- Play Hard
- 31st Jul 2024
- 0
- 12 minutes
Our current best of the best brunch spots in the North East

By Molly Wear
We don’t know about you but the quest to find the best brunch in Newcastle (or the rest of the North East) is our Roman Empire.

ERNEST CAFÉ BAR
1 Boyd Street, Shieldfield, NE2 1AP
Even if you haven’t made a visit to Ernest yet (and if not, now is the time), you’ve probably seen its mural of Darth Vader on your most recent trip to the Ouseburn. The great news is that alongside showcasing their love for Star Wars, Ernest is also serving fantastic brunch. Dishes such as the ‘Local Hero Breakfast’, huevos rancheros, and hash bowls are made with locally sourced ingredients – with meat from Nicolson’s Butchery and Block ‘n’ Bottle, and bread from Pink Lane Bakery. If you’re fancying a more boozy brunch, Ernest holds ‘Sunday Sessions’ all day on Sundays, where guests can get any spritz or aperitivo for two for £12.

FORK IN THE ROSE
63 Heaton Road, Heaton, NE6 5HE
Fork in the Rose is not your average brunch spot. This cafe-florist hybrid isn’t just about serving delicious breakfasts; it’s a hub of community spirit and sustainability where you can only expect top-notch quality. Owner Gemma who has a passion for both blooms and brews, says ‘After working many years in both industries, the dream of combining them became a reality. It all started with a small coffee machine in a flower shop – the aroma was divine and the rest is brunch history.’ A firm favourite at HLN, Fork in the Rose is not only child-friendly and dog-friendly but an all-around blooming welcoming place that brightens up any morning.

SMOKE & SEAR
182 Heaton Road, Heaton, NE6 5HP
Smoke & Sear on Heaton Road is known for their ‘live fire cooking’, where most of their dishes contain elements which are smoked or cooked over a live wood and charcoal fire. The restaurant is proud to work alongside local suppliers and showcase the quality of North East produce, including bread from Northern Rye, meat from Block ‘n’ Bottle and Freemans Butchers, coffee from Tynemouth Coffee and more. Whilst probably best known for their steak and eggs with house green sauce, full English breakfasts and sandwiches are also on offer, as well as vegetarian and vegan options and a full gluten-free menu. Oh, and a side of their crispy hash browns topped with flaky sea salt is a non-negotiable. Trust us.

KILN
4 Hume Street, Byker, NE6 1LN
Kiln offers a ‘Middle Eastern brunch’ with everything prepared in-house daily with fresh, local ingredients. For £20, guests can choose a meze dish, which includes hummus and pita, labneh with olives and pickles, and banana bread, followed by an egg dish, such as shakshuka, scrambled eggs, and the Turkish breakfast, which can be made vegan. Known for their ceramic studio in the back of the cafe, Kiln provides tableware for a number of local restaurants, mugs, bowls, and plates are also available to purchase in-store.

TINY TINY
9 – 11 Carliol Square, NE1 6UF
With two large dining areas in the front and back, Tiny Tiny is anything but. The cafe puts their own twist on a variety of classic breakfast items; visitors can expect dishes such as Moroccan avocado on toast with ras el halnout and toasted chickpeas, and Turkish eggs with smoked yoghurt, apricot, chilli and walnut dukkha, and Arabic flatbread. Drawing in coffee enthusiasts around Newcastle, their brew bar menu changes seasonally and offers a range of ‘extra special’ roasts. With WIFI and lots of spacious tables, Tiny Tiny is perfect for both catching up with friends or as a space to get some work done with a coffee.

THE BOATYARD
1 John Street, Cullercoats, NE30 4PL
Right by the seafront, The Boatyard is ideal for those fancying a bite to eat before or after a leisurely stroll on the beach. The cafe works with local suppliers such as Nicholsons Butches, Pure Knead Bakery and Cullercoats Brewery, to make sure food is fresh and to an amazing quality. If you’ve been to the beach with your dog, you can treat your pooch to something from their doggy menu, such as a puppuccino or a Geordie Banger sausage. They also boast an extensive menu of loose-leaf tea curated by Newcastle-based tea merchant Estate Tea and featuring blends from mixologists Bird & Blend. Flavours range from classic black and green teas, to fun flavours such as Watermelon Splash and Cherry Bakewell.

KITH AND KIN
172 Park View, Whitley Bay, NE26 3QW
Kith and Kin on Park View serves traditional brunch items including granola, avocado toast and shakshuka, as well as more unique offerings such as a salt beef hash with pickles and sauerkraut, and sweet potato & carrot fritters with green tahini and crispy chilli oil. If, on a sunny day, you fancy breakfast on the beach, all of the menu at Kith & Kin is available for takeaway. They also offer a takeout deal from Monday to Friday, which includes a breakfast butty, as well as a tea or coffee, for £7.00. Diners can also treat themselves to one of the many baked goods on display, as well as speciality matcha and chai lattes.

