Where to Have Breakfast in Shoreditch: Ozone Coffee and Beigel Bake

Hi everyone! I’m finally sharing two of my favourite places for breakfast or brunch in Shoreditch.

I nearly always try somewhere new whenever I’m in London. I’ve already gathered quite a few favourites in my guide to my favourite restaurants in London, but this time Greg and I went to Ozone Coffee.

A few streets away is Beigel Bake, which is a completely different sort of place: somewhere to grab a bagel for breakfast, an afternoon snack or, honestly, whenever the mood strikes.

Breakfast at Ozone Coffee in Shoreditch

Ozone Coffee is on Leonard Street. From outside, you would never guess quite how much is going on behind the door. Step inside and there is a huge room, an open kitchen and a counter running directly in front of it.

Naturally, that is where we sat. I love watching dishes leave the kitchen, especially when I still haven’t decided what to order.

It feels lively, with coffees and plates constantly passing in front of you, but never noisy or uncomfortable. Exactly my sort of place.

What we ordered: the breakfast bun and eggs Benedict on bubble and squeak cakes

I ordered the breakfast bun and it was exactly what I wanted that morning: a very soft brioche bun, a fried egg and properly melted cheese. Nothing complicated, just very well done.

Greg chose the eggs Benedict served on bubble and squeak cakes.

The name may sound slightly strange if you are not British, but bubble and squeak cakes are simply made with potatoes and vegetables.

Both plates were generous and looked genuinely delicious.

The coffee at Ozone

Ozone is a New Zealand-founded coffee roastery, so naturally coffee is a big part of the experience.

I am not a huge coffee expert. I mainly need it to wake me up, so I am not going to pretend I can talk about woody notes and roasting methods for ten minutes. That is definitely not me.

Mine was very good though, and it went perfectly with breakfast.

That was all I needed from it.

Ozone Coffee
11 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4AQ
Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street

Beigel Bake on Brick Lane

And then there is Beigel Bake.

This Brick Lane bakery is open 24 hours a day, so you can come for breakfast, lunch, an afternoon snack or something warm after a night out.

There is never really a bad time for a warm beigel.

It could not be more different from Ozone. At Beigel Bake, you order at the counter, collect your food and head straight back out onto Brick Lane.

There is often a queue outside, but it moves quickly. The beigels are made on site and the prices remain surprisingly reasonable for London.

You arrive, choose and eat. Simple, quick and very good.

What should you order at Beigel Bake?

The hot salt beef beigel is the classic order.

It arrives warm and very generously filled. You will probably end up with mustard on your fingers, but that is part of the experience.

You can stop by in the morning for a quick breakfast or pick up something sweet while walking around Brick Lane later in the day.

That is exactly how I think of it: an easy stop at almost any hour.

You walk past, decide you want a beigel, a raspberry doughnut or a cinnamon roll — possibly all three — and then carry on with your day.

Beigel Bake
159 Brick Lane, London E1 6SB
Nearest station: Shoreditch High Street
Open 24 hours a day

What to do in Shoreditch after breakfast

After Ozone, we carried on walking through Shoreditch, past independent shops, record stores, tattoo studios and all the signs and shopfronts that make up the neighbourhood.

It is the sort of area where I can spend far too long studying a shopfront, poster or bit of lettering. I’ve collected more places I love in my favourite places in London.

From there, you can carry on towards Brick Lane and stop at Beigel Bake later in the day.

Ozone or Beigel Bake?

They are far too different to compare properly.

Choose Ozone when you want a proper sit-down breakfast or brunch and time to enjoy it.

Beigel Bake is much more spontaneous. Go whenever you like, pick up a beigel and carry on exploring.

So no, you do not really need to choose.

Have brunch at Ozone one morning and save Beigel Bake for another afternoon. London gives you more than enough opportunities to eat well without fitting everything into a single morning.

Although nobody is stopping you if you want to do both.

My honest review of Ozone Coffee and Beigel Bake

I really liked Ozone Coffee, both for the open kitchen and the breakfast bun. You sit down, watch the plates coming out and take your time over breakfast.

Beigel Bake is for a completely different craving. You order at the counter, collect your bagel and head straight back out onto Brick Lane. It is quick, generous and open around the clock.

So I wouldn’t choose between them. Ozone is for sitting down and taking your time; Beigel Bake is for grabbing something as you carry on with your day. Both thoroughly deserve a place among my Shoreditch favourites.