Brisbane/Meanjin’s eastern suburbs often get overlooked for their brunching potential and frankly we’re tired of it. Venture out past the Gabba and even over towards the bay and you’ll find a goldmine of specialty coffee, green juices and all day breakfasts, which is perfect for checking out two in one day.
Here at Urban List, we're more than happy to travel for a good brekafast, so of course we've eaten at them all. If you're feeling hungry, here's where to find the best breakfasts on Brisbane's east side.
Want more? Get our ultimate Brisbane breakfast guide with over 130 cafes here.
Willow Cafe
216 Riding Road, Balmoral
Willow Cafe is dishing up coastal vibes in the heart of Balmoral, and they’re doing it with style. With a handful of outdoor seats under tasselled umbrellas for those craving a sunny spot—perfect for the 'I-need-my-vitamin-D' squad—inside, you're welcomed into a light and airy space, perfumed by a delicious espresso aroma. The menu here is the perfect blend of creative but classic, with feeds like the chilli papaya scramble, a pile of scrambled eggs with sambal, crispy bacon, green papaya salad, roasted peanuts and hot sauce, as well as smashed avo and pea, buttermilk waffles and of course, eggs benny.
Sister Cafe
2/273 Hawthorne Road, Hawthorne
An cute, dog-friendly spot on a corner in Hawthorne, Sister features a peachy pastel aesthetic and offers a brunch menu that will knock your socks off. The breakfast gnocchi and the pork belly benedict are both must-orders, though they do have lighter options like green breakfasts and chia puddings if you're not into eating your daily calories in one sitting. Add a few cups of their Single O coffee and you’re laughing.
Picnic Cafe
5/12 Martha Street, Camp Hill
Down the other end of Martha Street is all-day breakfastery, Picnic Cafe. These guys have been on the lazy weekend breakfast game since before sourdough hit the mainstream, so they have their menu stacked with crowd favourites like TimTam pancakes, mac 'n' cheese croquettes with bacon and poached eggs, and of course, a good smashed avo.
Nodo
25 Samuel Street, Camp Hill | 265 Hawthorne Road, Hawthorne
Image credit: Nodo | Facebook
Yep, Nodo has made it over to Brisbane’s east side, and they’ve brought they’re full breakfast menu with them. We can’t decide whether we prefer Hawthorne’s pastel pink interiors or Camp Hill’s outdoor vibes, but there’s no doubt about which is our current favourite menu item: the mushroom and cabbage pancake with fried greens, grilled local mushrooms, fermented chilli, spring onion mayo, bonito and fried egg.
Florence Cafe
54 Martha Street, Camp Hill
Trading out of a converted cottage on the corner of Martha Street, Florence Cafe is a happy little hutch of goodness. Their ethos is grounded in creating delicious, nourishing feeds, so as far as breakfast is concerned, you couldn’t be in safer hands. Their all-day menu offers a broad range of wake-me-ups including sourdough flatbread and roasted potatoes with macadamia cream and caper leaves. As a sweet added bonus, every jam, pickle and relish featured is made right there in house by the Florence team, and is for sale from their pantry out the back.
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Pawpaw Cafe
898 Stanley Street E, Woolloongabba
Image credit: Pawpaw Cafe | Facebook
By night, Pawpaw specialises in Thai fusion, but if a cracking breakfast is what you’re after, check out their daytime operation. Subscribing to no specific culinary direction, their brunch menu always pops off with their signature potato hash, croissant eggs benny and apple pie French toast, plus an ever-changing array of weekend specials. Our current obsession though? Their matcha floats.
Rabbit & Co
5/148 Chatsworth Road, Coorparoo
There’s no chance you’ll be eating like a rabbit at Coorparoo’s Rabbit & Co—you’ll be more likely to have the appetite of an elephant after looking over their menu. Char siu pork belly breakfast bao buns, and waffle benedict with spinach, poached eggs, house hollandaise and bacon make choosing just one dish almost impossible—hopefully your breakfast date will share.
The Bloom Room Cafe
2/190 Birkdale Road, Birkdale
Inspired by European springtime, the Bloom Room is a floral wonderland. But don’t let that sweet veneer fool you because their breakfasts pack a punch. It’s an all-day menu so we recommend the karaage chicken benedict or the bacon and egg English muffin if you’re waking up after a big night. On more pious days, check out the breakfast poké bowl with brown rice, pumpkin, sweet potato, smashed avocado, cabbage slaw, edamame and tofu.
