Breakfast In Atlanta: 15+ Delicious Local Spots You’ll Love

Since breakfast is the most important meal of the day, I think we should take a deep dive into the local diners, charming cafes, and biscuit boutiques around Atlanta. Let’s take a walk on the sunny side of the street for omelets, crepes and classic southern plates.

If you have a tendency to waffle when you look at a menu, this probably won’t make your decision any easier. For even more options, check out these bougie brunch spots.

Ready to for some delicious breakfast in Atlanta? Here are 15+ of our favorite (and local!) Atlanta, Georgia, breakfast spots! How do you like your eggs? 

Atlanta Breakfast Club

The Atlanta Breakfast Club is the pride and joy of Good Food & Company. This might be the best breakfast restaurant in Atlanta with the best team of people making it a premier spot in Midtown.

Food is love and this team is united by love, loyalty, and dedication to food. You can taste it in the crispy chicken biscuits served with warm grape jelly. Or get the gravy. Try classic black pepper gravy, shrimp gravy sauce or even smoked jalapeno gravy.

Feeling fancy? Order peach cobbler French toast or gulf shrimp and grits. If you think it sounds too hard to choose, join the club.

Atlanta Breakfast Club opens seven days a week at 6:30 am and is located at 249 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd NW.

Highland Bakery

Stacy Eames put the cart before the horse, starting her business with elevated coffee carts delivering some of ATL’s  first “double tall skinny half caff bald lattes” and delicious homemade muffins. As the baked goods menu and the business grew, Stacy purchased an old bakery from the 1930’s that delivered goods by horse and buggy. The historic, original Highland Bakery location.

What was once just a restaurant located in Old Fourth Ward is now a restaurant rapidly expanding its locations to feed everyone closer to home. They’re still cooking in the original location in O4W, but you can find them in many other neighborhoods too.

Get comfy and dig in! At Highland Bakery, they serve breakfast all day long. Sample cilantro corn cakes or savory crab cakes in one of a long list of a specialty Benedicts.  The list goes on. 

Save room for ricotta pancakes, shrimp and grits, a tofu scramble breakfast burritos, and smoked salmon. Bite into a kicked-up jalapeño focaccia or indulge in a peanut butter high hat cupcake. Everything is made fresh daily. 

Visit Highland Bakery, a legacy created by generations of bakers who inspired generations of changemakers — like Alberta King, who brought her children in, including Martin Luther King Jr.; Lorena and William Windsor, employees who went on to open their own bakery; and now Stacey Eames, founder of Highland Bakery and lead orator of its history.

And Mama’s southern comfort has broadened its horizons, growing into a full menu that stretches comfortably from breakfast to lunch and brunch. And you can still get your double, tall, skinny, half-caff, bald latte.

Home Grown

The secret is out. Combine locally grown produce with fresh ingredients and offer a ridiculously low price for a tasty meal that delights your taste buds but won’t clog your arteries. That is the secret recipe for success at Home Grown restaurant. Many say that these are Atlanta’s best southern style biscuits. They are pretty famous for homemade pimento cheese too. 

Former school teacher Lisa Spooner and fine dining Chef Kevin Clark opened  “the ‘next-gen’ meat-and-three” in Reynoldstown, a vibrant community in east Atlanta. Their quaint restaurant offers a welcome bright spot that blooms brightly in a drab strip of Memorial Drive, in the heart of working-class Atlanta. The popular breakfast restaurant not only brightens the landscape, it also nourishes the souls and bellies of everyone in the community.

Home Grown serves creative and delicious breakfast options and a hearty brunch menu on the weekend. Home Grown is a favorite neighborhood hangout spot for residents nearby and a mandatory stopping point for just about anyone else passing through East Atlanta by car, bike, scooter, motorcycle, or on foot.

Now open Wednesday through Sunday from 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM.

Sun In My Belly

Who doesn’t love a lavender biscuit? Sun in my Belly is a whimsical breakfast and lunch café, as well as a full-service catering company located in the Kirkwood neighborhood of Atlanta, just two miles from Emory University.  The corner cafe is housed in the historic Bailey’s Hardware building at the intersection of Murphy Ave and College Ave. 

The SIMB Pinterest board is filled with evidence of their catering expertise, from travels all over the southeast for events and weddings. The owners love delicious food, whimsical decor, and friendly folks. 

So, get a grip on your Mason jar and get ready for the Kirkwood breakfast special featuring soft scrambled eggs with boursin cheese, a luscious lavender biscuit, served with a side of plain or honey glazed bacon. 

Try the super fancy French toast, based with an egg-soaked and griddled challah, honey ricotta, fresh berries served with syrup or surprise your tastebuds with a pimento cheese omelet.

Rave reviews from major magazines and diners support my decision to put some sun in my belly soon.

Folk Art Restaurant

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day! That’s why Folk Art serves it non-stop. Get your day started right with sweet potato beignets, grit fritters, eggs benedict, omelets, pancakes or French toast at one the the top breakfast spots in Atlanta.

