Breakfast, to us, is sacred mostly because it is the only meal that is acceptable to eat in bed—so much so that today, the concept of breakfast in bed has been romanticized more than a Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan chick flick. If we’re being entirely honest though, nothing can stop us from eating lunch and dinner (and in-between binges) in bed too, but if you’re one of those people that seeks validation, look no further.
We’ve already rounded up a painfully tempting list of Mumbai’s Best Egg Dishes that restored our faith in breakfast a while ago but we figured it was the Capital’s time to shine. Here’s a concise list of breakfast spots in Delhi that we keep going back to:
[We know, we know. Even if we covered every nook and cranny of the Delhi, we know in our heads, we could still have missed out on some of your favourites. Don’t hold out on us, just let us know in the comments section below. PS: This list is in no particular order of preference, just alphabetical.]
Where: 1, Ashoka Road, Near Feroze Shah Road
Go here for a no-fuss, no-muss standard breakfast thali of idli, vada, dosa served with fiery sambhar and coconut chutney and filter coffee or chai. Mostly known for their authentic hyderabadi biryani, they also manage to do breakfast so, so right. Either way, Andhra Bhavan is an experience in and of itself - the food, the service, the rates and the hectic canteen ambiance are downright exhilarating.
What You’re Getting: The Breakfast Thali.
Other Recommendations: Stick around a while longer, go for a walk perhaps, and then come back for lunch because that’s just how incredible this place is.
II. Another Fine Day
Where: Ground Floor, MPD Towers, DLF Golf Course Road, Golf Course Road, Gurgaon
Another Fine Day is a popular Gurgaon eatery that’s got brekky lovers flocking to it. It’s cosy...almost tiny, with an open kitchen and plenty of books and board games to keep you busy while you wait for your order to arrive.
What You’re Getting: Eggs Benedict.
Other Options: Yogurt pots, and their fresh croissants and muffins.
III. Caara Cafe
Where: 17, Kasturba Gandhi Marg, British Council, Janpath
Caara Cafe is a tiny little cafe, tucked away from the city’s constant hustle and bustle within the British Council. Popular for their pesto pasta, their baked goods and more, the quiet hub sticks to a small menu to cater to their niche audience.
What You’re Getting: Chilli Cheese Toasties and Carrot Cake.
Other Recommendations: Any of their baked goods, really. If they’ve got their Cinnamon Rolls, definitely grab one (or two, for the way back).
IV. Cafe Lota
Where: National Crafts Museum, Gate 2, Bhairon Marg, Pragati Maidan
This hidden gem tucked away in the Crafts Museum serves up some of the best, most eclectic brekkie options. Sprawled over a reasonably large area, this cafe is ideal for a lazy breakfast to combat the wintery mornings of Delhi. The menu is a curation of reworked traditional and lesser-known regional Indian dishes, all of which are well worth the experiment. Their breakfast menu, although slightly limited, ranges from typical Maharashtrian poha to homemade amaranth oats muesli served with chopped up bananas. There are enough options for just about anyone- fussy, vegetarian or health conscious.
What You’re Getting: Ragi Banana Pancakes topped with Honey.
Other Recommendations: For people that can stomach a slightly heavier breakfast, the Kheema Parantha is faultless.
V. Cafe Shunya
Where: 115, 1st Floor, Cross Point Mall, DLF Phase 4
As the vegan lifestyle catches on, it’s no wonder that the capital is dotted with cafes supporting the cause in their own little way. Cafe Shunya is our current favourite (we know, it sounded blasphemous to us at first too), but sometimes, there’s no better way to kickstart your morning than with a healthy dose of organic goodness.
What You’re Getting: Balanced Vegan Thali. A bit heavy for breakfast but maybe brunch?
Other Recommendations: If you’re not the biggest fan of vegan food, fret not, they’ve got plenty more to offer to those who stray away from the vegan path—Tomato Kasundi Bun Omelette or the Shunya Classic sandwich.
VI. Cafe Tesu
Where: Essex Farms, 4, Sri Aurobindo Marg, Vijay Mandal Enclave, Adchini
Delhi doesn’t seem to run out of cute cafes of late, especially ones with great eggs. With a fairly vast selection to chose from, their eggs for us, are the real winners of their menu. Their gorgeous interiors simply add to the experience — their walls feature art painted right on it.
What You’re Getting: CT’S Benedict.
Other Recommendations: If you’ve got the appetite for it, go full hog and order up their Carnivore Breakfast. French Toast is a house favourite too!
VII. Di Ghent
Di Ghent is our comfort food go-to. Practically everything on the menu here is exceptional and quintessentially...comforting. The fare at Di Ghent can rock just about anyone’s boat — Brussels Waffles, Leige Waffles, Pancakes, sweet, savoury, eggless, Bagels, Eggs to order — you get the picture. Even though we swear by Pieters, essentially Eggs Benedict, we can’t help but recommend the fluffy monsters that are the waffles, seeped in maple syrup, chocolate sauce topped with strawberries and whipped cream. Ah, decadence. If you’re an eat-on-the-go person, you’re likely to be spoilt for choice with the bagels that come in three different varieties - oatmeal, raisin and sesame seed. We’d go for the sesame.
