The Best Breakfast Spots In South Lake Union, Seattle

With a mission of navigating the shortest distance between the farm and your table through a creative seasonal menu, re:public (regarding the public) sits in a gorgeous warehouse space with exposed brick walls, wooden beams, and beautiful lighting fixtures throughout. Locals love stopping by for breakfast or brunch on the weekends to order a Bloody Mary and the delicious breakfast plate, which comes with French toast, homemade jam, your choice of eggs, bacon, apple slices, and crispy potato wedges. Patrons also love the Breakfast BLT and the Arctic Char Benedict that comes with amazing caramelized onion potatoes, as well as the crispy, eggy, and tasty large poutine to share with a big party. The granola and yogurt parfait is considered one of the best, and the Turkey Melt and Chilaquiles are other favorites. The restaurant also offers a wonderfully huge French toast made with huge slices of French baguette. Not too many people know about brunch at this place, so it’s an especially great option if you’re looking to avoid crowds.

Celebrating the warmth and flavors of the beautiful Northern Italian city from which it gets its name, Caffè Torino serves up amazing coffee, tea, sweets, sandwiches and salads to hungry locals. Offering Lavazza beans in all of its coffee beverages, the cafe’s menu includes both the usual favorites, like Americanos and cappuccinos, and uniquely authentic Torino drinks like the Torinese, a macchiato with cocoa powder served in a small glass, and the Bicerin, a mix of Italian hot chocolate, coffee, and cream. They also offer a drip coffee in either a light medium or a dark roast, both with great flavor. For those who don’t like coffee, the cafe also serves Steve Smith Tea from Portland, Oregon. All of the cafe’s sweets are baked in-house by their very talented pastry chef, whose signature cookies are made with polenta flour and perfectly accompany a steaming cup of Italian hot chocolate. In addition, the menu includes both meat-filled sandwiches and vegetarian or vegan options made with gluten free Udi bread.

Thanks to its proximity to the Amazon campus, Portage Bay Café is always crowded, but it’s definitely worth your time. Established in 1997, Portage Bay’s primary ethos when it started out was to raise the bar on quality in sourcing local and organic produce for its food. The walls of cafe are covered in pictures of some of the local farms, bakeries, and coffee and grain producers that source the restaurant. Their popular thick and hearty pancakes and French Toast can be smothered in any assortment of berries, syrup, whipped cream, and other delicious toppings from their topping bar, and they also make great fresh juice and coffee that is not too strong or too bitter. The patio is the perfect place to sit and enjoy your breakfast or brunch on a beautiful Seattle morning.