Best cafes that serve delicious breakfast and brunch

Merseyside has tons of incredible cafes that serve up some delicious food and drink. We're spoilt for choice, whether you're after a breakfast, spot of lunch or quick coffee stop.

Some of the Liverpool ECHO team have chosen their favourite cafes across the region. You might find that you've visited a few before, or some could be on your list to visit.

Take a look at the list below. Also, let us know in the comment section which café is your favourite in Merseyside, and some slightly further afield.

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Bean There, Smithdown Road - Emilia Bona

Bean There on Smithdown Road has provided an absolute sanctuary for me in recent years, during a number of different life phases. In the Covid lockdown, their coffee hatch was the highlight of my day, selling expertly-made cortados, chorizo sausage rolls and pistachio pastries.

I would return home from my daily state-sanctioned mental health walk laden with treats and feeling a little bit more human thanks to the incredible staff who made a very isolating couple of months feel that little bit less lonely. More recently, Bean There has been where I’ve chosen to spend hours upon hours of my maternity leave.

It’s been the perfect place to enjoy a rare hot coffee while the baby naps, enjoy a great lunch after a sleepless night, or catch-up with friends while wrangling a chaotic crawler. The staff at Bean There are always so friendly and this family-run business really makes their regulars feel like they’re part of the furniture.

They’ve got a counter full of incredible baked goods (the Bakewell slices are a personal favourite) and a menu of slap-up breakfast options, generously filled sandwiches and seasonal treats. I absolutely love being able to snag a window seat and watch the world go by.

Café Tabac, Liverpool city centre - Daniel Haygarth

One of my favourite places in town, the bohemian Cafe Tabac has been the beating heart of Bold Street for more than half a century. Representing everything that’s good about the city centre street, Tabac has been serving an assorted crowd since 1974. Memories of Liverpool’s arts scene and the café itself in the ‘70s ‘80s and ‘90s adorn the walls, complementing a cool and stylish décor. You’re always guaranteed good music as well.

Granted, I probably use the place as more of a bar than a café - enjoying a couple of San Miguels before moving onto an Old Fashioned - as I make my way further into town after an evening in the Georgian Quarter. But if you’ve had a couple too many the night before, a Café Tabac fry up will make everything feel better. There are few better places in Liverpool just to hang out with friends, whether that’s curing a hangover or causing one for the following day.

Daily Dose, Aughton - Gary Stewart

Daily Dose is on Town Green Lane in Aughton, a well-to-do village between Ormskirk and Maghull, so just a little bit outside of Merseyside. You may have heard how Aughton now has four Michelin stars between Moor Hall, the Barn at Moor Hall and So-Lo but that’s not the only revival the village is undergoing.

Daily Dose sits on a small row of shops between wine bar Arthur’s of Aughton and JW Henshaw butchers which also has a delicatessen where you can spend a good while picking through jars of chutney and artisanal sausage rolls. It’s a lovely little village atmosphere with free parking at the Aughton Institute 50 yards away. It’s also on the Merseyrail line. It is literally a stroll from Town Green Station.

The Daily Dose serves all-day breakfasts with vegan options, varieties of poached eggs with salmon and avocado, alongside more exotic fare like Turkish eggs (poached eggs over whipped garlic yoghurt) and your chicken or halloumi wraps. You’ll see a lot of people with their cute dogs in there and a lot of people in gym clothes. If you can get a seat try the Spanish latte (sweet and thick, made with condensed milk) and one of the many delicious cakes by the till.

Heliya Café, Birkenhead - Hannah Rees

Heliya Café is located on Oxton Road in Birkenhead, just down the road from Birkenhead Park. Although it is a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of Birkenhead town centre, it has never felt overcrowded whenever I've popped in for one of its delicious full English breakfast.

A good café has to serve a great full English in my opinion, and this café certainly doesn't disappoint in that department. It's also a rarity to see Ulster fry on a café menu these days - scoring brownie points from me.

Home Café, Oxton - Jamie Greer

Home is a great place to grab a delicious meal and hot drink. Located in a former bakery built in the 19th century, the menu has everything you could want, from full English breakfasts to pancakes and hot and cold sandwiches. Home serves hot chocolate in a particularly nice way too. The staff give you a block of Belgian chocolate to dip into your drink which can be topped with cream and marshmallows. There’s also a delicious selection of cakes too.

There’s lots of tables inside plus a glass atrium and an outdoor courtyard at the back. But perhaps the biggest selling point with Home is the location. Found in the picturesque Oxton village, you can watch the comings and goings of the bustling high street from the large windows. The only issue is that Home is no secret to locals, and on busy periods you might have to wait if you want to have a table. However, it’s popular for good reason.

Kiosk, Formby - Kate Lally

I don't know if you can technically call Kiosk a café but it was the first place that sprung to mind when I was asked for my favourite one. It's a cute coffee shop next to Freshfield station that offers a range of drinks and delicious treats, conveniently dished out through a little window-hatch.

