The best vegetarian breakfast in London

Acclaimed chef Yotam Ottolenghi's restaurant-slash-delicatessens are pleasant, relaxed eateries with a contemporary style and counters piled high with the chef's salads, quiches, cakes, and other goodies. You'll find all sorts of Mediterranean breakfast dishes here, including plenty of choices for vegetarian diners, such as shakshuka, scrambled tofu, porridge, and more. You can grab a takeaway for lunch or stock up your pantry while you're at it too.

Miranda Café is a casual eatery specialising in vegetarian and vegan dishes with global flair and South American touches. The café features a relaxed atmosphere with its doors open to natural light, vintage furniture, potted plants, and an exposed brick setting. Its menu, inspired by South American influences, offers a range of dishes from a guacamole-enriched full English breakfast to arepas brunch and international favourites like Israeli laffa and kimchi burgers.

Towpath is a hidden Haggerston gem, in part also due to the outdoor café being open only during the warm part of the year. As you sit at simple canalside tables, watching joggers, cyclists, and dogs pass by, you can enjoy a changing menu of inventive, globally-inspired dishes prepared by the kitchen using fresh, quality produce and a whole lot of charm.

Eggbreak specialises in all-day breakfasts with a focus on eggs prepared in any style you desire. The menu, influenced by global cuisines, ranges from hearty options like omelettes and eggs Benedict to sweeter choices like French toast and pancakes, along with a selection of pastries and breads. There are plenty of vegetarian options on the menu, and various teas, special coffee brews, smoothies, juices, and other drinks help wash it all down at this snug spot.

Polo Bar is a 24-hour British café in The City that serves breakfast all day and night long. There are a wide range of options to choose from, including fry-ups, breakfast sandwiches, pancakes, and more, with vegetarian-friendly food well-represented. Hot and cold drinks such as milkshakes and smoothies are served as well, along with alcoholic beverages.

Bühler and Co, a popular Walthamstow café, specialises in light, plant-powered breakfast and brunch options with global culinary influences. The changing menu might include things like vegan bagels with tempeh and brioche French toast with thyme-roasted peach, or more traditional dishes like eggs your way and avocado on toast, complemented by a variety of coffees, brunch cocktails, cold-pressed juices, and nourishing smoothies. The hidden patio at the back for outdoor dining is a godsend in pleasant weather.

The highly popular Dobar is a North London classic, often requiring early weekend arrival to avoid queues, despite being a somewhat unremarkable café at first glance. The secret to this snug café's success is the extensive menu of breakfast and brunch options, including highlights such as Mediterranean-inspired fry-ups and and fluffy pancake tacos, complemented by things like smoothies and French toast. There's lots of choice for vegetarians, as well as a range of extras so you can customise your breakfast just the way you like it.

The award-winning Breakfast Club cafés live up to their name, offering an extensive menu of classic breakfast items, featuring a variety of egg dishes, full English breakfasts, pancakes, and more. Most of the menu items come with a vegetarian or vegan alternative, so there's no fear of anyone being left out. The vibrant cafés can be found all over the city.

The Good Egg cafés serves Jewish-style breakfast cuisine all day long, with vegetarian highlights including the likes of shakshuka with preserved lemon yoghurt, flaky stuffed boureka pastry, and various bagels and pita breads that you can have as takeaway too. There are plenty of veggie-friendly Middle Eastern options to choose from on the menu, and the convivial, lively atmosphere makes everyone feel right at home.

Hailing from New Zealand, Ozone Coffee Roasters bring a dedication to sustainability and eco-conscious practices to their cafés. Offering a menu that emphasises fermentation and pickling to enhance flavours and minimise waste incidentally means there's a wealth of veggie-friendly options to choose from, such as kimchi, eggs Benedict served on bubble 'n' squeak cakes, and more. The coffee is top-notch too.

Deeney's is located in Leyton but known far and wide for its cheese toasties, available with a range of fillings, including veggie and vegan options. That's not all that's on the breakfast menu at this snug Scottish café either, with fry-ups, baps, and more all available. Vegetarians can even try a vegetarian take on that classic Scottish delicacy, haggis.

The Snapery East is a café by The Snapery Bakery, an established supplier of bread and pastries to top-tier London restaurants. The courtyard café in London Fields offers a daily menu of breakfast and lunch options, complemented by an array of freshly-baked goods. Vegetarians can enjoy different options, including egg dishes and sourdough toast, while those who like sweet breakfasts are especially in luck – just pay a visit to the pastry counter.

Honey & Co., a beloved Middle Eastern culinary establishment, has long been a highlight of London's dining scene. Their offshoot, Honey & Co. Daily, offers all-day dining that's aimed at fans of mopping up sauces and dips with freshly baked breads. Vegetarians can stop by in the morning for shakshuka, msabaha, bureka, and other Middle Eastern breakfast staples, along with various mezze, sandwiches, and sweet treats.

Common Ground is a popular neighbourhood café known for its friendly service and inclusive atmosphere in a cosy, plant-filled setting with comfortable furnishings, exposed brick walls, and a secluded garden adorned with sculptures. Committed to sustainability and seasonality, its vegetarian menu includes indulgent desserts, pastries, and hearty dishes like cheese toasties and Turkish eggs, complemented by speciality coffees, teas, fresh juices, and alcoholic beverages.

The Daisy Green Collection is a group of Australian-style brunch spots, often found at interesting venues like barges, and always a reliable choice for a relaxing morning meal in a stylish setting. You can expect a varied assortment of sweet and savoury breakfast choices, with plenty of vegetarian options like avo toast, shakshuka, or sweetcorn fritters. Wash it all down with artisan coffee, cocktails, or other drinks.

The trendy Megan's restaurants can be found all over London, having won awards for their brunch offerings and establishing themselves a top choice for when you're looking to hang out with your friends over some nice eggs and cocktails. The menu at these dog-friendly eateries includes a wide range of brekky dishes, from classics such as smashed avo or eggs on sourdough to Med-inspired feasts or heftier plates. Dishes come in veggie and non-veggie versions, and sweet options are offered too.

Milk Beach celebrates the diverse cultural influences shaping contemporary Australian cuisine. If you're after vegetarian breakfast options, you can enjoy sweet choices such as banana bread or hotcakes, granola bowls, or different egg dishes, for example sweet potato and zucchini fritters, avo toast, or scrambles. Speciality coffee sourced from traceable farms and roasted on-site provides the jolt of java you need.