The Best Breakfast Spots in Brisbane
Your brekkie bucket list.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and here in Brisbane, we know what is up. This place is a city of breakfast eaters. It's not necessarily that we're early risers, but we appreciate the idea of a never-ending morning with cafes that offer all-day breakfast and let you order pancakes at 3pm.
But among all the breakfasts the city has to offer, there are those must-eats, those unusual offerings, those places with house-made hollandaise and homegrown herbs. What we want on Brisbane's breakfast scene is true imagination, and so here are our bucket-list morning eats in Brisbane.
SMOKED PAPRIKA, BARDON
New kid on the block Smoked Paprika has already made a mark in our hearts with its hearty lamb sausage. But it's the vegetarian dish that has us raving. Kale, pumpkin, caramelised onion, Danish feta and poached eggs are served atop zucchini fritters with a béarnaise sauce and pistachio dukkah sprinkle. You'll also be happy to know it'll only set you back $14.80. The rest of Smoked Paprika's menu is also reasonably priced and equally impressive.
85 MISKIN ST, TOOWONG
Let's kick this off with a doozy. Breakfast degustation. Yep, start your morning with four delicious courses from Brett's gastronomy kitchen to keep you energised through the day. Here, you don't have to make that tough decision between savoury and sweet. The whole thing comes in at $40, you can add matching drinks for an extra $15.
CAMPOS COFFEE, FORTITUDE VALLEY
Wander by delivery trucks and down the laneway, past the warehouse business end to where the cafe lies. Naturally, the coffee is excellent — but how does the food measure up? Well, I would harp on about the incredible brioche French toast with espresso panna cotta, caramelised banana and seasonal fruit, but the creative and mean geniuses at Campos like to change the menu every month. Fear not, it's always good. Nestle in the laneway, sip the cup of life and enjoy a hearty breakfast.
PABLO, NEW FARM
Their menu changes with the season, but whatever Pablo's first-meal-of-the-day selection happens to be, your tastebuds are going to love it. Picking their brioche French toast or breakfast chilli is never a bad choice — nor is their take on crushed avo, currently served with grilled haloumi and charred corn. Also keep an eye on the daily specials board for their famed Croque Madame. That's how eggs, cheese and bread are meant to be served — until 2.30pm daily, too.
GERTRUDE & MABEL, DUTTON PARK
Step inside the dainty and fresh Gertrude & Mabel. Fairly new to Dutton Park, this shabby chic cafe has brought all the right bits of the past to the present. Dine on silverware with embroidered napkins and sip tea from fine bone China teacups. The menu is short but sweet, and if a brioche jaffle doesn't have your name all over it, we recommend the pork sausage and pea smash. Served on a slice of thick cut ciabatta, it's served with goat's cheese, basil and lemon aioli.
ARTIE & MAI, ALBION
Ordering a dish with hollandaise is a real risk in today's society. Cafes are still charging $17 and serving a Benny with bottled sauce — just when you thought it was safe. Artie & Mai thankfully know better, and we guarantee you this place serves up one of the best eggs Benedicts in Brisbane, with the real deal poured on top. The spring onion hash cakes are out-of-this-world good too.
LITTLE LOCO CAFE, NEW FARM
Little Loco has flipped Raw Pawpaw Cafe on its head with an all-new menu and even healthier twist. With beautiful presentation and balanced flavours, it has so far proven a winner multiple times in our books. If you haven't already, get your mitts around the lemon ricotta pancakes with maple syrup and fresh figs.
THE ROASTERY CAFE, SOUTH BRISBANE
For those wanting the simple done well, The Roastery Cafe is a good bet. The breakfast burrito is huge, stuffed with pulled pork, bacon, avocado, a fried egg and lettuce, and topped with a red onion and tomato salsa. Good luck finishing it. Equally important, the coffee is great — you don't call a cafe 'the roastery' for nothing. You can see the bean roasting in action.
SOURCED GROCER, NEWSTEAD
Part cafe, part (you guessed it) grocer, this is a place to order breakfast and a soy latte, pick up flowers and black bean egg-free pasta, and perch on the steps. Seating is creative here, and the less chair you have, the more New Farm native you are. You wouldn't be a gourmet grocer-cafe without a gourmet menu to match. Sourced do nothing by halves, so let the cabbage pancakes with perfectly poached eggs and crispy fried Brussels sprouts blow your mind too.
By Daniela Sunde-Brown with Sarah Ward. Top image: French toast at Campos Coffee.
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