Regency Cafe
Cafe · Westminster ·
Iconic Art Deco cafe serving legendary full English breakfasts
Iconic Art Deco cafe serving legendary full English breakfasts
"London’s most famous, best-looking, and most-photographed cafe is the Regency. The legendary Westminster spot is just as popular with tourists as it is with locals. They serve sandwiches, burgers, and pastas, but it’s really the English breakfast deal that you want. Sides of black pudding and bubble and squeak at just over a quid each are a big yes." - jake missing, daisy meager, sinead cranna, rianne shlebak
"The legendary Westminster cafe is just as popular with tourists as it is with blokes named Terry. One thing that never changes inside its beautiful black tiled exterior is the blood-curdling cries that match the colour of the floor. “FULL ENGLISH! Double eggs! Extra black pudding!” A fried breakfast here is never not an event." - rianne shlebak, jake missing, sinead cranna
"Don’t be put off by the fact that the Regency is London’s most famous, best-looking, and most-photographed cafe. It’s also—alongside E Pellicci—its best. Portions are generous without being too much, which is why you should get your plate loaded up with as much as you can afford. The fact that your order will be yelled to the room when it’s ready shouldn’t deter you from being a glutton. There’s no shame here. And hearing Claudia holler “full English, beans, all the extras, twice” is the reason you came." - heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna
"This much-photographed Westminster caff has been around since 1946, but it’s no snoozy museum piece. Every morning a mix of tourists, suits, and solo diners in fluorescent jackets pour over plates of eggs and broadsheets from 7am, while steadfastly ignoring Claudia’s battle cry of “FULL ENGLISH, BEANS, ALL THE EXTRAS”. Tables are turned quickly—dithering is not welcomed here—and food often makes it to the pass for you to collect before you make it back to your table. The fry-ups, bacon sandwiches, and teas and coffees sloshed into white mugs are comfort food, with even more comforting prices." - jake missing, heidi lauth beasley, rianne shlebak, sinead cranna, daisy meager
"If you have a nervous disposition, visiting Regency Cafe is like exposure therapy, just with the added benefit of a fry-up at the end. There is a strict ordering system (queue before sitting, collect your own food) and there is Claudia, calling out orders with a volume and directness usually reserved for generals rallying troops on a battlefield. Dithering is not welcomed here. Neither are protestations about cholesterol. Instead, come for a good-value, tasty breakfast around Westminster, or with a gaggle of bemused tourists who want a caff experience. photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch This much-photographed and filmed spot has been around since 1946, but it’s no snoozy museum piece. Every morning, except Sundays, a mix of tourists, suits, and solo diners in fluorescent jackets pour over plates of eggs and broadsheets from 7am, while steadfastly ignoring Claudia’s battle cry of “FULL ENGLISH, BEANS, ALL THE EXTRAS”. It’s bustling, happy chaos. Tables are turned quickly, the soundtrack is scraping forks, and your food often makes it to the pass before you make it back to your table. The menu—fry-ups, bacon sandwiches, steak pies, specials like chicken curry, usually with tea or coffee sloshed into a white mug—isn’t going to be the best version of that dish you’ve ever had. But it's comforting food, with even more comforting prices. Plus, eating here is cheaper than getting a theatre ticket, and you get just as much of a show. Food Rundown Set Breakfast Deal You get an egg, two rashers of bacon, a sausage, and then beans OR tomatoes, bread OR toast, and tea OR coffee. Note the passive aggressive capitals. Have your order down by the time you reach the front of the queue to avoid a stern glance. The egg is runny, the bacon is crisp. For £8.95 we have no complaints. photo credit: Karolina Wiercigroch Tea The way this—very average—tea is sloshed into a mug reminds us of our mum being kind of mad at us but also kind of worried we aren’t hydrated enough. It deserves a shout out. PlayMute video credit: Emily Hai" - Sinéad Cranna
