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Breakfast Guide for Charleston
When you are in Charleston, South Carolina in search of a delicious breakfast, you have plenty of options to choose from. The city offers so many unique breakfast spots that can satisfy any craving. Whether you are looking for a more upscale experience or a cozy family breakfast, Charleston has something for everyone. From beloved classics to modern interpretations, these locations offer up flavors and atmospheres to please any appetite. Read on to find out our ten favorite breakfast eateries in Charleston that you won’t want to miss.
Hominy Grill
Hominy Grill is the breakfast destination of choice for many Charleston residents. The cozy atmosphere and tasty dishes make this restaurant a must-visit spot to get your day off to the right start. Try the award-winning Biscuits and Creamy Grits for a true taste of the South. To guarantee a smooth wait, arrive early as this spot can get quite busy during brunch hours.
Our personal opinion is that Hominy Grill is a great spot for breakfast and an iconic Charleston experience. Whether you are a resident or a tourist, it’s worth the trip.
Wild Olive Cafe
Wild Olive Cafe is set in the heart of downtown Charleston. French-inspired dishes like an Eggs Florentine and served with a decadent orange hollandaise sauce bid farewell to mundane breakfast choices. Of course, if you’re feeling more adventurous, you can try the classic French toast that is topped with blueberry mousse and pistachios.
This brunch spot is always bustling and the occasional wait is usually worth it. Our team would definitely return to Wild Olive Café for a second helping.
Toast of the Wild Wild East
Toast of the Wild Wild East brings a flavor of the wild west to East Bay Street. Enjoy skillet scrambles, egg burritos and mimosas during your visit here. If you’re one for trying out brave food combinations, you can try the eggs Benedict over pulled pork with homemade hollandaise sauce for something unique and delicious.
Toast boasts fresh ingredients, friendly service and amazing flavors that will leave you satisfied until dinner time. We highly recommend trying this spot for a south of the border inspiration at breakfast time.
High Cotton Bar & Biscuits
When Goldbelly crowned High Cotton Bar & Biscuits as the birthplace of America’s best biscuit – they weren’t lying! This classic breakfast joint serves up 10 varieties of jumbo-sized biscuits with homemade jam and honey. Still hungry? Opt into one of the several biscuit sandwiches like the BLC (Biscuit, lettuce and tomato) or the Pulled Pork Po Boy and wash it all down with one of their classic milkshakes!
High Cotton Bar & Biscuits is a great spot for family-style breakfast and connects visitors with the beloved roots of Charleston cuisine. We think it’s worth the visit!
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit
For a southern twist on classic East Coast breakfast, Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit offers creative twists on Southern favorites like eggs benedict casseroles and hash brown rounds. Drop by for made-from-scratch biscuits, jam, eggs, pork sausage and more for an unforgettable breakfast experience. But don’t forget dessert! The homemade banana pudding is quite popular here and won’t leave you disappointed.
Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit is surely one of the hot spots in Charleston, and we certainly can see why. We would recommend this spot and we hope to return soon ourselves!
Butcher & Baker
Butcher & Baker is a carvery and bakery located in Mount Pleasant – for those who are searching for an urban chic eatery experience reminiscent of New York without having to leave your home town atmosphere in Charleston. The delicious menu offers plenty of possibilities and delicious bites like Baked French Toast Façon Grand Marnier, Nutella Toast and lunchtime favorites like mahi mahi with grits and their signature wagyu burger with mushroom duxelle sauce.
If love great food and atmosphere overlaid with modern decor – Butcher & Baker is a great spot! Our personal opinion would be to give this spot a try if you are in the area – we guarantee it won’t disappoint!
Rene’s Bakery & Gourmet
Take the family out for a more conventional breakfast outing when you stop at Rene’s Bakery & Gourmet in Mount Pleasant. Here you can enjoy delightful pastries like banana nut muffins, cinnamon scones and croissants made fresh daily in-store – making them perfect for grabbing on your way to work or for your morning sweet tooth cravings! There are plenty of coffees, teas and drinks to choose from as well as traditional platters of eggs, pancakes and breakfast sandwiches – but make sure you get there on time as they do stop serving breakfast at 11 am!
Rene’s Bakery & Gourmet has great food and fantastic service – we give it two thumbs up and would definitely recommend it!
Poogan’s Porch
This historic restaurant in Downtown Charleston serves up well-crafted comfort food – including something special for hungry breakfast-goers! The restaurant’s menu features egg dishes such as Lobster-Mascarpone Frittata alongside Southern Classics like Fried Green Tomatoes with Poached Eggs – perfect for taking advantage of Charleston’s vibrant produce market culture.
Various brunch menus at this upscale eatery means there’s something for everyone to enjoy here – definitely worth checking out! Our opinion is that even if its more expensive than other spots, Poogan’s Porch is definitely worth every penny and every bite!
Butcher Paper Catering
Butcher Paper Catering is a hotspot in SouthStrand that’s all about creating high-end brunch experiences that are unforgettable – perfect for special occasions or private events in Charleston! Their breakfast dishes are all about reinventing classic favorites into gourmet masterpieces – from Croque Madame to crab eggs Benedict and Truffle Scrambled Eggs – their food throughly stands out from their competition!
We love Butcher Paper Catering for its flavor of creative elegance that it brings to your plate – definitely worth a try when in town!
Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts
Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts features all things sweet – from artfully crafted donuts to cookies with Georgetown Java Coffee’s special brew poured into espresso based drinks like their infamous Espressonut Latte or Coconut Mocha Latte – perfect when wanting to add some zing to your morning breakfast ritual! Every piece here just oozes out the taste of sweet sugar which one can never miss – making it so yummy it will have you coming back for more!
Their special flavors are beyond imagination – our opinion being that everyone must visit Glazed Gourmet Doughnuts at least once when in town – they are just that good!
The Early Bird Diner
The Early Bird Diner springs to life in Eastwood at 5:00 in the morning – providing fresh ingredients sourced locally for the ultimate farm-to-table experience made just for your taste bud likes! This cozy spot quickly became a favorite amongst locals who come here often looking for exceptional cooking that offers an array of favorites such as bacon omelets, red-eye gravy toast and mouthwatering hashbrowns to put your taste buds first on the menu! On weekends they also offer live music which just adds to the overall atmosphere – making it really hard to resist!
The Early Bird Diner’s homestyle dishes will make your mouth water – we think it’s worth stopping by if you are near Eastwood in search for some early morning goodness!
