If it’s poached, smashed, drizzled with maple, or can have smoked salmon on the side, we’re all over it. Thankfully, our love for the morning meal has resulted in us being utterly spoiled for choice by the sheer multitude of cafes serving up truly spectacular feeds first thing.
Whether you dig on granola or the greasy fry-up, these are 50 of the best cafes in Brisbane (in no particular order) you can depend on—consider it your 2023 to-do list.
Bear Boy Espresso
Windsor
Tucked away in Windsor’s Colwill Place, Bear Boy Espresso is the younger sibling of the Gold Coast cafe of the same name. This pastel pink spot doesn’t just get our tick of approval for their cute interiors, but also for breakfast plates that will cure even the grizzliest of hangers. The eggs benny on a crispy potato hash waffle is a classic, but we can never go past the chicken and waffles.
Chapter IV
Paddington
Housed in an old Queenslander complete with a verandah that offers up some pretty epic views of the city, Chapter IV takes your fave brekky dishes and gives them an epic twist. A must-try for anyone with a sweet tooth is their cinnamon dusted churros with a caramel waffle cone, karaage chicken, maple syrup, hokey pokey ice cream and fresh berries—it has to be seen to be believed.
Pawpaw
Woolloongabba
Woolloongabba fave Pawpaw knows a thing or two about putting on a killer breakfast in a stylish Brisbane cafe. Our go-to dishes include their signature potato hash with turmeric hummus, smashed avo and haloumi, or just whatever insane variation of pancakes or waffles they’ve cooked up for the season.
Nodo
Newstead, Camp Hill, South Bank and Hawthorne
Not only is Nodo one of our favourite Brisbane cafes thanks to their iconic baked, gluten-free doughnuts (if you know, you know), but they’re also one of our go-to breakfast spots. Some might go for their extensive list of supernatural health shakes, but we’ll be the ones in the corner chowing down on new winter dishes like the pumpkin pie waffles and savoury mushroom pancake.
Florence Cafe
Camp Hill
Trading out of a converted cottage on the corner of Martha Street, Florence Cafe is a happy little hutch of goodness. Their all-day menu offers a broad range of wake-me-ups, from roast apricots with pistachio, masala caramel and roasted white chocolate to tempura eggplant schnitzel with sunflower cream and green yoghurt. As a sweet added bonus, every jam, pickle and relish on the menu is made right there in house by the Florence team.
St Coco Cafe
Daisy Hill
St. Coco Cafe is pumping out the breakfast and lunch dishes of your dreams. We're talking spiced biscuit Belgium waffles, bratwurst benedict, panna cotta bowls, you name it. If all that wasn't enough, St. Coco cafe's decor is a Pinterest lover's wet dream—all rustic, Cali-style fit-out, featuring a plethora of cacti and succulents, rugs and mismatched seating.
Little Black Pug
Mount Gravatt
So dog-friendly they’ve even named their menu items using puppy puns, Little Black Pug looks cosy from the front, but they’re hiding an adjoining dining space out back, with plenty of room to tuck into a Dog’s Breakfast (their version of a big brekkie), or something more creative. But the real drawcard? The menu for your doggo, complete with a warm puppycino or doggy biscuit.
Citron
Wellington Point
The team behind Pawpaw now have two entries on the list after the opening on Citron in 2022. Bring Mediterranean vibes to the Bayside, this bright, breezy spot is the place to tuck into the likes of Greek yoghurt panna cotta, spicy shakshuka and hummus toast under yellow and white striped umbrellas, and pretend you're on the coast of Italy.
King Arthur Cafe
Fortitude Valley
The small but mighty King Arthur Cafe thrives on local, out-of-the-box fare—think smashed avo with macadamia dukkha and Persian feta, or a fresh take on eggs benny with grilled mortadella and provolone cheese. Oh, and did we mention your four-legged friends are welcome, too? Pro tip, head inside and up the stairs to find more seating if the outside tables are full (and they usually are).
Felix For Goodness
Brisbane CBD
Looking for organic, locally sourced breakfast that's lovingly made from scratch in the Brisbane CBD? Look no further than Felix. This Burnett Lane café is a hidden gem that offers up the perfect all-day breakfast menu, including crumpets, Scotch eggs, classic avo smash, and housemade frittata as good as mums, alongside fresh smoothies and specialty coffee.
The Green
Fortitude Valley
Definitely one of the greenest cafes on the list, The Green may be a recent addition to Brisbane’s cafe scene, but won us over from the get-go with its cacti collection, not to mention the Lebanese-inspired breakfasts. Avocado on regular sourdough will never be good enough for us after having sampled The Green’s avocado on manoush flatbread with Persian feta, za’atar and green tomatoes, and we love that you can add on potato croquettes when you’re extra hungry.