What You’re Getting: If you’re more of a savoury brekkie person, we recommend the Kiefer, waffles/pancakes served with parma ham and cheese.
Other Recommendations: Lehaye — smoked salmon and boiled eggs sandwiched between a perfect, appropriately dense bagel.
VIII. Fig & Maple
Where: M-27, Greater Kailash (GK) 2
A cosy cafe with simple decor, Fig and Maple is an extension of the ever-popular Ivy & Bean (another one of our favourites). Their plating combined with their brilliant food combinations are exactly why we keep going back for more, each time we visit the capital.
What You’re Getting: Buttermilk Waffles with Chicken (fried chicken, spicy maple).
Other Recommendations: The Classic Benny and the Dark Chocolate Milkshake. Yes, yes, dark chocolate isn’t the most typical addition to a breakfast, but you’ll want to make an exception in this case.
IX. Perch
Where: Priya Complex, Vasant Vihar
Possibly our fanciest and least likely option on this list for breakfast due to Perch ideally being known for its wine and coffee. You can be sure that their breakfast menu compliments their classy interiors—fancy eggs, muesli and ‘power bowls’ are just what you need to treat yourself on a gloomy Monday morning. Their breakfast menu here is open to all till 5pm.
What You’re Getting: Avocado and Salmon Power Bowl.
Other Recommendations: If you’re not a big fan of salmon in the morning, perhaps stick to their Avocado and Toast, or pick from their bagels.
Where: Rajiv Gandhi Renewable Energy Park, Leisure Valley, Sector 29, Gurgaon
Roots - Café in the Park is located inside the Renewable Energy Park in Gurgaon, which means that you don’t even feel like you’re in a city once you’re here. The café is made entirely of wood, bamboo and recyclable material. They’re known for their homely food, and is a great choice for breakfast after a run.
What You’re Getting: Railway masala omelette sandwich
Other Recommendations: Moong dal chilla, and upma
XI. Rose Cafe
Where: 2, Westend Marg, Saidulajab
Everybody knows the bohemian Rose Cafe! With its delightfully shabby chic furniture and terrace, it’s a beautiful breakfast spot…especially in winter. Take our word for it.
What You’re Getting: The Breakfast Sandwich (fluffy scrambled eggs, ham and cheese in a soft bun) followed by the Espresso Cake with Whipped Cream and Caramel Sauce.
Other Recommendations: Beans in a Bun. Sounds strange, we know, but give it a shot.
XII. Saravana Bhavan
Where: P-13, Connaught Circus, Connaught Place
Putting Saravana Bhavan on this list if our little attempt at garnering this gem all the attention it deserves. Saravana Bhavan isn’t everyone’s cup of tea owing to the fact that the breakfast options are offbeat and limited. Similar to Andhra Bhavan, their breakfast menu starts at Ghee Pongal and stops at an idli-vada-sambhar thali. But for people that can appreciate this, Saravana Bhavan is the place for you.
What You’re Getting: Ghee Pongal - a delicious concoction of rice, moong dal, jaggery and milk, tempered with cashew nuts and raisins fried in ghee.
Other Recommendations: The classic idli-vada-sambhar thali. Always makes for a great breakfast, in spite of being heavier than a bowl of cereal.
XIII. Shyam Sweets
Where: 112, Barshahbulla Chowk, Near Metro Station, Chawri Bazar
It’s about time we got into the local goodness that the capital is known for, and if you need your fix of oily, fulfilling North Indian goodness, this old-school favourite’s Aloo Puris are unparalleled. The potato curry they serve is hot, spicy and just the right consistency to swab off your plate with the exceedingly fresh, deep fried puris. The best news about this place though, are its timings. Opening as early as 5:30 a.m. given its proximity to Chawri Bazaar Metro Station, you can gobble these up as both a (really) late night snack or a very early breakfast.
What You’re Getting: Don’t make us spell out the obvious.
Other Recommendations: Their Nagori Halwa, eaten with Bedmi Alu is so notoriously good that it tends to run out before we ever get there so get there as soon as it opens if you really want a piece of that.
XIV. The Blue Door Cafe
Where: 66, Middle Lane,Khan Market
Khan Market’s The Blue Door Cafe has all the usual suspects when it comes to breakfast, such as eggs, and pancakes. But what sets them apart is that they have a dedicated ‘healthy breakfast’ menu—so you can stuff your face and not feel bad about it, basically.
What You’re Getting: Grilled fish with Poached Eggs & Grilled Veg
Other Recommendations: Be warned, these aren’t the healthy options. They just taste too good to leave out. Try the Crepes, the French Toast Slam (french toast with scrambled eggs, bacon strips, sausage, syrup and butter) and the Ultimate Omelette (three eggs, bacon, sausage, mushroom, ham, bell peppers, onions whipped into an omelette served with toast and butter)
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