If you’re the kind of person who likes to skip breakfast then we’re sorry – we can’t be friends. Although there’s no scientific evidence to prove it, we’re firm believers that breakfast is the most important (and satisfying) meal of the day. Whether you’re a classic bacon and eggs order or like to push the boundaries, Brisbane’s breakfast offerings will not disappoint. Rise and shine – here’s where to find the best breakfast in Brisbane.
Bar Miette, Brisbane City: With the sparkling Brisbane River beneath you and sun-kissed umbrellas providing shade overhead, Bar Miette may be the most picturesque breakfast spot in Brisbane. The European-inspired terrace bar’s morning menu will satisfy a variety of desires – from a simple croissant or canele paired with an espresso, to tahini and cinnamon toasted granola with vanilla yoghurt and poached peach, or heirloom zucchini quiche with caramelised onion, gruyere and provolone. On weekends, enjoy additions such as the egg and crispy bacon bap (smeared with gentleman’s relish) and the seasonal breakfast plate adorned with ciabatta, pickles, olives, fetta, hummus and mollet egg.
The Gunshop Cafe, West End: This list wouldn’t exist without institutions like The Gunshop Cafe. A stalwart of the West End cafe scene for almost 20 years, The Gunshop paved the way for Brisbane’s brunch culture. The all-day menu features an array of produce-driven dishes, including Gunshop originals such as potato and fetta hash cakes with herb sour cream, and Green Eggs and Ham – sourdough topped with pesto scrambled eggs with leg ham, rocket and house tomato relish. If you’re after something a little different, the Szechuan-style fried chicken and waffle, topped with smashed avocado, poached eggs and crisp shallot, is a renowned crowd favourite. The specials board displays a new French toast and omelette flavour each week, as well as daily barista specials to sip alongside your meal.
Cafe O-Mai, Annerley: Arguably serving the best Vietnamese food in Brisbane, Cafe O-Mai specialises in uncomplicated home-style comfort food. Renowned for its clean flavours and farm-fresh ingredients, the Cafe O-Mai team creates everything in house – from its pho broth to its freshly baked crunchy banh mi rolls. Channelling the bustling streets of Vietnam, this vibrant corner eatery serves nourishing bowls of pho and banh mi brimming with the likes of traditional pork, slow-cooked beef brisket or tofu from early morning, alongside Vietnamese pork and prawn omelettes, brioche French toast and claypot-baked eggs. If you’ve never had Vietnamese for breakfast, this is your sign to change that immediately.
Morning After, West End: Our list of the best breakfast in Brisbane would not be complete without this West End locale. Serving breakfast all day, every day, Morning After is buzzing with activity seven days a week. Its ever-changing menu knows no bounds – classic breakfast bites are joined by unexpected delights. Alongside blueberry hotcakes, corn fritters and warm rice pudding, you’ll find the likes of green curry omelette with lemongrass chicken and roasted pumpkin, and fried chicken benedict with a cheesy potato hash cake and wilted kale. Morning After’s famous MaMuffin (an English muffin stacked with wagyu and pork sausage, folded egg, double cheese and ranch with a hash brown) and breakfast carbonara are the definite stars of the menu … trust us, pasta for breakfast is a triumph.
Snug, Coorparoo: After bursting into the Brisbane brunch scene in 2024, Snug has solidified itself as one of the best spots in town for a morning feed. It takes a bit of good luck to get a seat during peak brunch and lunch hours, but this cosy neighbourhood cafe is worth the wait. Owned by hot-shot chefs Leaham Claydon and Jianne Jeoung, Snug’s tight menu of Korean-inspired eats is a testament to their culinary prowess. Expect the likes of scrambled egg drop sandwiches on toasted milk bread, glossy omurice topped with prawns and lemon tsuyu, and soft pretzels (rolled and baked daily), alongside ST ALi coffee and hojicha lattes.
Naïm, Paddington: With a name translating to ‘pleasant’ in Hebrew or ‘happiness’ in Arabic, it’s no surprise that a visit to Naïm is an idyllic start to your day. This Paddington favourite takes a reimagined approach to the flavours of the Mediterranean and Middle East, serving an all-day selection of brunch options that are sure to tantalise your taste buds. The menu traverses breakfast and lunch, with Tunisian-style shakshuka, harissa crab scrambled eggs and fetta-topped smashed avocado toast segueing into options such as falafel wraps, lamb kofta burgers and chicken shawarma. Naïm also offers a completely plant-based menu, plus you can turn your brunch into a boozy one with a 90-min drink package add-on.
Goodfolk Cafe, Bardon: Good times are guaranteed at Goodfolk – a community-focused cafe nestled in the heart of Bardon. This wholesome homestyle cafe prepares all of its food from scratch, using locally sourced and garden-grown ingredients from its own backyard. The all-day menu features the likes of coconut and chia pudding topped with mango coulis, almond butter and seasonal fruit, creamy folded eggs with slow-baked tomato, speck ham, green salsa and pecorino, and vegan smoky beans, slow cooked in a spiced tomato sauce.
