The Mimosas, Marys and Maple Syrup Are Calling Your Name!

While we know there’s no shortage of hotspot eateries in San Diego, it’s time to take a look at ones that feature the most important meal of the day: breakfast! Whether you’re into savory bacon and eggs or sweet Belgian waffles, there’s surely something for every breakfaster to enjoy—even those who claim they don’t eat breakfast (crazy, we know). It’s time to wake up and smell the pancakes; these amazing breakfast spots in San Diego are calling your name. And if the food isn’t enough to grab your attention, there’s always mimosas! Best Breakfast San Diego

1 | Ranch 45 Best Breakfast San Diego

Must Order: Avocado Toast

Photography Provided By: Ranch 45 and Maraelia Romain

Head to Ranch 45 for local farm-to-table bites! A modern take on casual dining, all of the menu items are locally sourced and high-quality—just what we like to hear. Their avocado toast is a fan favorite; it features heirloom tomato relish, lemon zest and sea salt on grilled country levain. Pro tip: add fried egg to kick it up a notch. The breakfast power bowl with scrambled Eben-Haezar egg whites, quinoa, spinach and seasonal vegetables will leave you fueled and ready to go. As for drinks, you can’t go wrong with the white mocha or lemonade kombucha.

Ranch 45
Location: Solana Beach
@ranch.45

2 | Lionfish Coastal Cuisine

Must Order: Duck Duck Confit Hash

Photography Provided By: @robertxreyes

For a brunch that’ll have you hooked, head to Lionfish at Pendry San Diego! This design-driven hotspot sits on 5th Ave in the heart of the bustling Gaslamp Quarter and is spearheaded by Executive Chef “JoJo” Ruiz. And while the restaurant may be known for its innovative coastal cuisine, it serves up one heck of a brunch. From classics like the Cali Benedict and Breakfast Burrito to crafty creations like the Strawberry Ricotta Pancakes and Duck Duck Confit Hash, your taste buds are in for a real treat.

Lionfish Coastal Cuisine

Location: Gaslamp Quarter (inside Pendry San Diego)

@lionfishsd

3 | Holy Matcha Best Breakfast San Diego

Must Order: Gluten Free Collagen Waffle Bouquet

Photography By: Lucianna McIntosh

Photography Provided By: HOLY MATCHA

Photography By: Holy Matcha

With two locations (in the heart of North Park and in East Village), Holy Matcha is an Instagrammer’s heaven. This pretty pink paradise is home to some of the cutest sips and snacks, including frosted matcha donuts, soft-serve swirls, and the crown jewel: the Gluten-Free Collagen Waffle Bouquet—a beautiful brunch dish that’s topped with a pile of edible flowers!

Holy Matcha
Locations: North Park, East Village
@holymatchaa

4 | Hash House A Go Go

Must Order: The Big O Sage Fried Chicken and Waffle Tower

Photography Provided By: Josh Skversky

One of the original breakfast spots in San Diego, Hash House is award-winning for their Midwest-inspired breakfast and known for their generous servings. Try out their New York Times’ Favorite, The Big O Sage Fried Chicken and Waffle Tower. Yes, it’s a (delicious) mouthful with a smoked bacon waffle, sage fried chicken breasts, hot maple reduction and two fried eggs. A little bit of everything, this is the ultimate breakfast dish.

Hash House A Go Go
Location: Hillcrest
@hashhouseagogo

5 | Cody’s La Jolla

Must Order: Awesome French Toast

Photo By: Anh Nguyen

The ocean view at Cody’s La Jolla should be enough to get you up and at ‘em. With more than just comfort food, the menu is chock-full of favorites like the Awesome French Toast with candied walnuts and strawberries. On the savory side, the chilaquiles are also a must-try, all set with tortilla chips, housemade Mexican tomato sauce, medium eggs, black beans, queso fresco and crème fraiche. Yum!

Cody’s La Jolla
Location: La Jolla
@codyslajolla

6 | PB Shore Club Best Breakfast San Diego

Must Order: Chorizo Plate

Photography Provided By: PB Shore Club

A local hotspot, PB Shore Club should not be skipped for breakfast (or the view!). Aside from serving all the breakfast classics, you won’t want to miss out on the chorizo plate with Mexican chorizo, scrambled eggs, Spanish rice, beans, mixed cheeses and corn or flour tortillas. Cue stomach grumbling.