Morning After
West End
They’ll take care of you in the morning and well into the afternoon with their hearty breakfast and equally tasty, lunch fare. This iconic Brisbane brunch venue may always have a line of people waiting out the front, but trust us, it's worth lining up for. A typical brunch date at Morning After usually includes their iconic breakfast carbonara (always say yes to pasta for brunch) and an order of crispy hash browns on the side.
Sister Cafe
Hawthorne
A bright and colourful corner of Hawthorne, Sister takes after sibling Miss Jones’ peachy pastel aesthetic and offers a brunch menu to knock your socks off (the pork-belly eggs benedict and breakfast gnocchi are both must-orders). Add a few cups of their Single O coffee poured with perfect latte art and you'll have the Insta flat lay photo of your dreams.
Banter Coffee House
Manly West
One of the best cafes in Brisbane's bayside, Banter offers one of the most comprehensive all-day menus we’ve ever seen. With extravagant features like the truffled egggs on parmesan toast and pork schnitzel benedict on a toasted croissant with apple cider gravy, it’s literally impossible to be bored by their offerings. That said, they’ll happily whip you up a sage and reliable avo smash or big brekky no wukkas.
Café O Mai
Annerley
It’s 11 in the morning. You’re hungry and hung. What’s the first thing that pops into your head? Café O Mai’s pork meatballs in rich tomato sauce with quail eggs and a fluffy white baguette of course. You could go for something less adventurous, but why would you?
Huskk Cafe
Grange
Don't let Huskk Cafe's cosy, minimalist space fool you—on the breakfast menu here you'll find an adventurous selection of dishes far bigger in flavour and flair than the venue lets on. With everything sourced locally and seasonally, tuck into feeds like gingerbread pancakes with pistachio brittle and lemon curd, or the halloumi and egg breakfast burger with lashings of aioli.
Andonis Cafe
Yeronga, Yeerongpilly and Fortitude Valley
Is 10 dishes on a menu not enough for you? Well, Andonis Cafe has upwards of 20, each one of them as drool-worthy as the last. Bonus, they’ve got three locations where you can tuck in—so you’ve got plenty of opportunities to try everything on the list. We’re all about decadent feasts like the big Canadian breakfast on a house-made waffle and the loaded croissant, but you might prefer one of the classics like their eggs benny or breakfast burger.
Blockhouse Eat + Drink
Nundah
Nundah favourite Blockhouse has a moreish and creative breakfast menu that’s all over the shop in the best possible way. Korean fried chicken and kimchi ramen waffles. Dirty breakfast nachos. Avocado on toast with popcorn chicken and miso butter. We could go on. Added bonus, you can add 90 minutes of bottomless mimosas to your breakfast for $30.
Farmhouse
Kedron
Managing to give off country barn vibes despite being located in a suburban street in Kedron, Farmhouse usually has a line snaking down the street on Sunday mornings—but it’s worth the wait. Maintain your position for breakfast gnocchi in arrabiata sauce with thick-cut bacon, twice-cooked parmesan souffle or their brioche French toast with passionfruit curd and lemon-thyme honey syrup.
Goodness Gracious
Graceville
The only thing you really need to know about Brisbane cafe Goodness Gracious is that they don't do anything by halves. They’re big fans of the whole hog and offer an all-day menu that pops off with decadent dishes like the karaage chicken omelette, stacked pancakes with salted caramel sauce and even a cheeky crumbed mac ‘n’ cheese benedict.
My Mistress
Clayfield
Everything about this warm, earthy northside Brisbane cafe is fun and laid back, including the My Mistress menu. If you’re in the mood for something light, consider a ‘Cheeky Fling’ like Middle Eastern fruit load with ricotta and seasonal compote or an acai bowl with seasonal market fruit. After something a little more serious? Get involved in a ‘Main Affair’ including the aptly named Eggs Marilyn or Eggs Monica.
Petrichor & Co
Hamilton
Head to Petrichor & Co for a Brisbane breakfast and you'll find a little slice of South America waiting for you. Drawing on the owners' Colombian heritage, the menu features spicy options like huevos rancheros and pulled beef empanadas, but you'll also find more familiar brunch fare like spiced pumpkin pancakes and acai bowls.
Mylk & Ko
New Farm
Gorgeous Brisbane café, Mylk & Ko is, quite literally, food for the soul. From Tutti Fruitt and Ferrero acai bowls to polenta and cheese waffle benedict and beetroot felafel bowls, many of the items at Mylk & Ko are dairy-free, gluten-free and/or vegan. A win win for everyone!
Blue Bear Coffee House
New Farm
The breakfasts coming out of this cottage turned cafe on a breezy corner in New Farm are nothing short of drool-worthy. Another spot with almost too many options, Blue Bear Coffeehouse has every brunch craving covered. You want eggs benny? You got it, on a Belgian waffle with halloumi and paprika hollandaise to boot. A croissant? Try their version loaded with brisket, fried eggs, herbed aioli and grilled halloumi. Plus there’s a brekky burger, French toast, avo on toast, savoury mince, a bacon bagel...you get the picture.
