Looking for a breakfast worth waking up for? This is a local’s guide to the best breakfast in Boston in 2024. I cover it all — sit-down restaurants, diners, cafes, and grab-and-go pastries. At the end, I list my favorite breakfast places near Boston in Brookline, Cambridge, and Somerville.
If you’re an early riser, you’re in luck. The spots on this list are all open and available BEFORE the typical brunch time of 11 AM-3 PM.
Last Updated: May 1st, 2024
Best Breakfast in Boston: Restaurants & Cafes
The Friendly Toast
First on the best breakfast in Boston list is a well-known Portsmouth-based brunch chain. The Friendly Toast serves all your classic American breakfast offerings including omelets, eggs benedicts, and pancakes.
The inside of the restaurant has eclectic furniture, bright-colored plates, and of course, delicious food. I always go for the Irish eggs benedict, which has a thick English muffin with corned beef hash, poached eggs, and a creamy hollandaise sauce. A sweet dish is the Cookie Monster pancakes. They’re infused with Oreo cookies and finished off with Oreo cookie butter, cheesecake glaze, and powdered sugar. However, no matter what you pick, everything on the menu is tasty.
Care for a cocktail at 9AM? No judgment here. The Friendly Toast has a full bar menu, including their popular mimosa flights.
Multiple locations / thefriendlytoast.com
Angela’s Cafe
Angela’s Cafe in East Boston is the perfect spot for a Mexican-influenced breakfast. The cozy restaurant has friendly staff and generous portions. The food that Angela’s serves is primarily from Poblana, a city Southeast of Mexico City. While their regular menu is known for their mole (a sauce), the breakfast menu is worth waking up for. It includes a blend of Mexican and American items, like huevos rancheros, huevos poblanos, fajita omelettes, and pancakes.
My go-to dish is the chilaquiles. It starts with lightly fried tortilla chips before adding shredded chicken, sour cream, queso fresco, onions, and avocados, and your choice of red, green, or non-spicy sauce on top. They complete the chilaquiles with eggs and refried beans on the side. I’d describe it as somewhat of a taco salad with a kick from the salsa.
For a sweet item, get their indulgent dulce de leche pancakes. It comes in a stack of 3 with thick, creamy, and sweet caramelized milk syrup.
Multiple locations / angelascafeboston.com
Further Reading: The 15 Best Boston Brunches
Milkweed
Milkweed is a New American-style brunch spot loved by Bostonians. Must-try items include the Nutella and strawberry French toast, the Lucky Charms pancakes with a cereal-milk anglaise on top, and breakfast power bowls. I also love their shakshuka. The North African dish has chunky tomato sauce, sweet cherry peppers, feta cheese, scallions, two runny eggs, and thick challah bread slices on the side.
1508 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02120 / eatatmilkweed.com
North Street Grille
North Street Grille in Boston’s North End has a wide array of fun dishes and drinks, making it a great place to go with friends. Try out their chicken and waffle sliders, burrito pancakes, and banana bourbon French toast (my favorite). The banana bourbon French toast is browned and slightly crispy on the outside and moist inside. The caramelized bananas on top are delightfully warm and cinnamon-y.
The restaurant has an extensive range of inventive cocktails. You can get Bloody Mary’s, Maple Waffle Martinis, and “Adult” Milkshakes, to name a few.
229 North St, Boston, MA 02113 / bestbrunchboston.com
Further Reading: 17+ Best Boston Fun Restaurants & Unique Bars
Mike’s City Diner
What’s a best breakfast in Boston guide without diners? Whenever I’m craving homey diner food, Mike’s City Diner in the South End is my go-to. It is THE quintessential diner experience, complete with retro leather counters, neon-lit signs, and an open-air kitchen behind the counter. As for food, expect typical American fry-ups including pancakes, omelets, and bacon.
