The regeneration of King’s Cross has been a monumental and expensive undertaking but the effect on the previously rundown and petty crime-ridden streets has been nothing less than transformative.
The new streets, squares, and gardens have breathed new life into the area attracting numerous bars, restaurants, and clubs. Previously King’s Cross was a part of London to pass through quickly. Now it has a friendly and welcoming identity of its own that makes it a destination of choice for Londoners and travellers passing through.
The choices available for breakfast and brunch throughout King’s Cross couldn’t be more diverse and cosmopolitan. From the traditional English fry up to Munich styled wurst and on to the supremely delicious plates served at the Coal Office, which exemplify modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean styles.
Best Breakfast and Brunch in King’s Cross
Coal Office
- Address: 2 Bagley Walk, N1C 4PQ
- Phone: 0203 848 6085
Teaming Israeli born Assaf Granit, the Michelin star head chef at the Coal Office, with the work of British designer, Tom Dixon, has created a superb restaurant. Here you can enjoy modern Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes in a beautifully designed restaurant with a stunning rooftop terrace. There are seats at the bar, overlooking the kitchen if you want to gen up on your kitchen skills.
Brunch dishes come as small and big plates, where creative, exotic ingredients and flavours are expertly matched. Iraqi Tropical is made up of yellowtail shashimi, pickled okra, cucumber, mango, and red chilli. While on the large plates Cornish sole is served with risotto with aubergine cream, okra, chilli, and orange zest.
Freshly pressed juices, coffee, and tea finish the brunch menu.
Granger & Co.
- Address: 7 Pancras Square, N1C 4AG
- Phone: 020 3058 2567
Bill Granger transferred his successful cafe theme of Granger & Co. from Australia to the busy streets of King’s Cross. His ethos of being sunny, easy-going, and generous has proved a winner on this continent as well.
Breakfast/brunch is served until 12pm and the menu includes a great selection of light and interesting dishes, alongside fresh juices, smoothies, shakes, coffee, and tea. Favourites include sweet corn fritters, roasted tomato, spinach and bacon or chilli fried egg, served with bacon and chutney on brioche.
A separate menu of fruit and grains gives a good choice of vegan and lactose-free recipes.
Granger & Co. offers click and collect and delivery direct from their website. The restaurant is open from 7 AM Mon-Sat, 8AM Sun and has a walk-in policy.
Half Cup
- Address: 100-102 Judd Street, WC1H 9NT
- Phone: 020 8617 7835
With pendant lights and hand-painted murals, the homely decor of Half Cup has created a regular clientele since opening six years ago. The chef shows his individuality by cooking all the baked goods and brunch items in-house.
The menu is constantly updated with new inspiration using quality ingredients but adding a little fun in the mix. Half Cup has caught the notice of review guides with listings in Breakfast London’s Brunch Guide 2019 and The Munch Brunch London Brunch Guide 2019.
Popular items on the menu include Half Cup Full English and Veg Half Cup Full English, through to French style classics such as Hash Benedict, with poached eggs served on hashbrowns with hollandaise sauce and French toast.
Half Cup is sometimes a victim of its own success as there is no booking and you may have to queue. Brunch served from 8am – 3.30pm.
German Gymnasium
- Address: 1 King’s Boulevard, N1C 4BU
- Phone: 020 7287 8000
Styled as an all-day, European Grand Café, German Gymnasium is set on the first floor, with two bars and an outdoor terrace. Designed by sports enthusiast, Edward Gruning, the building housed the first purpose-built gymnasium in 1865 for the German Gymnastics Society.
Fresh juices and smoothies start the menu and in keeping with the sporty history of the premises every item is usefully quoted with its calorific content. For lighter appetites, there is viennoiserie or a couple of Munich style pork and veal sausages served with parsley and mustard.
