Vegan Breakfast In East London

Sep 12, 2018

The best thing about being back in London (besides friends, family, weddings and drinks outside)? The breakfasts. Even with my favourite avocado on toast off of the menu (for now while my body has – hopefully temporarily – decided it doesn’t like a long list of foods including wheat).

We breakfasted like kings (and queens) each morning because gin for supper is far more acceptable when you’ve started your day with a kombucha smoothie bowl. Here are some of my favourites, and the spots I’ll be starting my day at when I’m back in my favourite (when it’s not grey and raining) city next month.

1. Buckwheat Pancakes at Curious Yellow Kafe

Staying in an airbnb a few steps away from this cosy Swedish cafe was a very good idea indeed. The prices are so good that after a year in Dubai I was convinced that they had only billed half of our order. The buckwheat pancakes (buckwheat is actually wheat free despite its name) were super delicious and came smothered in coconut cream, raspberries and a carmelised banana. Yum. My boyfriend has his signature breakfast of the moment – porridge with a side of sourdough.

2. Almond Milk Porridge at The Hoxton Grill

The Hoxton Hotel has become a go-to for seeking sanctuary when arriving off of the overnight flight from Dubai. When you’ve been away for a while, London on no sleep feels like a rather aggressive assault on ones senses (compared to when you live here when London on no sleep is alternatively grimly bearable or aching beautiful depending on the previous night). The Hoxton is the perfect setting to grab a delicious breakfast and then (after requesting an early check-in at the time of booking), take a well-deserved nap. The almond milk porridge at The Hoxton Grill is really delicious and so warming when 22 degrees feels cold.

3. Kombucha Smoothie Bowl at Friends of Ours

The one rainy morning of our stay in London saw us take shelter in Friends of Ours with a rather sunny-day breakfast option. The kombucha smoothie bowl is vegan, gluten free and packed with lots of goodness. I had an oat milk chai on the side to attempt to warm me up a little bit. Service is fast and friendly, and back in my coffee-consuming days, I loved this place for it’s iced soy lattes. The all-day menu has a few good vegan options and offers gluten free bread, too. For the more carnivorous, my boyfriend recommends the beef brisket benedict.

4. Porridge at Ozone Coffee Roasters

A few steps from the Old Street Roundabout, Ozone is never not busy with people cooler than me who I cannot help but wonder why they aren’t at work at 10.45am on a Tuesday. I had the spring porridge made with oat milk and topped with banana and “scroggin” (I have no idea what that is). I also braved some caffeine with an oat milk iced pirate chocolate with a shot of espresso and it was like an adult-acceptable version of the Starbucks Mocha Lite frappucinos that I spent all of my money on at university. My boyfriend’s chia pudding was a little small but the spoonful I snuck of it was delicious and the dark chocolate topping saves it from being too virtuous.

Where serves up your favourite East London breakfast?

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter

6 Comments

Maria on September 2, 2019 at 2:43 pm

Those pancakes look really delicious, and the oat milk chai sounds right up my street.
Emerald Dove on September 2, 2019 at 2:43 pm

Those pancakes look so good!! Definitely need to plan a trip to London and seek out cute brekkie places like thesewww.theemeralddove.co.uk
wholelottarosie on September 2, 2019 at 2:43 pm

When we were in Shoreditch last month, we had a cracking breakfast at Bull in a China Shop – highly recommended x
Maria on September 13, 2018 at 5:50 am

Those pancakes look really delicious, and the oat milk chai sounds right up my street.
wholelottarosie on September 12, 2018 at 11:31 am

When we were in Shoreditch last month, we had a cracking breakfast at Bull in a China Shop – highly recommended x
Emerald Dove on September 12, 2018 at 8:16 am

Those pancakes look so good!! Definitely need to plan a trip to London and seek out cute brekkie places like these

http://www.theemeralddove.co.uk