We were on the hunt for somewhere warm and cozy to hang until the rain had cleared up. The Black Penny caught our eye, and I'm so glad it did! I really admired the decor and how the place was designed. Our server (which my assumption gave that he might have been the manager) was warm and welcoming. We started with some hot chocolates to warm us up from the cold rain. The latte art was so cute we had to take a pic! I ordered mines with oat milk and my cousins ordered theirs with regular whole milk. We realized we needed just a little more than just something to drink, so we ordered the cured meat and cheese board. It was goooood! Ofcourse you can't go wrong with charcuterie, but what we loved the most is that the bread was extra warm. We ended up ordering more of the bread cuz it being warmed was the perfect touch! The size of the Black Penny was pretty spacious. I'd say you can come with groups ranging from 3-5 or maybe more if they allow you to put some tables together. It has a very laid back vibe to it. I'd say it caters to a get together with friends or family, a casual date, or somewhere to post up with your laptop. I also noticed they had an upstairs area and a cool looking bar, I'll be sure to check that out next time I'm in town. read more

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Nice casual brunch spot in Covent Garden. I ordered the Crispy Duck Hash (18.90 GBP), which had crispy duck, sweet potatoes, spring onions, and a poached egg. It was quite tasty and the ingredients felt fairly fresh and healthy. I also tried The Hunter (17.90 GBP), which was a classic breakfast plate with eggs, sourdough toast, grilled sausage, smoked bacon, roasted tomatoes, mushroom, and baked beans. I thought the beans were particularly good, and while the rest was tasty, it was also quite ordinary. I thought the prices were maybe a tiny bit high but still reasonable. The restaurant itself has a cozy coffee shop kind of vibe. It looks small from the outside but there is some additional seating in the back. The staff are friendly and the service speed is pretty quick. Overall, I would recommend The Black Penny if you are looking for a quality but also casual brunch spot in Covent Garden. read more

The Black Penny - Crispy Duck Hash - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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The food, service and character of this restaurant are all phenomenal. Best breakfast we had in London. read more

The Black Penny - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

Stopped by for late breakfast. Did the two for one mimosas and red eggs. Excellently cooked and flavorful. Modest price and lowkey atmosphere. Would recommend read more

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While in London I had a chance to check out The Black Penny for breakfast. It was a nice and quaint restaurant. The customer service was great. The food and drinks were so fresh and flavorful. I had a chai tea latte and one of the breakfast options. And everything was so good! Also, the ambiance was nice they had good music playing. It was a good and filling restaurant experience. read more

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Food is good and decent brunch menu. Most staff was nice especially the host who greeted us very happily and let me have a seat when I'm still waiting for a friend two min away. The only compliant about the service heee is that I don't particularly like basil but they specify on the menu that there's basic oil on it so I ask if they could just skip putting on it. And to my surprise they are not willing to accommodate that request. But when the dish comes, you can clearly see the oil is drizzled on top so they could have easily just not put it. The restaurant doesn't take booking so the wait around lunch time is usually long so if you don't wanna wait, come around 2pm or after, it'll be seatings. read more

The Black Penny - Black Penny beans with burrata and sourdough toast - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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Good and casual breakfast experience. Food was prepared well, portions were decent, and service was friendly. Reservations are generally required for a Sunday, but they managed to make room for us. read more

The Black Penny - Outdoor view of The Black Penny restaurant. - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

I went to TBP in South Bank. The staff there were so rude and the service was terrible. The scrambled eggs were over cooked and the cream on the French toast was bitty. Would not revisit. read more

This place has extremely good reviews so I figured I'd stop in early before it got too busy. It was slammed yesterday when I walked by and seemed to have a steady stream of diners all day. This morning I was seated rather quicklyn and the staff was incredibly attentive and friendly. I had scrambled eggs and smoked salmon over toast. Everything was meticulously prepared. Few brunch offerings can compare. My one and only gripe (London council I hope you're listening here) is that they don't serve drinks before noon. It should absolutely be considered a criminal offense to call it "brunch" If mimosas or bloody Mary's aren't available. At that point, it's just breakfast. read more

My two coworkers and I were sightseeing London and came across this place. It was very busy but we were able to get seated quickly. The staff was very nice and quick. We got our food and coffee very fast and everything was very tasty. It seemed like this was a usual spot for some people and I could see why! read more

Excellent place for a traditional English breakfast. The place looks small from the front but there's a back room with nice, retro decor. Friendly staff, and tasty food. Recommend! read more

