There’s nothing quite like a great breakfast to complete a good morning. But sometimes, you’re just not up to making your own breakfast. Perhaps you’re traveling for a work trip or simply need an easy, breezy self-care weekend.
Whatever the reason you want to go out for breakfast, we got you. Check out these wonderfully cozy breakfast spots across America. Some feel like a loving recreation of grandma’s house, while others keep it avant-garde in the warmest and tastiest ways.
1. Russ & Daughters Cafe – New York City, New York
Since 1914, Russ & Daughters has served New Yorkers the classic Jewish-American comfort foods they crave. Ever since they began operating full-service cafes, Russ & Daughters has won such acclaim for its smoked fish platters, potato latkes, bagels, and chocolate babka French toast that the Michelin Guide even gave it a Bib Gourmand rating for its epic breakfast fare.
2. Onefold – Denver, Colorado
Serving up contemporary takes on Mexican, Chinese, and Filipino classics, Onefold consistently delivers excellent grub. From the breakfast quesadilla with house-made pork green chili and chilaquiles with house-made tortilla chips to Chinese sausage fried rice and congee with duck confit, Onefold really goes above and beyond to make breakfasts that taste quite elevated in the Mile High City.
3. Palace Diner – Biddeford, Maine
Housed in a 1927 vintage boxcar, breakfast at Palace Diner always feels extra grand. Their all-day breakfast menu includes staples like buttermilk pancakes, corned beef hash, and the omelet of the day. Yet, everything is done incredibly well and served in such a uniquely cozy environment that breakfast here might genuinely feel like the most important meal of your day.
4. Bread Furst Bakery – Washington, D.C.
Nestled in Northwest Washington, Bread Furst lives up to its name. They bake fresh bread daily and change it up with seasonal offerings. Depending on the season, you might opt for cinnamon chocolate monkey bread, ham and cheese biscuits, a veggie frittata, or a bagel with gravlax. No matter what you get, you will feel extra warm and welcomed by their exceptional baked goods.
5. Zinc Cafe – Laguna Beach, California
Ever since their early days of serving deliciously hippie-dippie breakfasts on their leafy patio just blocks from the Pacific Ocean, Zinc has become such a culinary powerhouse that it has expanded north into LA.
Whether you find yourself up there or down at Zinc’s OG cafe in Laguna Beach, you will likely be wowed by their selection of freshly baked pastries, hearty quiches, bright and cheery egg dishes, and more creative fare like their “Middle Eastern Breakfast” with cucumber, tomatoes, herb salad, labneh, and za’atar.
6. Tartine Manufactory – San Francisco, California
Since the Manufactory is the creation of Tartine’s Chad Robertson and Elisabeth Prueitt, you can rest assured that the food here is really that good. This former factory site in the Mission District is now a top destination for perfectly frothy lattes, avocado tartines (or open-faced sandwiches), ham and cheese with Gruyère and jalapeños, and many more inventive breakfast dishes that please locals in this famously persnickety foodie city.
7. High Street on Market – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
With an all-star selection of exquisite artisanal breads, pastries, and sandwiches, it’s no wonder why High Street’s bakery is such a hit for breakfast in Philly. They constantly make new twists on old favorites, such as the Rittenhouse Hoagie Salad and the Fishtown Sandwich with slow-baked eggs. Whatever you’re craving, you’ll likely leave the High Street highly satisfied.
8. The Brunch House – Augusta, Georgia
When you’re down for some real, down-home, Southern-style breakfast, it’s hard to beat The Brunch House of Augusta. The menu is simple, yet everything is cooked exquisitely well. Whether you order the chicken and waffles, the salmon croquettes and grits, or the Brunch House benedict, you will be rewarded with a big, hearty plate full of homemade edible love.
9. Paperboy – Austin, Texas
Yes, there’s always the risk you’ll have to wait a while to get seated at Paperboy. Yet once you start enjoying your meal, you’ll likely conclude that the wait is worth it. Whether you go savory with a smashburger with egg and avocado on a bolillo roll, or you go sweet with cinnamon toast and strawberry white chocolate pop tarts, there are no wrong choices here. And yes, they even have a full cocktail menu for breakfast and brunch!
