I've moved on...
...to a different domain. Why, what were you thinking? The truth is, I just woke up one day and decided it's time for a change—a metamorphosis, if you will; or, in layman's terms, if Britney can shave her head, then maybe so can I? Nevertheless, it's been a rather handsome 10 years of talking to you, and thank you for putting up with all my moodswings and terrible dad jokes. Fear not! The hormonal imbalance and jokes are more terrible on CUBICLE, see you there.

ParknCube_Breakfast_01

For when is there a better time than the first working day of the new year to introduce more ways to heartlessly abandon diets and money saving resolutions… Here’s my five favourites from the East/North corner, stay tuned for more as I valiantly invade other post codes! Also, for other food/drink recommendations in the city, I’ve pinned them in a fail-safe map here.

1/ The Diner
21 Essex Rd, London N1 2SA | ££

ParknCube_Breakfast_02

Nevermind the general disneyfied approach to American dining, if you’re craving fluffy, syrupy, stacked pancakes with blueberry garnishing that border on jam, try The Diner. Shuffle into a booth, order a plate of pancakes and a mug of filter coffee, gobble it all up – chunk by chunk, pay, shuffle out the booth, and leave. Don’t expect much ambiance, and for sure don’t make it a first date spot, but DO consider the lush milkshake menu, and do try that thing where you semi-yell at the waitress for a refill. Like in the movies, yes.

2/ Bistroteque
23-27 Wadeson St, London E2 9DR | £££

ParknCube_Breakfast_03

ParknCube_Breakfast_04ParknCube_Breakfast_05

Perched on the first floor of a nondescript, East London warehouse building, the only hint that Bistroteque is, in fact, there, is the sound of cutlery clinking over a soft piano tune leaking out from the top windows. The interior is bright, by way of white ‘subway’ tiles, and painted brick that spans one massive room – with an oval bar by the entrance where walk-ins are seated. (read: book for table if bringing motley crew) The brunch menu offering is classic and simple, European portions, pancakes on the fluffier-than-normal side… but if you’re anything like me skip out on all that and go straight for a virgin Bloody Mary. Or not virgin, whatever you like. It fills you up (considering the price, it had better), and you’re set for a couple of hours before actual lunch. Do sit at the bar and watch the bartenders bustle around making drinks, especially the one that looks like Johnny Depp.

3/ Hoi Polloi
Ace Hotel, 100 Shoreditch High St, London E1 6JQ | £££

ParknCube_Breakfast_06

ParknCube_Breakfast_07ParknCube_Breakfast_08

ParknCube_Breakfast_09ParknCube_Breakfast_10

One of my new favourites in the East, this is American dining with ambiance and character. Technically a brasserie, and technically not even American – although being housed in Ace Hotel doesn’t help shake facts off – the eating experience is pleasant with swift service by friendly staff. I personally love the fact that they walk around with two jugs of coffee, one filter and the other decaf, although given that this is England I should suspect it could be tea… The menu is printed on newspaper in beautiful typography, which I also adore. Ask for the booth next to the window of Hattie Fox’s florist, which is in fact the official entrance of the restaurant, it casts a rather lovely, soft glowing light. For breakfast, I recommend the Hot set breakfast if not very tight on budget, if not, the Eggy bread with berries and Mascarpone. The balance of wet and dry is perfect on that one.

4/ Ivy’s Mess Hall
129 Kingsland High St, London E8 2PB | ££

ParknCube_Breakfast_11

ParknCube_Breakfast_12

If there’s one manky old onion in my fridge for three weeks in a row Ivy’s Mess Hall is one of the reasons why. It being a local cafe/restaurant that Charlie and I frequent on the weekends, and also the fact that it’s 10 minutes closer to home than the closest supermarket means every weekend I am sidetracked to slip into Ivy’s and order a scrambled eggs on toast with three extra sides (roasted baby tomatoes, roasted mushrooms, bacon). I come home with crumbs on my sweater and hubby yells NOT AGAIN. It’s now a weekly routine. The atmosphere is homey, (I guess I’m now officially a hipster to consider stripped walls and bare-bulb lighting as ‘homey’) and in the summer eating under a canopy on the most Turkish part of Kingsland Road proves to be quite an interesting experience.

5/ Homa
71-73 Stoke Newington Church St, London N16 0AS | £££

ParknCube_Breakfast_13

ParknCube_Breakfast_14ParknCube_Breakfast_15

A lot more up-market for a casual brekkie, but one that definitely falls under ‘treats’. The floor tiles and the sole lemon tree at the entrance, for one, but the Lee Valley Mushrooms on Toast with Melted Taleggio & Mixed Leaves (not pictured) makes for a great hearty start to a day. A bit mumsy too (clean interiors, a whole wall of wine, buggy-friendly table spacing), as the general fate of Church Street is seemingly heading, and the prices reflect on this. But like I said, falls under ‘treat’, especially after a power-walk with ice-cream in Clissold park.