Eggs are served numerous ways with avocado, or on a potato rosti or as eggs Benedict. The breakfast menu is available from 10AM to 11.30AM
Giraffe
- Address: Units 2/3, Mezzanine Level, King’s Cross Railway Station, N1C 9AL
- Phone: 0207 833 4663
Giraffe is located inside King’s Cross station offering an original range of dishes for breakfast and brunch. The staff are friendly and helpful and the setting creates the air of a fast-food restaurant. It’s an easy spot for getting together with friends or grabbing a bite on the way to the train.
At Giraffe they’re not afraid to cross continents to build versatility into the menus. The breakfast menu starts with a very English All-Day Brunch plate, before moving on to a Mexican Tostada and a Moroccan French toast with honey, figs and labneh. American-style pancakes with bacon and maple or strawberry and cream bring up the rear.
The brunch menu meanwhile hosts a selection of freshly made sandwiches. If you’re in for the long haul the Bottomless Brunch should fit the bill at £25, including 1.5 hours of Prosecco top-ups and a dish from the brunch menu. The menu details the calories in each dish.
Dishoom
- Address: 5 Stable St, London N1C 4AB
- Phone: 020 7420 9321
At first glance, Dishoom, might not be your first choice for breakfast or brunch but dig a little deeper into the menu for a pleasant surprise. With cool Bombay-style decor and a lively, Indian street-food theme running through the menu it can’t help but be inviting.
Eggs feature strongly on the breakfast menu with Kejriwal, composed of two fried eggs on chilli cheese toast or an Iranian spiced, scrambled egg dish, Akuri, served with homemade buns and grilled tomato. A selection of naan bread is served with egg, bacon, and sausage fillings, as well as vegan options.
Fruit, grains and bread round off the menu along with hot drinks and juices. Breakfast/brunch is served from 8 AM to 11.45 AM on weekdays and from 9 AM to 11.45 AM at the weekend.
See Also: Best Brunch & Breakfast in Notting Hill
Caravan
- Address: 1 Granary Square, London N1C 4AA
- Phone: 020 7101 7661
Caravan is housed in an airy, Grade II listed Victorian grain store. The lofty ceilings, industrial pillars, and an open plan kitchen give it a welcoming, warehouse air. Outside, the terrace is a buzzy and cool space to enjoy breakfast and brunch accompanied by the background tinkle of the fountain.
These inviting spaces mean it can get busy, and with no reservations, you may have to stake your claim to a table at the weekend and wait to be texted as you stroll along the nearby canal.
The breakfast dishes range from light bites to hangover cure, smoked salmon, and scrambled eggs on sourdough to chorizo and potato hash with spinach, poached eggs, and tomato fresca. A separate menu of sides enables diners to personalise their choice. Breakfast is served Mon-Fri until 11:30 AM.
Plum and Spilt Milk
- Address: Great Northern Hotel, King’s Cross St Pancras Station, Pancras Road, N1C 4TB
- Phone: 020 3388 0818
In the elegant surroundings of bygone years Plum and Spilt Milk is housed in the Great Northern Hotel just a few steps away from King’s Cross station. The decor is modern, and the styling harks back to the grander days of travel by railway.
Breakfast is predominantly British with English Breakfast also being served with black pudding and slow-roasted tomatoes, while the Continental Breakfast is served with pastries, toast, and preserves. The menu has an extensive vegetarian choice
Eggs are served numerous ways including Benedict, Florentine, Royal and omelettes come with your choice of filling. Pancakes with bacon and maple syrup give an American twist and vegans can choose between a Vegan Bowl with berries and granola or Porridge with berries. Breakfast is served 7 AM to 10 AM weekdays and 8 AM to 10 AM at the weekend.
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Final Thoughts
King’s Cross used to be a place to grab a bacon sandwich at breakfast before rushing off to catch a train. Regeneration has helped to slow the pace and now visitors come to while a few hours away with a leisurely breakfast, brunch, or bottomless brunch. The canal-side walks and attractive squares with fountains all help to cement the new identity of King’s Cross.