10. The Publican – Chicago, Illinois
When you can go for a weekend brunch in the Windy City, go to The Publican. Even (and perhaps especially) the beer list feels quite inspired, plus they have fabulous cocktails to keep everyone else happy. When it comes to the food, The Publican has a fun and funky menu that combines normal-ish dishes like the Dutch baby jumbo pancake with fresh fruit with wilder fare like piri piri chicken schnitzel and smoked salmon dip with fried capers.
11. Brennan’s – New Orleans, Louisiana
Since 1946, Brennan’s has been a NOLA tradition. Come to experience their over-the-top opulent dining rooms and stay for decadent dishes like eggs hussarde on house-made English muffins, duck confit hash, and lobster omelette cardinal. Yes, they really do serve lobster for breakfast and brunch!
12. Pine State Biscuits – Portland, Oregon
We know that Maine is the Pine Tree State, but Pine State Biscuits is in Portland, Oregon (and Reno, Nevada). If you can get over the odd-sounding name, you have to try their biscuit sandwiches. They have The Wedgie with fried chicken and fried green tomato, the BBQ Biscuit with house-smoked pulled pork, and the Veggie Reggie that tastes meaty despite being all-vegan.
Even if you’d rather keep it simple with your biscuits, you will likely still be blown away by their exceptional quality.
13. GreenStreet Cafe – Miami, Florida
Even though Miami is far better known for its extravagant nightlife, early risers can happily start their own party at GreenStreet Cafe in Coconut Grove. Yes, this is one of those places to “see and be seen,” but you can also easily see yourself kicking back frosé cocktails and feasting on dulce de leche French toast, massive omelets, and organic oatmeal.
14. Hash Kitchen – Scottsdale, Arizona
Starting your day at Hash Kitchen is always a good idea whenever you find yourself in the Valley of the Sun. They have plenty of hashes loaded with crispy hash brown potatoes, such as Birria Hash with slow chile-braised beef and Carnitas Hash with cola-braised pork. They also have decadent French toasts, “Soufflé Cakes,” and even a build-your-own bloody mary bar and a menu full of inventive cocktails.
15. Destroyer – Culver City, California
While the name sounds scary, you don’t have to fear a breakfast or brunch at Destroyer. Of course, you can have a more “classic” LA-style breakfast with Icelandic yogurt, fresh fruit, and raw oatmeal.
Since their tapas-style menu changes daily, you can easily experiment with their (even) more creative offerings, and you might even find yourself enjoying stuff like sweet potato waffles with smoked prosciutto and delicata squash tart with organic chicken sausage.
16. Jardin – Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas may be another more famous place for its wild and crazy nightlife. But when you’re up early, or if you’re up not-so-early and in dire need of a “hangover cure,” Jardin at the Encore resort-casino has everything you need to recover and start a new day. From savory dishes like Maine lobster benedict to sweet treats like chocolate chip red velvet pancakes, Jardin somehow finds a way to make Vegas-style luxury feel cozy and comforting.
17. Phoenicia Diner – Phoenicia, New York
When you’re in the Catskills, do yourself a huge favor and head to Phoenicia Diner for breakfast. You can easily fill up on one of their signature skillets, such as the Arnold Bennett with scrambled eggs and locally sourced trout, or the shrimp & grits with two eggs any way. Of course, since you’re upstate, you can also try their pancakes with locally made maple syrup.
18. Kihei Caffe – Maui, Hawaii
At Kihei Caffe, expect classic American breakfast food made the Maui way. This includes buttermilk pancakes with macadamia nuts, papaya with yogurt and muesli, Mahi (fish) and eggs, and loco moco—a Hawaiian favorite with a burger patty and eggs over steamed rice and brown gravy. No matter what you order, you’ll have a great time and meal here.