You can’t live in Karachi and not take naashta seriously. With the many breakfast options available in the city, ranging from halwa poori and lachhay dar paratha to scrambled eggs, pancakes and breakfast burgers, you’d be seriously missing out if you ignore arguably the best meal time of the day. Looking for recommendations? Perfect. We have a (growing) list of 23 of the best breakfast places in Karachi and a guide on what to order from each of them.
Please Note: Every place in this list has been carefully considered. They have their own strengths and weaknesses which are mentioned in the following paragraphs. Read the recommendations properly before ordering.
Here are 23 places to have good breakfast from in Karachi:
1. Evergreen
Over the years, Evergreen has become one of our favourite breakfast places – owing to their menu which consists of the classics done right (for example eggs benedict, scrambled eggs etc) but then also has creative takes like the Farmer’s Market Scramble and Scrambled Eggs on Puff Pastry. They also have a sourdough paratha that you can order with one of their omelettes.
Their take on the gluten free french toast and the oatmeal pancakes is not your usual overloaded with Nutella or Lotus affair and it’s something you can actually enjoy for breakfast.
A place you can go with either family or friends.
- Recommendations: Eggs benedict, Steak N Eggs, Chocolate Oatmeal Pancakes, Gluten Free French Toast, Tart-Break Hotel (Scrambled Eggs over Puff Pastry)
- Keep in mind: The menu is modelled around healthy recipes, so keep expectations adjusted. The pancakes aren't dripping with Nutella etc. (a good thing but just word of advice for the uninitiated)
- Timings: All-day breakfast
- Menu: Click here
2. Test Kitchen
If doing scrambled eggs well is a measure of a good breakfast place, then Test Kitchen deserves to be on top of this list. Of course, when you pair it with artisanal bread and a side of camembert cheese and hot chocolate it takes everything to the next level. And Test Kitchen has perfected the art of doing that with simple ingredients.
The infamous wait to get seated there though continues to be a pain and truth be told they have fiddled around with their breakfast plate and it doesn’t come with as many awesome ingredients anymore. However, can’t go wrong with eggs, cheese and bread there.
- Recommendations: Scrambled eggs, a customised meat and egg sandwich (ask the server for options), iranian cottage cheese with sourdough or camembert cheese, hot chocolate
- Keep in mind: waiting time (usually 45minutes), crammed seating
- Timings: 10am - 7pm
- Menu: Click here
New Breakfast Places In Karachi
3. Olive Tree Bistro
Olive Tree is a new entrant that is trying to take what Test Kitchen does right and build upon it. Can’t say how successful this endeavour is going to be yet but the approach seems to be working at breakfast for sure.
Their breakfast plate with scrambled eggs for instance, has perfectly cooked fluffy scrambled eggs, mushrooms, seared beef (made just right) and is topped generously with parmesan cheese which brings it all together – and the bread. The bread. I think the photo above tells you all.
- Recommendations: Scrambled eggs - (let us know if you have more breakfast suggestions to contribute)
- Keep in mind: The menu is quite vast - some items better than the others. Breakfast is a relatively safe choice.
- Timings: 10am - 5pm
4. The Croissant Guy
The Croissant Guy who got the genius idea of holding space for just croissants in their menu, also recently launched breakfast. You get your egg and cheese omelettes (in a croissant of course) but then you also get this excellent baked eggs and pastrami dish in a skillet that also makes for a good breakfast choice.
And their magnum croissant seems to be a popular dessert order, just saying.
- Recommendations: Scrambled eggs and cheese in a croissant, skillet eggs and pastrami, cream cheese croissant, magnum croissant
- Keep in mind: The place can get quite crowded on a Sunday and some service issues can occur if they are booked to capacity.
- Timings: 10:30 am onwards (not sure till when)
5. Marigold
The star of Marigold’s breakfast menu is definitely the dessert – especially the maritozzo topped with lemon zest and fresh fruits or even the brioche french toast. However, the french omelettes are very satisfying too especially when topped with truffle mushrooms. Is it pricey – yes it is.
- Recommendations: French omelette with truffle mushroom, Maritozzo, Brioche French Toast
- Keep in mind: Pricier than casual breakfast places - approx Rs. 2,000 per breakfast item.
- Timings: 9am onwards
6. Khudee Cafe
Khudee Cafe – the first cafe to be run by differently abled people, offers a solid breakfast menu and food. They have breakfast platters that you can choose from and while the prices on it can seem intimidating the platters come with so many different ingredients and condiments that it can easily be shared. The cafe offers a cute, homely vibe and usually has fresh bakes like savoury danish pastries that you can order too.
- Recommendations: Apple Cinnamon French Toast, Savoury Danish Pastries, Chipotle Beef Bowl
- Keep in mind: The prices are a little higher but all profits go to run Karachi Vocational Training Center.
- Timings: closed on Sundays, 9am to 8pm
- Menu: Click here
Older, but Popular Breakfast Places in Karachi
7. OD
OD or ODonuts as it was earlier called has to be one of the most unexpected places that does good breakfast – after all, it started off with just donuts. However, their range of breakfast items are really impressive! What makes them really stand out is the fact that they get the following things right:
– how they cook the eggs (scrambled or omelette with cheese – both on point)
– their croissants are amazing and work well with their breakfast sandwiches
– they have really unique items in addition to the usual ones – look for the mediterranean eggs on puff pastry with pesto!
