My new favourite breakfast, brunch and lunch spot is The Black Penny, a coffee house and kitchen on the Southbank, London SE1. We discovered it a couple of weeks ago and have already been back for more! It’s a great place to seek out if you’re looking for the best breakfast in SE1, places to eat near The London Eye or coffee on the Southbank.
“The Black Penny is named after the Penny Universities, the first coffee shops to arrive in England; today, it costs more than a penny, but I like the sentiment! They serve great coffee alongside Breakfast Classics, Hashes, All Day Buns, Small Plates, Salads and more.”
The Black Penny Menu
The Black Penny menu focuses on breakfast and brunch-style plates alongside a selection of salads with protein mains during the week. I’ll start with the Breakfast Classics, which includes an option to create your own from Mushrooms, Roasted Tomatoes, Spinach, Black Penny Beans, Bacon, Sausages, Smoked Salmon and Halloumi.
The other breakfast options are variations of the items mentioned above, and we chose The Gatherer, a vegetarian arrangement. Some alternatives are Bubble ‘N Squeak with Grilled Pork and Sage Sausages, BBQ Sauce, Rocket and Fried Eggs. If you prefer something smaller, try the Buns with Fried Egg and a choice of Bacon, Sausages or both.
The Black Penny Hashes include Wild Mushroom and Polenta with Salsa Verde, Rocket and Poached Egg which we tried on our second visit. I thought it was a great option if you are avoiding bread. The two other Hashes are Salt Beef and Crispy Duck.
Those wanting a sweet treat will appreciate the Brioche French Toast. It comes with Whipped Lemon Ricotta, Black Cardamon Sugar, Blueberry Compote and Toasted Almonds. It tastes fantastic, and I highly recommend it but share it with your partner or friend because it’s too much sugar for one person.
On our second visit, my partner tried the Baked Salmon Fillet with Salsa Verde and the New Potato Salad with Roasted Red Peppers, Dill, Sumac and Pickled Onions. Asian Slaw, Sugar Snaps with Green Beans and Caesar Salad were also available.
You may like to try the Small Plates, served with Wood-Fired Flat Bread. Butter Bean Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Catak, Crispy Sujuk (Spicy Beef Sausage), Grilled Halloumi and Chilli Garlic King Prawns are available. The Charcuterie or Cheese selection is excellent if you want to share a board with your partner or friend.
Breakfast Classic cost £7.90-13.90, All Day Buns £8.90-10.90, Hashes £13.90-14.90, Small Plates £5.90-8.90, Sharing Boards £15.90-18.90 and Salads with a Main are £12.90-13.90. Drinks include Coffee, Tea, Fresh Juices and Wines.
Watch The Black Penny Video
Helpful Information About The Black Penny Southbank
To find out more, visit The Black Penny Website. The restaurant address is 17 Casson Square, Lambeth, London SE1 7BQ, with the nearest station at Waterloo. Current opening times are Monday to Friday from 7.30 am until 6 pm, Saturday from 9 am until 5 pm, and Sunday from 10 am until 5 pm. It’s small inside, but they do have seating outside. The Black Penny has other branches in Covent Garden and Sloane Square.
While you’re in the area, you may be interested in reading these relevant articles:
Ten Things To Do In The South Bank London
Ten Things To Do In Lambeth London
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. I only write about restaurants where I had a good experience. I recommend you do further research as restaurant standards fluctuate, as do opinions. Please check if the restaurant is still in business and the opening times before you go. If you discover this restaurant has closed, contact me to remove it from my blog.
