We’ve all been there before, going the whole morning without breakfast because you are in unfamiliar terrain and don’t know where they serve the best breakfast in town. You shouldn’t have this problem in Charleston because many eateries serve breakfast in the port city. However, you deserve only the best, and we’ve made things easier for you by selecting the best places for breakfast in Charleston, SC.
The article is a comprehensive guide that explores the unique selling point of each restaurant, including its location, features, specialties, and dishes offered. The operation hours of each restaurant are also included to help you plan and know where to visit for an early breakfast or brunch.
Edmund’s Oast
With its tagline “Quality first, the rest will follow,” Edmund’s Oast is a popular restaurant in the city. They serve quality food and are renowned for their drinks. Located at 1081-B Morrison Dr. Charleston, SC., the restaurant opens its doors at 11:00 am.
At Edmund’s Oast, you can decide to go for a classic dessert, hearty entrees, house-made charcuterie, and snacks. It is characterized by a vast concrete slab making space for picnic tables meant for non-addicted beer drinkers. If a serene atmosphere where you can enjoy your freshly made drinks and palatable food are what you love, Edmund’s Oast is for you.
As a brewpub, Edmund’s Oast also serves locally brewed beer and hand-crafted co*cktails you’ll like. Over the weekend, the restaurant features a wide range of unique dishes such as cheese muffins, egg, sausage, buttermilk griddle cakes, and catfish. They offer outdoor seating and takeouts.
The Palmetto Café
Located in the heart of Charleston’s grand dame, Palmetto café is a great place to experience a fantastic breakfast. The café opens for breakfast at 7 am on weekdays and weekends. You could grab a brunch or early lunch between 12 pm to 3 pm.
The cafe’s interior decor and ambiance are top-notch. The interior is modern with a rustic feel. The restaurant is located on the main floor of Belmond Charleston Place, specializing in seafood and modern American dishes. There’s a wide array of food options here, including sandwiches and wraps, soups, and salads. You can also get specialty desserts alongside beers and wines.
If you are looking for something unique and tasty, You can try the signature Palmetto Omelet or the Gazpacho. The cafe is spacious and suitable for group breakfasts with family and friends. They have a lot of vegetarian options, and they take reservations.
Breizh Pan Crepes
Breizh Pan Crepes is suitable for people looking for a nice, cozy restaurant that offers delicious crepes with all-day espresso and omelets. The restaurant is the brainchild of two individuals with experience in culinary arts. This shows in the attention to detail and near-perfect meals they serve.
If you’re health-conscious, you’ll like it here. The restaurant offers gluten-free and dairy-free meals, crepes, and croissants. The sole principle that guides them at Breizh Pan Crepes is to respect food, cook with quality products, and understand the art of making a genuine crepe. It is located at 39 George Street, Charleston, South Carolina. They open every day except Sundays. Their doors are usually opened to customers at 9 am.
Breizh Pan Crepes serve crepes like French Crepes, Savory Crepes, and French Crepes. You can opt for something slightly different from the regular by ordering their Law’s La Tristan or Smoked Salmon. If you want a view of the street, you can choose a seat by the window. The restaurant offers delivery and takeouts.
Café Framboise
The general belief is that you get the authentic Southern hospitality at Café Framboise, and this is not far from the truth. The restaurant is described as casual yet comfortable. They offer top-notch service devoid of long waits. The Café is known for its goat cheese, spinach quiche, French pastries, baked goods, Chicken Panini, and breakfast crepes.
Most of the dishes for breakfast in Café Framboise were inspired by the bistros and patisseries in Paris, which is why you’ll get many French dishes on the menu. Apart from the French dishes, the cozy café also offers specialty coffees like the caramel macchiato, café au lait, choco mint latte, latte, macchiato, and cappuccino, among others.
It is located at 159 Market Street, Charleston, SC, in the heart of the French Quarter. It opens at 8 am every day except Mondays. The restaurant is ideal for group dining. They offer outdoor seating and offer takeouts.
Eli’s Table
Eli’s table is perfect for family breakfasts as they have a dedicated menu for kids, offering waffles, short stacks, and yogurt and berries for breakfast. The adults are not left behind as the assortment of dishes on the main menu is nothing short of splendid. They offer light breakfasts of Beignet and Berries & Citrus. You may also opt for their omelet, including the Wild Mushroom Omelet and the special Eli’s Breakfast. There’s also the sandwich and salad option for those that prefer them.
