10 of the Best Breakfasts in Clapham & Battersea

Lead image: Minnow (photo: Jade Nina Sarkhel)

1 Bistro Union, Clapham
Popular neighbourhood restaurant Bistro Union is open for brunch starting Friday. Hungry? You must try the BU Fry Up, which features amazing things like pigs in blankets and tater tots, as well as black pudding, your choice of egg, beans, smoked tomato, mushroom and toast. Alternatively, opt for a quintessentially British brunch and try Moxon’s Kipper baked in breakfast butter with a poached egg; baked duck egg with chorizo and chickpeas; or stacked maple pancakes with banana, pecans and cream. Brunch at Bistro Union is served from 9.30am to 4pm Friday to Sunday.
40 Abbeville Road, Clapham SW4 9NG; bistrounion.co.uk

2 Minnow, Clapham
Minnow, which overlooks Clapham Common, recently launched its breakfast menu, full of morning staples like bircher muesli, yoghurt with granola and, of course, plenty of eggs. For a good, hearty breakfast, go for the black pudding, fried egg, pickles and mustard, or choose from staples like poached eggs on toast, eggy bread or eggs Benedict, with optional extras such as streaky bacon and smoked salmon. Come the weekend, you can add brunch cocktails like a bloody Mary, mimosa or a glass of champagne. Reservations are available for breakfast Tuesday to Friday from 8am, and for weekend brunch from 10am.
21 The Pavement, Clapham Common SW4 0HY; minnowclapham.co.uk

3 No 32 The Old Town, Clapham Old Town
Clapham Old Town’s newest kid on the block is No 32 The Old Town, a shiny, stylish bar and restaurant on the corner of The Pavement and Wingate Square. While it’s already become an evening hot-spot in Clapham, it’s also a winner for breakfast. Choose between a hearty Nº 32 Breakfast Burger or feel virtuous by ordering the homemade granola with organic farm yoghurt. Enjoy a sweet breakfast? Then the Coconut Pancakes are a must. Breakfast is served from 9am-11.30am daily, and there’s an all-day brunch (11am-5pm) at weekends with special dishes for ‘little people’.
32 The Pavement, Clapham SW4 0JE; no32theoldtown.co.uk

4 The Breakfast Club, Battersea
A reliable staple in the hunt for a good breakfast – so long as you don’t mind queuing – The Breakfast Club on Battersea Rise has a groovy retro interior décor and indulgent breakfasts featuring chorizo and halloumi. The list of exciting breakfast dishes is long – and kick-started by a sizeable ‘Full Monty’. Then there’s the likes of The All American, with pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, fried potatoes and maple syrup; the substantial Huevos Rancheros with fried eggs, tortilla, refried beans, chorizo, salsa, cheddar, sour cream and guacamole; plus a selection of butties – bacon, sausage or egg. Oh, and the best bit? Many of the brekkie dishes are served all day, so it’s perfect for the late-riser/terribly hungover.
5-9 Battersea Rise SW11 1HG; thebreakfastclubcafes.com

5 Tart, Clapham
Tart may only be a couple years old but this lively café has made quite a stir on Clapham’s busy Pavement. The brainchild of Brixton couple Jason (he’s the chef) and Jason (the marketing guru), Tart offers everything in the way of delicious tarts, both savoury and sweet. When we visited on a Sunday, the happy punters couldn’t get enough of the brunch specials and we particularly liked the Tart Benedict, soft poached eggs, Parma ham and a delicious Hollandaise sauce, all served in a tasty tart. These guys really know their coffee too with excellent Volcano flat whites ready to perk you up. Just the spot for a perfect weekend breakfast.
25 The Pavement, Clapham SW4 OJA; tartlondon.com

6 33 Abbeville Road, Clapham
No.33 serves a great Sunday brunch with a cracking steak and eggs dish on the menu with potato and black pudding hash. It’s a little pricey at £17.95 but hey, you deserve it! There’s also the No.33 English breakfast with Cumberland sausage, smoked bacon, black pudding, fried egg, roast tomato, flat mushroom, homemade beans and toast.
33 Abbeville Road, Clapham SW4 9LA; 33abbevilleroad.co.uk

Minnow, Clapham

7 Jacks at The Junction, Clapham Junction
Jacks at The Junction at the station end of Lavender Hill always seems to be busy, so they must be doing something right? It’s not the most luxurious setting but the choice and the price keep the hungry patrons flocking in. Go back to basics and try one of Jack’s all-day breakfast varieties (the ‘single’ includes a slice of bacon, one sausage, one fried egg, grilled tomato, mushrooms, baked beans and a slice of toast) or shake it up American-style and choose corned beef hash. Expect a quick turn around and a cheap and cheerful breakfast.
252 Lavender Hill, Clapham Junction SW11 1LJ; jacksclapham.co.uk

8 Brew Café, Battersea
Brew Café has well and truly spread its wings in south west London. The Northcote Road café has been consistently good for breakfast (as well as lunch and dinner), and it now has sister cafes in Wandsworth and Wimbledon. The Resident loves its selection of fresh juices and smoothies. Choose a croissant or a pastry, or a traditional eggs Florentine. The menu has a Turkish twist too, try Turkish eggs or a pide melt for a more exotic start to the day. Prices range from £4.20 to £11.50.
45 Northcote Road SW11 1NJ; brew-cafe.com

9 Powderkeg Diplomacy, Battersea
Victorian-themed bar and restaurant Powderkeg Diplomacy on Battersea’s St John’s Hill has an impressive weekend brunch menu featuring the likes of spiced buttermilk fried chicken with avocado, fried Cacklebean egg and scorched potato flatbread; the PK Breakfast with eggs, Gloucester old spot sausage, bacon, native mushrooms and tomato on sourdough; and even buttermilk pancakes with maple glazed banana and an optional bacon add-on. Served 10.30am-4.30pm on weekends.
147 St John’s Hill, Battersea SW11 1TQ; powderkegdiplomacy.co.uk

10 Fantasia, Clapham Old Town
It’s neither new nor luxurious but for breakfast Fanstasia, a Clapham Old Town stalwart, does not disappoint. It’s been serving top quality all day breakfasts (and many more breakfasting options) to Claphamites for years. With a no-frills décor, the food is consistently good and an excellent value for your money.
36 Old Town, Clapham SW4 0LB; facebook.com