You can try it all with one of their combo meals. I always get the “Emergency Room”, which comes with 2 eggs any style, pancakes (ask for chocolate chips on top), home fries or grits, 3 pieces of bacon or sausage, and toast. The portions are HUGE and can easily be split into two meals.
1714 Washington St, Boston, MA 02118 / mikescitydiner.com
Theo’s Cozy Corner
Another one of the best diners in Boston is Theo’s Cozy Corner in Boston’s North End neighborhood. The Brazilian-influenced American diner is a small street corner restaurant with limited seating – cozy indeed. Get the French toast, where you can add fruits and chocolate syrup to them.
I go for the simple breakfast plate with two eggs any style, home fries, coffee, and the choice of adding sausage or bacon.
162 Salem St, Boston, MA 02113
Note: It’s CASH ONLY!
McKenna’s Cafe
Last of the diners of the best breakfast in Boston is Mckenna’s Cafe, a Savin Hill staple for decades. Choose from their vast menu selection of omelets and egg dishes like the breakfast burrito, huevos rancheros, and steak and eggs. Sweets include pancakes, French toast, and waffles. They also have a health-conscious food selection.
Mckenna’s runs an “Early Bird Special” between 6 AM and 8 AM for only $7.50. It includes two eggs of any style, home fries, bacon or sausage, and toast or English muffin. Just note that the deal is for dine-in only.
The interior of the space has fun retro decor along the walls, a giant chalkboard of the menu and art, and plenty of seating.
107-109 Savin Hill Ave, Dorchester, MA 02125 / mckennascafe.com
Saigon Chicken House
Ever tried Vietnamese breakfast? Saigon Chicken House in Dorchester is known for its bo ne, which are Vietnamese sizzling steak and eggs. The breakfast dish comes on a sizzling iron skillet of thinly sliced beef, liver pate, a sunny-side-up egg, onions, cilantro, peppers, and butter. Served with the skillet is a Vietnamese baguette and french fries, which can be paired with beef and pate. They cook the beef in a flavorful, umami marinade.
223 Adams St, Dorchester, MA 02122
Great Taste Bakery
Head to Great Taste Bakery in Boston’s Chinatown for a typical Hong Kong-style dim sum. Dim sum is a brunch that consists of small plates that are paired with tea. Popular dishes include har gao (shrimp dumplings), shu mai (pork and shrimp dumplings), steamed rice rolls, and BBQ pork buns.
I always order congee with youtiao, or Chinese fried dough sticks. It’s a simple but comforting breakfast dish.
To order, you tick off what you want on a sheet of paper and then they bring it to you. Service is prompt, and the restaurant gets rowdy on weekends.
63 Beach St, Boston, MA 02111 / bostongreattastebakery.com
Other spots serving Dim Sum are Winsor Cafe and Hei La Moon, both located in Boston’s Chinatown.
The Paramount
With its original location open since 1937, The Paramount is an institution for American comfort food and breakfast in Boston’s Beacon Hill. The small restaurant has a variety of egg and omelet dishes, fluffy pancakes, French toast, and waffles. I recommend the caramel-banana brioche French toast. It comes with thick slices of brioche French Toast bread, sliced bananas, a generous coating of caramel glaze, and powdered sugar.
The inside is quite casual with its steel chair seating, exposed brick walls, and open-air kitchen.
Multiple locations / paramountboston.com
Coffee Turco
For the best breakfast in Boston for Turkish food, check out Coffee Turco in Boston’s Allston. Try the Turkish Serpme breakfast, which has the Turkish breakfast spread of feta, sliced tomatoes, and cucumbers, a variety of cheeses, meat, butter, jam, and bread, and is served with coffee or Turkish tea. It’s the perfect amount of food perfect for splitting between two people.
Another dish to try is the menemen, which are Turkish scrambled eggs with tomatoes and spices, along with bread and your choice of coffee or tea. The inside has a mix of tables and couches and a cute flower wall.
483 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134
Cafe Weekend
Located in Boston’s Allston, Cafe Weekend is a Korean-inspired breakfast cafe.