A closer look at the breakfast options served at Eli’s Table shows that you’ll be at home here if you’re on a vegan or vegetarian diet. The restaurant has a full bar to serve customers the best drinks to complement their meal. They offer delivery and takeouts.
Trotters Restaurant
The Trotters restaurant is situated in a modern space at the Town and Country Inn & Suites. It opens at 7:30 am and serves the finest Southern fare in the area. They offer different menus depending on the schedule, be sure to check ahead before visiting.
The restaurant’s atmosphere is serene, and the decor is calm, with a luxurious undertone. This setting sets the tone for building friendships and talking out over great food or just coffee during breakfast. The restaurant offers wonderful food and customer service. Its menu includes American cuisine, vegetarian-friendly, vegan options, and gluten-free options.
For breakfast, you can choose between cold cereal, Trotters starter, creative omelet, pancakes, French toast, and Belgian waffle. Trotters restaurant is a suitable destination for early breakfasts because it is open as early as 7:30 am daily. It is also ideal for group dining. The restaurant has a full bar, takes reservations, and offers takeouts.
Gnome Café
If a fantastic vegetarian breakfast is what you fancy, look no more, Gnome Café is your best bet. Located on President Street, the café specializes in breakfast and lunch dishes prepared from fresh plants and veggies. These specifications make them the best in offering healthy and tasty dishes.
The café offers delicious breakfast dishes like burritos alongside portabello mushrooms with some touch of vegan cheesy grits. You can also combine the breakfast burrito with hemp sausage if you are in the mood. You can take some sips of Stumptown Coffee beans, served with delicious caffeinated beverages.
Gnome Cafe opens every day except Sundays. They usually open their doors to diners at 7:30 am on weekdays, and 8 am on Saturdays. It is located in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, on the corner of President Street & Cannon Street, next to MUSC. The restaurant offers takeouts and delivery.
Early Bird Diner
For some reasons known to their customers, the parking lot of Early Bird Dinner is always filled, regardless of when you visit. If a dish made from scratch with full sweetness and savory is all you desire, then Early Bird Diner, Charleston, SC, is always there for you.
As its name implies, the early bird, they say, catches the worm. The Early Bird Dinner helps you give your stomach the satisfying meal it wants as early as possible. It is known for its chicken & waffles, a combination of pecan-crusted fried chicken and cinnamon waffles sprinkled with honey mustard sauce and maple syrup. Yummy!
The seating arrangement here makes it an ideal spot to eat breakfast with your spouse. You can sit face-to-face, look into their eyes, and get lost in them while eating. Early Bird Diner is located in West Ashley, 1644 Savannah Hwy, Charleston, SC. It opens every day at 8:00 am. The restaurant offers delivery and takeouts but doesn’t take reservations.
Mercantile and Mash
Located in the Cigar Factory on East Bay Street, Mercantile and Mash is a pleasure-loving food emporium where you can enjoy a nice early morning meal. It has a modern food hall, the first half of the emporium (Mercantile), and a full-time service whiskey bar, which is the second half (Mash). It opens by 7 am.
The food hall is known for its local and imported culinary items, handmade pasta, homemade sandwiches, and freshly baked goods. Mash, on the other hand, provides the visitors with freshly brewed coffee. Mercantile breakfast dishes range from granola and yogurt, salmon and cream cheese, and toasted oats.
There are also lunch and early dinner meals in Mercantile and Mash, along with some takeaway items. The hall has a vast space for entertainment, and you can also spend some time on your PC, catching fun or working remotely. Additionally, there is a large parking lot and free Wi-Fi.
Another Broken Egg Café
Intending to deliver delicious and uncompromised dishes, Another Broken Egg Café is yet another place for you to take your breakfast. It is different from just any random restaurant where you take typical meals and let go of the thought.
The restaurant offers exceptional services with their mouthwatering meals. At Another Broken Egg Café, you can opt for hand-crafted co*cktails, mimosas, chef-inspired breakfast, lunch, or brunch. It also provides a place for casual drinkers – a full bar option.
Their menu includes seasonal selections, bar & co*cktails, fresh avocados from Mexico, salads, beverages, and French toast. Above all, the restaurant offers professional catering services for indoor and outdoor events and gatherings. It provides an open space with couches for customers to sit and have fun while savoring the surrounding aroma.
Another Broken Egg Café opens at 7 am every day of the week and is located at 99 S Market Street, Charleston, SC.
