Best Brunch in Sunderland

Brunch has become one of the things Sunderland does well. The seafront at Roker and Seaburn has a cluster of places where a late, leisurely plate of eggs or pancakes comes with a view of the pier, and the city centre has a growing set of independents in Sunniside and around Mowbray Park that make brunch the main event. Whether you want a stack of pancakes with the kids, a bottomless brunch with friends or a quiet plate of something good with a proper coffee, here is where to go.

If you need something earlier in the day, our guide to the best breakfast in Sunderland lists the places that open first. For a full day by the sea, see our Roker and Seaburn seafront guide.

Love Lily, Roker

Love Lily at Pier Point on Marine Walk is built around brunch. American-style pancakes come in several versions, with savoury brunch plates, shakes and coffees alongside, and a counter of cake slices, brownies and cookies for anyone who still has room. It is a short walk from Roker Pier and the beach play area, which suits families. There is a second Love Lily at Herrington Country Park.

Best for: families and pancake lovers after a morning on the beach.

Tin of Sardines, Roker

In the converted former toilet block on Pier View, Tin of Sardines serves brunch from 8.30am to 2pm every day: a Full English, vegetarian and vegan options, toasties, shakshuka, hash bowls and crumpets. It also runs a bottomless brunch every day between 10am and 4pm, booked in two-hour slots, which makes it the obvious choice for a birthday or a get-together. The terrace looks across the harbour mouth to the pier and lighthouse, and it is covered in the colder months.

Best for: a bottomless brunch with friends and a view of the lighthouse.

The Tram Shelter, Seaburn

The Tram Shelter on Whitburn Road is one of the more unusual places to eat on the coast: a Grade II listed Victorian tram shelter, restored and reopened in December 2023 by the team behind Blacks Corner in East Boldon. Its brunch dishes have included Roker rarebit, halloumi and nduja hash, eggs royale and butter pancakes, and the cheese and charcuterie that Blacks Corner is known for run through the menu. It opens from 9am daily.

Best for: a brunch with a deli twist in a restored seafront landmark.

Spent Grain, Sunniside

In the city centre, Spent Grain is an independent restaurant on John Street, among the Georgian terraces of Sunniside and a few minutes' walk from Sunderland station. It serves brunch from 10am to 3pm on Wednesday to Saturday and from midday to 4pm on Sunday, with separate brunch, lunch and dinner menus on its website. It is the best choice on this list if you are coming into town by train.

Best for: a relaxed city-centre brunch close to the station.

Cafe Floriana, Burdon Road

Near Mowbray Park, Cafe Floriana is a Mediterranean-style cafe bar run by mother and daughter Kate and Emilia Ross. Brunch sits alongside lunch and small plates, with speciality coffee and matcha, or wine and cocktails if the brunch is turning into an afternoon. Gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options are marked, and dogs are welcome.

Best for: a Mediterranean-style brunch before a walk in Mowbray Park.

1842 Cafe & Bistro, Roker Hotel

At The Roker Hotel on Roker Terrace, 1842 Cafe & Bistro is a cafe and patisserie by day, with a daytime menu of sandwiches, focaccia and lighter plates. It is a calmer, more grown-up setting than the busier promenade cafes, open to non-residents, and it looks over the road to the beach and the pier.

Best for: a quieter late-morning plate with a sea view.

Elephant Rock Cafe Bar, Roker

On Marine Walk, Elephant Rock Cafe Bar serves breakfasts and lunches from a converted beach shelter with large windows over the North Sea. It is family and dog friendly and has step-free access, so it works well for a mixed group, and it carries on into the evening as a bar.

Best for: an easy-going late breakfast for families and dog walkers.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get bottomless brunch in Sunderland? Tin of Sardines on Pier View at Roker runs a bottomless brunch every day between 10am and 4pm in two-hour slots. Booking ahead is recommended.

Where is good for brunch in Sunderland city centre? Spent Grain on John Street in Sunniside serves brunch Wednesday to Sunday, and Cafe Floriana on Burdon Road, near Mowbray Park, serves brunch alongside small plates and speciality coffee.

Where can I get pancakes in Sunderland? Love Lily at Pier Point on Marine Walk, Roker, is known for its American-style pancakes, and The Tram Shelter at Seaburn has served butter pancakes on its brunch menu.

Know a brunch spot we have missed? Get in touch.