Regency Cafe
7.6Friend Score / 10#3 of 20 Cafés & Coffee in London
Known forFull English breakfastSet breakfast dealBubble and squeakBlack pudding
Westminster's legendary 1946 caff — black-tiled Art Deco exterior, formica tables, and your order bellowed across the room when it's ready. The full English is generous, fast and around a tenner, minutes from Tate Britain. Expect a queue at peak times and a system: order at the counter, sit when told, move when shouted at.
Key facts
| Hours | Mon–Fri 07:00–14:30 Mon–Fri 16:00–19:15 Sat–Sat 07:00–12:00 |
|---|---|
| Price | $ |
| Phone | 020 7821 6596 |
| Website | regencycafe.co.uk |
| Nearest transit | Pimlico (Victoria line), 8-minute walk; St James's Park (Circle/District) 10 minutes |
| Time needed | 30-45 minutes |
| Best time to go | Right at 7am opening or after 1:30pm on weekdays; Saturday mornings are the biggest crush |
| Last verified | July 12, 2026 |
Friend Score
7.6/10- Value9.0
- iconic7.5
- Freshness9.1
- Crowd level5.0
- Authenticity9.4
- Accessibility7.5
Frequently asked questions
- Is there always a queue at Regency Cafe?
- At weekend and mid-morning peaks, yes — sometimes out the door, though it moves fast because the kitchen is rapid. Go at 7am opening or after the lunch rush for a quieter run.
- What are Regency Cafe's opening hours?
- Weekdays 7am-2:30pm, then a second evening session 4pm-7:15pm; Saturdays 7am until noon; closed Sundays. Note that afternoon gap — plenty of people bounce off a locked door at 3pm.
- Was Regency Cafe in any films?
- Yes — most famously the brutal scene in Layer Cake with Daniel Craig, plus appearances in Pride and various TV shows. The interior is so photogenic it doubles as a film set without changing a thing.
- Does Regency Cafe take card payments?
- They take cards these days as well as cash, but it's a fast-moving counter queue — have your payment ready and know your order before you reach the front. When in doubt, cash is never wrong in a caff.
- How does ordering work at Regency Cafe?
- Queue at the counter, order and pay, take a seat, and listen — your order gets shouted out at volume when it's ready and you collect it yourself. Don't dawdle when your food is called; the shout is famous and so is the follow-up shout.
- Is Regency Cafe near Tate Britain?
- It's about a five-minute walk from Tate Britain, which makes it the perfect cheap breakfast or lunch before the gallery. Westminster Abbey and Parliament are 15 minutes on foot.
- How much is breakfast at Regency Cafe?
- A full set breakfast with tea and toast comes in around £10, which is outstanding for central Westminster. Portions are big — the hungry-person options are genuinely challenging.
- What should I order at Regency Cafe besides breakfast?
- The all-day breakfast is the point, but lunch regulars rate the steak pie, liver and bacon, and the daily specials. Tea comes strong and enormous; the bubble and squeak is a proper old-London touch.
Nearby in Ask London
- Tate BritainMuseum0.45 km · 6 min walk
- Westminster AbbeyAttraction0.68 km · 8 min walk
- Palace of WestminsterAttraction0.8 km · 10 min walk
- Big Ben & Houses of ParliamentLandmark0.91 km · 11 min walk
- Big BenAttraction0.91 km · 11 min walk
Where to stay near Regency Cafe
Compare hotels & stays on Booking.com · doesn’t affect the Friend Score