Are you looking for the best breakfast in Gainesville, Florida?
Well, look no further!
If you are a resident of Florida or here on a trip, you’re definitely in the mood to have a hearty breakfast from a place that won’t disappoint your cravings, right?
Having breakfast sounds easy but finding a good eatery is as challenging.
This is why I put together this list of the top ten best breakfast spots in Gainesville, Florida.
Let’s get started!
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Best Breakfast in Gainesville at a Glance:
- Maple Street Biscuit Company: A menu full of mouthwatering dishes and melt-in-your-mouth biscuits (Try The Squawking Goat)
- Afternoon: A hipster hangout with both sweet and savory breakfast dishes (Try the Dutch Baby)
- KeKe’s Breakfast Café: This is the place to go for indulgent handmade dishes with the freshest of ingredients (Try the Banana Caramel Pecan Stuffed French Toast)
- Luke’s New York Bagels: If you’re a bagel lover, then this bagel shop is the perfect match for you (Try The Spinach & Sausage Focaccia)
- Flying Biscuit Café: Filling stomachs for over twenty-five years this is where you’ll get all the southern comfort you crave (Try the Fried Green Tomatoes)
Keep reading to find out the best places for breakfast in Gainesville and why I love them!
1. Maple Street Biscuit Company
The Maple Street Biscuit Company is a chain of restaurants that has satisfied customers across America.
The Company has a branch in Gainesville which is thriving because of how incredibly mouth-watering the food is.
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
This best breakfast in Gainesville serves you delicious biscuits and gravies, tasty waffle combinations, and coffee so good; one cup won’t be enough, and you’ll beg for more!
Plus, I love the amazing take on the southern dishes like grits and biscuits smothered in gravy…mmm, so good!
Their unique twists on favorite comfort foods have made them the go-to place for breakfast in Gainesville. The biscuits here melt in your mouth like butter!
Top Dishes on the Menu
- The Squawking Goat: Flaky biscuit, all-natural fried chicken breast, fried goat cheese medallion and house-made pepper jelly
- Sausage & Bacon Frittaffle: Waffle iron baked omelet served with smashbrowns and roasted jalapeno salsa
- The Cowboy Fresh Made Biscuit Sandwich: Country fried steak, bacon, cheddar, egg, sausage, or shiitake gravy with a kick
Address: 3904 SW, Archer Road, Gainesville, FL, 32608
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2. Keke’s Breakfast Café
The Keke’s Breakfast Café-Butler North is another top-notch eatery that is spread over multiple locations.
No wonder this eatery is counted as one of the best breakfast spots in Gainesville, Florida.
The food has people rushing over from all over the States, and it has also garnered attention among tourists.
It’s the best breakfast in Gainesville if you love ginormous pancakes and waffles.
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
Keke’s Breakfast Café has the tastiest pancakes, waffles, and omelets.
It is not only credited for its mouth-watering dishes but also for its combo offers, where you get to choose your own combination of delicacies and delights.
Serving their mouthwatering menu daily from 7 a.m., breakfast at Keke’s Breakfast Cafe is undoubtedly the place to go for fabulously delicious breakfast choices that you don´t see everywhere else.
Top Dishes on the Menu
- Banana Caramel Pecan Stuffed French Toast: French toast stuffed with banana, caramel, pecan, and cream cheese and topped with powdered sugar
- Florida Pancakes: Pancakes with strawberries, banana, blueberries and powdered sugar
- Eggs Portabella: Poached egg on an English muffin with hollandaise sauce, portabella mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and home fries
Address: 4062 Plaza Blvd, Suite 10, Gainesville, FL 32608
3. Luke’s New York Bagels
Rated 4.8/ 5 on Facebook and known to be pocket-friendly, Luke’s New York Bagels certainly hits the jackpot when it comes to the best breakfast in Gainesville, Florida.
For those looking for a budget-friendly breakfast place in Gainesville, this is definitely the place to go.
