Whether you’re partial to a full English, a fan of pancakes, or a lover of eggs and soldiers, Gloucestershire is home to an array of eateries offering bountiful breakfasts guaranteed to set you up for the day.
With everything from American-inspired menus, four-course brunches, healthy cafés and more, discover SoGlos’s top 20 breakfast spots across the county.
1. The Meadow Café
Served until 11am, breakfast at The Meadow Café in Cheltenham is a delightful treat. Overlooking Cox’s Meadow, this quaint little café provides pretty views and Instagrammable shots. With breakfast plates such as the classic bacon sarnie, granola bowl, sweet nut bagel, porridge and more, breakfast at The Meadow Café is a great way to start the day.
2. Bottle of Sauce
While burgers and pizzas are the mainstays of the menu, The Bottle of Sauce in Cheltenham also serves up mighty fine grub on its weekend brunch menu. From fluffy buttermilk pancakes and eggs Benedict, to the ultimate hangover cure – the Boss Man features sausages, streaky bacon, black pudding, hash browns and more.
3. Baker & Graze
Baker & Graze is an independent café and bakery located in The Suffolks area of Cheltenham and serves up a mean breakfast. The team makes everything on site, from the perfectly baked sourdough to the rich buttery pastries, with the menu featuring baked eggs, smashed avocado on toast, and delicious coffees.
4. Vera's Kitchen
Lechlade juice bar and café, Vera’s Kitchen, offers plenty of choice for those looking for a healthy start to the day, with its varied menu encompassing a range of tasty and nutritious dishes which are updated all the time.
5. Botanica Coffee Kitchen
Having opened in autumn 2018, Botanica Coffee Kitchen has quickly earned its place at the top of this hot list.
Serving up incredible breakfasts and brunches alongside locally-sourced artisan coffee, Botanica Coffee Kitchen is based in Cheltenham and stocks a range of stunning plants to purchase too.
Breakfast treats include the scrumptious sweet potato rosti with smashed avocado and poached eggs. The delicious homemade coconut granola pots are also a must-have.
6. Hubble Bubble Coffee House
Set in the quirky surroundings of Hubble Bubble Coffee House, enjoy a full English breakfast, American-style pancakes, breakfast bagels or smashed avocado on sourdough toast. The family-run café sources its ingredients from local suppliers. Don’t forget to try out the giant teacakes!
7. The Malthouse Bar & Kitchen
Located in Stroud, Malthouse Bar & Kitchen serves breakfast all day, with menu highlights including sweetcorn pancakes with a poached egg and halloumi. Other tempting options include smashed avocado and chilli on toasted ciabatta.
8. Beechenhurst Cafe
Beechenhurst Café in the Forest of Dean serves a scrumptious breakfast offering daily. Perfect for fuelling up before exploring the Sculpture Trail or heading through the forest, the menu features classics such as local smoked bacon or sausage baguette, free-range egg omelettes, and a delicious full English breakfast.
9. The Hive
Set in the heart of Stow-on-the-Wold, The Hive serves everything from bacon or sausage sarnies to creamy pan-fried mushrooms on sourdough toast. What’s more, with Bloody Marys on the menu, visitors can turn it into an optional boozy breakfast.
10. He Say She Waffles
If you’re looking for something slightly alternative to start your day with then head to He Says She Waffles in Cirencester where you’ll discover more waffle combinations than you knew possible. Those with a sweet tooth will devour the chocolate and raisin offerings, while there are also savoury options to choose from, including the cheddar cheese and chive waffle topped with scrambled eggs.
11. Boston Tea Party
If you want to enjoy a weekend lie in or just fancy bacon and eggs for dinner, Cheltenham’s Boston Tea Party serves its breakfast menu all day. The varied dishes encompass everything from smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels to kedgeree, while the extensive healthy options include brown rice porridge along with spelt granola topped with fruit.
12. Café 53
From granola and toasted crumpets to mushroom bruschetta and fruit pancakes, Tetbury’s Café 53 is the perfect place to start the day before hitting the shops for a spot of antique hunting or enjoying an outing at nearby attraction Westonbirt Arboretum. And, if you visit during the summer months then make sure to dine alfresco in the café’s pretty garden.
13. The Fairview Gardener
Serving breakfasts, The Fairview Gardener in Birdwood has everything from a full English to scotch pancakes, granola to delicious vegan breakfasts. With eggs from the nearby farm, the tea room focusses on using locally-sourced ingredients.
14. Thistledown Café
Serving up breakfast and brunch from Fridays to Sundays, Thistledown Café at Thistledown Farm near Stroud, combines incredibly tasty dishes with spectacular views. On the menu, must-haves are the Thistledown Granola; chestnut mushrooms and kale on toast; as well as the American pancakes with smoked bacon and maple syrup.
15. Cote Brasserie
With outposts in Cheltenham and Gloucester Quays, Côte Brasserie is an all-day dining restaurant that serves up delicious European-style breakfasts, encompassing light bites and cooked dishes too. Whether you’re hankering for a buttery croissant, indulgent French toast, warm crêpes, or full French breakfast, there’s plenty of enticing choice on the menu.
16. Lavender Bakehouse
Championing small local producers, family-run Lavender Bakehouse & Coffee Shop has an extensive breakfast menu waiting to tempt you at the scenic eatery near Stroud. Diners can expect to find traditional menu items including smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on sourdough toast, along with fluffy pancakes, homemade granola and a dedicated children’s breakfast.
17. Hobbs House Bakery and Café
Enjoy award-winning bread and more when tucking into breakfast at Hobbs House Bakery and Café in Nailsworth, run by Tom Herbert, one half of The Fabulous Baker Brothers. Kick-start your day with one of the refreshing juices before choosing from an array of egg dishes, a full English, granola, or delicious homemade pastries, with a children’s breakfast also available.
18. Daylesford Organic
The breakfast menu at Daylesford Organic in Kingham is a veritable feast for health food lovers, with cold-press juices, stewed fruits with cashew nut cream and toasted nut granola with raw almond milk among the choices. For a more decadent start to the day opt for the farmhouse breakfast or super green eggs Benedict, with hand-roasted coffees also on offer.
19. The Wilson Café
Before exploring the exhibitions at The Wilson museum stop off at the café to fuel up on its tasty breakfast menu. Choose from chorizo baked eggs, sweet cured bacon baps, and a breakfast open club sandwich, while the dippy egg and soldiers is perfect for young diners.
20. Vinnie's Eatery
A vegetarian café based in the centre of Cheltenham, Vinnie’s Eatery serves delicious seasonal food. Choose from vegan or vegetarian all day breakfasts, which include pea and spinach fritters filled with in-house tomato and paprika haricot beans. Or for something sweeter, opt for a stack of pancakes with a side of chocolate sauce, bananas and mixed berry compote.
By Sophie Bird
