Brick Lane!
And once you’re done, here are a few things to do nearby:
- Pop by the charity shops in Bethnal Green
- Discover the Shoreditch neighborhood, since it’s so close and filled with hidden gems
- And of course, walk around the markets in Shoreditch, for anything from souvenirs to street food and vintage clothes
Best Breakfast Places in East London: Poplar Union
Poplar, close to the Canary Wharf area, is one of my favorite places to walk around in London and recently, while I was walking along Regent’s Canal, I came across the spacious Poplar Union coffee shop.
Locals visit this coffee shop for its community vibe, and Poplar Union is also a perfect place to write or read if you wish to do so.
While there are few power outlets around, it’s also a great coffee shop to work, although I would recommend simply making a stop there for the incredibly fresh pastries.
I had a couple of cakes there, strong in cinnamon, as well as a gorgeous chai latte and definitely felt like Poplar Union should be on anyone’s bucket list.
You can also buy a selection of food supplies there, and even eat lunch there if you wish – a great spot to stop by if you’re visiting the surroundings.
Surroundings that include a few following favorites of mine:
- The Ragged School Museum in Mile End, one of the most secret museums in London
- The Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park, filled with sculptures, gorgeous nature and winding paths
- And, from the Poplar Union terrace, you will also get some free views of London’s skyscrapers in the distance
Read: The Prettiest Villages in London
Best Breakfast Places in East London: Quarantacinque, Bethnal Green
The Quarantacinque coffee shop, located a couple of minutes away from Bethnal Green station on the Central Line, is one of my favorites ever – and a cafe I always visit when I miss Italy.
I currently spend half my time living in Rome, where breakfast spots are literally available on every corner, and my proper Italian coffee is just what I need on a rainy London day.
At Quarantacinque, you can have a taste of that Italian breakfast with pistachio croissants (cornetti), focaccie, and various cakes and desserts you will have a hard time finding anywhere else.
We’re close to some of East London’s best hidden gems, too, like the charity bookshop Jambala, just around the corner, as well as the colorful mosaics outside the Globe Primary School.
Just a cozy coffee shop perfect to properly wake up before you visit the trendy East London neighborhoods around, like Globe Town, Roman Road and its market, or Victoria Park near Mile End.
Best Breakfast Places in East London: Rinkoff Bakery, Stepney Green
If I had to choose just one bakery in town as my favorite, it would be Rinkoff Bakery in Stepney Green, just a few minutes from the station, and tucked behind Mile End Road.
It’s easy to access from the Stepney Green station and Liverpool Street, and whether you want tasty bagels, traditional Danish pastries or the bakery’s famous crodoughs, you just know you’re going to eat well when spending time at Rinkoff Bakery.
We’re here in one of the oldest bakeries in London, and one that deserves a visit even if you’re not staying in the area…
That’s how good the pastries are – especially the peanut butter and jam crodough!
Read: Living in London: A Few Things I’ve Learned Over the Years
Breakfast in East London: The Cutest Cafes and Bakeries
There you have them, some of my favorite places to eat breakfast in East London!
None are too expensive, although breakfast and brunch spots in London tend to cost more than in other European cities like Rome – and they’re worth every penny.
Hopefully, you’ll have found here some new places to try off the beaten path, and why not even study or work if you’re a student or digital nomad!