One of the restaurant’s signature items is the croffle. It’s a mix between a croissant and a waffle, where croissant dough is pressed with a waffle maker. Cafe Weekend’s fun renditions of it include s’mores, berries, and chocolate glaze toppings.
Other special breakfast items include a Monte Cristo French toast, which is a sweet and savory mix of a French toast sandwich of ham, cheddar, American cheese, and berries. Or, try their mascarpone French toast and shakshuka.
120 Harvard Ave, Boston, MA 02134 / cafeweekend120.wixsite.com
Tatte Bakery & Cafe
No best breakfast in Boston guide would be complete without Tatte Bakery and Cafe, with multiple locations across Boston. The Instagram-famous cafe has plenty of natural sunlight, white-tile floors and walls, and leather seating.
Not only do I always recommend Tatte for any 3-day Boston itinerary and 1 day in Boston itinerary for tourists, but I also visit quite often as a local. Their all-day brunch (which doubles as breakfast) is served every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. My go-to is their shakshuka and croque madame. The croque madame is made with a house-made croissant, ham, gruyere, and an egg any style you like. They then top it with a creamy mornay, which is a thick and velvety cheese sauce.
You can also grab a pastry to go. Their pistachio croissant has an addicting, ground pistachio paste in a flaky shell.
Multiple locations / tattebakery.com
Further Reading: 15+ Boston Best Coffee Shops
Flour Bakery & Cafe
Led by award-winning pastry chef and co-owner Joanne Chang, Flour Bakery is another chain for a breakfast pick-me-up.
Pastries include scones, muffins, croissants, and their famous sticky bun. The sweet buns are coated in a dark and sticky caramel sauce and perfectly toasted pecans. For a savory breakfast item, I recommend their breakfast sandwich. The egg sandwich has your choice of bacon, ham, or sausage, cheddar, arugula, tomatoes, and dijonaise mustard.
The bakery has Wi-Fi, outlets here and there, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
Multiple locations / flourbakery.com
Zaftigs Delicatessen
Zaftigs is a homey Jewish restaurant that has been a Coolidge Corner staple for years. I love their banana-stuffed French toast filled with a bourbon-vanilla batter, date butter, and berries on top. It’s decadent, buttery, and very filling. For savory, their eggs benedicts are a great choice. The Empire Eggs Benedict comes with salmon and spinach on potato pancakes with hollandaise sauce.
Note: Zaftigs gets popular on weekends, so go early or check the wait list when you do go!
335 Harvard St, Brookline, MA 02446 / zaftigs.com
Life Alive
For vegetarian and vegan readers, Life Alive is an organic, entirely plant-based cafe chain in South End and Back Bay. Outside of Boston, they also have multiple locations in Cambridge and Somerville. Their wholesome breakfast menu consists of smoothie bowls, yogurt bowls, breakfast hash, and blueberry superfood waffles. You can pair your meal with one of their smoothies or extensive latte menu.
The cafe has a bohemian look and feel, with an eclectic mix of geometric-shaped wall and floor patterns, colorful seating, and plants throughout the space. In the warm weather, they open up their patio. It’s the perfect breakfast spot in Boston to catch up with friends or a date.
Multiple locations / lifealive.com
Further Reading: 21 Best Vegan Restaurants Boston
Cafe Bonjour
Tucked away in a side street of Downtown Boston, Cafe Bonjour is a French-inspired eatery with dishes like their signature egg scramble, avocado tartine, and crepes. The inside has a brasserie vibe with leather couches, white-tile floors, and aesthetic light bulbs hanging from the ceiling. Especially on weekends, the small cafe is bustling with patrons.
55 Temple Pl, Boston, MA 02111 / cafebonjourboston.com
Sofra Bakery
Although Sofra is technically located in Cambridge, I think it still deserves a spot on this best breakfast in Boston guide. The Middle Eastern bakery draws influence from Greece, Turkey, and Lebanon. Breakfast pastries include saffron twists, Tahini Brown Butter Donuts, and baklava. One of Sofra’s signature pastries is the Morning Bun. The muffin-like pastry is made with croissant dough, cardamom (similar to cinnamon and nutmeg), sugar, and an orange blossom glaze.
