Kennington Lane Cafe — Restaurant in London

On the corner of a busy, bustling road, where London huffs and puffs past in all its double-deckered glory, there sits a most extraordinary little place—so ordinary, in fact, that you might walk right by without noticing. But do stop. Do look. Do listen! For if you press your nose to the fogged-up window of Kennington Lane Cafe, you’ll find a world within, stitched together with bacon grease, kindness, and a little everyday magic.

The cafe sits modestly, sandwiched between its brothers—grand Middle Eastern kitchens puffing out plumes of spiced smoke and sizzling skewers. And yet, Kennington Lane doesn’t shout or swagger. It nods, humbly. It ladles. It fries. It pours tea into mugs with thick handles and cracks eggs with the certainty of someone who’s been cooking breakfast long before you were born.

Inside, the chairs may wobble and the clock might be a few ticks behind, but everything else is just right. The menu is comfort on a page: fry-ups, jacket potatoes, sausage and mash, shepherd’s pie. It’s not food meant for photos—it’s food meant for forks, and mouths, and the kind of hunger that only kindness can cure. The Full English arrives like a hero in a brown apron—eggs with yolks like morning suns, sausages that snap, toast buttered to the corners, and beans that don’t slop, they nestle. The mushrooms are dark and secretive, the tomatoes blistered and sweet as though they’ve been kissed by the grill. It’s not just breakfast—it’s rescue. The bubble and squeak—heaven help me—crackles and hisses like it’s telling you stories from the pan, crisp on the edges and soft in the middle, as if the potatoes and cabbage decided to become best friends and never look back.

And oh, the tea—milky, honest, hot enough to banish all gloom. The kind of tea that sits with you and says, “It’s going to be alright, mate.”

But the real treasure of Kennington Lane Cafe is the people. They glide through the clatter and steam like benevolent spirits in trainers and aprons. They remember your order. They ask how you are and mean it. They serve you like they’d serve a beloved uncle who’s had a long day.

London races by just outside the window—cars honk, buses grumble, and the city keeps churning. But inside, time pauses. Not in a fussy, fairytale sort of way—but in the simple, golden way of hot meals, warm hearts, and human goodness served on a plate.

So next time you're stomping through SE11 with a growl in your belly and a greyish sort of mood, turn your feet toward Kennington Lane Cafe. You won’t find truffle oil or seven-grain sourdough, but you will find something rarer: food made with skill, served with care, and eaten with joy.

And that, dear reader, is the finest kind of...

Just had another great brunch at Kennington Lane Cafe and I feel my review is a long overdue debt to the staff of this absolute gem. I leave nearby and been coming on and off for some years now.

English breakfast is hugely underrated, and this is the place you go to understand what english breakfast should taste like at its best. I usually take Kennington Special Breakfast for the sake of bubble and squeak that I particularly enjoy. You can tell they put a lot of love into their cooking – or at least a lot of butter. The portions were so huge that my only worry is that I need a wheelbarrow to leave.

The staff here are just the nicest people. Halil, the owner, made us feel like we were old friends. He was so friendly and welcoming, it felt like home. Such a genuine hospitality in the modern days of food chains days is a rare find. He makes it feel as if we were long-lost relatives reuniting over eggs and beans and he genuinely enjoys it.

So much food for this money always feels like I was committing daylight robbery. It is a great value, especially a stone throw from the central London where selling your kidney for avocado toast is not unheard of.

It it is cozy and comfortable with plenty of seating. Tables are packed tightly and it is not fancy, but is sort of a part of the charm. It is the a of place where you can just relax and enjoy a great meal without any fuss. Try to picture it "grandma’s kitchen" but with fewer cats and there you have it.

Super convenient if you’re around Vauxhall. Just a short walk from the station, albeit a few traffic lights if you are on the river bank.

Lucky you live in the area and can’t recommend it enough. My go-to place for a great breakfast or coffee and newspaper. If you’re in London, you absolutely ought to check it out! If not for the food, then just to see Halil...

It was my first time coming to the cafe. My best friend knows the owner and had come before and said he had had a great experience before, however I'd not come before. Anyhoo I came today with my cousin. It was busy but we headed in and my cousin noticed a sign saying there is more seating downstairs. We went downstairs to check if there was more seating and were greeted by Halil. Even though he was talking with other customers he acknowledged and made time for us. I chose to have the vegan special which was delicious. Staff were very welcoming. I wanted to change the hash brown to sourdough but Fatima gave me the toast I wanted to add on for free which was unexpected and greatly appreciated, and Halil offered another cup of tea later too. The breakfast had everything I wanted and then I added beans. It came hot, not greasy at all and was really was lovely and worth every penny. Hence my before and after pics of what I had and it all being eaten. Halil checked on us a number of times and told us a little about the tiles downstairs. The funny thing was we did not even notice. All the people that served us were so lovely and the atmosphere was warm that we did not pay any attention to the decor. I love a place that is welcoming because I will always come back and once you come, you will too. A great start to our Saturday. Thanks very much Halil, Fatima and the other young lady who supported us and of course...