– they have both savoury and sweet options – lotus french toast is a fool-proof choice.
– the prices are in accordance with the value they provide so it doesn’t feel heavy on the pocket.
- Recommendations: Mushroom & Cheese Omelette in a Croissant, The Mediterranean Eggs in Puff Pastry, Lotus French Toasts, Almond Croissants
- Keep in mind: The breakfast menu is only available at a few of their outlets.
- Timings: 8 am to 3pm.
- Per head: Rs. 1500 per person, without drinks.
8. Yum By Amna Cafe
Yum By Amna Cafe has quickly become one of the best breakfast places in Karachi for a number of reasons. Firstly, they open at 8am. Secondly, they get their scrambled eggs right. Thirdly, the number of options are insane. Personally some of our favourite things to order at breakfast include: smoked salmon bagel, breakfast grilled cheese, their variety of french toasts – particularly, apple pie and churros and their caramelised onions with mushroom omelette.
- Recommendations: Scrambled Eggs, Apple Pie or Cinnamon Roll French Toast, Smoked Salmon Bagel, Spinach & Artichoke Dip
- Keep in mind: The breakfast menu ends up at 12pm on weekdays and on 3pm on weekends.
- Timings: Opens at 8am. Breakfast menu is still 12pm.
- Menu: Click here
9. POMO
POMO has always been one of our favourite places for ordering pastas and pizzas. They make their cheese and condiments in-house and it goes a long way in making the final dishes turn out delicious. Their newly launched breakfast menu stands out for the same reason.
It currently consists of the usual omelettes and scrambled eggs but then there are a few items which are not only unique but a complete home-run in terms of flavours. The ricotta crepe with a lemon cream filling and a pistachio topping and the ricotta spinach omelette are a few of them.
It is open for breakfast everyday 8am to 11am.
- Recommendations: Ricotta Crepe with Lemon & Pistachio, Ricotta Spinach Omelette
- Keep in mind: If you are just going to order the scrambled eggs etc. the breakfast menu might not stand out for you so much.
- Timings: 8 am to 11 am
- Per head: Rs. 2,500 approx
10. Luna Cafe
Everyone loves to hate on Luna Cafe – probably because of the rapid hype it got when it launched. However, the hype wasn’t without merit. There are many things on Luna Cafe’s menu that are different from the rest of the cafes’ offerings in Karachi. For breakfast, with cream cheese bagels, Japanese honey toasts and more – their menu stands out. Their breakfast timings are 8am to 4pm.
- Recommendations: Japanese Honey Toast, Egg & Cheese Croissant
- Keep in mind: Their flavours are authentic and ingredients premium and if you are judging from the perspective of familiarity (what you have tried elsewhere in Karachi), you might be disappointed. It can also be pricey.
- Timings: 8 am to 4pm (for breakfast) but the cafe hours are longer.
- Per head: Rs. 3,500 per head (approx)
11. Tooso
You can’t talk about breakfast in Karachi without mentioning halwa poori and even though there are a host of roadside places and dhaabas serving delectable halwa poori, sometimes you need a place to sit indoors with your family and friends and there Tooso makes a really good choice.
They also have anda paratha, bhuna qeema, tawa paratha etc. on the menu.
- Recommendations: Halwa Poori Platter, Bhunna Qeema and Tawa Paratha
- Keep in mind: The chai isn't the best. Get it from Cafe Clifton next door.
- Timings: 7am to 12:30pm for breakfast.
- Menu: Click here
12. Mews
Mews recently overhauled their menu and recipes – the result? Lots of new things to try from their breakfast menu. We went for the Mews Egg Sandwich, Turkish Eggs and their Ricotta Pancakes. Out of everything, the Mews Egg Sandwich stood out – it had turkey bacon, fluffy eggs, cheese, sour cream and caramelised onions all sandwiched in soft milk buns.
The new recipes – while a miss at lunch and dinner, do hold well at breakfast.
- Recommendations: Mews Egg Sandwich, Scrambled Eggs with Pepperoni
- Keep in mind: It can be a bit pricier compared to others and the coffee isn't the best.
- Timings: 8am onwards.
- Per head: Rs 3000
13. Cote Rotie
Cote Rotie is located within the premises of Alliance Francaise and has its menu modelled around French cuisine. When you walk in, you immediately notice the art on the wall, its rustic interior and the sunlight coming through. For breakfast, their french toast with caramelised bananas is a unanimous recommendation. However, they also have cacio pepe scrambled eggs, truffled eggs, gruyere tartine and an omelette souffle et piperade if you want to steer away from the expected path.
The catch? They open at 12PM, which is noon. So instead of breakfast, you could say it’s a good place to brunch.
- Recommendations: Truffled Eggs and Gruyere Tartine, French Toast.
- Keep in mind: Opens at 12PM.
- Timings: 12PM onwards.