Folk Art is a breakfast, lunch, and brunch hangout specializing in all-day diner-style favorites like fried chicken and waffles, excellent eggs, and jumbo house-made biscuits with two locations in Inman Park and Decatur. 

Be sure to order a side of the one-of-a-kind Hash “it out” Browns. Folk Art’s knack for infusing Southern classics with unexpected flavors caught the attention of the Food Network with a feature on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. 

If you want lunch, try the “Triple D” Meatball Burger, a meaty, cheesy, Italian-inspired, delight. It is sure to leave you satisfied, and possibly in need of a nap.  The pulled pork sandwich had Guy Fieri raving, no small feat in the BBQ-loving South, and is a regular hit with customers too.

Buttermilk Kitchen

Take the bunch for brunch. Discerning diners and professional foodies say this is the best breakfast in Atlanta. Buttermilk Kitchen is a breakfast and lunch concept from chef Suzanne Vizethann, a Food Network Chopped Champion and a featured chef on Triple D (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives). 

Buttermilk’s mission is to nurture people through food by use of sustainable, local ingredients. A kitchen where most everything is made in-house from scratch, paying tribute to it’s name, “Buttermilk,” which refers to the liquid utilized after butter was churned; carrying out the philosophy of letting nothing go to waste.

The biscuit and blueberry basil jam and pimento cheese grits are crowd favorites. The service is excellent, even though the wait may be long. It’s worth the wait for buttermilk biscuits and sawmill sausage gravy! 

Ria’s Bluebird

The pancakes really stack up. The pancakes at Ria’s Bluebird have been called “the world’s best” by the New York Times. I found several rave reviews and I am inclined to agree with NYT. The famous fluffy pancakes are made from scratch and served with soft butter and maple syrup.

Another popular brunch choice is shrimp and grits, including sautéed shrimp over white cheddar grits with poblano and red peppers in a spicy broth. The hip restaurant has a cool, laid-back vibe and a welcoming staff.

Visit the cozy local favorite located on Memorial Drive. 

West Egg Café

West Egg serves up Southern comfort in a modern, energetic environment. The full service restaurant serves breakfast all day, lunch, and weekend brunch, with a full bar. The winners of the “Best Shrimp & Grits in Georgia” title and many other culinary accolades, the creative team of pros knows how to run a kitchen and how to cook great food.  Try a breakfast Benedict or churro waffle. 

In a hurry? Stop by the separate coffee shop area with a comfortable lounge, free wi-fi, a walk-up counter with baked goodies, and full coffee menu serving locally-roasted Dancing Goats Coffee. West Egg Café sits in the heart of Atlanta’s burgeoning Westside at the south end of the Westside Provisions District, below the White Provision Residences. 

At West Egg, along the railroad artery and former stockyards that fueled Atlanta’s industrial growth in the beginning of the 20th century, they aim to fuel the area’s many creative businesses and residents as they launch Atlanta into the 21st century. The owners are also partners in Rye Restaurants, along with Chef Todd Ginsberg, which includes The General Muir, TGM Bread, Fred’s Meat & Bread, Yalla, and Wood’s Chapel BBQ. 

Muchacho

The 70s called and they want their smooth swag back. If you were born to boogie, Muchacho is probably your breakfast jam. Spice up your morning with Mexican flair and flavors. Brake for breakfast burritos, tasty tacos and tempting toasts. Listen to classic radio tunes and boogie with your bevies. Order a lot of lattes or mucho matchas to get the breakfast party started. 

Step back in time with a signature 70s tee and mark your calendar for future fiestas. Muchacho hosts a monthly Bar Besties takeover, backyard boogies, scavenger hunts and more guaranteed to always bring the deluxe Muchacho vibes to Reynoldstown on Memorial Drive.

Murphy’s

Listen honey. You should try brunch at Murphy’s located in the sweet spot of Virginia Highland. Try the Eggs T. Murphy Benedict with poached eggs and honey cured ham served on a traditional English muffin with a creamy hollandaise.

Another local favorite is Eggs Virginia Highlands with spinach, mushrooms, and signature poached eggs on focaccia with an innovative sun-dried tomato hollandaise. 

Murphy’s landmark Atlanta restaurant is situated in the heart of Virginia Highland, a charming, historic neighborhood and a premiere destination for shopping, dining and nightlife. Developed in the early 1900’s, Virginia Highland consists of six distinct commercial “villages,” surrounded by charming early 20th century bungalow homes and beautiful neighborhood parks. 

The Silver Skillet

Read about it in The Enquirer! Or find it on air, online or on TV. The famous period restaurant is a magnet for celebrities, news anchors and film directors. In May, 1967 George & Louise Decker purchased The Silver Skillet and ran it for 21 years. Their daughter, Theresa, continues the tradition of dedication to good service and good food.

If you’re looking for a real Southern breakfast, you must try the world-famous country ham and red eye gravy. It’s made fresh using some old-style know-how and a couple of secret ingredients, and so tender you can cut it with a fork!

When life gives you lemons, make a pie! The homemade lemon ice-box pie was voted one of the “5 Best Pies in the USA” by Life Magazine, and one of the Top 100 Foods in the World by Saveur Magazine. 

