Best brunches in Hackney: 9 cool places to start your weekend

East London’s foodie reputation has been on the rise for some time now, so honestly, who’s shocked that Hackney is packed full of great breakfasts and brunches? There’s plenty of drinking that goes on in the busy bars and pubs of Hackney and the surrounding area come Friday and Saturday evenings, so the rejuvenating powers of a good brunch are absolutely in demand. Fortunately for those of you nursing hangovers, or if you just love to get an extra feed in between breakfast and lunch, there’s no shortage of great brunch spots in Hackney. Regardless of whether you’re looking for a runny poached egg covered in a bit of hollandaise, or something a bit more fancy, we have you covered here.

Admittedly, we’ve taken a fairly lax approach to our definition of Hackney here. We figured that you’ve come here for the best spots, and if that means taking a short jaunt over to Dalston or Haggerston, well, we’d rather give you the information and let you make that decision yourself.

How do we decide what are the best brunches in Hackney? SquareMeal’s in-house team of critics are out and about every week checking out brunches new and old, all so we can bring them back to you via these guides. We judge anywhere we visit on the food and drink, but also the service and the general atmosphere and ambiance. If it makes the cut, you’ll see it in this list below.

Looking for the best brunch in Hackney? Here's our guide to the hippest hangouts and best brunch spots in East London.

Mama Shelter

What: Mama Shelter’s restaurant is all about big, accessible flavours, whether it’s a ham and eggs Benedict, a stack of buttermilk pancakes with blueberry compote, or chunky beef burger slathered in truffle mayo. We’re big fans of the crispy potato hash with poached eggs and herb yoghurt too. For a bit extra you can go bottomless here as well and crack on with 90 minutes of prosecco, wine, beer or cocktails.
Must-order dish: Waffle Croque Monsieur
Where: 437 Hackney Road, E2 8PP
Book now: Mama Shelter

Sune

What: This slick, vibey restaurant from hospitality power couple Charlie Sims and Honey Spencer has really evolved into one of east London’s great restaurants. The brunch offering is only available on Sundays but it’s seriously good, offering some clever, distinctive cooking alongside more classic, luxurious dishes, like a magnificent croque monsieur with beef tartare, and truffled eggs on brioche.
Must-order dish: Croque Monsieur beef tartare
Where: 129A Pritchard's Road, E2 9AP
Book now: Sune

The Vincent

What: Filled from floor to ceiling with plants and natural light this little Hackney hangout is an oasis in the heart of East London. Kick off your brunch with a Bloody Mary or a Peach Bellini, before tucking into the likes of US-style waffles topped with berries and vanilla ice cream, and savoury options such as a fried buttermilk chicken burger and a 12-hour pork hash.
Must-order dish: Breakfast Bun - Cumberland sausage, bacon, fried egg, buttered bun served with hash brown
Where: 2 Atkins Square, Dalston Lane, E8 1FA
Book now: The Vincent

Mare Street Market

What: Those keen to have a high Instagram factor alongside tasty and innovative brunch dishes are advised to head to Mare Street Market - the room is kitted out with an overflow of glorious art deco chandeliers, a taxidermy giraffe, lots of random antiques and green plants. Brunch is served in The Open Kitchen with dishes of the likes of banana bread with ricotta, poached rhubarb and honey; miso scrambled eggs with crisp pork belly, charred broccoli and kimchi; and Turkish poached eggs with whipped yoghurt, onion seed flatbread, dill and chili butter.
Must-order dish: Split pea dahl, soft boiled egg, yoghurt, crispy shallots
Where: 117 Mare Street, E8 4RU
Book now: Mare Street Market

Lardo

What: Another brilliant Italian restaurant with a seasonally changing menu that serves weekend brunch. Branded as a cheap, cool and fun place, the fire-breathing oven still churns out exceptional Neapolitan-style pizza - the signature lardo and egg pizza with a Negroni or homemade soda should do the trick for brunch.
Must-order dish: Polenta, puy lentils, Girolle mushrooms, fried shallots
Where: The Arthaus, Richmond Road, E8 3NJ
Book now: Lardo

WAVE

What: This vegan cafe is one for the plant-based brunchers among you, and it’s handily placed too, just a short walk from Hackney Central. There’s a good amount of choice ranging from brunch mains like shakshuka and healthy breakfast bowls, but you can never go wrong with WAVE’s ‘brisket’ brioche, made with pulled mushrooms, caramelised and pickled onions, gherkins and mayo.
Must-order dish: 'Brisket' brioche
Where: 11 Dispensary Lane, E8 1FT
Book now: WAVE

Fran's

What: Wilton Way is a bit of a Hackney hub for good food (see also: SESTA) but Fran’s is where we’d head for brunch, although it’s technically a breakfast as it opens fairly early. This is one for the cooked breakfast fanatics among you, as you can get anything from eggs and soldiers to bacon and egg rolls, a full English, and a sausage, egg and cheese muffin. Bonus points for a cracking veggie breakfast too.
Must-order dish: Sausage, egg, cheese muffin
Where: 51 Wilton Way, E8 1BG
Book now: Fran's

The Dusty Knuckle Dalston

What: The Dusty Knuckle has become one of London’s most recognisable bakeries in recent years, and whilst there are a handful of locations these days, we keep coming back to the original in Dalston (as do many others, it seems, judging by the massive queues on weekends). The focaccia sandwiches are worth the wait though, and there are some other excellent low key options like toast with spreads, granola and porridge, plus a big outdoor terrace to lounge on.
Must-order dish: Egg chilli cheese focaccia
Where: Abbot Street Carpark, E8 3DP
Book now: The Dusty Knuckle Dalston

Towpath Café

What: East Londoners rejoice the moment each spring when the Towpath Cafe returns from its winter hibernation, throwing open the shutters to start serving lovely brunches and coffees to canal walkers. Yes, this can be one of the most ridiculous queues in London, with people snaking down around the canal path, but the wait is worth it for hyper-seasonal, minimal but absolutely charming brunch dishes and pastries.
Must-order dish: Taramasalata, fresh radishes and toast
Where: 42 De Beauvoir Crescent, N1 5SB
Book now: Towpath Café

If brunch is your jam, London is definitely the city for you. Check out more quality brunches in nearby Marylebone, as well as our guide to the best brunches in Soho.

If, praise be, the sun has decided to show up for once, then we think epic al fresco brunches in London are exactly what you need.