HIVE COFFEE COMPANY
Hall House, Church Bank, Jarrow, NE32 3DY
Many of the seasonal breakfast specials at Hive are veggie/vegan, or can be made plant-based upon request. The cafe is located on the grounds of Jarrow Hall, an Anglo-Saxon farm village and museum dedicated to the life and work of Saint Bede. The Hall is also right next to the banks of the River Tyne, making for a beautiful walk with a coffee after you’ve eaten. The large list of speciality drinks rotates seasonally, but guests can expect signature specials such as a honeycomb latte and a bee pollen latte made with local honey. If you’re looking for a treat to take home, lots of baked goods like cakes and scones are available, with many of them being gluten-free and/or vegan.

CAFÉ BEAM
The Old Fire Station, 234-236 High Street, Gosforth, NE3 1HH
Cafe Beam in Gosforth is run by a team of young people with disabilities and learning difficulties through work placements, which provide them with vital work experience, skills and confidence. The staff are all so friendly and welcoming; you’re guaranteed to be served brunch with a smile. Located inside of the beautiful Gosforth fire station, they also recently opened a new location at Ouseburn Farm last year. The cafe serves classic brunch plates and coffee and even offers a small serving of scrambled eggs, sausage and bacon for dogs.

BUTTERFLY CABINET
200 Heaton Road, Heaton, NE6 5HP
With its beautiful cerulean blue exterior, Butterfly Cabinet on Heaton Road is hard to miss. With plenty of outdoor seating, the cafe is a perfect spot to relax on a sunny day and watch the world go by. The extensive menu includes a range of cooked breakfasts, muffins with eggs, pancakes and omelettes. All of the dishes are hearty portions, perfect if perhaps you are looking for a cure from the night before. Butterfly Cabinet also provides, on request, a guide to gluten-free dining. This guide lists all of their dishes and ingredients which are gluten-free, and also advises diners on how to make substitutions so that no diners have to compromise on their brunch experience.

AIDAN’S KITCHEN
11 Starbeck Avenue, Sandyford, NE2 1RH
Aidan’s Kitchen serves breakfast and brunch with its own unique twist. Dishes include their bacon sandwich, which comes with habanero chilli jam, coriander and a fried egg, and steak and eggs with Moroccan spiced butter and tahini yoghurt. Another can’t-miss on the menu is the masala toastie: masala spiced potatoes with a coconut dahl, lime pickle, and coriander chutney in toasted Northern Rye sourdough. The menu at Aidan’s is frequently changing and specials on offer usually include new latte flavours and frozen cocktails. Their sister restaurant, Little Aidan’s, is also serving up delicious brunches, as well as two new sandwich fillings every week, all in North Rye focaccia.

NORTH
Whitburn Bents Road, Sunderland, SR6 8AD
Located right on the seafront with spectacular views, North in Seaburn has been serving brunch and dinner since January last year. With its close proximity to the sea, it’s no wonder that North is serving a variety of seafood dishes as part of its brunch menu. These include eggs benedict with crab, smoked mackerel hash with caper butter, and Spanish-style king prawns with seeded rye bread. At £3.50 each, you can also get oysters either before or alongside your brunch by the beach. For those who are vegetarian or have an aversion to seafood, they have plenty of other options on the menu too.

THE GOOD APPLE
18 Derwent Street, Sunderland, SR1 3NU
Established in 2013 as Sunderland’s first fully vegetarian cafe, The Good Apple went fully vegan in 2020 and is dedicated to showing that plant-based cooking can still be creative and delicious. The brunch menu is simple but offers imaginative plant-based dishes such as avocado toast, tofu scramble and a vegan full English (which can also be made gluten-free). The cafe also serves a variety of sandwiches and wraps for lunch. If you fancy something sweet after your meal, they have an always-changing range of cakes and baked goods.

FLAT WHITE KITCHEN
40 Saddler Street, Durham, DH1 3NU
Opened in 2015 as the sister venue to Flat White Cafe, Flat White Kitchen is much-loved by locals, tourists and University students around Durham. Flat White is passionate about their coffee and is one of only a small number of businesses serving coffee from Baristocracy – an independent North East business sourcing beans from marginalised communities and less well-known coffee-producing countries. If you’ve been getting FOMO seeing everyone in London with their blueberry matcha from Blank Street, worry not, as Flat White is serving their own version, which looks just as delicious (and aesthetically pleasing).

THE MARKET PLACE
1-2 Market Place, West, Morpeth, NE61 1HE
The Market Place in the centre of Morpeth is a zero-waste cafe and shop serving seasonal breakfasts such as avocado on sourdough, smoothie bowls and a potato rosti topped with bacon, halloumi and poached eggs. Catering to a range of dietary requirements, full gluten-free and vegan menus are available as well as a ‘keto breakfast’ consisting of poached eggs, bacon, avocado and spinach. The Market Place are also serving locally sourced coffees and teas as well as superfood lattes and smoothies, health shots, and kombucha.

CARNABY’S CAFÉ
Brownieside, Chathill, Northumberland, NE67 5HW
Located in Brownieside just off the A1, Carnaby’s is an ideal destination for those local to or visiting Northumberland, or as a pit-stop on a long journey. The menu at Carnaby’s changes seasonally but uses fresh, local produce to create ‘modern, creative options alongside traditional quality staples’. At lunchtime the team serves Ottolenghi-inspired salads as well as an array of sandwiches in artisan bread and freshly prepared hot dishes. For any post-meal shopping, they also have on display a wide range of gifts, homeware, and fashion items.
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