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Had a delicious start to my day at The Black Penny before another day of sightseeing in London. I went to the location in Southbank as it was central to the area I wanted to explore. I was greeted upon my walking in and seated promptly and quickly went over the menu. I knew I wanted a heart breakfast to last me through the day so I ordered the Gatherer breakfast special with a side of fresh squeezed orange, apple, and ginger juice as well as a latte. Service was very quick and friendly but never felt rushed and the food was just delicious. I like my eggs over easy and this came with a side of tomatoes, grilled halloumi, sautéed spinach, mushroom, and baked beans. Everything was seasoned well and cooked to perfection and I'm not crazy on spinach but whatever they seasoned the spinach with, I could have had an extra serving. I really enjoyed my meal at The Black Penny and would eat there again if I'm ever in London, which I hope I get to visit again. read more

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Came here for brunch after seeing this place recommended for top brunch in London. There was quite a bit of a line to enter, so definitely give yourself extra time to wait. We tried the eggs and toast and the hunter. The eggs were a bit under for my liking, but the toast was decent. My husband tried the Hunter and really enjoyed the variety on the plate. The service was pretty fast once we ordered. The decor inside is a little random, with a bike on the wall and then bookshelves on the other side, so I didn't understand the decorating style - but I'd come here again. read more

The Black Penny - The eggs and toast - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

Super cute and cozy brunch spot. It's my first time try the ginger shot and I fall in love with it. The dishes were amazing as well. I had the Hunter and love love it. Went back the second time on a different day and tried the same dish again!! Dirty Chai and Matcha latte are both good, can't have enough and would love to try every dish. read more

Lovely place. Friendly service. The food was delicious and the cake was super good. Clean space. read more

The Black Penny - Eggs on sourdough and a flat white - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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The food was great and portions were good. The drinks ... not so much. read more

The Black Penny - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

Came here for breakfast one morning as we were staying nearby. Service was fairly quick and friendly and wasn't too full on a weekday morning. We were looking for more of a traditional English breakfast so this was close. It definitely felt a little fancy or trying to be upscale of a breakfast. I would've loved it to be a bit more flavorful. Friends got the coffee and both didn't care for it at all but I'm not one to judge as I don't drink coffee. If you're looking for traditional English breakfast, I'd go somewhere else but definitely a hearty meal. read more

The Black Penny - Breakfast - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

If you are looking for a brunch spot near Covent Garden, look no further! I came here for a late brunch after a visit to the British Museum. There are two seating areas: one for drinks only, and one for food and drink. Both rooms were peaceful and had fun decor. The service was fast, the food was delicious, and the portion sizes were huge! read more

The Black Penny - Wild Mushroom and Polenta Hash - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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This maybe my best breakfast place in London so far! The food was really delicious! It was well staffed. I was served quite quickly, but not in a way that made you feel unwelcome. It was cozy and rustic. Very pleasant experience. read more

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Cute/upscale brunch spot! There was no wait when we went on thursday morning while visiting London. I got The Hunter and my partner got the Crispy Duck Hash. For the Hunter dish, the flavor was nothing special. However the Crispy Duck Hash was sooo delicious! There were chili bits, which added the perfect amount of spice. The yolk was nice and runny, and the duck sure was crispy! As for drinks, we got 2 juices, a latte and a mocha. They were all pretty good. Service was alright. We were sitting outside and did not really get a glance other than we were ordered/the food came. Overall, seems like a great brunch spot. I would go back just for the hash! read more

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Perfect brunch, and nice atmosphere. No problems with the service. We started with hot chocolate, which was great. Just a little bittersweet. For our two mains we had the Hunter's breakfast with poached eggs and the brioche French toast with lemon ricotta and blueberry compote. Both perfection. The beans are the savory highlight. Really, nothing bad to say. read more

The Black Penny - Hunter's breakfast - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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Service is a bit slow, and the French toast I had was a bit dry but mostly good! The coffee was fantastic and the vibes are great! Brunch all day in London is definitely a necessity! read more

The Black Penny - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

Very cute place with a warm, cozy vibe... liked the lighting. Not too noisy, good music in the background... several choices for breakfast with good presentation and taste when served. Non invasive, good service, the wait time was reasonable. read more

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Came across this place as we were heading to Covent Garden. My fiancé and I got the english breakfasts (I got the vegetarian version -- not pictured). The eggs were soft and flavored with likely butter and herbs (so good) and the beans were incredibly flavorful. This was my first times having beans in London, and it was amazing. We sat outdoors and it was a lovely way to start the day! The staff was nice and the outdoors was decorated with flowers, making it feel like a garden. read more

