It’s a given that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but why not make it the most delicious? Start your morning with a kick of flavor at some of the best Santa Rosa restaurants and cafes.
Brother’s Cafe
The owners behind Sebastopol’s popular Hole in the Wall opened a twin restaurant in Santa Rosa in 2022. Brother’s Cafe serves a similar breakfast menu to the Sebastopol outpost (all day): omelets, pancakes and Benedicts are great, but don’t miss the Biscuits and Mushroom Gravy or Dutch Baby German pancake with caramelized apples. Located in the former Zee’s Diner. 3135 Cleveland Ave., 707-541-6345, brotherscafesr.com
Americana
Farm-to-table breakfasts from the owners of Estero Cafe in Valley Ford — all day! Top-notch dishes include fried chicken with country gravy, omelets, a lovely breakfast sandwich with Estero Gold cheese on a fresh ciabatta, yogurt parfait and pancakes with tasty fresh strawberry mimosas. 205 Fifth St., 707-755-1548, americanasonomacounty.com
Brew
An inclusive, couple-owned coffeehouse and cafe with tippity-top notch coffee drinks, tasty Village Bakery pastries, Rainbow toast, breakfast sandwiches, waffles and quiche. 555 Healdsburg Ave., 707-303-7372, brewcoffeeandbeer.com
Cafe Frida
A charming cafe and gallery with fancy coffee drinks, croissants, avocado toast and other casual morning sweets. A quiet outdoor patio is a favorite spot to meet friends. 300 South A St., Suite 4, 707-308-4344, cafefridagallery.com
Cafe Mimosa
It’s always mimosa time at this breakfast destination on Santa Rosa Avenue. Order a bottomless drink and pair it with gut-filling dishes, including country fried steak, biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, smoked salmon Benedict, waffles, pancakes and stuffed omelets. 456 College Ave., 707-293-9450, cafemimosaaa.com
Criminal Baking Co.
You can smell the buttery goodness even before you head inside. Sinful Sandos are a must, as is the Fun Guy, with mushrooms, bacon, spinach, goat cheese, basil and arugula pesto, lemon curd and a baked egg. Plus, burritos, granola, quiche and daily pastries. Owner Dawn Zaft and her team also make plenty of gluten-free bagels and vegan pastries. Breakfast salutes include Huevos Rancheros, quiche, English muffins and waffles. 808 Donahue St., 707-888-3546, criminalbakingcompany.com
Johnny Doughnuts
This Marin-based doughnut shop replaced City Garden Doughnuts with their own brand of goodness that includes the “Crodough,” a take on the croissant-doughnut hybrid, along with raspberry jelly filled Bismarks, wheat-free and vegan doughnuts and cinnamon rolls. 1200 Fourth St., 707-308-4836, johnnydoughnuts.com
Lita’s Cafe
No-frills family-owned cafe with hearty breakfasts that include chicken fried steak, Spam and eggs, Hawaiian locomoco (rice, burger patty, gravy and an egg), omelets, huevos rancheros, French toast and a Mickey Mouse pancake for the kids. 1973 Mendocino Ave., 707-575-1628, instagram.com/litascafe.official
Mac’s Deli
Breakfast is served all day (or at least until 4:30 p.m.) at this casual downtown deli. You’ll find Benedicts with lox, fluffy pancakes, waffles, and omelets with anything and everything under the sun. 630 Fourth St., 707-545-3785, macsdeliandcafe.com
Colibri Grill Cafe
A menu for everyone features seriously good Benedicts, including one with crab cakes, spinach, tomatoes and Hollandaise sauce. Coffee pear pancakes, Monte Cristo sandwich, corned beef hash and chicken and waffles round out the lengthy menu. 4233 Montgomery Drive, 707-538-2726, colibrigrill.com
Dierk’s Parkside Café
There’s literally no room for pretension at this intimate neighborhood restaurant. It’s a surprising place to find one of Wine Country’s favorite toques, Mark Dierkhising. But over the years, he’s created a morning institution popular with bed-headed kids, apres-bike groups and in-the-know Wine Country visitors hunched over Chicken Fried Steak, Huevos Rancheros and quite possibly the world’s best hangover cure: the Country Benedict. 404 Santa Rosa Ave., 707-573-5955, dierksparkside.com
Hank’s Creekside Cafe
Expect to sit around reading the paper on Saturday and Sunday mornings waiting for a table at this quirky Santa Rosa breakfast institution. Fluffy pancakes as big as your head, sausage, eggs and Huevos Rancheros, all served with a side of local cred and a homemade touch. Biscuits are made from scratch, eggs are fresh and the cottage fries are, oh my God good. 2800 Fourth St., 707-575-8839, hanks-creekside.com
Jeffrey’s Hillside Café
Former John Ash & Co. chef brings Wine Country dining to breakfast. Don’t miss their chilaquiles (best we’ve had), Southern-inspired biscuits and gravy, sticky bun french toast and cheese blintzes with lemon curd. Lines can get long on weekends, so put on your patient hat — it’s sooooo worth the wait. 2901 Fourth St., 707-546-6317, jeffreyshillsidecafe.com
Omelette Express
The Don Taylor classic where omelets are king. And queen. And all the royalty. A lengthy menu has add-ons ranging from bacon and avocado to anchovies and scallions. Daily Benedicts, French toast and oatmeal, too (if you really want that). 112 Fourth St., 707-525-1690, omeletteexpress.com
Vitality Bowls
A base of acai topped with fruit, grains, granola, honey or any of a dozen other toppings. Think of it as fro-yo without the yo. 1880 Mendocino Ave., Suite G, 707-540-0655, vitalitybowls.com
Zoftig Eatery
Made-with-love egg wraps and scrambles, along with fresh pastries of the day are a Bite Club favorite. 57 Montgomery Drive, 707-521-9554, zoftigeatery.com
Crepevine
Obviously you want the crepes here, mostly because they come with so much good stuff inside and my favorite home-style potatoes. Daily Benedicts, egg dishes and breakfast burritos plus pancakes and French toast make it a one-stop breakfast shop. 740 Farmers Lane, 707-577-8822, crepevine.com
Piner Café
A charming cafe with both the basics and some unusual picks served all day. The special is the chile relleno casserole, which usually sells out. Chicken fried steak, polish sausage, biscuits and gravy, pancakes and a long list of other breakfast norms. 975 Piner Road, 707-575-0165, pinercafe.com
Sam’s For Play Cafe
Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink menu includes traditional bacon and eggs, pancakes and Hangtown fry. 2630 Cleveland Ave., 707-528-2929; 1024 Sebastopol Road, 707-528-0506, samsforplaycafe.com
