Whether you’re seeking a cozy corner to enjoy a leisurely morning with a cup of artisanal coffee or a lively spot bustling with locals in search of the perfect brunch, Charleston has something for everyone.
Beyond the delectable dishes, Charleston’s breakfast spots are often housed in historic buildings or picturesque corners, offering a backdrop of old-world charm and captivating ambiance.
When it comes to breakfast in Charleston, rest assured knowing there are plenty of hidden gems, iconic establishments, and local favorites that make up the breakfast scene in this captivating city. Let’s dig in!
Where To Have The Best Breakfast In Charleston
1. Gaulart and Maliclet Café Restaurant
At Gaulart and Maliclet Café Restaurant, the service is quick but you’ll always get a fresh, delicious breakfast that’s affordable too! If you’re in a rush to get your day started, stop by this long-standing eatery for some croissants, toast, ham and other breakfast specials.
Feel like you stepped into a Parisian café as you sip French press coffee while your breakfast is being prepared.
2. Toast! All Day
Toast! All Day is a popular café in Charleston mostly known for its fabulous southern breakfast and warm, cozy atmosphere. The extensive menu has something for everyone; baked and ready-to-eat goods or hot cooked food.
Omelets, biscuits, English muffins, French toast, pancakes, sandwiches, wraps and a variety of egg-based dishes are just some of the delicious items you’ll find on the menu. You also have the option to choose a side of grits, home fries, or greens to go with your meal.
3. Daps Breakfast & Imbibe
The West Side neighborhood needed a place where residents could go to kick back with familiar faces and enjoy a delicious breakfast and that is where Daps Breakfast Imbibe comes in. This relaxed establishment is known for its down-home hospitality and wholesome breakfast that’s served all day long.
Whether you want to try something familiar like pancakes, hash, burritos, or a breakfast sandwich or you want to try something different like the Fruity Pebble pancakes, you’ll find something filling on the menu to start a busy day or simply to enjoy as breakfast for dinner at the end of a long day.
Coffee, espresso and a selection of lattes are also available and you can enjoy your meal outdoors on the patio.
4. Baguette Magic
Baguette Magic is an adorable little place to grab a delicious, convenient breakfast in downtown Charleston. Start the day with a cup of quality coffee or espresso with one of the sweet treats that are baked fresh every day.
A variety of baguettes, homemade pop-tarts, croissants and pastries are just some of the breakfast staples you’ll find on the menu.
5. Early Bird Diner
The Early Bird Diner is an affordable, quick, no-hassle place to enjoy breakfast. Actually, it’s quite the opposite of the down-home southern environment and hospitality that’s so common in the area.
Escape tradition and enter into a world of good food every day from early morning to late night. Breakfast in particular is quite popular with a range of options including pancakes, omelets, grits, waffles, sandwiches and eggs in every way you can imagine.
Quality King Bean Coffee is served all day and you can enjoy a lavish brunch every Sunday.
6. Lost Dog Cafe
There’s a beautiful beach in Charleston known as Folly Beach and on that beach is a relaxed, casual place where locals and visitors mingle over delicious food and caffeinated drinks. That place is the Lost Dog Café which offers friendly, down-home service in a beachside environment and quality breakfast food to suit even the pickiest of eaters.
On the menu, you’ll find bagels, burritos, benedicts, sandwiches and so much more. The coffee is good too but you can also enjoy other caffeinated beverages such as espresso, Americano, lattes, cappuccino, mocha and a variety of hot and chilled teas.
7. Queen Street Grocery
With its old-world charm, The French Quarter area of Charleston is an amazing place to explore and one of the best things to do in Charleston. One way to get a feel for the neighborhood is from a table on the sidewalk in front of the Queen Street Grocery.
Head inside first to check out the extensive menu which includes an all-day breakfast featuring croissants, bagels, crepes, omelets and breakfast sandwiches. Everything is made with fresh ingredients and there’s coffee and a selection of smoothies, wines and craft beers too.
8. Bear E Patch Cafe West
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Breakfast restaurant
- Address: 1980-A, 1980 Ashley River Rd, Charleston (GPS)
- Website: See menu
At the Bear E Patch Café West, that breakfast that they’ve become known for is served all day long from early morning to after the sun goes down. The casual diner serves a wide variety of delicious breakfast staples at an affordable price so get a wholesome start to your day without breaking the bank.
On the menu, you’ll find a selection of sandwiches, pancakes, French toast, omelets, grits and burritos.
9. The Junction Kitchen & Provisions
- Price: $
- Cuisine: Breakfast restaurant
- Address: 4438 Spruill Ave, North Charleston (GPS)
- Website: See menu
Charleston residents who are in the know know that The Junction Kitchen & Provisions is the place to go for a full, wholesome breakfast with all the trimmings. Sip on some locally-roasted coffee while you wait for your breakfast ordered from an extensive menu.
Mexican hash, French toast, smashed avocado toast, Huevos Rancheros, a selection of quesadillas and burritos and even a doughnut sandwich are just some of the delicious options available. The best part about the breakfast here is it’s served all day long!
10. Millers All Day
While traveling in the Deep South, you’ve likely heard the term grits and have wondered what this beloved Southern breakfast staple tastes like. At Millers All Day, not only do you have the chance to taste grits, you can watch corn being turned into grits in the 175-year-old mill that operates in the front window of the eatery.
Believe it or not, the building itself is around the same age as this machine so stepping into the chic and cozy dining room is like stepping into the past. Besides grits, you can enjoy a wide range of traditional and southern-inspired options for breakfast including biscuits, pancakes, eggs, quiche, Huevos Rancheros and sandwiches.
EXPLORE CHARLESTON
Hope this guide of the best Charleston breakfast spots helped you determine where to start your day! For more travel around the region, see below.