The Black Penny - Latte - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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Wonderful café and great for lunch! I opted out of LSE's cafeteria lunch and took a walk to this place for lunch instead. Staff was a bit distracted but managed to get prompt service in the end. I had the mushroom and polenta hash which was terrific and even enjoyed people watching while I ate under the sun! read more

The Black Penny - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

Great food, fantastic service. Cute place for breakfast. The tomato chutney was both sweet and spicy (not hot, but flavorful) read more

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Great ambience, great food and even better service. Highly recommend for all seeking a good start to their day. read more

The Black Penny - Food - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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This is an excellent place to go for a brunch or from what we saw of the salads they are top notch. read more

The Black Penny - I ordered The Hunter for brunch. The combination of flavors from salty and savory along with the earthy meaty texture were perfect - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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Small place that is great for brunch. Great coffee machine! The French toast is more of a dessert than a breakfast as it is very sweet but lovely. The eggs are cooked the way you want and the sausage does not disappoint. I had the ginger shot to starts my day and it was wonderful! read more

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Good food and friendly service. Can get busy during peak hours so come early. They have outdoor and indoor seating, cozy little place, will def try again when visiting again. read more

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Best breakfast I've had so far in London! I had the Hunter with fried eggs and ate every morsel - the beans were my favorite. read more

The Black Penny - The Hunter - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

loved it. great staff. great food. highly recommend. Get the hunters breakfast, you will love it.

The manager seems racist and did not give us a seat after waiting for a long time (tables appeared to be available). Poor attitude towards customers. I would take my money and business elsewhere. read more

Great spot in Holborn. My breakfast bun was delicious, the coffee was good, and it was bustling. Enjoyed my stop.

Found the Black Penny on vacation in London when I Googled "local brunch restaurants in London" on a whim. Best. Decision. Ever. everything was amazing. Atmosphere. Service. Food. Coffee. I had the Ozdemir Pasha though I'm not vegetarian, I thoroughly enjoyed it. My husband had The Hunter. Both were filling and flavorful. You won't be sorry. Trust me. read more

The Black Penny - Mine: Ozdemir Pasha His: The Hunter - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

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The saddest review but the food was good and all the servers were good but the hostess which is a small little lady had something to say to EVERYONE not just her own coworkers but the to customers as well. We were paying and leaving the area and my fiancé was drinking his bottle of orange juice that we had purchased while walking to this breakfast joint and she told him "you are ruining the other customers experience" I have never came across a more oblivious uptight irrational human being let alone an employee in the service industry. lol. her coworkers were embarrassed about her behavior I felt bad for everyone who works there as she was micomanaging everyone unnecessarily. read more

I got the wild mushroom hash I had been eyeing for several weeks for takeaway and my friend the salt beef option. I also got a mix of three salads and salmon for takeaway. The food is not cheap- £12.90 each for the hashes, which are not huge, are pricey. But my god how flavourful they were. I loved the crumbled polenta and rich mushroom flavour and my friend was pleased the salt beef was in diced slices that made it easy to eat. I had the salads the next day: a quinoa pilaf, a broccoli salad and a cabbage mix. All fantastic with the huge piece of tasty salmon with a red pepper rub. The salted caramel macaron was also lovely to eat later- very sugary. read more

The Black Penny - Veggie hash - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

A quaint cafe with a uniquely decorated "library" at the back. They serve brunch food, cakes and pastries, and salad boxes for lunch. I come back time and time again for the "Dirty Chai" which is Chai Latte with a shot of Espresso As for food, I love their Hash (both the Salted Beef and Confit Duck one are delicious!). They also have nice gooey scrambled eggs with smoked salmon, and poppyseed bun with pork sausage, bacon and fried eggs in bbq sauce. -- voodie rating: 8/10 overall £15 approx for a meal and drink read more

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Cozy and delicious! Breakfast as good as they say. Many choices. Traditional English and options to put together your own scrumptious combinations. Lots of outside seating, bring a shawl or sit inside and be enchanted by their library dining lounge. read more

The Black Penny - 2 black longs, ginger shot with honey, FRESH squeezed Orange Juice - Cafes Near Me - London, XGL

Found this place on our honeymoon. Awesome food and Great coffee. Staff is very friendly and attentive. Our favorite breakfast place while in London. Recommend to several friends traveling to London and they thanked me for the recommendation. read more