Queen Street Grocery & Café
Queen Street Grocery is an excellent grocery store and café which serves freshly-prepared crepes & smoothies, and pressed sandwiches. It is a small, friendly, warm establishment with a large variety of domestic and craft beers.
Their menu is in categories of Breakfast crepes, including the Brittany, capers, Daniel, and Archdale (all primarily made of eggs with some other ingredients). The omelets available include Westside, El Che, and Ostara. You could also build your own omelet from scratch.
The BYO Breakfast Sandwich contains various eggs with cheese or bread, sausage, turkey, and cheddar, among others. Smoothies range from Vanderhorst, Bee Street, Huger Street, and Moultrie. Also, you can take coffee in the form of cold press coffee or hot coffee served with some touch of chocolate, almond, or soy milk. If you are craving Greek yogurt, be sure to try out their Granola Parfait.
The Queen Street Grocery opens at 9:00 am daily and is located at 133 Queen Street, Charleston, SC. The restaurant offers takeouts, delivery, and outdoor seating.
Swamp Fox Restaurant
Swamp Fox Restaurant offers all-day dishes starting with a delicious breakfast and a host of Southern meals. It opens at 7 am and is located inside the Francis Marion Hotel, 387 King Street, Charleston, SC.
The restaurant offers breakfast, likewise lunch, and dinner. They also offer room service to guests in the Francis Marion Hotel. There are co*cktails available with varieties of Lounge menus. On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, they offer live piano music for their customers.
There is a 30-seat Parkview room available for guests of Swamp Fox Restaurant. This Parkview is a large space for private or business dining experiences. The area is also great if you want a place to have bridal lunch showers, baby showers, retirement parties, weddings, graduation, or birthdays.
It is important to note that Swamp Fox Restaurant and Bar is known for its award-winning Shrimp and Grits. Their menu ranges from She Crab Soup, Francis Marion, Fried Chicken, Pan Seared Crab Cake, among others.
Bitty & Beau’s Coffee
More than just a place to grab a cup of coffee, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is known for its unique story and excellent service. The place is run by individuals with disabilities (down syndrome) and thus, making it a vibe-filled arena to catch your fun and grab your coffee.
The shop offers breakfast sandwiches and burritos, locally brewed coffee, and smoothies & sweet treats. It opens at 9 am, and the coffee shop is located at 159 Church Street, Charleston, South Carolina. It is known for its unique and outstanding experience savored alongside the coffee.
According to visitors and the media, Bitty & Beau’s Coffee is simply the best coffee spot in Charleston, SC. The menu features varieties of beverages like concoctions, fruit-flavored smoothies, and frappes, with hot and iced coffee and tea. If you are a fan of fresh-baked pastries and freshly brewed coffee, then Bitty and Beau’s coffee is the right place.
Sweetwater Café
Sweetwater Café does not strike you as a flashy, up-scale outlet; however, its most significant selling points are its simplicity and top-notch service. The cafe is filled with booth-style seats and carefully decorated with appealing photographs from the 1950s.
Some popular dishes on their menu include Pecan encrusted French toast, low country eggs benedict, meat lovers’ omelet, fresh crispy salads, sandwiches, and more, flame-grilled bopper burger, pancakes, and French toast. If you’re in the mood for something a bit different, try their Potato Pancake; its soft texture will definitely have you asking for more.
Sweetwater cafe is a good spot for group breakfasts; they offer takeouts and delivery but don’t take reservations. The café opens at 7 am every day except Sundays (8 am).
East Bay Meeting House Bar & Café
The East Bay Meeting House Bar and Café is a Parisian-inspired restaurant to get a nice cup of coffee to start the day off. They also serve tea, and their Green Tea Tropical is perfect for lovers of fruity tea.
The restaurant is commonly described as the marriage of Southern hospitality and European café culture, which is one reason it stands out. It opens at 8:30 every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays.
You can reserve a table with them. Some popular dishes include Shrimp Scampi, Sandwiches, Smoked Salmon Panini, and homemade granola. True to its name, the restaurant is a suitable place to dine in groups.
Above all, it is always open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. There is a fantastic café at the front, and the bar comes with many coffee drink options at the back.
Final Thoughts
The benefits of breakfast cannot be underestimated. However, all these benefits come from eating at a restaurant with well-prepared, properly cooked, and hygienically served meals. This article comprehensively explores the best places to eat your early morning meal in Charleston, SC.
The restaurants included were selected for their excellent customer service and overall attention to hygiene. We’ve also ensured that restaurants and outlets that serve meals that cater to special dietary needs were included.
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Kaeli
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