PB Shore Club
Location: Pacific Beach
@pbshoreclub

7 | Morning Glory Best Breakfast San Diego

Must Order: Japanese Soufflé Pancakes

Photography Provided By: Zach Benson

Photography Provided By: Zack Benson

This hip, ‘80s-inspired diner is flamboyant, chic and unapologetic in it’s design. Featuring iridescent windows, glossy blush accents and a pink champagne vending machine, you’ll be hard-pressed to not whip out your phone for a pic. Indulge in the Japanese soufflé pancakes and revel in the glory of this picture-perfect brunch stop.

Morning Glory
Location: Little Italy
@pancakelordssd

8 | Son of a Toast

Must Order: Donkey Kong Toast

Photography Provided By: Son of a Toast

This local espresso bar and cafe offers the pick-me-up you need with the best toasts, sandwiches and coffee in town! Your best bet? Order one of their signature cold brew smoothies and the Donkey Kong Toast, prepared with a rich peanut butter spread, sliced bananas, crumbled almond granola and a drizzle of white cane sugar syrup.

Son of a Toast
Location: North Park
@sonofatoast.sd

9 | Snooze, an A.M. Eatery

Must Order: Morning Margarita

Photography Provided By: Cassidy Wayant Photography

Described as a “finer diner,” Snooze is a local morning favorite. All recipes are created from scratch, so you won’t find any out-of-the-jar hollandaise here! They’ve also got an eye-opening selection of coffee drinks and a.m. cocktails like creamy cappuccinos, pomegranate mimosas and the signature Morning Margarita.

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
Locations: Del Mar, Hillcrest, La Jolla
@snoozeameatery

10 | The Henry Best Breakfast San Diego

Must Order: California Breakfast Bowl

Photography Provided By: The Henry

This neighborhood nook in Coronado is a place where the servers know your order by heart—a place that feels like home. Feast on light bites like the California breakfast bowl or smashed avocado toast, or go big with the caramel apple French toast.

The Henry
Location: Coronado
@thehenryrestaurant

11 | Atypical Waffle Company

Must Order: Jam & Brie Waffle

Photography Provided By: Nitty Beat | @_Hanuit

Hey waffle aficionados—this one’s for you. Tucked behind 30th Street Coin Laundry, this laid-back brunch spot whips up a variety of fluffy Belgian waffles, each one filled with one-of-a-kind Belgian pearl sugars. Choose among the jam and brie, cookie butter, veggie melt, parfait and many more! These waffles will blow your mind and your tastebuds.

Atypical Waffle Company
Location: North Park
@atypicalwaffle

12 | Little Lion Cafe

Must Order: Spinach Quiche

Take a stroll along Sunset Cliffs and enjoy a post-morning meal at this Ocean Beach gem. Menu highlights include the spinach quiche, chia seed pudding and salmon toast topped with smoked salmon mousse avocado and tomato. There is no better way to wrap up your morning!

Little Lion Cafe
Location: Ocean Beach
@little_lion_cafe

13 | Café Topes Best Breakfast San Diego

Must Order: Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancakes

Photography Provided By: Aeriel Barille

Family owned and operated since 2013, Carlsbad’s Café Topes serves all of the standard breakfast dishes you crave. From loaded egg scrambles and build-your-own omelettes to blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes and cinnamon roll French toast, there are no bad choices here!

Café Topes
Location: Carlsbad
@cafetopes

14 | Provisional Kitchen

Must Order: Breakfast Pizza

Photography Provided By: Pendry San Diego

The chic allure at Provisional Kitchen is enough to draw you in. With a full menu of breakfast favorites, the flight mimosas are the best way to start. The apple mimosa and hibiscus lavender are absolutely amazing, but as for breakfast, the carnitas hash is an absolute must. The real spotlight-stealer? The breakfast pizza—a pie topped with bacon, cream, Parmesan, spinach and over-easy eggs.

Provisional Kitchen at Pendry San Diego
Location: Gaslamp Quarter
@pendrysandiego

15 | Breakfast Republic

Must Order: Breakfast Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese

Photography Provided By: Breakfast Republic

Photography By: Bhadri Kubendran

The drink selection and crafted espresso drinks at each of Breakfast Republic’s seven locations are enough to draw you in, but their unique menu of totally Insta-worthy breakfast offerings will keep you coming back over and over again. Dig into the Breakfast Bacon Mac ‘n’ Cheese, served with juicy bacon and topped with Parmesan breadcrumbs, chives and three eggs—it’s a must!

