Big night out planned for Newcastle? We’re not saying you’ll sleep through breakfast (but just in case you do), here are five suggestions from local experts on where to brunch in the city on the morning after the night before.
“This quirky teahouse occupies the ground floor and basement of the beautiful Claremont Buildings near Haymarket in Newcastle city centre.
The three brothers who run it have a passion for the arts, so as well as serving up over 60 different varieties of tea from around the world, they also use the venue as a showcase for local talent, there are regular film nights, gigs and exhibitions for free.
But what about the grub? Well there’s a varied menu that changes slightly day to day – most food is homemade on site, using the best of the North East’s local produce.
Expect heart warming soup, calorific cakes and belly busting hot stotties (that’s a type of local bread) stuffed with fancy fillings like falafel and tzatziki.
Tip: Saturday is when Quilliam Brothers attracts its biggest crowd because of its ‘Saturday Scran’, a breakfast menu offering every hangover cure you could wish for from fruity pancakes to eggs benedict. Oh, and if you’re not a fan of tea, don’t worry they serve coffee too!”
Quilliam Brothers, 1 Eldon Place, Newcastle, +44 191 2614861, Mon-Fri 10am – Midnight, Sat 9am – Midnight
Recommended by Rachel from Life in Geordie Land
“The newest family member of the Fat Hippo family, Fat Hippo Underground is a dimly-lit basement burger bar with exposed brick walls and neon signage on Newcastle’s historic Shakespeare Street.
Gourmet meaty gluttony at its finest, the Fat Hippo chain has taken the city by storm in recent years thanks to consistently delicious dishes, enormous portion sizes and an interesting menu.
The prices are reasonable and start at £8.00 for a proper burger with 4oz meat patties ground in-house daily and plenty of unusual extras like “Dirty Skins” (double fried potato skins, topped with bacon and fat hippo sauce), Jalapeño Poppers (breaded balls of cheese, red pepper and jalapeños served with sour cream) and creamy pesto mayo on the side.
The Temple of Shroom burger leads the way for a genuinely appetising vegetarian offering and don’t even get us started on the naughty alcoholic shakes if you’re in need of hair of the dog.
With their own locally brewed Fat Hippo IPA to add to their repertoire, we can’t think of anywhere we’ve been so many times before and left feeling exceptionally full and satisfied every time.”
Fat Hippo Underground, 2-6 Shakespeare Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6AQ, 0191 447 1161, http://fat-hippo.co.uk/page/underground. Monday 5pm-10pm, Tues-Thurs 12pm-10pm, Saturday 11am-10.30pm and Sundays 11am-10pm.
Recommended by Chloe from Prosecco and Pie
“Hidden away behind Eldon Square in the centre of Newcastle, and only a short walk away from Central Station is Olive and Bean, a beautiful deli, café and coffee shop all rolled into one.
The aptly named ‘cake catwalk’ greets you first – a glass counter bursting with the hugest slabs of cake, tiffin and buttery scones.
Sit down at the chunky wooden tables and browse the menu of Union hand-roasted coffees, tasting planks, as well as big bowl salads and made-to-order sandwiches.
Speciality hot drinks include the indulgent raspberry mocha and brulee latte, and the fresh fruit smoothies are a perfect perk-me-up.
Read the paper or people-watch as you tuck into the Mediterranean tasting plank, £7.65 of warm falafel chunks, soft Greek haloumi, earthy houmous, soft cheese stuffed peppers and toasted pitta bread.
Tip: If you can’t decide what to choose from the cake catwalk, get the cake plank: four chunks of their favourite fancies that day that are served with fresh fruit, pouring cream and honeycomb. Truly decedent.”
Olive and Bean, 17-19 Clayton Street, 0191 233 0990 www.oliveandbean.co.uk Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sunday 9am-5pm
Recommended by Rosie from Scobberlotch
“Blake’s is a quaint coffee house and kitchen located on Grey Street in the historic heart of Newcastle. With its cosy, home-from-home welcome and stripped back décor, Blake’s is the perfect destination for a spot of brunch.
All dishes are freshly prepared in-house, using locally sourced ingredients from suppliers such as Geordie Bakers, Lanchester Dairies and Warren Butterworth Butcher.
The breakfast menu, served until 2pm, is brimming with tasty dishes, from American buttermilk pancakes and traditional eggs benedict to ‘posh toast’ (that’s artisan bread with jam and butter) and – paying homage to its Geordie roots – breakfast stotties served with bacon, sausage or black pudding.
One of my favourite dishes is the smoked salmon, served with a generous mound of fluffy scrambled egg and crunchy toast.
Blake’s serves its own specially roasted coffee, and there’s also a good selection of flavoured teas – think peppermint and sencha as well as freshly made ‘Blakes Shakes’ for a frothy sugar fix.
With the Theatre Royal just a stone’s throw away, the coffee house has been known to attract a few famous faces in its time – you never know who you might spot.”
Blake’s, 53 Grey Street, Newcastle, Tyne & Wear, NE1 6EE. www.blakescafes.co.uk. Mon-Thurs / Sat 7am-7pm, Fri 7am to late and Sun 9am-6pm
Recommended by Alexis from Newcastle Sparkles
“Jesmond has always been ahead of the rest of Tyneside in terms of food, trends and fashion so it’s not surprising to find some culinary delights hidden away between its red brick terraces. One restaurant that stands head and shoulders above the rest is Arlo.
Arlo is a sort of culinary chameleon, changing its colours as the day progresses. In the morning, yummy mummies gravitate towards the bistro for their green teas and skinny lattes. By mid-morning, hungover students seek out carbs while hipsters sip mint tea.
The brunch menu is adventurous although a firm favourite of mine is the classic Eggs Royale accompanied by a mega hot chocolate.
Open seven days a week, Arlo’s offers a chance to relax and catch up with old friends, enjoy a good read in a private corner or celebrate with the family. The furnishing is easy on the eye with some intriguing décor; a mix of old Europe and far off lands. The sort of stuff a wealthy, eccentric Gap Yah student would pick up on his or her travels. Enjoy the journey.”
Arlo, 36-38 Brentwood Avenue, West Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 3DH. www.arlojesmond.com. Monday – Saturday 08.30 – 21.00. Sunday/Monday 09:00 – 17:00
Recommended by Daisy from AgnesDaisy
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