Because of its period atmosphere, The Silver Skillet has been featured in several movies, commercials, videos and print ads. Most recently, The Silver Skillet was featured in The Founder, starring Michael Keaton, ABC’s What Would You Do? hosted by John Quinones, Taken 3 starring Liam Neeson, and the Netflix series OZARK and Survivor’s Remorse. 

The General Muir

The General Muir at Emory Point is a modern American restaurant inspired by the classic New York Jewish Deli, returning to its hand-crafted roots. Traditional favorites are honored — pastrami is cured and smoked in house, bagels are hand rolled and kettle boiled — and joined by dishes going beyond tradition, focusing on fresh ingredients and simple preparations.

The restaurant is named for the refugee transport ship that brought co-owner Jennifer Johnson’s mother and grandparents, Holocaust survivors, to New York in 1949. The New York-style deli goes contemporary at this upscale Jewish deli adorned with subway tiles. A second location in Sandy Springs opened in 2021. 

The General Muir serves breakfast, lunch, and weekend brunch at both locations (plus dinner at the Emory location) and offers an espresso bar serving locally-roasted Dancing Goats coffee as well as a full bar of wine, beer, spirits, and cocktails. TGM Bread, located next door, bakes all of the bread daily for both locations, the rest of the Rye Restaurants family, and many other restaurants around town.

Majestic Diner

Since 1929. That’s how long the Majestic Diner has been serving up “Food That Pleases” to generations of Atlantans. The menu offers tastes for any palate from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM each day.

Try classic egg dishes, fluffy pancakes, wonderful waffles, and buttery biscuits. Have a hearty breakfast with pork chops, cornbeef hash, and more.  Come visit anytime and get your Instagram-worthy photo and a great cup of coffee at one of Atlanta’s coolest landmarks.

The classic diner is located in the Poncey Highlands area of Atlanta near the corner of Ponce De Leon Ave and North Highland Rd. Parking is conveniently located at the Plaza parking lot right next door.

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill

R. Thomas Deluxe Grill started out as a funky burger joint on Peachtree Rd, inspired by some free-spirited souls from San Francisco, with non stop breakfast, a “kinda healthy” air, and a 24 hour heart. R  lost the keys to the place on opening day, so they just stayed open. 

They added a juice bar which took away the space for seating. They developed a lush outdoor patio with alfresco seating for patrons and got serious about nutrition. Under the instruction of their consulting chef and nutritionist Donna Gates (author of the Body Ecology Diet), R Thomas started to explore the healing power of food.

​High quality ingredients: cold pressed organic oils for cooking and dressings, fresh produce, home grown herbs from our garden, local organic honey and bee pollen, organic grains, ocean vegetables, free-range chicken, organic range eggs, natural range beef and organic salmon, wild caught tuna, powerful superfoods like kefir and raw cultured vegetables are the cornerstones of a menu that honors everyone’s food choices. ​

Get a great sample of everything in R’s Breakfast Special including a half order of French toast, two eggs any style, choice of bacon, ham, chicken sausage, or veggie sausage with home fries or grits.

Julianna’s

Julianna’s is intimately involved in a love affair between coffee and crepes. Julianna’s has been flipping delicious crepes, brewing locally roasted coffee since April of 2013. Specializing in Hungarian-style crepes called “palacsinta”, this hidden gem is truly a rare find for all foodies.

Conveniently located just minutes from the East Side BeltLine entrance, Julianna’s reflects the modern sensibilities of the surrounding area while retaining its vintage vibes. Oozing with charm, this little boutique is home to the best European crepes in Atlanta.

The Breakfasty One is crafted with love and sourced with  Spotted Trotter’s cured ham, Boar’s Head baby swiss cheese with scrambled eggs and pure maple syrup. 

Bread & Butterfly

Bread & Butterfly, a whimsical café & bistro located in the heart of Inman Park, is a European-inspired space to enjoy food and drink from early morning to late night. Here you’ll find a small bar, intimate dining room and beautiful porch area with steel doors that open to Elizabeth Street and the bright patio outside.

Bread & Butterfly is a place to enjoy a cappuccino and perfect croissant, a decadent seasonal breakfast or lunch, or a bistro-style dinner in the evening. B & B has a unique wine, beer and cocktail list and decadent dessert selections.  

Slather jam on a seasonal scone or toasted baguette. Choose a chocolate croissant or create a custom charcuterie.  Select sandwiches, salads, cheeses, baked goods, coffees, and wine. Several options are available in the B & B sunroom, dining room and outside on the patio.  Pets are allowed on the outdoor patio.

MORE INFORMATION FOR YOUR TRIP TO GEORGIA

• YOUR GEORGIA VACATION
• ATLANTA: 53+ Things To Do In Atlanta You Should Not Miss (From A Local)
• ATL RESTAURANTS: 19+ Cool Restaurants in Atlanta You’re Sure To Love
• DATE NIGHT RESTAURANTS: 17 Best Date Night Restaurants Atlanta (+ An At-Home Romance Option)
• BRUNCH: Brunch Atlanta: 17+ Absolute Best Under The Radar Spots

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