Rise and Shine: Traverse City’s Top 5 Breakfast Spots
Good morning, Traverse City foodies! Whether you're a local looking for your go-to breakfast haunt or a visitor seeking the best way to kickstart your day, we've got you covered. From cozy cafes serving delectable pastries to trendy brunch destinations featuring innovative twists on classic dishes, your breakfast dreams are about to come true.
Grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and let us take you on a mouthwatering journey through Traverse City's top five breakfast spots. Get ready to rise and shine with us!
Traverse City’s Top 5 Breakfast Spots
Want to know why these spots were chosen for our top five? Read on!
How We Evaluated Traverse City’s Top 5 Breakfast Spots
OK, we’ll be honest with you, the process for evaluation isn’t scientific, at least not yet. The five spots we chose are based on our 30+ years of going out to eat for breakfast in Traverse City. Long story short, we’ve eaten a lot of breakfast; these are our favorites.
Will we (eventually) develop a transparent ranking system with scoring and commentary? Yup. In fact, we’re working on it right now. Here’s the criteria we’re considering:
Strength of Menu: Does the menu offer the staples necessary to hit the nostalgic spot in our belly that can only be filled with classics? And, on the flip side, are there creative, unexpected options that can surprise and delight?
Coffee: It’s true, not everybody’s a coffee drinker, but hey, nobody’s perfect. We’re ranking coffee based on the standard drip brew with no cream, and no sugar. This is a test of ingredients as well as a test of preparation.
Vibe: Dining experiences are usually rated based on how things taste, which obviously makes sense. But, if we’re looking for the best of the best, it matters how a place makes you feel.
Is the Food Any Good?!: How did the food that landed on the plate actually taste?
Bang For The Buck: Did our wallet leave feeling as satisfied as our stomach? Note, this doesn’t mean cheapest, it means “Do we feel like we got our money’s worth?”
Leave us a comment below and let us know if you think these are the appropriate ways to evaluate a breakfast location.
Traverse City’s Top 5 Breakfast Spots (Explained)
#5: Hexenbelle
Images courtesy of the Hexenbelle Instagram account.
Where: 144 Hall St Suite 107, Traverse City, MI 49684
Web / Menu: https://hexenbelle.square.site
Contact: 231.486.6128
Why is Hexenbelle on the list?
Hexenbelle is a relatively new addition to the Traverse City breakfast scene, but we’ve literally never had a bad meal here. The coffee in this joint is as close to perfect as it can be; well-prepared, balanced, just the right temperature. There’s also a fantastic selection of espresso drinks if that’s your thing.
This is also the only real breakfast option on the list (and in TC as a whole) that offers a fully vegetarian menu. If you’re craving bacon, this isn’t your spot, but honestly, you won’t miss it. With a decidely Middle Eastern lean, the breakfast options (the Breakfast Pita is AMAZING, the vegan doughnuts are OUT OF THIS WORLD) here are sure to satisfy.
#4: S2S Sugar 2 Salt
Images courtesy of the S2S Sugar to Salt Instagram account.
Where: 1371 Gray Drive Suite 300, Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Web / Menu: https://s2s-sugar-2-salt.square.site
Contact: 231.492.4616
Why is S2S Sugar to Salt on the list?
If you’re looking for something to surprise and delight, S2S is your go-to spot. Their fresh takes on classic breakfast dishes really make them a singular option in Traverse City. For instance, here’s the description for the pancakes: “cornmeal buttermilk pancakes, fresh blackberry and blueberry, basil simple syrup, whip cream, nut and seed granola.”
We also love that their menu rotates based on the seasonality of fresh ingredients. S2S is the antithesis of a greasy spoon; it is refined, thought-provoking, delicious dining that can change week to week, making this a repeatable option.
#3: J&S Hamburg (downtown)
Images courtesy of the J&S’s Yelp page.
Where: 302 W. Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49684
Web / Menu: https://www.jshamburgdowntown.com
Contact: 231-947-5500
Why is J&S Hamburg on the list?
Remember how we said S2S Sugar 2 Salt was the antithesis of a greasy spoon? This is the greasy spoon we were talking about. And yet, this is, undeniably, the king of diner breakfasts in Traverse City; the first and last place you need to go if you’re the sort that likes a little bacon grease on the edge of your pancakes.
The coffee: hot, strong, and refilled often. The menu: The same since I started coming here looking for a cure for teenage hangovers (spoiler alert, that was a long time ago). The vibe: seat yourself, aim for a counter stool, don’t come expecting peace and quiet.
If you’re looking for a suggestion, get the Pine Street. Eggs, potatoes, meat, choice of toast or pancakes.
#2: The Towne Plaza
Images courtesy of Towne Plaza’s Trip Advisor page.
Where: 203 Cass Street, Traverse City, MI 49684
Web / Menu: https://www.facebook.com/TheTownePlaza/
Contact: 231-929-0900
Why is Towne Plaza on the list?
The Towne Plaza is a restaurant that has gone through multiple iterations in its history at the corner of Cass and State Street in Traverse City. Though we miss the dinner options (they’re currently only open for breakfast and lunch), the morning menu here is so sublime that it’s worthy of the silver medal.
What’s so great about it? The three B’s: Benedicts, Bloody Marys, Blueberry Pancakes.
The Towne Plaza is the undisputed Benedict champion of the north, boasting a classic, a chicken, a tenderloin, and (swoon) a short rib benedict that will melt your face.
The Bloody Marys here are strong and loaded with enough accoutrements to justify calling them a meal.
And, there’s just something about the way they do the pancakes here; they are soft and fluffy, the blueberries are sweet and tender, and there’s a little crisp around the edge that makes them, somehow, seem refined, which is a funny adjective for pancakes.
All in all, this place is as close to perfect as you can get without actually being perfect.
#1: Red Spire Brunch House
Images courtesy of the Red Spire Brunch House Instagram account.
Where: 800 Cottageview Drive, Suite 30, Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Web / Menu: https://www.redspirebrunchhouse.com
Contact: (231) 252-4648
Why is Red Spire Brunch House on the list?
Two words: simple excellence. Nothing at Red Spire Brunch House is overly complicated, nothing on the menu is something you’ve never heard of. The options at Red Spire are clean and familiar; classics. They aren’t trying to reinvent breakfast. And yet, the first bite into a Red Spire dish, something you’ve undoubtedly had before (OK, maybe not the crab cake benedict), elicits a “wow, that is good”.
The food, the ambience, the baked goods, the drink selection (yes, they have a wide variety of alcoholic options as well as excellent coffee and fresh-squeezed juices), and the general idea that great food doesn’t have to be complicated is what makes Red Spire the go-to spot whenever someone asks, “Where should we go for breakfast?”
It’s important to note, this reputation has gotten around. If you want to eat here, definitely consider a reservation; the wait can eclipse an hour, sometimes even during the week.
Your Turn
What spots in Traverse City did we miss? Where should we consider the next time we revisit this list? And, what should be a part of our criteria for considering breakfast spots in the future? Tell is in the comments below.