Regency Cafe, a historic no-frills British greasy spoon that has been serving traditional full English breakfasts since 1946, has been ranked among the top five in the world by TasteAtlas. Located at 17-19 Regency Street in London, straddling the border between Westminster and Pimlico, the cafe is widely regarded as a true London institution and one of the capital's finest destinations for an authentic, outstanding-value full English breakfast.
A Timeless Art Deco Gem
The cafe, often described as 'trapped in the 1940s', boasts a striking Art Deco aesthetic with a tiled exterior, original interior wall tiling, and formica-topped tables. Its walls are famously decorated with vintage photographs of Tottenham Hotspur footballers and boxers. The retro interior has made it a sought-after filming location, appearing in films such as Layer Cake, Brighton Rock, Pride, and Rocketman, as well as numerous BBC television productions.
Fast-Paced Dining Experience
Regency Cafe operates as a lively, fast-paced venue with no table service. Customers queue up, place their order at the counter, and wait for their food to be called out across the room. Due to its enduring popularity with locals, tourists, and workers, a briskly moving queue outside is common. The cafe dishes up traditional British comfort food at wallet-friendly prices, with its signature full English breakfast typically including eggs, thick-cut bacon, sausages, baked beans, tomatoes, and toast. Many customers add classic accompaniments such as black pudding and bubble and squeak.
Beyond Breakfast
Beyond the morning menu, the cafe serves classic British lunchtime staples, including a plain omelette with steak-cut chips, and fresh fish and chips with peas and tartare sauce every Friday. The cafe is open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 3:30pm, closed on Sundays, and accepts credit cards, debit cards, and contactless payments.
Influencer Praise
Popular Instagram creator Robbie Thompson, who has over 107,000 followers and champions British food, recently visited the cafe. He shared his verdict: "This English cafe hasn't changed since the 1940s and has one of the top five English breakfasts in the world as per TasteAtlas rankings." Thompson argued that despite attracting tourists, "doesn't make it a tourist trap," insisting the cafe is "loved by all – whether you're local or from abroad." He praised the "end product is always quality" and that the full English breakfast is "hard to beat."
His post amassed over 34,000 likes. One fan wrote: "I love this place. It used to be my cafe. I lived in Page street and would see this place every day. Featured in the film Layer Cake too. What a place." Another added: "Great stuff. Old school. Can't beat it!" A third enthused: "Went to Regency Café in 2019 and 2021, absolutely amazing experience and wonderful memories."