Featuring a new Little Bite Menu they are serving up their baked-to-perfection breakfast sandwiches with half the contents for minimal pricing. This new menu option is perfect for those looking for a small bite to eat.
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
If you’re a bagel lover, then this bagel shop is the perfect match for you.
Crispy bacon, soft eggs, and the creamiest cheese and cream cheese bagels; what’s there not to love?
With at least 13 different bagel options from asiago, jalapeno cheddar, and egg everything, to blueberry and cinnamon raisin, whether you are craving sweet or savory they have it ready for you made fresh daily.
Combining it with one of their creamy fresh cream cheeses like sun-dried tomato, strawberry, or even veggie tofu you can create the perfect bite, just the way you like it.
Top Dishes on the Menu
- Luke´s Bagel Flight with your choice of four flavors
- Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with Maple Walnut Cream Cheese
- Breakfast Sandwich with Taylor ham, pork roll, egg and cheese
- Lox Breakfast Sandwich with tomatoes, onions, capers with added cream cheese and avocado option
Address: 620 South Main St., Gainesville, FL, United States, Florida
4. Metro Diner
Another one takes the win! Metro Diner is undoubtedly one of the best breakfast spots in Gainesville, Florida.
When you look at its scrumptious menu, you won’t wonder why!
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
American comfort foods, unique breakfast creations all from fresh ingredients; heaven on a plate. They have an extensive menu that features their amazing breakfasts all day.
The breakfast at Metro dinner feels like home cooking surrounded by feel-good diner vibes.
Top Dishes on the Menu
- Fried Chicken & Waffles: Fried chicken on a Belgian waffle with powdered sugar and strawberry butter
- Cinnamon Roll Pancakes: Pancakes with cinnamon and sugar, cream cheese icing, candied pecans, and cinnamon butter
- Southwest Scramble Bowl: Avocado, black beans, corn, green peppers, jalapeno peppers, onions, tomatoes, and scrambled eggs over hash brown potatoes with salsa, sour cream, and green onions
Address: 2130 S.W. 34th Street Gainesville, FL. 32608
5. Flying Biscuit Café
Head over to Flying Biscuit Café, one of the best breakfast spots in Gainesville, Florida, which serves benedicts, omelets, sandwiches, and even vegetarian and vegan options.
Flying Biscuit Café has been filling stomachs for over twenty-five years with its massive menu of mouthwatering dishes.
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
The experience there and the customer service alone should make the cut, but once you take a mouthful of their hot benedicts, you will enjoy the truest pleasure.
Although the line can be long during the peak breakfast hours on the weekend, the wait is worth it!
Not only do you have to come prepared for the amazing hospitality here, you also have to come prepared with a humongous appetite as well!
Best of all they are serving up their scrumptious award-winning meals and Best Breakfast All Day.
This will surely become one of your favorite places to go for breakfast in Gainesville any day of the week. They make sure their dishes bring customers satisfaction and happy bellies all day long.
Top Dishes on the Menu
- Fried Green Tomatoes: Classic Southern sliced green tomatoes seasoned with cornmeal and topped with house-made cashew-jalapeno relish, tangy goat cheese, and, a side of buttermilk ranch
- Hangover Hash: “Moon dusted” potatoes with a heavy downpour of queso, covered with chicken and topped with two over medium eggs, black bean salsa with a sprinkle of cilantro
- Stuffed French Toast Breakfast: Two thick slices of challah bread dipped in their signature batter, grilled, stuffed with sweet cream cheese, and topped with raspberry sauce, honey crème anglaise, fresh strawberries, and powdered sugar served with two eggs and two chicken sage sausage patties
Address: 4150 NW 16th Boulevard, Gainesville, FL 32605
6. 43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House
Add another great eatery for your to-do list!
43rd Street Deli and Breakfast House is a famous spot for breakfast among locals and tourists alike.
It has two branches in Gainesville alone.
So, if you want to eat like a local this is the place to go!