There's no indoor drinking or dining option, but there's a heated and covered seating area outside, and you can expect a queue at busy periods, a testament to how fab it is. Kiosk’s location also makes it a great stop-off point while on a walk or a bike ride, or if you fancy a huge, perfectly flaky and incredibly tasty croissant for your breakfast or commute.

If delectable pastries aren't your thing, there's also granola, fresh sandwiches, homemade sausage rolls and other baked goods on the menu, and the coffees are magnificent and expertly-made.

Lucy in the Sky, Liverpool city centre- Kate McMullin

I love supporting independent businesses and Lucy in the Sky on Exchange Street, in Liverpool, is a perfect example of a café Liverpool would be worse off without. From the moment you step foot into the café you are always met with the warmest Scouse welcome from all the staff. It is such a relaxed atmosphere inside and the striking pink décor is my absolute favourite.

There is always an elaborate mural painted on the windows outside, which is often in keeping with a particular theme or event that is happening in the city at the time, and the toilet is also a must see. But these things are all just an added bonus as the real backbone of the café is the delicious homemade food.

Put it this way, if you go for lunch, you won't be needing a filling tea, as the portion sizes are more than generous. The food menu is unapologetically 'Scouse' with dishes such as a 'chicckken burger' and 'Margy's Scouse' and the drinks menu, on top of the traditional teas, coffees and soft drinks, features the 'our Scouse shake', which is a milkshake in a Liverpool purple bin, which everyone needs in their life.

Nothing is ever too much trouble for the staff and the meals and drinks are always so well presented with some lovely little touches. I have never emerged from Lucy in the Sky a) not full to the brim and b) without a smile on my face. I would recommend it to anyone.

Mother Espresso, Liverpool city centre - Ryan Paton

A quality cup of coffee is the true litmus test that elevates a good café to a great one. Mother Espresso is always my go-to choice for a cup of Joe in the city with this trendy spot serving up the best batch brew in town.

Whether it’s meeting with friends or going for a relaxing read alone, this Wood Street venue caters for all your café needs and is the perfect place to while away the hours. I always make sure to take advantage of the refill deal and spend a little bit extra for a top up as I can never stop at just one cup of java at Mother Espresso.

It’s not just about the coffee and the vibe as the food menu is equally brilliant with a range of tasty breakfast and brunch items on offer. The Reuben is my personal favourite and always provides the perfect accompaniment to the tasty cup of coffee.

Oasis in the Park, Sefton Park - Alice Walker

I’ve always referred to this place as “the café in Sefton Park with the great ice creams” and everyone immediately knows what I am talking about. Located next to the fountain in the middle of the park, it is well known to people in L17 or frequent visitors of Sefton Park. On summer days it is always jam packed full of customers.

Whether you want to stay in and eat or order to take away and sit on the grass nearby, I’ve never been disappointed. There are sandwiches, burgers, hot and cold drinks and, as previously mentioned, a wide variety of ice creams. The staff are also very accommodating for people with food allergies and intolerances, and there is something on the menu for everybody. I’ve always enjoyed going there, and considering it is slap bang in the middle of (what I consider to be) the best park in the city, it does not disappoint.

Our Coffee Shop, Spital - Emily Gotting

I absolutely love discovering new places for breakfast, and often like to shy away from chain restaurants and visit smaller, independent spots. There's nothing better than a nice big breakfast to start off your day. Considering on an average day I usually just opt for toast or some porridge, breakfast out and about feels like a real treat.

Situated in the middle of some shops in the Lancelyn Precinct, I'd definitely describe Our Coffee Shop as an absolute hidden gem. It has plenty of character, and a really charming 'vintage' feel to it.

Its classic décor adds to the cosiness and really makes it feel like a proper homely café. Despite its old school aesthetic, the Our Coffee Shop menu actually had quite a modern twist to it. It serves up absolutely delicious poached eggs, with gorgeously creamy coffees to match.

Tearooms, Birkdale - Ben Haslam

Tearooms isn’t your typical café, it’s a place where you would imagine having a quiet coffee and croissant if you were to walk past at 11am on a Saturday, but it is definitely a café turned bar that can play to both day time and night time hospitality brilliantly. It boasts a large breakfast and lunch menu, has lovely coffee and a fantastic selection of pastries and sweet treats to munch on. You can also easily find yourself accidentally ordering a pint after having your coffee and brunch with your friends. Before you know it you’ve been out all day and all night without even leaving Tearooms.

The Vibe, Liverpool city centre - Liam Thorp

This relaxed, vegan café in the heart of Liverpool's city centre is entirely appropriately named. Put simply, it is a vibe. A fun-filled family-run venture, The Vibe has a core mission, to celebrate all the wonderful things that can be done with a plant-based menu.

Whether it is hearty vegan fry-ups, Banana Biscoff pancakes or double smash plant burgers, there is so much to offer at this chilled-out and kooky venue to prove that you really don’t need meat to have a good time. Make sure to wash all that great grub down with a Snickers shake and thank us later.