The best breakfasts in Sunderland
Off to Sunderland and looking for a spot of breakfast or brunch? There are plenty of options to choose from. Discover 5 of the best places in our guide.
Whether you're a culture vulture, fresh air junkie, history buff or city slicker, Sunderland is a great place to visit. We're so keen about the place that we even put together a travel guide to help you plan your trip.
But how about the food? Can Sunderland hope to compete with Newcastle, say, or the pubs and restaurants dotted around Northumberland?
We're happy to report that you're spoilt for choice. In the words of Dan Shannon, one of the directors of Sunderland CIC Pop Recs: "The food culture in Sunderland is really developing… Bit by bit that level is being raised".
Sunderland is a multicultural city, meaning a rich array of aromas and tastes as you wander through both the city centre and the suburbs. But fear not: Sunderland also has a mean breakfast game.
In this article, we look at five of the best breakfasts in Sunderland. It's by no means an exhaustive list: we've gone for places that show off the city's range rather than simply listing the lot.
So if you're staying over in Sunderland and need a morning bite, we hope this list will inspire you!
1. The Front Parlour Coffee House and Kitchen
6 Grange Terrace, Sunderland, SR2 7DF
On Grange Terrace, there's a lovely old townhouse. Upstairs, there's a beauty clinic. Downstairs, you'll find a cafe run by the same team.
On the menu are scones, cakes, teas, coffees – and plenty of brunch options, including Sunday brunch bagels with a range of fillings.
The Front Parlour is open Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
2. The Mad Hatter
113 Sea Rd, Roker, Sunderland, SR6 9EQ
Seaburn is Sunderland's very own seaside resort in the northeast of the city. Its low-density, high-end housing and ample parkland mark it out from the city proper – and it's well worth a visit for the food alone.
The Mad Hatter is a quaint and cosy teashop on the road to Seaburn. As well as lunches, cakes and other snacks, it offers hearty breakfasts. The Mad Hatter is well-placed for you to explore Seaburn's shops and boutiques.
And while you're there, check out the L.S. Lowry painting in the local Morrisons. In later life, the English artist – famous for his urban landscapes and "matchstick men" – was a frequent visitor of the Seaburn Hotel, where he would paint the beach, the port and sometimes other visitors.
3. The Glass Yard
The National Glass Centre, Liberty Way, Roker, Sunderland, SR6 0GL
Walk ten minutes from St Peter's station and you'll find yourself at the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. Inside is the National Glass Centre, a celebration of Sunderland's rich history of glass-making. And inside
that
is the Glass Yard: a cafe with lovely riverside views that offers a fine breakfast.
A trip to the National Glass Centre is a great way to combine learning about the area's past with a bite to eat. If you're not from the area, you might be surprised at the depth of its history. Did you know, for instance, that the first stained glass was made for St Peter's Church in Monkwearmouth, now best known for Sunderland AFC's Stadium of Light?
In 674 AD, Benedict Biscop arranged for skilled Gaulish artisans to come to Sunderland and create this window. It's the oldest in the world!
The Glass Yard is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all week long.
4. The Good Apple Cafe
18 Derwent St, Sunderland, SR1 3NU
The Good Apple Cafe has been a dedicated vegan cafe since 2020. Its brunches include avocado toast, bagels, scrambled tofu and "the full works". It also does an all-day breakfast wrap.
The cafe is a cosy spot that one customer has described as "affordable and lovely". And like all the best vegan venues, its breakfasts can be enjoyed by anyone, whatever their diet.
The Good Apple Cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays to Saturdays.
5. Sonny's at Pop Recs
172-175 High St W, Sunniside, Sunderland, SR1 1UP
At the bottom end of High Street West is Pop Recs: a music venue, cafe, community space and arts hub that made Time Out London's "Top 17 Music Venues in the UK" list. Its cafe, Sonny's, is named after Sonny Harper, in tribute to his father, the Sunderland musician Dave Harper.
The kitchen, run by Adam Fairbairn (formerly of Mexico 70 and Trakol), is a great spot for good-quality breakfasts, brunches and coffees. Once you're fed and watered, you can browse the space's vinyl collection and local artwork.
Sonny's is open from 9-3 every day.
Does Sunderland have its own cuisine?
Yes! Sunderland is home to regional dishes that may be new to you – and a traditional Sunderland menu is a mixture of what-it-says-on-the-tin and excuse-me-what-is-this?
Take a cheesy chip pie, for instance. It's chips covered in cheese in a pie. Simple, homely, delicious.
But then there's a mysterious dish that goes by many names: panackelty, panacalty, panaculty, panaggie… No one can decide how to spell it, but it's a well-loved family meal.
It's a casserole that was traditionally made from Sunday leftovers: beef, potatoes, onions and carrots. You'll certainly be able to find some in a local cafe or restaurant if you ask around...
Feeling hungry?
So there you have it: five of the best breakfasts that Sunderland has to offer. Whether you're in the city for business or pleasure, get set up for the day at one of its restaurants or cafes. You won't regret it!
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