For savory breakfast items, they have a Turkish breakfast plate and shakshuka.
Additionally, you can buy retail goods like homemade preserves, prepared foods, spices, and other pantry staples.
1 Belmont St, Cambridge, MA 02138 / sofrabakery.com
Further Reading: Boston’s Best Bakery: 17 Shops Worth Your Dough
Cafe Landwer
This casual cafe chain has a wide range of Mediterranean and American breakfast dishes including shakshuka, eggs benedict, croissant benedict, omelets, and French toast. A popular item is the “Landwer Breakfast For Two”, which is a spread of two or four eggs any style, a side salad, small plates of guacamole and salsa, greek yogurt, tzatziki and zucchini, granola, and honey. It also comes with your choice of multigrain or challah bread. The spread comes on tiny dishes in a cute, picnic-sheet-covered tray.
Cafe Landwer is also known for their shakshuka renditions including a halloumi shakshuka with halloumi cheese and spinach, sinia shakshuka with beef kebabs, and a plant-based shakshuka with falafel instead of egg.
Multiple locations / landwercafe.com
Best Breakfast in Boston: Quick Bites
The next section of this best breakfast in Boston guide is dedicated to all the best grab-and-go pastries and meals.
Mike & Patty’s
What started as a hole in the wall in a Bay Village street corner, Mike & Patty’s is a chain specializing in breakfast sandwiches. The original location is only 175 square feet with just enough room for a kitchen and a few bar stools to sit at.
Two of their popular egg-based sandwiches include the “Fancy” and the “Grilled Crack”. The Fancy (my favorite) comes with two fried eggs with a gooey center, bacon, cheddar cheese, avocados, red onions, and a house-made mayo on multigrain bread. The Grilled Crack is the ultimate grilled cheese with a blend of gruyere, American, Swiss, and Cheddar, crispy bacon, and a fried egg on sourdough bread. Overall, this is my #1 quick bite for the best breakfast in Boston!
Multiple locations / mikeandpattys.com
Bagelsaurus
While technically located in Cambridge, Bagelsaurus is an inventive breakfast bagel shop worth the trip. You’re spoiled with bagel flavors here – plain, sea salt, pretzel, black olive, and the list continues. Each one is chewy and slightly crispy at the crust. They also have plenty of spreads and add-ons.
I particularly enjoy the sandwiches here. The Eggspanola comes with gooey over-medium egg, Maplebrook feta, pimenton aioli, and a parsley gremolata (green sauce), on your choice of bagel.
1796 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 / bagelsaurus.com
Colette Bakery
Sometimes the best breakfast in Boston is as simple as a pastry. Located in Boston’s South End, Colette’s carefully crafted pastries and bread make it feel like you’ve been transported to France. Their croissants are crispy on the outer shell, airy between layers, and have a buttery taste. Other pastries include pains aux raisins (Raisins Danish), chocolate croissants, and apple turnovers.
For savory options, Colette is one of the best spots in the city for a quiche. The savory tart comes with an egg custard, meat and veggies, and a flaky pie crust.
Multiple locations (South End: 617 Greenwich Park, Boston, MA 02118) / colettebakery.com
Mei Sum
Start your morning with one of the best cheap eats in Boston – fan tuan. The glutinous sticky rice roll originated from the Jiangnan area of Eastern China and has since then become a classic breakfast item. The $2 roll comes tightly packed with sticky rice, a savory Chinese fried dough stick, pork floss, and pickled veggies.
Another notable item at Mei Sum is their banh mi sandwiches.