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
Whether it be a two-eggs breakfast with your choice of steaks, chops, or patties to choose from or a light biscuit special, or even a vegan and vegetarian meal, 43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House will cater to your every need.
Don’t let the appearance fool you. This is a true staple of Gainesville right off of Interstate-75 .
You’ll be treated to the best Southern hospitality and food that will remind you of your momma’s cooking 🙂
If you are looking for one of the best places to go for a solo breakfast this is the perfect choice. You can just take a seat up at the counter or join the rest amongst the booths you will be right at home in their cozy diner vibes.
This hidden gem in Gainesville ticks all the boxes, its food and service is truly outstanding.
Top Dishes on the Menu
- Black Bean Cakes: Two grilled black bean cakes smothered in homemade ranchero sauce, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, and green onions served with two eggs any style, grits, hash browns, or home fries a biscuit, or toast, and sour cream
- Reuben Buster: Corned beef hash, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese served with 1,000 Island dressing over home fries, hash browns, grits, or brown rice and topped with two eggs any style
- Sweet Potato Waffle Combo: Sweet potato waffle, two eggs any style, and your choice of two bacon strips or sausage links (add pecans for a sweet extra)
Addresses for 43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House :
- South Branch: 3483 SW Williston Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608, United States
- West Branch: 4401 NW 25th Pl, Gainesville, FL 32606, United States
7. East End Eatery
Eggs Benedict, sweet waffles, French toast, three-egg omelets, bagels, breakfast burritos; everything you can think of, East End Eatery serves.
Don’t worry if you sleep in they serve up breakfast all day long Monday to Friday until 3 p.m. And if it’s the weekend and you have that urge to dive into a good old late breakfast well no worries, they also serve Brunch on Sundays until 3 p.m. too.
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
Traditional, aesthetic, modern, and delicate; East End Eatery brings you the ideal blend of scrumptious breakfasts with a calm environment.
It’s truly a local’s favorite breakfast spot in Gainesville, Florida.
Top Dishes on the Menu
- Huevos Rancheros: 2 eggs over medium topped with cheddar cheese and house-made salsa atop a crispy corn tortilla, black beans, and roasted breakfast potatoes.
- TBM Omelet: Fluffy 3-egg omelet with tomato, basil pesto, and mozzarella served with a choice of smoked Gouda grits or roasted new potatoes
- Tempeh Scramble: Grilled Artie’s Tempeh with spinach, mushrooms, tomato, and cheddar (or vegan cheese) served with your choice of smoked Gouda grits or roasted new potatoes
Address: 1202 NE 8th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
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8. Afternoon
Dive your fork into whipped feta toast, egg, cheddar, snack plates, classic BLT, and Salads, and take a sip of the best coffee served at Afternoon.
This is indeed one of the leading breakfast and brunch spots in Gainesville, Florida that you can’t miss!
They offer some of the best breakfast in Gainesville where the menu is full of both sweet and savory dishes and scrumptious combinations that are sure to satisfy whatever you are craving.
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
I love how the Afternoon offers you a special to-go menu (take away menu), which keeps you happy while keeping your tummy full.
The reason why I also love this place is not only do they offer hearty breakfast options for you, but they also offer a variety of healthy alternatives if that’s your preferred cuisine.
Afternoon is a true hipster hang-out that is a casual but chic restaurant that everyone can come out and enjoy. Be sure to check out their Instagram Page for daily updates to the menu!
Top Dishes on the Menu
- Mushroom Tartine: Local Oyster mushrooms, duxelles crème parmesan, gremolata
- Dutch Baby: Popover pancake, Florida oranges, thyme, maple syrup
- Crispy Potatoes: Garlic confit, onion crema, lime and herbs
Address: 231 NW 10th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
9. Peach Valley Café
Peach Valley Café brings authenticity and joy to the table; the breakfast and lunch eatery are hot contenders among the best breakfasts in Gainesville, Florida.
Give it a visit and experience a breakfast like no other.
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
So why is this the best place to go for your cravings?
