Duluth knows how to do breakfast right!
By Anna Bailey
Anyone who visits Duluth, MN soon discovers that the magic of our great Zenith City doesn’t end at the Shores of Lake Superior, or off the paths of our amazing hiking and biking trails.
We are a city rich in entrepreneurial spirit. Be it breweries, hand crafted goods, or outdoor excursions, we have it all.
And with all that, you can imagine that we know a thing or two about the tastiest ways to fuel ourselves up in the morning. With so many amazing options, I thought I’d share a few of my very favorites!
Breakfast is a simple pleasure that can be the best medicine when it comes to starting your day with a splash.
Let’s face it, breakfast fare is also comfort food that feels good to eat anytime of day. Thank goodness that most of my favorite and best breakfast restaurants serve it any time of day!
The best part of the food scene in Duluth is that it doesn’t matter what side of town you find yourself.
There will always be a good place to eat! It can be tempting sometimes to stick with a chain that you’re familiar with, but you’d be greatly missing out on the masterpieces of local fare, made by people who have passionately procured their signature menus.
To make it easy to navigate, I’ve come up with my personal favorites in each section of town, so that no matter where you find yourself, you can be sure to fill up with pleasure.
The Top 11 Restaurants For Breakfast In Duluth
Here are our top 11 places to get breakfast or brunch in Duluth:
- Duluth Grill
- Dovetail Cafe and Marketplace
- Uncle Loui’s Cafe
- Great Harvest Bread Co.
- Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar
- Amazing Grace Cafe and Grocery
- At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe
- New London Cafe
- Bridgemans
- Perk Place
- Vanilla Bean Restaurant
We have grouped these restaurants by location and given a detailed description below!
Restaurants in Duluth’s West Side
Because I find myself catching my favorite breakfast cravings on the west side often, as our shop is located on West Grand Ave, I’ll start with my favorite Breakfast Eats in West Duluth.
Duluth Grill
You will never go wrong with Duluth Grill, no matter what time of day you choose to indulge!
Located on 27th Ave. West, it features a huge breakfast menu that dishes up both cozy and unique dishes with much of their ingredients sourced locally, if not from their own garden.
You really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu, but I’ll let you in on some of my favorite dishes.
If I’m in need of some carbs, their pancakes are out of this world, served with pure maple syrup. If I want to go all in, then their homemade Cinnamon or Caramel rolls are some of the best I’ve ever had. You can even turn that cinnamon roll into french toast if you’d like, and add a savory side of Red Flannel Hash and cherry wood smoked bacon.
If I’m needing protein, they have a selection of tasty omelets or their hearty breakfast burrito. As always, they serve delicious, locally roasted coffee to go with it, and have dishes that are vegan and vegetarian friendly.
I’m getting hungry just thinking about it!
Dovetail Cafe and Marketplace
Further towards downtown Duluth in the Lincoln Park District you will find Dovetail Cafe and Marketplace.
They are a partner with the Duluth Folk School, bringing good food, specialty coffee and beer, and the crafts together. They have a delicious breakfast menu served until noon, with specialty coffee drinks to perfectly pair with it. They serve their ever changing famous quiche, which is a fan favorite.
Downtown Duluth Restaurants
Uncle Loui’s Cafe
One of Downtown Duluth’s local favorites is Uncle Loui’s Cafe, located at 520 E. 4th St.
Uncle Loui’s has been dishing up bountiful dishes of homestyle American classics since 1993. You will not leave hungry, with their yummy omelets or hearty pancakes as big as their plates! Preview their menu here.
Great Harvest Bread Co.
The moment you walk into the doors of Great Harvest Bread Co. you are greeted by the aroma of freshly baked bread.
Buy a loaf to go, while you enjoy one of their breakfast items, like French Toast made with their yummy cinnamon chip bread, and a creamy latte. Even though this is a chain restaurant, it has that cozy local Duluth vibe and relaxing atmosphere and is actually locally owned! It’s the perfect stop on your way to a morning hike or walk on the beach.
Restaurants in Duluth’s Canal Park
Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar
Canal Park holds so many attractions for all day fun, and good food is one of them.
If you’re looking for a unique menu that is vegetarian and vegan friendly, make sure to check out Lake Avenue Restaurant and Bar, located in the DeWitt-Seitz Marketplace building in the heart of Canal Park.
With their menu seasonally rotating with inspiration from local ingredients, you’ll never tire of trying something new.
Amazing Grace Cafe and Grocery
Also located in the DeWitt-Seitz Building, Amazing Grace is a great spot to drop by and grab a coffee and baked item.
On the weekends you can grab a delicious, made from scratch breakfast to go until noon on Saturdays and Sundays. They even have a specialty grocery section.
Restaurants in Duluth’s East Side
At Sara’s Table Chester Creek Cafe
Located at 1902 E. 8th Street, At Sara’s Table is a great spot to enjoy a quaint atmosphere, with both indoor and outdoor seating, while enjoying a delicious “farm to table” menu.
There are many delicious and vibrant dishes that cater to vegan and vegetarian diets. A couple of my favorite’s are their plentiful pancakes with a variety of baked in fruit and nut choices, served with pure maple syrup and mouth watering maple mascarpone. They also have a delicious breakfast burrito, with options for both vegetarians and meat lovers.
New London Cafe
Located on the 47th block of East Superior Street, you’ll find the quaint and cozy New London Cafe.
This is a great spot to meet up for coffee and breakfast with a friend, with a delicious menu that offers a great selection of breakfast dishes to choose from. They also have a really great kids menu. And you don’t have to choose between good coffee drinks and good food, because they have both!
Restaurants on top of the hill in Duluth
My list of my favorite restaurants for enjoying Breakfast in Duluth wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t offer a few options up on the hill. And because the hill covers a lot of ground, I’ll share one from each part of town.
Bridgeman’s
Starting on the west side, Bridgeman’s is located on Miller Trunk Hwy in the shopping district, serving homestyle favorites in a vintage inspired setting.
They have the friendliest of hosts and servers. Their food is delicious and portions are generous. One of my favorite breakfast dishes is their Swedish Pancakes, just like grandmas!
Perk Place
Located in the Kenwood District of Duluth, you can find Perk Place on the corner of Arrowhead Rd. and Kenwood Ave.
This is a great spot to enjoy high end coffee drinks, made from scratch bakery items, as well as delicious egg dishes. They have a great atmosphere to catch up with a friend, or plug in and get your work done. I especially love their homemade Vanilla Bean Latte and Blueberry Scone with Lemon Icing.
The Vanilla Bean Restaurant
Finally, The Vanilla Bean Restaurant is a great place to stop in for a good breakfast in the Woodland District of Duluth on Woodland Avenue.
Enjoy an all day brunch, as well as your favorite breakfast dishes. Pair it with a great cup of coffee or coffee drink. They also serve some great Scandinavian fare, such as Swedish Pancakes and Norwegian Crepes. Treat yourself on your way to or from a hike or bike at Hartley Park just up the road.
Well I don’t know about you, but I’m in the mood for breakfast! The only dilemma is where to go! Lucky for me, as a proud citizen of Duluth, I can make my rounds!
Follow along on our latest adventures on social media or by signing up for our emails!