Like most Twin Cities locals, we love two things: dining out and breakfast.
Combine the two and we’re in heaven.
Lucky for us, Minneapolis & St. Paul are packed with great breakfast spots.
Today, we’re giving out our awards for all the best breakfasts around the Twin Cities. From hugely popular restaurants to lesser known gems, you’re sure to find your perfect breakfast on our list.
Contents
Map of the Best Breakfast in Mineapolis, St. Paul, and the Twin Cities Suburbs
Best Breakfast Spots in Minneapolis
The most popular: Al’s Breakfast
View this post on Instagram
Over the years, this tiny Dinkytown spot has built a loyal, almost cult like following who do their best to squeeze into one of the 14 coveted stools as frequently as possible. If Al’s is open, there’s usually a line out the door, and a crowd inside packed shoulder-to-shoulder almost directly behind the few lucky souls enjoying their meals at the counter.
The whole tradition was enough to award the tiny place a coveted 2004 James Beard Award in the “America’s Classic Restaurants” category. Trust us, this one’s an experience.
- Address: 413 14th Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
- Website: Al’s Breakfast
Best breakfast in downtown Minneapolis: Hen House
View this post on Instagram
This ultra popular downtown location feels like a modern twist on the classic diner. Sure, the menu features all the classics you’d expect from a breakfast powerhouse (their omelettes are tops) but the whole vibe is exactly what you’d expect from a diner placed right in the heart of downtown Minneapolis.
Whatever you do, just don’t forget to check out the extremely tempting pastry case on your way out…
- Address: 114 S 8th St, Minneapolis, MN 55402
- Website: Hen House
Best cheap breakfast in Minneapolis: Our Kitchen
View this post on Instagram
If you’re looking for a fancy brunch with artisan Bloody Marys and pickled quail eggs, then I’ve got some bad news. You’re in the wrong place.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for a greasy spoon, All American cheap breakfast, then you’ve hit the spot! Our Kitchen delivers that promise in spades. After downing their legendary plate-sized pancakes or a mountain of buttery hash browns, you’re sure to leave ready to take on the day. Or placed into a serious food coma. Either/or.
- Address: 813 W 36th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Our Kitchen
Most unique breakfast: Victor’s 1959 Cafe
View this post on Instagram
This Cuban favorite is mostly know for their savory dinners, but here’s a little secret: Victor’s breakfast menu is out of this world.
Start things off with their custom blend off Cuban coffee before diving into an authentic Cuban breakfast plate, like the delicious Ropa Vieja breakfast special, Eggs Havana, or even a Cuban Hash. You won’t find a breakfast like this anywhere else in the Twin Cities.
- Address: 3756 Grand Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55409
- Website: Victor’s 1959 Cafe
Best diner: Band Box Diner
View this post on Instagram
Originally opened in 1939, Band Box Diner has a long and wild history that includes a rapid chain-franchise expansion through the 1950s, failure in the 1960s, and passionate restoration in the 1990s.
Safe to say, the restaurant’s come a long way since the days when it was a favorite hangout for card-playing gangsters. Throughout it all, Band Box is more than alive and kicking. Today, it’s serving up what we think is the best diner food in all of Minneapolis.
- Address: 729 S 10th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404
- Website: Band Box Diner
Best breakfast sweets: Isles Bun and Coffee
What’s there to say about the legendary cinnamon and caramel rolls at Isles Bun and Coffee? These mountains of sweet, sticky heaven might be the city of Minneapolis’s ultimate guilty pleasure. With a line around the block at all hours of operation, there’s a seriously delicious reason these sweets have become so famous.
- Address: 1424 W 28th St, Minneapolis, MN 55408
- Website: Isles Bun & Coffee
Best Breakfast Spots in St. Paul
St. Paul is no slouch when it comes to breakfast, either. These early morning spots are some of our favorites.
Most Popular Breakfast in St. Paul: Hope Breakfast Bar
View this post on Instagram
Hope burst onto the scene in 2019 after renovating one of downtown St. Paul’s historic buildings into a beautiful, bright, airy space. Then these folks really made a name for themselves when they suspended operations during COVID-19 to turn the breakfast bar into a temporary food shelf, giving away thousands of meals to families who’d been impacted by the tough times.
When they reopened, St. Paul welcomed back Hope with open arms. Today, you’ll find the place absolutely packed at all hours of the morning, with eager breakfast-goers ready to scarf down the Southern Fried Chicken Waffles or famous Wild Blueberry Pancakes, with some Avacado French Toast and Mimosas added for good measure.