Citron Bayside
354 Main Road, Wellington Point
Image credit: Citron | Instagram
If there’s anyone we can consistently expect great things from, it’s the team behind Citron. High-profile siblings to this iconic cafe include Darvella, Pawpaw Cafe and Monocle—can you tell why we love it? Inside, the Mediterranean-inspired ambience boasts gleaming white tiles, sleek polished concrete floors, and a sprawling, expansive coffee bar showcasing a delightful array of Darvella pastries. The space also features a convenient coffee window and an inviting outdoor section with fresh white furnishings, providing a sheltered spot to unwind.
Dovetail on Overend
Overend St, Norman Park
Sweet and petite and nestled on a Normal Park street corner, Dovetail on Overend is a locally beloved fuelling station serving up delicious specialty java six days a week. An all-inclusive cafe, Dovetail has designed their menu to be as coeliac-friendly as possible, even resulting in one of the best Reubens in the city.
The Smug Fig
7 Jeavons Lane, Stones Corner
With a new location in Stones Corner, The Smug Fig is a lush and leafy favourite among east side locals. They spruik an all day menu with standouts that include a halloumi tacos, a grilled barramundi and pancakes. They even sell plants (now in the plant store next door) for you to spruce up your digs making them the perfect millennial weekend paradise. That’s why they’re so smug, clearly.
The Rabbit Hole
5 The Corso, Seven Hills | 399 Tingal Road, Wynnum
Image credit: The Rabbit Hole | Instagram
If you’re thinking there seems to be a lot of rabbit-themed cafes on the east side, that’s because there are—and they’re all from the same team. The Rabbit Hole Seven Hills was the OG, closely followed by Wynnum, with Rabbit & Co coming a few years later, and they’re each as delicious as each other. At The Rabbit Hole, the breakfast gnocchi is a firm favourite, but we’re also partial to crispy chicken waffles, as we’re sure you will be too.
Banter Coffee House
1/190 Radford Road, Manly West
Way out bayside, Banter offers one of the most comprehensive all day menus we’ve ever seen. With extravagant features like the big breakfast of poached eggs on sourdough with bacon, chorizo, potato and roasted mushrooms or slow-cooked beef brisket with rosemary spinach and chive hollandaise on a toasted croissant, 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. All served with a side of smashing brew and some quality chat.
Maude
14 Eva Street, Coorparoo
Maude is a homely spot to tuck into simple but creative brunches in the back streets of Coorparoo. You’ll find nothing over-the-top and calorific here, instead it’s all about classics with a twist, like the broccoli fritters with balsamic roasted tomatoes, halloumi and poached eggs, and the apple-soaked crispy pork belly benedict on potato galettes with poached eggs and sriracha aioli. And make sure you look past more than just the coffee options here—espresso thick shakes and iced dark chocolate mochas are just a few of the intriguing options.
Cups On Wellington
1/5 Waterloo Street, East Brisbane
Image credit: Cups On Wellington | Facebook
Sister venue to West End's Cups On Melbourne and Salisbury's Cups And Wells, this cosy coffee and brunch spot may be small, but it’s big on vibes. Among the offerings at Cups On Wellington, you'll find the renowned jaffles that gained fame at Cups On Melbourne, but that's just the beginning—they also dish out heartier options like their breakfast pita, luscious butterscotch and honeycomb French toast, and indulgent cheesy baked beans with egg. And let's not forget about the coffee, sourced from top-notch beans from Industry Beans in Newstead and Market Lane in Melbourne.
Sarmic
639 Wynnum Road, Morningside
Sarmic Cafe is a well-known institution in Morningside and for good reason. If you’re looking for a spot that's slinging consistently elite coffees and perfect-every-time food, look no further. The creation of Sarah Coorey and Michael Hoare (get it), the menu here is uber creative, so don’t expect to have an easy time choosing what to eat. Throw in the fact that they are dog-friendly and it’s no wonder they’re on our list.
After something on the other side of town? Head here:
- The Best Breakfasts On Brisbane's South Side
- The Best Breakfasts On Brisbane's West Side
- The Best Breakfasts On Brisbane's North Side.
Image credit: Ranyhyn Laine | Urban List
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