Given the amount of attention that is placed on lunch, dinner, afternoon tea, and happy hour, we’re of the opinion that breakfast is the most underrated meal of all (it’s often overshadowed by brunch – which, if you really think about it, is just an excuse to incorporate the breakfast foods we so love into our midday meal).
The idea of breakfast is the only incentive that will get us out of bed on a Saturday or Sunday morning. It also makes waking up on weekdays significantly less painful. From a health standpoint, filling our stomach in the morning leads to improved metabolism, boosted energy, and better concentration. Breakfast is the one meal that has the ability to dictate how we’re feeling for the rest of the day.
Fuel up for the challenges of the day ahead at a few of our favourite breakfast spots in Central!
The top spots for breakfast in Central
1. R&R Bagels
Whenever a restaurant is confident enough to have only one main item on its menu, we can safely assume that they do that item very well indeed. At R&R Bagels, that one item that keeps customers coming back for more is – you guessed it – bagels, in flavours including plain, vegan, sesame, wholegrain, poppy, onion, garlic, everything, and cinnamon raisin. The shop’s breakfast bagels (HKD85) – namely the English breakfast, maple bacon and egg, smashed avocado and egg, and The Gardener’s Breakfast with spinach omelette, Cheddar, tomato, pesto, and cream cheese – are available from 7:30AM till 12PM daily. Fresh, filling, and easy to eat on the go, these scrumptious bagels provide the ideal morning boost for busybodies.
R&R Bagels, G/F, 28 Li Yuen Street West, Central, 2178 5168
2. CAFÉ LANDMARK
Right in the heart of the shopper’s paradise that is LANDMARK, CAFÉ LANDMARK offers a selection of carefully curated breakfast items, available from 8AM Monday through Saturday and 9AM on Sundays and public holidays, that showcase the restaurant’s unique ability to combine flavours and techniques from East and West. The thick-cut Japanese-style French toast (HKD128), infused with Hokkaido milk for 24 hours before being baked until golden brown, is lightly crisp on the outside and delightfully creamy on the inside. The avocado, ham, and mushroom crêpe (HKD148) is completed with sides of sautéed potato, sour cream, tomato salsa, and salad – a great savoury option for those who prefer to save some sweetness for later on in the day.
CAFÉ LANDMARK, Shop 107–108, 1/F, LANDMARK ATRIUM, 15 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2526 4200, book here
3. The Diner
For those with a hearty appetite and looking for a breakfast to match, this retro joint is the place for you. Billed as Hong Kong’s only truly authentic American diner, The Diner serves up a breakfast storm from 8AM till 11AM on weekdays and till 3PM on weekends and public holidays. The diverse menu includes the likes of avocado toast (HKD78), a Mexican-style breakfast burrito (HKD108), and blueberry pancakes (HKD138). For all the Brits out there, The Limey (HKD148) breakfast skillet – aka the full English – features two eggs any style, Danish bacon, pork sausage, baked beans, hash browns, roasted cherry tomato, sautéed mushroom, and sourdough toast; we’re full just thinking about it!
The Diner, G/F, Winning Centre, 48 Wyndham Street, Central, 3585 7455, book here
4. Mr Wolf
Breakfast at this relaxed modern European eatery is served daily from 8AM till 11:30AM, ideal for late risers. At Mr Wolf, you can go hearty with a classic egg dish like the eggs royale (HKD148) gilded with poached egg, smoked salmon, dill, and caper hollandaise, lighter with the açai super bowl (HKD108) with seasonal fruits, house granola, and wildflower honey, or sweet with the fluffy pancakes (HKD128) with a choice of Nutella and toasted hazelnut, blueberry and Chantilly cream, or maple syrup and salted butter. A bonus, the restaurant’s outdoor terrace is a favourite of those in the Central know.
Mr Wolf, 5/F, Crawford House, 70 Queen’s Road Central, Central, 2526 0838, book here
5. Green Waffle Diner
Green Waffle Diner is Canadian, not American, but from 8AM every day, it serves up all the diner staples that we adore. We usually opt for one of the filling seasonal breakfast sets. The slow-cooked steel-cut oats with fresh fruits (HKD73) and homemade keto almond flour flaxseed toast (HKD103) are tasty and healthy ways to get you fortified for the day ahead, especially if you’re nursing a hangover. For a more traditional diner-style option, order the bacon and egg with homemade hash browns (HKD82). You can add on a daily soup or salad for HKD28.
Green Waffle Diner, G/F, Kar Ho Building, 35–39 Graham Street, Central, 2887 9991, book here
6. Jimmy’s Kitchen
Hong Kong’s legendary Jimmy’s Kitchen restaurant also serves up weekday breakfast from 8AM till 10AM – a lovely spot for a peaceful morning escape with a bit of old-school British flair. Jimmy’s full English breakfast (HKD198) and bacon sandwich (HKD128), slathered with just the right amounts of salted butter and brown sauce, are legit Blighty brekkie dishes, whilst the fluffy, crispy-edged banana skillet pancake (HKD138) is a nod to the USA.
Jimmy’s Kitchen, M/F, Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street, Central, 2526 5293, book here
7. Servo
Central’s latest breakfast gem is Servo, a member of Michelin-starred chef Shane Osborn’s The Arcane Collective. This laid-back Australian-style café is open bright and early from 7:30AM on weekdays and 9:30AM on Saturdays and public holidays, serving breakfast until 11AM. Chef Michael Smith whips up popular Aussie early-morning staples like smashed avocado on toast (HKD68), homemade granola with Greek yoghurt and berry compote (HKD68), and sweet potato pancakes (HKD88).
Servo, G/F, Kowloon Dairy Building, 17–19 On Lan Street, Central
8. Cookie DPT
Besides baking up some of the best cookies in Hong Kong, Cookie DPT offers a mean American-driven breakfast menu that’s served daily from 9AM till 4:30PM. The cinnamon roll pancakes (HKD70) combine the best bits of two of our favourite breakfast treats, as does the pancake breakfast sandwich (HKD88) loaded with scrambled egg, cheese, and bacon. You can add a cup of coffee for just HKD25 with any breakfast order here.
Cookie DPT, LG/F, FOCO, 46–48 Cochrane Street, Central, 3643 0865