Write a Comment

66 Comments

  1. Gimme all the pancakes.

  2. the new year starts with delicious images, how lovely!!!
    Yuna

  3. This food looks amazing.

    xo
    http://pinksole.com

  4. Janne

    Yum, why does it have to be 11:33PM in NZ right now. D:

  5. I will definitely write all these addresses down and try them as soon as I could! Love the remark about the bartender who looks like Johnny Depp! Great post!

    http://www.laurablogmode.com

  6. Amazing, I need to try Ivy’s mess hall asap!

  7. Food looks good!… Who knew East London had such treasure!

    http://www.myclayexperience.com/

  8. Wow….I need to visit all thse places…the food looks wonderful..x

    http://vodkaandarose.blogspot.co.uk

  9. Yeah, my dinner of stir-fried pork and long beans are suddenly looking rather bleugh now.

    Thanks a lot.

    Also, I am hoping that the Johnny Depp look-a-like is a lot younger than the actual one… hehehe

  10. i wish this was a giveaway

  11. I love everything you post. I have yet to go to the Ace Hotel, I’m a little intimidated by the multiple doors, but I’ll get over my fear for some of that eggy bread. Brunch is something I want to start having more often even if its by myself.
    My new year’s resolution is to go out to eat alone more often, thanks for an amazing list of places to start my resolution with!

  12. Major stomach rumbling coming straight from the South of France, your pictures are so lovely (and the food yummy)!
    Wishing you all the best for 2014, and looking forward to following you!
    Mafalda ❤
    http://www.mafaldadotzero.blogspot.fr

  13. OOoooo thanks for this, I will definitely be checking these out. All of them are within my reach! Hoorah! xx

  14. I’m hungry when I’am looking at this!

  15. Danielle

    You just took foodgasm to the next level! THANK YOU

  16. Literally dying over all of these places. I would like to volunteer to accompany you on the central London round of brekkie joints – me thinks fashion week is le perfect time, no?

    p.s. how have you not been commissioned as a food photographer yet?

  17. Kelly To

    Breakfast is the best meal.

  18. […] post Breakfast bests: Part 1 appeared first on PARK & […]

  19. I’m not one for big breakfasts, but the eggs here look delicious!

    http://hazylaughter.com

  20. i love stokie’s church street but i have to admit i despair over the ‘i own the pavement’ attitude that the majority of the ‘yummy’ mummies display; they really can be quite rude & let their children run riot to the point i wonder whether the rest of us are expected to walk in the road & just risk getting run over. well, that turned into an unexpected rant but i do feel better for it. more positive vibes next time ;)

  21. ah all these sound and look incredible! I’m definitely adding this to the “frequent to on lazy sundays” … Ivy’s Mess Hall looks particularly delightful! x

  22. Beautiful photos

    XO CHAMA FASHION
    http://www.chamafashion.com

  23. Homa seems like such a nice place, thank you for the address, I will try it next time I’m in London ! Your photographs are so pretty btw :) x

    http://colorfullightning.blogspot.com

  24. Ummm…hello? I am starving and those photos were only stoking the hunger fire! Outstanding post.

  25. Can we go for brunch soon plz? :D

  26. ollyvia laura

    SUPER LOVE THE OUTFIT
    anyway, MERRY CHRISTMAS 2013, may GOD always bless us :)

  27. these places look amazing and delicious!!!
    xx
    http://anoddgirl.blogspot.com.au

  28. it all looks so good!!!

    http://www.inmydreams.ca/

  29. scrumptious! if only i could hop on the plane and head over to these places :)

    http://flightvintage.blogspot.com

  30. Oh boy, I love breakfast food and scrolling through the pictures was just…! I have to contain myself. Love this post!
    http://www.theavantguardian.com

  31. great reviews. i’m moving to london in april and will definitely be checking out these places! can’t wait!

    reckless abandon

  32. pallawi jain

    Yum! Too mouth watering!!

  33. All looks amazing.

  34. Mmmmm this all looks so delicious and definitely a very good summary of all the top places to brunch, despite london being massive…i always end up eating at the same place, my brain never can be bothered to go through the process of looking up other places. i think i’ll be trying out the diner xx

  35. […] post Breakfast bests: Part 1 appeared first on PARK & […]

  36. […] like, I shoot a lot of Fashion Week for Elle Collections. Elle Decoration commissioned me to shoot “5 Best Breakfasts in London” or something like that. So yes, definitely coverage of some sort, but much more edited and much […]

  37. Wow, I am officially hungry. That all looks amazing!

  38. Beautiful post, since the breakfast is the main meal of the day I think that`s really important where and how we eat it, so thanks for giving me some ideas! xoxo

    http://zmodecouture.blogspot.com/2014/12/sun-in-middle-of-winter.html

  39. You make me hungry …. Damn yummy and almost my favorite !!
    Happy New Year

  40. Hmmm how delicious! I read it eating leftover cold pizza and dreaming of Bistroteque :) I love how the East London had changed over the years. I first started hanging out there about a decade ago when the only cool place to go was the Jaguar shoes (and a few underground places but we will leave it at that :).
    Ana
    http://www.champagnegirlsabouttown.co.uk