- Address: 1 S Leech St, St Paul, MN 55102
- Website: Hope Breakfast Bar
The Lowertown Favorite: The Buttered Tin
View this post on Instagram
Owned by Alicia Hinze, who you may or may not recognize at the multiple-time champ from the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars, the Buttered tin has solidified itself as the most popular breakfast spot in Lowertown Saint Paul.
And really, that’s for three main reasons:
- Huevos Rancheros Benedict
- Bananas Foster French Toast
- The Crab Cake Benny
Take your pick for whatever you’re in the mood for, and prepare to fall in love with a new breakfast spot.
- Address: 237 7th St E, St Paul, MN 55101
- Website: The Buttered Tin
Best Waffles: Black Coffee and Waffle Bar
I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised that a waffle bar does waffles right. But boy, does Black Coffee and Waffle bar do waffles RIGHT!
When you’re in the mood for a Fat Andrew (an amazing waffle with bananas, cinnamon, peanut butter sauce, and powdered sugar) an Apple Strudel waffle (apples, cinnamon, caramel, and whipped cream) or even a Strawberry Cheesecake waffle, there’s only one place to go.
- Address 1: 2180 Marshall Ave #5758, St Paul, MN 55104
- Address 2: 1500 Como Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
- Website: Black Coffee and Waffle Bar
Most Unique Menu: Cafe Astoria
View this post on Instagram
Cafe Astoria absolutely exploded onto the scene, and in our opinion, that meteoric rise was propelled along by two unique menu features they do better than anyone else: smoothie bowls and crepes.
On the smoothie bowl side, you’re looking at tons of delicious fruit packed options. For the crepes? Some seriously unique and delicious combinations, whether you’re looking for savory or sweet. If you order a Turkey, Swiss and Apple Crepe and finish it off with a Nutella and Banana dessert crepe, is that okay? Because we’ve definitely done that before…
- Address: 180 Grand Ave, St Paul, MN 55102
- Website: Cafe Astoria
Best Cheap Breakfast in St. Paul: Coffee Cup
View this post on Instagram
In a world of ever increasing flash, sometimes its easy to overlook the classics done right. The Coffee Cup, originally located in St. Paul’s sleepy North End neighborhood, recently expanded to a second location on Randolph Ave.
No matter which location you visit, this spot silently churns out what we consider some of the best, most criminally underrated classic breakfast in the entire Twin Cities.
- Address: 1333 Randolph Ave, St Paul, MN 55105
- Website: Coffee Cup St. Paul
Best breakfast with locations in both Twin Cities: Colossal Cafe
View this post on Instagram
At Colossal Cafe, everything on the menu here is made from scratch, and the result is some of the freshest omelettes and heartiest pancakes around. Like a true Twin Cities business, they have two locations, and both are relatively convenient for both downtown residents.
- Address 1: 1340 Grand Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105
- Address 2: 2315 Como Ave, St Paul, MN 55108
- Website: Colossal Cafe
Best Breakfast in the Twin Cities Suburbs
If you’re willing to venture just a bit outside of city limits, there’s a few can’t miss breakfast spots waiting to be enjoyed.
View this post on Instagram
There’s a few different Taste of Scandinavia locations scattered around the Twin Cities suburbs. But no matter which location you visit, you’re sure to find the Twin Cities’ best Scandinavian pancakes – those oh-so-perfect paper thin, crepe-like covered in loads of fruit and whipped cream.
- Address 1: 401 W 98th St, Bloomington, MN 55420
- Address 2: 845 Village Center Dr, North Oaks, MN 55127
- Address 3: 2900 Rice St #100, Little Canada, MN 55113
- Website: Taste of Scandinavia
Our favorite breakfast in the suburbs: Fat Nat’s Eggs
View this post on Instagram
If you’re looking for a somewhat more up-scale greasy spoon, you cannot go wrong with Fat Nat’s. The lengthy eggs benedict menu is sure to please any benedict connoisuers out there, but we’ll also throw a shout out to the Huevos Ranchers (that Green Chili is legit New Mexico level good) or the Fat Nat’s Slider – a grilled cheese sandwich ingeniously slathered in hollandaise sauce.
- Address 1: 3530 Winnetka Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55427
- Address 2: 8587 Edinburgh Centre Dr, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443
- Address 3: 2700 39th Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN 55421
- Website: Fat Nag’s Eggs
Favorite eggs benedict: Good Day Cafe
View this post on Instagram
This breakfast favorite out in Golden Valley is absolutely worth the trip.
There’s just so many rockstars on this menu – awesome eggs benedict topped with crab cakes, fried egg sandwiches featuring avocado, delicious waffles and pancakes, and legit coffee and espresso to finish it all off. It’s no wonder this place is always packed.
- Address: 5410 Wayzata Blvd, Golden Valley, MN 55416
- Website: Good Day Cafe
