1. The Winchester Orangery & The Greenhouse

The Winchester Orangery

This gorgeous café sits in The Square with a front patio area that gives you some of the best brunch views of Winchester Cathedral. In the summer, the front windows fold away and they offer delicious cocktails, wines, beverages and platters in the evenings.

Brunch menu highlights include full English, waffles, toasties, and the usual light bites like Eggs Benedict. Their smoothies are also highly recommended, and they serve locally roasted River Coffee.

Vegan options available and dog-friendly.

The Greenhouse

The recently opened Greenhouse on Stockbridge Road is The Orangery’s sister café. Offering a similar menu to the Orangery but with different scenery, The Greenhouse is another excellent brunch option, particularly if you’re closer or can’t be bothered to navigate central Winchester!

2. Josie’s

Sitting at the top of town, opposite Winchester Discovery Centre, Josie’s has been a long-term favourite to Winchester residents.

You can’t book Josie’s, and the queue on a weekend can be rather long, so a handy tip is to download the WalkUp app and ‘join the queue’ through there.

Menu highlights include mouth-watering pancakes with additions like streaky bacon, maple syrup, fruit, or banoffee, loaded toasties and sandwiches, and (my personal favourite) fully loaded wraps ft. fillings such as streaky bacon, tater tots, halloumi, scrambled egg, sausages… There are also plenty of vegan options available.

You can also find Josie’s in Romsey, Bishops Waltham and Petersfield.

3. The Square by Coffee Lab

Almost opposite The Winchester Orangery you’ll find The Square. The Square offers indoor and outdoor seating so in the summer its a real favourite for many. The courtyard to the rear has recently been revamped, and is a lovely setting for a relaxed weekend brunch. In the winter, they offer outside heating so you can still enjoy the fresh air.

In conjunction with Coffee Lab, The Square does an excellent coffee, and its brunch menu contains the usual suspects like smashed avo on sourdough, and yogurt and granola bowls.

As well as excellent coffee and brunch options, The Square also sells freshly baked bread and pastries. There is also Coffee Lab on Little Minster Street, serving cakes, pastries and sandwiches if you’re after something on-the-go. Coffee Lab also offers a workspace area if you’re after a change in working scenery to one with delectable coffee and cake.

Vegan options are available at both The Square and Coffee Lab.

4. The Ivy

With its glamorous décor and beautiful cocktail menu, The Ivy is a fail-safe option. Its menu changes every season, which means there’s always something new to try, but fair warning, if you want breakfasty-brunch options as opposed to lunchy-brunch options, you’ll need to order before the clock strikes 11am.

The beauty of The Ivy too, is that you can book ahead. Much of Winchester’s brunch options are walk-ins, so if you want to be sure to get a table somewhere then book ahead at The Ivy.

There is both indoor and outdoors seating depending on what you are looking for, and plenty of vegan options available.

5. Forte Kitchen

Recently renovated, and with the newly opened Hatch downstairs, Forte Kitchen is set to be a firm Winchester favourite. Lockdown threw a spanner or two at Forte Kitchen, but their new menus look a thing of beauty and I know from pre-renovation-experience that you won’t be disappointed if you go.

Good coffee, a well varied menu, and set in a light and airy room with high ceilings, the atmosphere is wonderful too.

6. The Dispensary Kitchen

Nestled in a duck egg blue building behind the City Museum, the Dispensary Kitchen offers scenic views of the Cathedral and some excellent brunch options.

As well as cakes, pastries, and the classic avocado on toast, it also does an exceptional coffee and burger.

Dispensary Kitchen is also dog-friendly and has plenty of vegan options.