  41. woow I’m damn hungry now! :) its time for breakfast ;)

  42. Excellent blog! I truly love how it is easy on my eyes and also the info are well written.

  43. It used to be, in the olden days, that most hotels would only do deals on bed and breakfast rates, which meant that because one had already “paid” for breakfast it was hard to justify going out! But now “room only” deals are much more usual and breakfast has become a thing of joy again and we can all go out and enjoy wonderful places like these: HOORAY! Thanks for the insight!

  44. […] Park and Cube […]

  45. good writing sense i read many post and very few of them inspired me much because those post writing style is great.

  46. […] soon so I’m obsessed with seeing others. 6. I’m also a little obsessed with tile, like this pretty room. I think I caught the bug from Elsie. We have a small bathroom and laundry room with very old […]

  47. The jacket of the season for me has to be the Bomber Jacket. i love this jacket so much!!! I always get questions where i get it from and I’m glad to get it from Famous movie jackets. They have huge variety of leatherjackets, Celebrity Jackets, movies jackets and lots of more.

  48. Leather is always in fashion specially in winters. Coz we have to wear stylish stuff so we can go with stylish leather jackets. Amazing design and stylish stuff i liked it alot. I have known some of these kinda website in this valentine i gifted my boyfriend Famous Leather Jacket and he loved it.

  49. I bookmarked this blog. Yummy foods i seen here thank’s for sharing with us.

  50. That looks really, truly delicious. I think I’m coming to live at your house ;)

  51. I Will definitely gonna experience all these places. The food looks so amazing and delicious.

  52. I think this is a really good article. I guess I am not only one having all the enjoyment right here!

  53. THIS IS AN AWESOME ARTICLE AS FAR AS I M CONCERNED.

  54. I like all the foods !! My Hubby will like as well.

  55. jenny

    This is really good

  56. I’m hungry when I’am looking at this!

  57. OnlineMagazineNews gets you data on the most recent breaking news in the business and fund area. Driving news channels and revealing organizations have surprised the web. They give exact and auspicious data on a large group of subjects.

  58. I will record every one of these addresses and attempt them when I could! Love the comment about the barkeep who resembles Johnny Depp! Extraordinary post!

  59. Welcome to all the visitors of the http://www.celebstyleoutfits.com, which is your one and only stop for all the fashionable jackets and apparel items and that too at a very affordable price. We are here for a long term, and that is why we believe in making a permanent base clients by ensuring that they are satisfied with what we provide them. We not only providing with man’s and woman’s apparels but are also working rapidly to produce the apparel for juniors.

  60. What we would like you to do is to go to our privacy policy and terms and condition before ordering so that you may be well aware of your rights to claims that in case arrive for any un-for-seen reason(s). Feel free to roam our site for the jackets you want to be in your wardrobe and if you have any query feel free to contact us as well.

  61. What we would like you to do is to go to our privacy policy and terms and condition before ordering so that you may be well aware of your rights to claims that in case arrive for any un-for-seen reason(s). Feel free to roam our site for the jackets you want to be in your wardrobe and if you have any query feel free to contact us as well.

  62. Great write-up, I am a big believer in commenting on blogs to inform the blog writers know that they’ve added something worthwhile to the world wide web!.

  63. Una vez más, el Clifton en particular ofrece cualquier viaje de limpieza suave utilizando un gran nivel de red de seguridad suave. Mi compañero y yo nos hemos complacido mucho con Zapatos New Balance 608 todas las revisiones para el más alto. Saliendo del paquete, puede ver la tienda web de zapatos o botas para poder desmontar.

  64. Inom 2019 Adidas ZX750 skor rea debuterade denna XPOP skum på externa skor den verkliga Influx Skies Waveknit 3. Detta speciella helt nya material är tillverkat av fjädrande TPU-pellets inlagda i reboundable skum med avseende på damskor som håller längre, men även i kostnaden förknippade med överflödigt fett och minskad kraft kommer tillbaka.

  65. toneytich

    Yksi ongelma, jonka törmäsin urheilujalkineisiin tai -saappoihin, on ollut siinä, että heti kengän tai saappaan jälkeen Fila Disruptor II Kengät kauppa verkkokauppa koski 58: ta pitkää atsinejä, jotka koskevat happea, jotta urheilua saavat kengät tai saappaat löytyvät, vaikkakin maaperän ja muiden esineiden säilyttämiseen kengät tai saappaat käyvät ostoksilla siellä.

  66. Make your own way wearing this super awesome and comfy Justin Foley 13 Reasons Why Letterman Jacket For Men For more celeb styles visit our online store.