- Menu: Click here
14. Xanders
Xander’s is obviously a popular option for breakfast. They have a range of options, starting from The Fully Monty to Scandinavian Scrambled Eggs. However, one does feel the breakfast menu hasn’t gotten any new updates in a while and there aren’t many options to choose from if you want something other than eggs. It’s still a very popular choice.
- Recommendations: Scandinavian Scrambled eggs, Portuguese baked eggs, The full Monty.
- Keep in mind: Limited options if you don't want eggs.
- Timings: Opens at 9am. Breakfast is all day.
- Menu: Click here
15. Siroc
Siroc claims it does middle-eastern “fusion” food. It is not trying to be authentic, though it does offer solace if you have been really craving hummus and shish taouk from your recent travels.
One of their main pushes at breakfast is this platter called Morning Carnival. You get to pick your eggs, 6 sidelines (which can include hummus, moutabbal, feta cheese, roasted garlic etc.) and bread and it is meant to serve 2 people.
- Recommendations: Morning Carnival Platter. Feta cheese, hummus, moutabbal are good sides. Pita and Simit in breads.
- Keep in mind: This is Siroc's take on middle-eastern food, so probably not what you'd remember of a middle eastern breakfast from your travels.
- Timings: 8am to 12pm.
- Menu: Click here
16. Springs Cafe
The Springs Cafe (located above Springs Store in Khayaban e Bukhari) also does breakfast. It is also a great place to work out of and it opens early. However, in terms of the food, their dessert options at breakfast are far superior to the savoury ones.
What we really liked from their breakfast menu: The Lotus Souffle French Toast. If we ever make a list of best french toasts you can have in the city, it will definitely be on it.
What we didn’t like and this was a bummer were the scrambled eggs or their cheese and bacon omelette.
- Recommendations: Lotus Souffle French Toast
- Keep in mind: A little reasonably priced compared to other breakfast places, so recipes aren't very indulgent.
- Timings: 8am onwards..
- Menu: Click here
17. N'ecos
Even though N’ecos doesn’t make it to “lists” anymore, we wanted to feature it for the fact that they seem to offer a lot of customisation, which is great for people who are on a specific diet or follow dietary restrictions for health reasons. They have keto options, vegetarian options, gluten-free breads and plant-based milk.
- Recommendations: Salted Caramel and Banana French Toast. Also recommended if you have certain dietary restrictions in mind.
- Keep in mind: The food tends to be a bit underwhelming overall.
- Timings: 7:30am onwards.
18. Paul
The breakfast menu at Paul is basic, but that’s not entirely a bad thing. Only a bad thing if you are looking for something extraordinary and in that case, please refer to places that are a bit higher on this list. However, it does a decent omelette, bread, french toast and coffee. We don’t mean this in a judgemental way but it reminds us of food options available at airports.
- Recommendations: Scrambled eggs in vol au vent, French Toast.
- Keep in mind: Sometimes they are out of stock on things because of import restrictions.
- Timings: 8am onwards.
19. Prraha
Prraha, is great for sweet breakfast options with Lotus or Nutella but not the best for savoury options.
- Recommendations: Lotus/Nutella pancakes and french toasts.
- Keep in mind: The savouries aren't the best.
- Timings: 8am to 11:30am
- Menu: Click here
20. Espresso
Espresso is on the list for the nostalgia, y’all. While their breakfast isn’t extraordinary, it has stayed pretty constant over the years and a lot of people opt to go there for a sense of familiarity. You probably go to Espresso to sit at leisure or to munch on something while you are working or taking a meeting. The menu includes your usual omelettes, scrambled eggs, waffles and pancakes and that’s about it.
One thing that does deserve a shoutout is their breakfast combo deal – where you can order a breakfast sandwich (with eggs of your choice) and a coffee for Rs. 950.
- Recommendations: The usual omelettes and eggs.
- Keep in mind: Nothing that is super distinct.
- Timings: 8am to midnight, all-day breakfast
- Menu: Click here
21. Colette
The breakfast menu at Colette offers solid value but not in terms of its uniqueness. If you are looking for the usual omelettes, pancakes and egg platters you won’t be disappointed but you won’t be wowed either.
- Recommendations: Skip the omelettes to avoid predicitability.
- Timings: all-day breakfast
- Menu: Click here
22. Mamiche
Mamiche has a few really good breakfast options hidden in their menu. If you opt for the Turkish scramble you might not like it so much, but their Nutella pancakes and their Chicken BLT (okay that is more brunch than breakfast) is a vibe.
- Recommendations: Nutella Banana Pancakes, Chicken BLT
- Keep in mind: Ask the servers for best-sellers to make safe choices.
- Timings: 9am to 12pm.
23. The Patio
The Patio is mostly considered a dinner place but if you are looking for a cute, peaceful spot to have halwa puri indoors, they actually do a decent one. Nothing compared to the street food option, but tastes really good on its own merit.
- Recommendations: Halwa Puri Platter
- Timings: 9am to 12pm.
Here were some places where you can have breakfast in Karachi. Did we miss out on any? Let us know below and also tell us your favourite breakfast place.
