12 Outstanding Breakfasts in Saint Paul
Stacks of fluffy pancakes, decadent biscuits and zesty shakshuka.
Arguably the most important meal of the day, in Saint Paul, we take our breakfast seriously, but also not too seriously, and a whole lotta fun. Check out a few of our favorite spots to fill up in the morning.
The Highland Grill
Location: 771 South Cleveland Avenue
The Highland Grill was the original restaurant of the Blue Plate Group, a restaurant company that has grown adept at opening neighborhood-specific diners around the metro area. The diner’s menu has been updated in recent years, with a crowd-pleasing mix of hearty breakfast classics and more health-conscious options. The sweet potato and kale hash is fresh, hearty first-light fare.
Black Coffee and Waffle Bar
Location: 2180 Marshall Ave
This neighborhood coffee shop serves up fresh (and photogenic) buttermilk waffles with gourmet toppings. Choose from an array of unique flavors like Apple Strudel, S'More, Strawberry Cheesecake, Loaded Potato, and more! Whatever your taste buds desire, there is a flavor combination suited for you. Stop in for a morning bite, mid-day pick-me-up, or a late-night snack at its Merriam Park location.
Hot Hands Pie & Biscuits
Location: 272 Snelling Ave S, #100
Pie should be slotted straight into the breakfast food category: it’s sweet, often dairy-adorned, and a fantastic way to kick off the day. Even better, Hot Hands Pie & Biscuits also has another hall-of-fame breakfast decadence: great biscuits. Biscuit and gravy aficionados likely already know that this selection is top-notch, with a rich, peppery gravy that is, astoundingly, vegetarian. One more not-to-be-missed breakfast item is the all-but-perfect biscuit sandwich with thick, smoky bacon, spicy mayo, a square of melty cheese, and a perfectly cooked egg.
Rose Street Patisserie
Location: 171 Snelling Ave N
This modern cafe on the lively corner of Selby and Snelling is filled with French pastries from internationally renowned chef John Kraus. The case at Rose Street is like a display of crown jewels, with almost-too-pretty-to-eat eclairs, macaroons, tiny lemon tarts, and more. If dessert isn’t your choice, there is also a brunchy selection of dishes, including a caramelized onion quiche Lorraine or an exceptional BLT made on a perfectly Parisienne baguette stuffed with heirloom tomatoes, gem lettuce, mayo, and plenty of bacon.
Cafe Astoria
Location: 180 Grand Ave
Café Astoria is a locally owned coffee cafe and creperie specializing in creative coffee drinks, delicious food, and friendly service. The different kinds of crepes vary from the savory spinach, chevre, and egg crepe to the sweet classic Nutella banana crepe. They also offer their famous smoothie bowls and a healthy and refreshing breakfast option. Café Astoria is located inside the historic Paulina building and pays homage to its marvelous history.
French Hen Cafe
Location: 516 Selby Ave
This charming cafe on Selby Avenue serves a brief, focused menu alongside its idyllic setting. To enter French Hen, step through Ergo floral next door. Or, if the weather cooperates, grab a sidewalk patio seat and enjoy the bustling neighborhood views. Not to be missed on the menu is the banh mi Benedict, which combines the vibrant colors and flavors of the iconic Vietnamese sandwich with rich, glazed pork, tart, crisp veggies, poached eggs, and a rich hollandaise sauce.
Colossal Cafe
Location: 1340 Grand Ave
On the corner of Hamline and Grand Avenue, this trim bakery and restaurant is popular early in the day and on weekends. Perhaps the most iconic dish on Colossal's menu is the flappers: massive, yeasted pancakes that are impossibly fluffy and filled with a wonderful, tangy flavor. Doused in real maple syrup, they are a scrumptious treat. For those who lean savory first thing in the morning, there’s a rich pork shoulder burrito that is positively crammed with good flavors.
The Buttered Tin
Location: 237 7th St E
This Lowertown cafe has been popular for breakfast and lunch since it opened. The pastry case at The Buttered Tin is often stocked with frosted cupcakes and other treats to delight the kid-at-heart. The savory size of the menu is all the more tempting, with modern twists on diner dishes like a fajita-seasoned steak hash or custardy, soft-scrambled eggs.
Hope Breakfast Bar
Location: 1 S Leech St
On West 7th in St. Paul, Hope serves breakfast all day, every day, drawing national buzz and loyal fans. The over-the-top menu features frosting-topped pancakes and stacked bagel sandwiches loaded with pimento cheese, pork shoulder bacon, eggs, and hashbrowns. Come hungry—this is a hearty start that may just set the tone for your whole day.
Burger Dive
Location: 731 Randolph Ave
Yes, this is breakfast in a bar. A dive bar breakfast is a hallmark of rural Minnesota, where a beer and a bump might be ordered at any time of the day, especially if there are third shift workers just finishing their day as the sun comes up. Burger Dive brings back that tradition, tucked into a historically blue-collar neighborhood with a hearty breakfast selection, including, as the name implies, a fantastic breakfast burger. If a more traditional breakfast is your choice, there is a whole selection of dinner-plate-sized pancakes, a kids' menu, and perfectly prepared eggs with all the fixings.
Thirty-Six Cafe
Location: 949 Grand Ave
Thirty-Six Cafe is an Instagram influencer’s dream location. An entire wall is covered with blush colored flowers, and the smoothie bowls are stunning. However, this little cafe on Grand Avenue is perhaps best known for its soufflé pancakes: sky-high and jiggly, these fluffy treats take a bit of time to make. So, it’s best to go with a friend ready for a long catch-up over bowl-sized coffee drinks and savor the dishes and memories made over them.
Mickey’s by Willy
Location: 1950 7th St W
Open 24 hours with affordable prices and hashbrowns so good they’ll haunt your dreams, Mickey’s by Willy is an institution in the Twin Cities. While it shares a name and similar menu items with the downtown diner car, this spot is roomier and easier to access, with plenty of parking. Order America’s Favorite all day with eggs the way you like, those hashbrowns, breakfast meat, and a choice of toast.
More To Explore
