Whether you like a healthy meal or a sky-high stack of pancakes, these Raleigh breakfast spots will start your day right.
By WALTER staff
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it’s easy to treat it a an afterthought. Instead, take the time to it down and use the meal to connect with a partner or family or even use the meal as a delicious excuse for a business meeting. Fortunately, there are lots of great breakfast (and brunch) spots in Raleigh, NC. You can find everything from a sky-high stack of pancakes at a classic country diner in downtown Raleigh to Southern favorites like biscuits and sausage in North Hills, to bagels, healthy smoothies and avocado toast in Five Points and beyond. Read on for our guide to where to eat breakfast in Raleigh.
A Place at the Table
Part restaurant, part nonprofit, this pay-what-you-can restaurants offers a menu of American classics. 300 West Hargett Street, Suite 50; tableraleigh.org
Benchwarmers Bagels
A well-loved morning spot for its wood-fired artisanal bagels, inventive spreads and sandwiches in Transfer Co. Food Hall, with a new location opening soon in North Hills. 500 East Davie Street, Suite 107; benchwarmersbagels.com
Big Ed’s Restaurant
Known for its giant breakfasts, this Southern greasy spoon is in the quaint cobblestone streets of historic City Market. 220 Wolfe Street & 5009 Falls of Neuse Road; bigedsnc.com
Boulted Bread
A small neighborhood bakery with national acclaim that typically sells out by the afternoon. Try the Everything Croissant or Morning Bun and bring home a loaf of levain. All breads are made from heirloom grains, milled in-house. 328 Dupont Circle; boultedbread.com
Cafe Carolina and Bakery
Find classic Southern fare at this longtime favorite. Locals love the sweet potato biscuits. 2130 Clark Avenue; cafecarolina.com
Carroll’s Kitchen
Serving breakfast and lunch — the daily-special soups and casseroles are favorites — this restaurant employs women recovering from trauma. It recently moved to a larger location. 230 S. Wilmington Street; carrollskitchen.org
Coquette
A classic French brasserie, Coquette offers delicious croquettes, quiches, frites and more. 4351 The Circle at North Hills; coquetteraleigh.com
Drift Coffee & Kitchen
Wilmington-bred Drift offers spot-on coffee and breakfast foods within an airy, coastal atmosphere. 3510 Wade Avenue; driftcoffee.kitchen
Good Graces
Equal parts cafe, bar and market, Good Graces has a lovely, bright interior and something to sate you any time of day, from buttery biscuits in the mornings to espresso martinis at night. 540 Saint Albans Drive, Suite 130; goodgracesraleigh.com
Heirloom
Heirloom is a destination for its airy design scheme, Asian-influenced coffees and teas, and a selection of muffins and scones from rotating local bakeries. 219 S. West Street; heirloom-raleigh.com
La Farm Bakery
Helmed by Lionel Vatinet, La Farm serves artisanal breads, breakfast and bakery items galore, all with French influences. 122 Glenwood Avenue & 404 East Six Forks Road; lafarmbakery.com
Lucettegrace
This French-style patisserie has a mouthwatering selection of macarons and sweets, along with a full range of options for coffee and tea drinks. 235 S. Salisbury Street; lucettegrace.com
The Mecca Restaurant
Get a taste of old Raleigh at this classic eatery known for its hearty meals and diner feel. 13 East Martin Street; mecca-restaurant.com
The Morning Times
One of downtown’s OG coffee-breakfast spots, here you’ll find espresso drinks, single-source beans and a solid breakfast menu. Take your order to go, sit in the cozy area upstairs or perch at a table outside. 10 E. Hargett Street; morningtimes-raleigh.com
Pam’s Farmhouse Restaurant
A down-home Southern breakfast for a fair price — try the biscuits or the country ham plate. 5111 Western Boulevard; pams-farmhouse-restaurant.menu-world.com
Paul & Jack
A classic European bakery with a good espresso program and a small seating space. 911 N. West Street, Suite 107; instagram.com/paulandjack_nc
PRESS Coffee, Crêpes and Cocktails
This European-influenced North Carolina coffeehouse offers an assortment of made-from-scratch crêpes served all day, in addition to its coffee and baked goods. 400 Hillsborough Street, Suite 108; pressccc.com
Raleigh Raw
A health-conscious destination for coffee, delicious cold-pressed juices and light breakfast fare, where all menu items are made from scratch without gluten, seed oils and refined sugar. 7 West Hargett Street; raleighraw.com
Sir Walter Coffee + Kitchen
Here you’ll find the full range of coffee and espresso drinks, a full menu of breakfast toasts, a bagel bar and a waffle bar, to stay or to go. 145 E. Davie Street & 555 Fayetteville Street, Suite 110; sirwaltercoffee.com
Sosta Cafe
A hidden gem downtown, Sosta serves French-infused breakfast dishes, fresh fruit and espresso in a casual setting. 130 E. Davie Street; sostacafe.com
State Farmers Market Restaurant
Here, find a Southern breakfast featuring fresh, NC-grown ingredients from the nearby Farmers Market, famous for its fluffy, homemade biscuits. 1240 Farmers Market Drive; realbiscuits.com
Union Special Bread
Union Special offers decadent pastries and breads, unique breakfast creations and great drip coffee, teas and espresso drinks. 2409 Crabtree Boulevard, #102; unionspecialbread.com
Yellow Dog Bread Co.
This sunny, family-owned bakery has fresh breads, fun coffee drinks and classic cafe seating to enjoy its goods. 219 E. Franklin Street; yellowdogbread.com
This article was first published in the 2026 issue of OUR TOWN.