Willow & Spoon
Newmarket
A quaint little northside café with a retro feel, Willow & Spoon is sitting pretty on Newmarket Road and waiting to fulfil your every breakfast whim. Their all-day brunch menu is always evolving, but right now you can enjoy the likes of cured pork belly with truffled scrambled eggs or Knackwurst sausage wrapped in bacon with a cheddar hash brown.
Kin & Co
Teneriffe
A maven in the avo toast game, Kin & Co is committed to delivering the goods at all times of the day. With delicious coffee roasted exclusively for Kin & Co, this breakfast venue is located just off the Teneriffe riverwalk—perfect for taking a stroll after you've indulged in a hearty brunch. For ultimate breakfast satisfaction, look no further than the breakfast burger with bacon, Swiss cheese and fried egg, although we’re also quite partial to their lemon meringue hotcakes.
The New Black
Fortitude Valley
With a creative new special coming out of their kitchen every week, there is always a new excuse to head back to this laneway cafe. The New Black's usual menu features plenty of familiar favorites, including an epic eggs benny creation and though small, their laneway seating is a Sunday morning vibe.
Smoked Paprika
Bardon
One quick scroll through Smoked Paprika’s Instagram feed and you’ll be drooling excessively, already planning your visit for their next weekly special. Last week it was a mac ‘n’ cheese scotch egg, next week, who knows? Their regular menu is pretty damn tasty too, and with their portion sizes you’ll be full until dinner.
Lady Marmalade
Stones Corner
There’s two main reasons we love this Stones Corner Staple. One, instead of table numbers Lady Marmalade uses animal figurines—adorbs. Two, their confit duck on chili cornbread waffles with pecan butter and a fried egg is always the hangover cure we need.
Todd & Pup
Moorooka
Southsiders like keeping Todd & Pup under wraps, but we’re about to blunder in and blow the lid off of this cheeky secret and send everyone rushing in for their cripsy pork belly with cornbread, chipotle maple and poached egg. Think neighbourhood gem, this local joint jumps with a community vibe powered by primo coffee and is, as the name suggests, dog friendly.
Picnic Cafe
Camp Hill And West End
Picnic Cafe has been in the lazy weekend breakfast game since before sourdough hit the mainstream, so they have their menu stacked with crowd favourites like smoked salmon and avocado toast, halloumi and egg roll as well as four different types of eggs benedict. They've also now got a second cafe in West End, that if possible, is even better than the OG location.
Smug Fig
Stones Corner
They might have left their old East Brisbane digs and moved over to Stones Corner, but Smug Fig is still one of our fave cafes in Brisbane and still dishes up a mouthwatering brunch. Best of all, their everchanging French toast special is still on the menu, though you might not be able to go past the buckwheat pancake with strawberry, whipped ricotta and ginger custard.
Plant Vibes
Bowen Hills
They may be all about the plant-based eats, but trust us, you won’t miss the bacon at Plant Vibes if you’re not a vegan. From the breakfast burrito loaded with BBQ pulled jackfruit to the cookies and cream waffles, everything on the menu here is designed to make you feel good from the inside out—and their Scandi-looking interiors are pretty cute too.
The Corner Store Cafe
Toowong
The Corner Store Cafe is pretty much the cradle of brunch for the entire west side, paving the way for breakfast trends the city over. Their latest menu has some amazing inclusions (hello beef barbacoa quesadilla) but we’re fanging for the bacon and sweet corn hash with poached eggs and house-made hot sauce.
Pitch & Fork
Toowong
The best thing about Pitch and Fork is that their menu always changes to reflect the season, so you know you’re always getting the freshest ingredients. So get your pitch and/or fork ready to yield to some tasty brunch fare. Signature brunches include the Pitch chilli omelette with corn cheese toast and their housemade waffles.
Peach Cafe
Auchenflower
After a rough 2022, when the flood took out their entire venue, Peach Cafe is back pinker than ever, with a new menu to boot. We’d happily visit just for one of their gooey Nutella cookies and a latter, but if it’s brunch you’re after, there’s creative options like their dulce de leche fondue-filled French toast, eggs benny po’ boys on brioche subs and pumpkin croquettes with greens and poached eggs.
Halo Ground
Fortitude Valley
Tucked away on a quiet street just outside of the Valley’s main hub, Halo Ground is somewhere you’ve probably passed by once or twice without even noting its presence—but you really need to make a beeline for it at your earliest convenience. Their Instagram feed has us drooling on the regular, thanks to epic plates like their pork belly benny and orange blossom hotcakes.