Further Reading: 17+ Best Cheap Eats Boston
May’s Cake House
May’s Cake House is a hidden Chinese bakery on the outskirts of Chinatown. Don’t let the ragged entranceway deter you — the basement-level bakery sells delicious yet affordable pastries. Besides their baos (bread), in the morning, you can grab freshly made Chinese steamed rice rolls. The mild flavor of the rice roll is enhanced with fillings, like beef or fried dough, and sauce on top.
223 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA 02111
The hole-in-the-wall is cash only, with no seating.
Bakey
Located right next to the Boston Common on Tremont Street is a pastry shop known for babkas. If you’ve never had one before, they’re a sweet-braided bread often interwoven with chocolate or cinnamon. The ones at Bakey are rich and buttery. They come in various flavors like cinnamon, apple, chocolate, and raspberry. Bakey has plenty of indoor seating, and its’ central location makes it one of the best spots for breakfast in Downtown Boston.
151 Tremont St, Boston, MA 02111 / bakeybabka.com
Tradesman Coffee Shop
Last on the best breakfast in Boston list is Tradesman Coffee Shop in the Financial District. The cafe is most notable for its unique rotating selection of croissants. One of their most distinctive flavors is the red velvet croissant with a sweet red velvet chocolate cream.
The inside of the cafe is rustic with its soft red leather seating, dimly lit lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling, and wooded and white tile floors and walls.
58 Batterymarch St, Boston, MA 02110 / tradesmanboston.com
Best Breakfast in Boston: Honorable Mentions
These are some spots just outside of Boston, but deserve a spot on this best breakfast in Boston list.
- In a Pickle in Waltham – over-the-top French toasts, pancakes, and waffles, as well as the classic American menu of egg-based dishes.
- Brookline Lunch – Mediterranean-inspired breakfast in Central Square, Cambridge. Try their famous baklava pancakes!
- Charlie’s Sandwich Shoppe – Don’t be fooled by its name — the retro diner sells much more than just sandwiches. Charlie’s has been serving omelets, pancakes, and other diner food since 1927.
- Nosh & Grog – Located in Canton, Massachusetts, this American restaurant serves a great weekend Brunch. I highly recommend their Fruity Pebbles French Toast and Shakshuka.
Wrapping Up: Best Breakfast in Boston
That wraps up my best breakfast in Boston MA guide for 2024! Here is a quick recap:
Best Breakfast in Boston: Sit-Down Restaurants & Cafes
- The Friendly Toast (Considered one of the best brunch in Boston Back Bay!)
- Angela’s Cafe (East Boston)
- Milkweed (Mission Hill)
- North Street Grille (North End)
- Saigon Chicken House (Dorchester)
- Great Taste Bakery (Chinatown)
- The Paramount (Beacon Hill & South End)
- Coffee Turco (Allston)
- Cafe Weekend (Allston)
- Cafe Bonjour (Downtown)
- Tatte Bakery (Multiple Locations, one of my top picks on this best breakfast in Boston list)
- Flour Bakery (Multiple Locations)
- Zaftigs (Brookline & Native)
- Life Alive (Multiple Locations)
- Sofra Bakery (Cambridge)
- Cafe Landwer (Multiple Locations, Back Bay, Boston & Brookline)
Best Breakfast in Boston: Diners
- Mike’s City Diner (South End)
- Theo’s Cozy Corner (North End)
- Mckenna’s (Dorchester)
Best Breakfast in Boston: Quick Bites & Cafes
- Mike & Patty’s (Multiple locations: Bay Village, Downtown, & Somerville)
- Bagelsaurus (Cambridge)
- Colette Bakery (Multiple Locations: South End, Boston, and Medford)
- Mei Sum (Chinatown)
- May’s Cake House (Chinatown)
- Bakey (Downtown)
- Tradesman Coffee Shop (Downtown)
After you’ve filled up on breakfast, check out my other articles for things to do in Boston:
- 27 Best Date Ideas in Boston
- 39 Completely Free Things to Do in Boston
- 25 Best Indoor Activities in Boston
Or, find more things to eat around Boston:
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