From Turkish eggs to eggs benedict – and even a Britney brunch – here’s a round up of some of the independent hot spots worth checking out, in no particular order.
5. Sonny's at Pop Recs, High Street West.
Sonny's at Pop Recs at the bottom end of High Street West is one of the great independents flying the flag for great food in Sunderland. Expect speciality coffee and seasonal brunches including Turkish eggs. The cafe side of Pop Recs was recently rebranded as Sonny's in honour of late co-founder Dave Harper's son. Sonny's is open daily from 9am to 3pm. Make sure to get your hands on some of their top tier focaccia loaves on Fridays and Saturdays. Photo: Stu Norton
6. Ruhe, Roker Park
Have you been to Ruhe yet? The new coffee shop opened in Roker Park over the summer as part of a wave of improvements to the Victorian park. Open Monday to Friday from 8.30am to 3pm and weekends from 8.30pm to 4pm, it serves coffee, brunch and lunch with options such as granola; banana bread with chia jam, yoghurt, peanut butter, honey and almonds, as well as egg options and more. Photo: National World
7. The Front Parlour, Grange Terrace
The Front Parlour is a charming cafe and coffee shop housed on the ground floor of a beauty clinic in Grange Terrace. They serve brunch, lunch and Mediterranean dishes. Opening hours are Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 10am to 2pm. Photo: Kevin Brady
8. Love Lily, Roker and Penshaw
Always pretty in pink, people travel far and wide for the picture perfect brunches at Love Lily's two cafe sites in Roker and Herrington Country Park. They're incredibly popular, so be prepared to queue at peak times - but it's worth the wait for American breakfasts, loaded pancakes and more. Photo: national world