Farmhouse, Kedron: Nestled in the heart of Kedron, Farmhouse is a tribute to family farms and fresh food producers. Its seasonal produce-driven dishes showcase an array of local and regional producers – they are even listed on the ever-changing menu so you know exactly where your food comes from. Tuck into morning eats such as The OG Breakfast Bruschetta topped with local baby tomatoes, basil, green tahini, marinated fetta and avocado, the pizza-style breakfast pinsa laden with poached eggs, bacon, potato, mozzarella, capsicum and sweet chilli, or the tropical Bowen mango hotcakes. Farmhouse is also renowned for its crispy, cheesy potato cake menu – there’s four variations to choose from and you definitely won’t be disappointed.
Never Been, Underwood: If you’re looking for a spot that pushes the brunch boundaries, Never Been is the place for you. This Underwood locale prides itself on its seasonal menu that champions bold and adventurous flavours. Expect to find eats such as the Beef Cheek Bene with braised beef cheeks, roasted kipflers, green peas, baby carrots, poached eggs and tarragon hollandaise, Cherry Ripe French Toast topped with vanilla and coconut mascarpone and Belgian dark chocolate, and the Mi Goreng Croque Madame stuffed with house-made spiced noodles, American cheese bechamel and kimchi, topped with a fried egg.
Florence, Camp Hill: Perched on the corner of Martha Street, Florence is undoubtedly a local Camp Hill favourite. The light-filled space oozes with charm and its ever-changing seasonal menu never fails to satisfy. You can start your day light with a simple serve of eggs on toast or muesli topped with apricot yoghurt and sesame, or dive into delights such as sourdough hotcakes with cherry and salted coconut, and the daily Florence Bowl, brimming with pickles, greens, raw and roasted veg and legumes.
Cafe Disco, West End: Though it’s known to open at night as a laid-back wine bar, Cafe Disco also holds its own as a banging brunch destination. The menu boasts some tantalising Bangladeshi influences, which are evident in stand-out dishes like the breakfast pita (which comes filled with poached eggs, masala potatoes, herb salad, jammy onions and yoghurt sauce) and the shakshuka (slow-cooked beans, tomato and peppers served with fresh pita and your choice of baked egg or roasted eggplant).
Pawpaw, Woolloongabba: This light and bright corner spot has long been a morning favourite in Brisbane – and for good reason. The all-day menu caters to a variety of breakfast cravings, serving everything from ham and cheese croissants and house-made granola to stacked brekky burgers and strawberry buttermilk pancakes. Pawpaw’s signature dish is its potato hash, topped with hummus, beetroot relish, smashed avocado, poached eggs and haloumi. If you’re feeling a little zesty, Pawpaw also serves cocktails, beer and wine from 10:00 am.
Dicki’s, New Farm and Ascot: Whichever Dicki’s location you decide to visit, you’re guaranteed to be greeted with a warm welcome. The plant-based cafe serves an all-day menu that will satisfy even the most staunch of carnivores. The two cafes each offer something different, including the likes of house-made maple-roasted granola and zucchini fritters topped with roasted cherry tomatoes and avo, while crowd faves such as breakfast burritos, and the Sticky ‘Duck’ Toastie can be found at both locations. Plant-based food never tasted so good.
Huskk Cafe, Grange: With a menu of meticulously crafted eats showcasing locally sourced produce, Huskk Cafe is a certified favourite for Grange locals. Owners Tracey and Alastair Macpherson take a considered yet simple approach to crafting their menu, thoughtfully preparing each dish in a restrained yet flavour-packed manner. The eggs benny with smoked bacon, charred leek, potato hash, kale and hollandaise is a standout, as is the spanner crab bisque chilli scramble on sourdough.
Smoked Paprika, Paddington: No matter what day of the week you visit Smoked Paprika, it’s sure to be packed with hungry locals. The neighbourhood cafe has been a go-to brunch spot for more than a decade – a testament to its menu of adventurous morning eats. The pork-belly benedict is a crowd favourite, served on a croissant with poached eggs, chipotle hollandaise, pea puree, king oyster mushrooms, wilted spinach, grilled halloumi and pickled red cabbage. If you’re something a little fancy, the pan-fried scallops with zucchini fritters will hit the spot, or go all out with the Smoked Paprika Breakfast – Hungarian beef stew on Turkish bread with poached eggs, grilled haloumi, hollandaise sauce and truss cherry tomatoes.
West End Coffee House, West End: If this unassuming spot is yet to hit your breakfast radar, you’re welcome in advance for this hot tip. Serving up a menu of Thai-inspired seasonal dishes, the West End Coffee House breakfast experience is unrivalled. We highly recommend starting your breakfast feast with a shared serving of o-cha pan-fried Chinese leek dumplings, before moving on to the likes of Laos sausage with wok-fried eggs, steamed rice, crunchy herd salad and tomato chilli jam, aromatic khao tom rice soup with ginger and poached egg, or the Thai-style omelette with mushrooms, steamed rice and prik-num-pla.
