With April 12th just around the corner, the one thing on my mind is getting out and about to the places I’ve missed the most – especially my favourite cafes and restaurants for a long overdue brunching session. Here I have assembled ten of my favourite brunches in Sheffield, including vegetarian and vegan eats, hearty bacon and egg combos, and indulgent American pancakes.
Time to get stuck in…
TAMPER
As well as top-notch coffee, Tamper serves a range of Kiwi-inspired delicious brunch options. They offer an all-day menu, kicking off with the veggie-packed Rejuvenator or eggs benedict in numerous variations, as well as plenty of extra meat, vegetarian, or vegan toppings of your choice. Not forgetting the holy grail: French toast, which changes weekly and each one is as delicious as the last. During lockdown they’ve been as popular as ever, but I for one can’t wait to sit in their stunning courtyard and brunch with some pals soon.
Image: @tampercoffeesw
POM KITCHEN
The free-spirited, nature-loving Aussies have taught us a lot about brunching in recent years, and the pink neon lights of Pom Kitchen invite you in with the whole package. Expect to find fruit, vegetables and raw treats loaded into almost everything, including refreshing smoothies and nutritious breakfast bowls. The menu is colourful and ever-changing – just look at this picnic brunch box, perfect for outdoor meetups in the sun! Everything really is starting to look a little brighter.
Image: @pomkitchen_
THE CABIN
As the North American pancake and waffle house of dreams, The Cabin is number one on my list to visit post-lockdown. Favourites include Nutella, banoffee or fruit compote, plus one-off specials to tempt you, including this divine Mini Egg treat for Easter! But it’s their signature, ‘The Works’, that has won them an array of pancake-hungry fans – topped with scrambled eggs, smoky rashers, a sausage pattie and drizzled with maple syrup. Can’t decide? You can mix and match to make your own creation.
Image: @thecabinsheffield
BIRDHOUSE TEA COMPANY
Birdhouse Tea Co. are Sheffield’s favourite tea blenders, and their infamous tea lattes are a must-try, especially the signature ‘Sheffield Fog’ – a fusion of aromatic earl grey, sweet vanilla and steamed milk. Alongside the tea, the brunch menu spans everything from eggs benedict infused with their signature earl grey bearnaise sauce, to fluffy sweet or savoury pancake stacks. Excitingly, they have recently planned to convert the other half of their building into a bakery, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for this iconic spot.
Image: @birdhouseteacompany
OLIVE & JOY
New to Dyson Place in the past year, Olive & Joy have become a hotspot in Sharrow Vale for takeaway coffee and brunch during lockdown, and it’s guaranteed that they’ll only continue to flourish once restrictions are lifted. Folded eggs on toast with garlic yoghurt, harissa butter, dukkah and fresh dill; vegan and gluten-free luxury waffles topped with berries, candied pecans, coconut yoghurt and maple syrup; toasties cooked to perfection on sourdough bread… everything you could want is on this menu.
Image: @olive.and.joy
AESTHETE COFFEE & KITCHEN
Sister café to Alyssum, Walkley-based Aesthete opened in 2019 to huge success, becoming popular amongst the local community for its beautiful homemade cakes and artistic ambiance. As well as sweet treats, the brunch scene here is also gorgeous. There’s a globetrotting line-up on offer: smoky chilli Mexican bowls, Venetian eggs Florentine, espresso martini pancakes and Rueben bagels, as well as toasties from around the world. With so many flavours, you’ll never run out of new things to try, and it makes for the perfect brunch destination for the coming months.
Image: @aesthete_walkley
THE DEPOT BAKERY/EATERY
Nestled in the heart of Kelham Island, Depot Bakery is the best of the best, and their infamous homemade bread is showcased gloriously in their brunch. There are mouth-watering choices including salt beef bagels, eggs Benedict and Florentine cooked to perfection, or thick, freshly baked brioche French toast with either cured bacon, fried egg and maple syrup, or an ever-changing sweet version. They also have top tier coffee and patisserie, ideal for fuelling those sweet cravings.
Image: @thedepotbakery
MARMADUKES
After closing during lockdown, Marmadukes can’t wait to open again for some snackin’ in the sun. A plate of hot scotch pancakes with banana, crème fraiche, curried walnuts and caramel is just what you need to start the day – or you can take the savoury route, with an egg’s benedict variation or smoky campfire beans, made with slow cooked ham hock, house molasses beans, Montgomery cheddar, jalapenos, chutney, and toasted sourdough. I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
Image: @marmadukescafe
THE GRIND
The Grind recently celebrated its ten-year anniversary, and it remains known for one of the finest brunches in Sheffield. Visitors are presented with a counter full of healthy, homemade food that ranges from sandwiches and salads to indulgent sweet treats. Since they have been closed during lockdown, we are eagerly anticipating their reopening on 12 April, especially since they are promising a new breakfast and brunch menu!
Image: @thegrindcafesheffield
THE CHAKRA LOUNGE
Fusing Indian and British food together, The Chakra Lounge specialises in vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes. Fill up on zesty naked sandwiches, spiced breakfast flat breads, turmeric porridge with seasonal fruits, Indian-style fry-ups, or a Bollywood Benedict Boat; two eggs on toasted baps topped with spinach and a tikka flavoured Hollandaise sauce. They may be new to the city, but their unique combinations are sure to change the face of Sheffield’s brunch scene over the next few months.
Image: @chakraloungeofficial
Read about more of Sheffield’s finest independent businesses in ‘The Little Book of Sheffield’, available to purchase online here.