Piggy Back Cafe
Jindalee
If it’s a colourful breakfast you want, you’ll want to head for Piggy Back Cafe, where the only thing more vibrant than the fairy floss-adorned French toast are the rainbow lattes. You may leave in a sugar coma, but it will have been worth it.
Mitch & Antler
Mitchelton
This northside spot has been drawing in the crowds since the day it opened, thanks to its cute, cottage-like interiors and creative menu. Must try dishes from Mitch & Antler's winter menu include their chicken katso croffle, topped with poached eggs and katsu curry sauce, and the Hokkaido-style French toast with apple and rhubarb stew, salted caramel and ice cream.
Cache Cache
Rochedale
Who says the cafes on Brisbane’s outskirts aren’t delicious? Rochedale’s Cache Cache doesn’t just look good, it’s also got a seriously drool-worthy breakfast and a selection of delectable cakes to boot. With eats like their cornflake crusted chicken stack with eggs and avo, and epic breakfast platter for two you'll want to have your stretchiest pants on for this one. We also can't go without mentioning their decadent smoothies, including their staple chocolate and banana smoothie topped with whipped cream and fresh banana.
Little Dreamer Café
Calamvale
Breakfast dreams are made (and eaten) at Little Dreamer Café. All their breakfast eats are a stunner to look at, but none as much as the Dreamer’s breakfast tower. Comprised of two levels (yes, TWO), it features a board piled with eggs, bacon, hash browns, avocado toast, and other breakfast goodies, crowned with a plate of waffles.
To Be Or Not To Be
Westlake
To brunch or not to brunch? The answer is always to brunch if To Be Or Not To Be is involved. This Westlake cafe may be Shakespeare-inspired, but the eats here are anything but tragedies, with a menu full of creative breakfasts like breakfast tacos, butterfly pea flower bubble waffles and butter chicken croquette eggs benny.
Hunter & Scout
Graceville
Lush and green, Hunter and Scout is the place to go to make the most of Brisbane’s perpetual summer. Their all-day breakfast menu covers the entire spectrum from stalwarts like the big breakfast and a classic avo toast, to maple brioche French toast with pickled stone fruit and dulce de leche and a three-cheese hash brown benedict.
Anouk
Paddington
An all-day menu is tough to pull off because it needs to provide zesty lunchtime options that are also feasible for breakfast. Safe to say that Anouk nails it every time. Their seasonal menu has some hectic features like a spiced lamb and fried egg pita and mind-expanding apple and ricotta doughnuts.
Joedy’s Cafe
New Farm And Kangaroo Point
Conveniently located across the road from the stunning New Farm Park (as well as over in Kangaroo Point for their recently opened second full service venue), Joedy’s Cafe has one of the best seats in the house when it comes to Brisbane’s best cafes. Their all-day menu offers options for everyone, including eggs benny on a toasted croissant and house granola with raspberry sorbet.
Plentiful
Graceville
Plentiful has been wowing brunch lovers since the day they opened, thanks to their generous servings and luxe surrounds. There’s so much we love on their menu, from their crumpets topped with vanilla mascarpone, mascerated basil peaches and burnt honey caramel sauce to the char siu barbecue pork sholder benedict on a croissant bun.
Southside Bistro
Sunnybank
Tucked away in Sunnybank is Southside Bistro, a cosy spot that dishes up the breakfast you never knew you needed: The breakfast puffle. With spiced honey poached fruits, cream Anglaise and salted plum jelly wrapped in a Hong Kong egg waffle, it’s a sight for sore eyes—and stomachs.
Naim
Paddington
Naïm has earned quite the reputation for its beautifully plated, Middle Eastern-inspired breakfast menu featuring dishes like churro pancakes and brekkie pita boards. If you're a sufferer of meal envy opt for the shakshuka (baked eggs) with toasted Turkish bread—it’s one of the best dishes on offer.
Gramps Cafe
Red Hill
With mismatched furnishings and a cosy feel, there’s no better place to get a home-cooked meal than at Gramps Cafe. They’ll fix you up with some early morning staples like savoury mince with labna and capsicum chili jam, pumpkin bruschetta or their signature gooey ham and cheese toastie, all made with love and best served alongside a fresh brew.
Deedot Coffee House
Holland Park West
If you’re one of those people who thinks the more creative the breakfast the better, Deedot Coffee House might just be your match made in heaven. You could just opt for something off the all-day menu, like the apple pie French toast or kimchi pancakes with gochujang glazed pork belly, but really, it’s the weekend special you’ll want to dig a fork into.
Want more than just the best cafes in Brisbane? Check out these 50 Brisbane meals you should have eaten by now.
Image credit: Bear Boy Espresso, St Coco Cafe, The Green, Huskk, My Mistress, Kin & Co, Ranyhyn Laine, Peach Cafe, Little Dreamer Cafe, Plentiful