Top 8 must-try breakfast spots in West Palm Beach

Breakfast is one of the many joys in life and in West Palm Beach; they take it seriously. Surrounded by its cultural landmarks, stunning waterfront views, and bustling urban life, it’s in West Palm Beach where residents and tourists alike get to enjoy some of the best breakfast restaurants in Florida.

From cozy cafés to beachfront bistros, you’re invited to experience the top breakfast restaurants in West Palm Beach.

THIS IS IT CAFÉ

This Is It Café is a beloved West Palm Beach breakfast spot in the Northwood Village neighborhood. To say that it is revered won’t be an exaggeration; when its kitchen caught fire in 2020, loyal customers and other community members gathered to save this daylight diner, which has become synonymous in West Palm Beach for its signature catfish breakfasts.

Fast-forward four years, This Is It Café is still strong and growing. Despite the challenges it had to overcome, it seems that nothing has changed here, from its nautical-inspired decor to its homey atmosphere that has been attracting diners since 2009.

What to try at This Is It Café

This Is It Café originally made a name for itself with its catfish breakfasts, but the menu has since evolved to include a number of house specialties. These include the café’s take on the classic French onion soup– hearty, heartwarming, and served on a crock. Cold sandwiches, salads, homemade soups, and four types of “This Is It” burgers made with fresh ground beef that are hand-pattied in the kitchen are just some of the other crowd pleasers.

PROPER GRIT WHISKEY LIBRARY & SUPPER CLUB

At first glance, Proper Grit at The Ben seems to be an ideal place for night owls to gather and enjoy a few glasses of fine aged whiskey. But the restaurant also has something to offer early risers: delectable breakfasts– and brunches on weekends– featuring Florida’s seasonal produce and proteins. These ingredients are cut, shaped, and mixed together by a crew of seasoned experts, led by South Floridian chef Dan Pundik.

What to try at Proper Grit

What can you look forward to for breakfast at Proper Grit? An array of house specialties and entrées with a modern twist. For your buttermilk pancakes, choose between the tart combination of lemon blueberry or opt for something cozier: chocolate chip. Those who want a healthier start to their day should try Proper Grit’s tropical chia pudding, acai bowl, or avocado toast, all made with seasonal fruit and fresh greens.

For something a little heartier, try one of Proper Grit’s standout dishes: their hot chicken and waffles, which is served with poached eggs, bacon lardons, and a watermelon salad on the side.

Proper Grit’s weekend brunch menu also offers the same standard breakfast specialties along with a couple of salads and handheld additions. These include petit lobster rolls, open-faced confit albacore sandwich, and burrata and beet salad, to name some of them.

SASSAFRAS

Sassafras, opened in 2019, brings a taste of the South to West Palm Beach with its modern Southern-French bayou cuisine by Chef John Thomas. The restaurant is known for its farm-to-table approach, using locally sourced ingredients to create fresh, flavorful dishes.

With its warm, inviting atmosphere and creative menu, Sassafras has quickly become a popular restaurant for breakfast and brunch in West Palm Beach. Make sure to check out their iconic miniature beach town embedded in their bar countertop while getting one of their signature cocktails.

What to try at Sassafras

Sassafras’ chicken and waffles, a classic Southern combo with a twist, is a favorite among diners. The dish features crispy fried chicken served on a fluffy Belgian waffle, drizzled with honey butter and maple syrup. Other Southern cuisine standouts are the hanger steak and eggs and Key West pink shrimp and grits.

For oyster lovers, Sassafras serves up two kinds: Oysters du Jour, which have the usual accouterments or their special Oysters Casino, which includes bacon, parmesan, and calabrian chili. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, there’s the kimchi fried dirty rice or the P.B.E.L.T– which stands for pork belly, eggs, little gems, and fried green tomatoes.

For those who love to have a drink during brunch, the bottomless mimosas, bellinis, and sangrias are definitely worth it, if their special mixed drinks don’t catch your eye first. Overall, their brunch menu is tailored and extensive. Enjoy these– and more– inside or al fresco.

AIOLI

There’s something about freshly baked bread and pastries when it comes to breakfast. Not a lot of restaurants these days offer that. Luckily, Aioli does, right in West Palm Beach. This beloved café and bakery that has made a name for itself with its artisanal approach to breakfast.

Opened in 2014 by Palm Beach fixture Chef Michael Hackman, Aioli has attracted a loyal following thanks to its commitment to using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and house-made bread. The café offers a range of breakfast options, from hearty meals to lighter, more health-conscious choices.

What to try at Aioli

At this point, avocado toasts are a ubiquitous breakfast item, but Aioli offers a fresh take with shaved radish and toasted pumpkin seeds. Another popular item is the Bacon Egg Cheese, a breakfast classic featuring the aforementioned ingredients, all with a house-made buttermilk biscuit.

Breakfasts at Aioli aren’t complete without exploring their scratch bakery offerings, including their sea salt chocolate chip cookie and their unique orange olive oil cake, both of which are highly recommended. Of course, their fresh artisanal bread needs to be sampled as well. They have a number of loaves available such as baguettes, ciabatta, and sourdough. Fridays Aioli brings special braided challah, while Saturdays are all about seasonal focaccia.

