Best Breakfast in Canterbury
The best breakfast in Canterbury, whether you need a full English after a big night or eggs and coffee before a 9am. This list covers cafes, tearooms and restaurants that serve breakfast, from St Dunstan’s Street favourites to a farmers market next to Canterbury West station. Places are ranked using their Google rating weighted by how many reviews they have. Student angle: several serve breakfast all day, which is ideal if your morning tends to start at noon, and a few sit at the budget end.
- 10 places, ranked by Google rating
- Open places only, checked every month
- Website and Google Maps for each
- 1
The Refectory Kitchen
The Refectory Kitchen has been a St Dunstan's Street staple for years, built on breakfast and brunch with locally sourced, homemade food and great coffee. Whether you fancy a full English, vegan pancakes or a harissa tofu scramble, it has you covered, with cocktails if the day calls for one. It does not take reservations, so arrive early.
- 2
Bistro Vyshyvanka
Bistro Vyshyvanka is a small bistro on Ivy Lane, a short walk from the city centre. Its Google listing covers breakfast, brunch, coffee and desserts, with vegetarian options, outdoor seating and dogs welcome, and you can book a table. A quieter alternative to the busy High Street spots when you want a proper sit-down breakfast.
- 3
Lily's Social Kitchen
Lily's Social Kitchen on Guildhall Street is a coffee shop with a purpose: it trains and employs neurodivergent people and people with learning disabilities. The dine-in menu includes an all-day breakfast alongside sandwiches, wraps and bakes, with barista coffee and outdoor seating. Good food, and your breakfast money does some good too.
- 4
The Coffee Corner
The Coffee Corner on St Dunstan's Street serves breakfast and brunch all day, so a late start is no problem. Go big with the Big Breakfast, try the house square pancakes with honey butter, or keep it light with avocado on sourdough or a toasted bagel. Artisan coffee and specialty drinks round things off nicely.
- 5
Chatterbox
Chatterbox on Castle Street is a community cafe with heart, built as a social space with good food and drinks. Google lists breakfast and brunch, vegetarian options, outdoor seating and dogs welcome, and it sits at the budget end of the scale. A friendly, unfussy place to start the day, solo or with your flat.
- 6
Bill's
Bill's on Rose Lane, in the Whitefriars area, covers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, so you can roll in early or late. Pancakes are a big deal here, with bottomless pancake deals on its offers page, and Bill's lists a student discount through UNiDAYS. Close to the cathedral and the shops, it is an easy group pick.
- 7
Tea Cafe
Tea Cafe is a small cafe on Canterbury Lane, in the heart of the shopping streets near Whitefriars. Google lists breakfast and brunch, vegetarian options and space that works for groups, and it sits at the budget end of the scale. A no-fuss stop for breakfast and a hot drink when you are already in town.
- 8
Cafe St Pierre
Cafe St Pierre is a small, friendly French-style spot on St Peter's Street selling fresh French snacks, cakes and drinks. Google lists breakfast and brunch, outdoor seating and dogs welcome, and it sits at the budget end of the scale. Grab a coffee and something sweet on the way into town, or linger outside when the sun is out.
- 9
Tiny Tim's Tearoom
Tiny Tim's Tearoom on St Margaret's Street serves its breakfast menu all day, every day. Expect omelettes made with free-range eggs, poached eggs on thick granary toast from a Faversham bakery, and house favourites Eggs Chaucer and Spitfire Rarebit. Wash it down with one of more than 30 loose-leaf teas in the chandelier-lit rooms.
- 10
The Goods Shed
The Goods Shed is a farmers market, food hall and restaurant right next to Canterbury West station. The restaurant serves breakfast as well as lunch and dinner from a seasonal menu, and the stalls around it sell everything from local meat and fish to cheese and fresh bread. Perfect before a train, or for impressing visiting parents.
Ranked by Google rating, weighted by the number of reviews so a place with a handful of five-star reviews does not jump the queue. We check the list every month and drop anywhere that has closed.
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