Mitch & Antler, Mitchelton: If there’s one thing the crew at Mitch & Antler knows well, it’s breakfast. Here, it’s all about comfort. Each dish gives a warm hug, from the omurice with wagyu mince fried rice and sweet potato pancakes with cinnamon caramel and cream-cheese icing, to the brown-butter croffle with poached eggs, stracciatella and prosciutto, and the famously cheesy croque madame.
Peach Cafe, Auchenflower: This cafe’s photogenic breakfast offering is a fixture on our Instagram feeds. While we agree that the eyes must eat first, don’t trick yourself into thinking Peach’s breakfasts are more style over substance. One bite of the cafe’s Dubai chocolate hotcakes – topped with pistachio cheesecake, pistachio gelato and kataifi – will have you swooning, and the rest of the menu warrants return visits to sample.
Hellenika, Fortitude Valley: If your dream breakfast is served poolside, then we suggest you head to The Calile at once. You don’t need a room reservation, however – you can still enjoy the spoils of Hellenika’s breakfast under the umbrellas on that iconic pool deck. While bacon and eggs, avocado on toast and eggs benedict grace the menu, we recommend you embrace Hellenika’s roots and start your day the Greek way. Tuck into a hearty bowl of avgolemono (Greek chicken and lemon) soup, try the strapatsada baked eggs with onion, olives, tomato, fetta, peppers and chilli, or enjoy two lamb cutlets with eggs your way. Our favourite is definitely the Eggs with Eggs with Eggs – boiled eggs, taramasalata and bottarga on toast.
Sister, Hawthorne: Ever had gnocchi for breakfast? If the answer is no, rectify that immediately with a visit to Sister in Hawthorne. In addition to a pile of pillowy gnocchi, the dish boasts mushroom ragu, bacon crumb, parmesan, a free-range poached egg, pepper and truffle oil. If that’s not your thing, perhaps Sister’s Ferrero Rocher waffles with miso caramel, Ferrero Rocher, candied hazelnuts and chocolate mousse, or the sticky Asian pork belly Benedict with potato hash, braised greens, hollandaise and poached eggs will satisfy.
ēmmē, Fortitude Valley: Though this sleek and stylish restaurant looks the part of a high-end restaurant (it is), ēmmē is also a cracking spot for a spot of breakfast. Head chef Thomas Lian Tze has devised a scintillating morning menu, featuring Mediterranean-inspired morsels with a hint of a kiss from the woodfire oven. Highlights include the Turkish eggs with labneh, chilli oil, chives, Aleppo pepper and Turkish bread, slow-cooked lamb with hummus, guindillas and sourdough, and woodfired breakfast pita with sujuk and egg.
St Coco Cafe, Daisy Hill: Daisy Hill locals and twin sisters Amber and Cynamon started St Coco Cafe as a way to bring specialty coffee and fresh, vibrant eats to their home suburb. Over the years, St Coco has earned a stellar reputation – attracting not just locals, but hungry breakfast seekers from all over town. The Peachie Pancakes are a must-try, made fresh to order with cinnamon, grilled peach, mixed berry compote, vanilla-bean ice-cream and oat crumble. If you’re more of a savoury person, cauliflower steak with poached eggs or the Bratwurst Benny.
Felix for Goodness, Brisbane City: A true gem hidden amongst the tall buildings of the inner city, Felix for Goodness is, perhaps, the best spot for breakfast in the entire CBD. This Burnett Lane beauty dishes up well-executed winners like folded omelettes with Grana Padano, ricotta, kale powder, peas and pickled zucchini, and cold udon with cucumber, marinated bean sprouts, vegan fried chicken, poached eggs and ponzu sauce.
Little Black Pug, Mount Gravatt: Though small, Little Black Pug’s menu is diverse, with roughly 70-per cent of its offering being vegetarian friendly. Regulars go gaga over the dishes like the Chimi Chimi Bang Bang (chimicurri with your choice of scrambled eggs or tofu, with coconut salsa on a toasted croissant) and the Donut Think Twice (cinnamon doughnut waffle served with salted caramel, vanilla condensed milk ice-cream, caramelised apple, pecans and seasonal fruit).
Highly commended: We are certainly spoiled for choice when it comes to breakfast in Brisbane! If you need more options, we also recommend Blockhouse in Nundah, The Green in Fortitude Valley, Bear Boy in Windsor, Extraction Artisan Coffee in Slacks Creek, Picnic in West End, Plentiful in Graceville, Joedy’s Cafe in New Farm, Citron Bayside in Wellington Point, Jamie’s Espresso Bar in Fortitude Valley, Natura Cafe in Salisbury, Kin in Teneriffe, Petrichor & Co in Hamilton, Lobby Bar in Fortitude Valley and Industry Beans in Newstead.
Bar Miette images by Josh Robenstone.