PORTSIDE BREAKFAST & LUNCH

Portside Breakfast & Lunch is a charming, independently-owned restaurant that has been serving the West Palm Beach community for years. Known for its warm, welcoming atmosphere and home-cooked meals, it’s a favorite among locals looking for a comforting breakfast in a laid-back setting.

What to try at Portside Breakfast & Lunch

Your breakfast experience at Portside can be as sweet as you like. The lemon ricotta beignets, covered in powdered sugar and espresso chocolate fondue, is as pretty as it is delectable. And Portside’s French toast casserole– made following a closely guarded family recipe– has made patrons out of casual diners.

If you want something more savory for breakfast, try Portside’s Loxhatchee Benny: a plate full of sausage patties, poached eggs, sausage gravy, and hollandaise sauce over a house-made biscuit. It’s decadent, filling, and a great meal to start your day. For something more traditional, try the corned beef hash, made from scratch and served with eggs, any style.

Portside also offers several healthy options, including their veggie omelet and the house granola, served with fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, and South Florida honey.

FIRST WATCH

First Watch is a popular breakfast restaurant in West Palm Beach that has been serving fresh, made-to-order meals since 1983. They’re especially known for their health-conscious menu, which has helped set First Watch apart from other breakfast and brunch spots in West Palm Beach and other parts of the region.

What to try at First Watch

First Watch’s version of avocado toast is a must-try, served on thick-cut whole-wheat artisan bread with lemon and sea salt. The Farmhouse Hash, made with cage-free eggs, bacon, avocado, and roasted vegetables, is another popular choice.

For something sweet, try the Floridian French Toast, topped with fresh fruits and berries, mixed berry compote, and syrup. They also serve a few brunch cocktails to get the mood going such as their Spiked Watermelon Wake Up or their take on a Bloody Mary that includes their Million Dollar Bacon. These are just a few of the favorites from their extensive breakfast menu. Do keep your eye out for First Watch’s seasonal breakfast specialties, which depend on what’s currently available and growing in South Florida.

Breakfast isn’t complete without a cup of joe– or tea for non-coffee drinkers. First Watch only uses Project Sunrise arabica coffee beans, sustainably and ethically sourced from Mujeres en Café (Women in Coffee), an initiative in Huila, Colombia. Project Sunrise coffee beans are roasted to exacting standards, ensuring every cup pairs well with any of First Watch’s breakfast and brunch offerings. You can also purchase coffee beans from your nearest First Watch café to brew in your own home.

THE PELICAN RESTAURANT

In the age of chain restaurants, it’s certainly rare to find locally owned businesses that stand the test of time. There’s certainly a reason why The Pelican Restaurant has been able to stay thriving in Lake Worth Beach. From West Palm Beach, it’s a quick 15-minute drive to The Pelican and its generous breakfast portions.

The Pelican is a classic diner that has been serving breakfast to the community for decades. With its retro charm and friendly service, this restaurant is one of the more unique choices in the area, offering a South Asian fusion to the more traditional American and French dishes available for breakfast. They even have some South Asian traditional attire that guests can purchase to really immerse themselves in the experience.

What to try at The Pelican Restaurant

Among the special dishes offered by The Pelican Restaurant, most people love the South Asian-inspired ones. The Eggs Nissa is a Pakistani take on scrambled eggs, with ginger, garlic, and curry, served with naan. Their Keema Omelet is also a favorite, combining eggs, curry, and tomatoes.

A more adventurous dish is the Aloo Gobi that is made with eggs, cauliflower, potatoes, and feta cheese. Other brunch dishes include shrimp and grits, vegan coconut chia, and an array of pancakes and waffles. While they do have more common breakfast items, it’s the South Asian dishes that have people coming back for years.

For drinks, diners have a wide array of options to choose from. Fruit smoothies are available, and so are fresh fruit juices and other cold drinks, including The Pelican’s mango lassi. You can also order a glass of your favorite cocktail, bubbly, or beer for a complete brunch experience.

KEKE’S BREAKFAST CAFE

Some places make breakfast an institution. Take Keke’s Breakfast Café, for instance. Keke’s is a well-known chain with several locations across Florida, and their Wellington outpost– approximately a 30-minute drive from downtown West Palm Beach, is no exception when it comes to serving up delicious, comforting breakfasts.

Established in 2006, Keke’s quickly became a local favorite. They pride themselves on making things from scratch– with not a microwave in sight.

You’ll find a breakfast of champions at Keke’s, where the staff is so accommodating, customers feel like VIPs. There’s enough variety of food for not just breakfast but also brunch and lunch, too. They also do takeout, delivery, and catering, so you can catch their breakfast on the go or for a special occasion.

What to try at Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

Keke’s is famous for its extensive breakfast menu that includes large, fluffy pancakes; the banana pecan pancakes is one of the go-to choices. Another popular dish is the stuffed French toast, filled with cream cheese and topped with fresh strawberries and powdered sugar.

For those in the mood for something savory, the Southwest Omelet, packed with spicy sausage, peppers, onions, and cheese, is a satisfying option. If you’re looking for something very specific, you can even ask them to make it with their Eggs Your Way option or a request to the kitchen.

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The Frisbie Palm Beach team is your trusted guide to everything West Palm Beach, from local breakfast spots to luxury real estate options. Browse our blog for more lifestyle recommendations, and should you need additional assistance on local real estate matters, get in touch with our team today at 561.373.0941 or send us an email.