Breakfast Republic
Locations: North Park, Liberty Station, Encinitas, East Village, Ocean Beach, Carmel Valley, Pacific Beach, Mission Valley
@breakfastrepublic

16 | Richard Walker’s Pancake House

Must Order: The Dutch Baby Pancake

Photography Provided By: Richard Walker

Since 1948, the Walker family name has polished its supreme reputation for delicious pancakes and some of the freshest coffee in Southern California. But aside from their flapjacks and rich, full-bodied brew, this eatery features an extensive menu of decadent breakfast items that are sure to please your palate. From oven-baked omelets and gourmet griddle cakes to Belgian waffles and crafty crêpes, Richard Walker’s is an established breakfast spot for San Diego locals and visitors alike.

Richard Walker’s Pancake House
Locations: Carlsbad, Del Mar, La Jolla, Downtown San Diego
@richardwalkerspancakehouse

17 | Cafe 21 Best Breakfast San Diego

Must Order: Short Rib Omelet

Photography Provided By: Cesar Lima and Vanessa Berger

Photography Provided By: Lala Bayramova Javadova

With a dreamy, urban East Coast atmosphere, Café 21 is one of the most innovative restaurants in San Diego. Start off with a sage Paloma, then for the main dish, go for the short rib cast-iron omelet with braised short rib, bell pepper, caramelized onions and blue cheese—that’s only after you’ve snapped a few photos for the ‘Gram first!

Cafe 21
Locations: Gaslamp Quarter, University Heights
@cafe21sandiego

18 | Fig Tree Cafe

Must Order: Breakfast Sushi

Photography Provided By: Fig Tree Cafe

A perfect mix of modern and quaint, Fig Tree Café offers unique dishes you won’t find anywhere else. Try out their breakfast sushi (yeah, you read that right): three thick bacon rolls baked with brown sugar and paprika, rice and scallions and served with fresh fruit and plum sauce. You heard it here first, sushi for breakfast is always a good idea. For a sweet indulgence, go for their stuffed French toast with mascarpone cheese, mangos and strawberries.

Fig Tree Cafe
Locations: Pacific Beach, Liberty Station
@figtreecafesd

19 | The Cottage Best Breakfast San Diego

Must Order: Cinnamon Swirl Pancakes

Photography Provided By: The Cottage

Here’s another view in La Jolla you won’t be able to resist. For the ultimate SoCal breakfast, check out The Cottage’s Mexicali Benedict with soy chorizo, poached eggs and guajillo chile hollandaise on top of fluffy corn cakes. If you’re into pancakes, you can’t go wrong with the cinnamon swirl pancakes or stuffed French toast.

The Cottage
Location: La Jolla
@thecottagelajolla

20 | Farmer’s Bottega

Must Order: Crab Cake Benedict

Photography Provided By: Farmer’s Bottega

Farmer’s Bottega is as country-chic as it gets. With an expansive menu of traditional items and several different kinds of Benedicts, there’s no shortage of egg dishes here. However, for a sweet twist on a camp favorite, the Bonfire Pancakes with marshmallows, graham crackers and chocolate sauce will leave you and your tummy very happy.

Farmer’s Bottega
Location: Mission Hills
@farmersbottega

21 | The Goods Best Breakfast San Diego

Must-Order: S’mores Doughnut

Photography Provided By: Bhadri Kubendran

Cure your cravings with a selection of artisan doughnuts made from scratch! The Goods offers a yummy selection of fresh-baked goods, including doughnuts like the chocolate ganache, Tahitian vanilla, brown butter, s’mores, strawberry cheesecake and more. Our favorite? The Salted Crunch—a yeast-raised doughnut in a chocolate ganache topped with a chip + pretzel chocolate brittle. Oh yeah, and all of “the goods” are oh so ‘Grammable. Check out @thegoodsdoughnuts to see what goodies they’re baking this week!

The Goods
Location: Carlsbad
@thegoodsdoughnuts

22 | Great Maple

Must Order: Maple Bacon Doughnut

Photography Provided By: Andrew Falk

Photography Provided By: Josh Skversky

Revel in the chic midcentury modern vibes of Great Maple and feast on an expansive menu of classic comfort dishes with a modern twist. Where do we begin? Enjoy crazy pancake flavors—from chocolate bacon to Fruity Pebbles—and savory egg scrambles, but your visit won’t be complete without trying the maple bacon doughnuts.

Great Maple
Locations: La Jolla, University Heights
@thegreatmaple