Peach Valley Café serves so many different things on the menu like:
- Hot soups
- Sandwiches
- Salads
- Breakfast classics
- Cereals
- Muffins
- Wraps and so much more!
If you wake up craving a melt-in-your-mouth sweet treat then you must try their scrumptious sack of orchard fresh apple fritters. It goes perfectly with a caramel iced coffee for a heavenly breakfast escape.
Top Dishes on the Menu
- Very Berry Stuffed French Toast: Their traditional French toast with creamy Mascarpone cheese, topped with raspberry-blueberry compote and fresh seasonal berries
- Sack of Orchard Fresh Apple Fritters: Fresh granny smith apples in homemade batter, cooked to a golden brown. Tossed tableside in a cinnamon sugar blend and served with brown sugar-scented strawberry yogurt
- Philly Steak and Egg Croissant Benedict: Flaky croissant, Philly beef grilled with mushrooms, peppers, and red onions, poached eggs, and fresh Hollandaise sauce served with their breakfast potatoes
Address: 4871 Celebration Pointe Ave #10, Gainesville, FL 32608
Recommended: 10 Best Places to Have Brunch in Gainesville
10. The Bagel Bakery
Now for the cherry on the cake (or should I say Bagel on the Cake).
How can I talk about the best breakfast spots in Gainesville, Florida, and not include The Bagel Bakery?
Get yourself ready for the most flavorsome breakfast at the Bagel Bakery.
Why We Love This Breakfast Restaurant in Gainesville, Florida
Freshly baked bagels, creamy salads, traditional sweet breakfasts like muffins, waffles, cereals, savory delights like bagels with meat, sandwiches, and wraps.
This is why I love The Bagel Bakery and I know it will check all of the boxes on your “best breakfast list” as well!
Top Dishes on the Menu
- The Spinach & Sausage Focaccia: Parmesan cheese-covered egg scrambled with their special cooked spinach and sausage mix between their own focaccia bread
- Sundried Tomato Bagel with spinach and artichoke cream cheese
- Egg Bagel Scrambled egg topped with a choice of American, Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone, or Muenster cheese all sandwiched between your choice of bagel
Address: 4113 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605
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Honorable Mentions for the Best Breakfast in Gainesville, Florida
- Satch Squared
- The Gather Lounge
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4 Simple Tips For Dining in Gainesville, Florida
Now that you know where to get the best breakfast in Gainesville, here are some tips for dining in this Florida college town on your next trip.
1. Be Sure to Try the Eatery Specialties
Eateries most often offer the best combinations through their specialties, so when you order the special, you know you’re in for a treat!
2. Try Something New
Sure, casual and traditional are comfortable, but most eateries hold the chance to give your taste buds something new to look forward to.
Try what you haven’t, and surely, you’ll find a favorite!
3. Let Loose!
This sounds weird, but most restaurants and even these breakfast spots offer a wide range of premium wines, and you shouldn’t let the opportunity pass.
It’s worth a shot! (pun intended).
4. Sanitize, Social Distance, and Protect
A bonus tip to prevent getting sick or risking the health of others, maintain a social distance, sanitize frequently, and wear a mask!
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My Final Thoughts on the Best Breakfast in Gainesville, Florida
All of these ten spots are the best breakfast in Gainesville, Florida that you have to try.
I promise that you are bound to take you and your taste buds on such a wild, flavorful ride that you’ll be unable to stop eating on your Florida foodie tour.
Hit these breakfast spots right now to live your dream on a plate!
Until next time, Happy Florida Travels Hipster!
About the Author
My name is NikkyJ. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves exploring all the hidden gems of Florida!
I was born and raised in Leesburg, Florida which attributes to my passion about for this amazing state.
I want to show you how you can create your own memories while discovering the Sunshine State!
Connect with me on Instagram!
Get More Gainesville travel planning tips right here!
(Original Article Date: September 9, 2021/Updated by Editor on April 27, 2024)