The Greasy Spoon Appreciation Society

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Rise & Dine Café – Lambeth
by @vonlehmann

A London tale that begins with “it was a gloomy December day” rarely surprises – but this one took a very positive turn at lunchtime.
Always on the lookout for interesting caffs, old and new, we stumbled upon Rise & Dine in Lambeth – a recently opened spot that somehow lives in both worlds at once. Frankly, they already had me at the name.

Opened in 2025, the café describes itself as “80 years in the making”. The site was once Marcantonio, run by the grandfather of the new owners. While taking in the space, we were warmly greeted by Niki Byrne, who shared his vision: reviving the spirit of the classic British caff as a community hub, while embracing just enough technology to keep things dynamic and human.

We were clearly on the same page, as he already ran a breakfast delivery business and had an engineer’s mindset focused on continuous improvement.

🥄 Spoonometer Score: 4.4/5

Vibe: 5/5

Instant warmth after a grey walk outside. No faff, no friction – just a familiar, welcoming caff atmosphere with friendly staff and a proper mix of people.

Formica Flair: 4/5

Confident design choices between iconic and contemporary. Modern touches and tech never cannibalise the soul of the place.

Heritage Factor: 4/5

Historic DNA revived – family roots, original flooring, plus British humour in the name and Loyal-Tea programme.

Bargain-o-Meter: 5/5

Classic set breakfasts around a tenner, with some cracking fiver promotions. Honest food at the right price.

Yum Factor: 4/5

Properly tasty. The bacon in my breakfast set was memorable. My colleague had the Manze’s pie and mash, proudly noting it was the only pie on the menu – as it should be.

Honourable Mention

Our scores usually bounce across heritage, design, vibe, food, value – but Rise & Dine hits nearly every mark. From atmosphere to menu, pricing to personality, it’s a rare caff that delivers on all fronts. Long live Rise & Dine – a perfect reason to return to Lambeth.

Location: 93 Lambeth Rd, London SE1 7JJ