Looking for the best breakfast in Cleveland, Ohio? From old-school diners serving enormous portions to neighborhood cafes, bagel shops and leisurely weekend brunches, Cleveland has plenty of places worth getting up for.
Whether you want a quick breakfast before a day of sightseeing or somewhere to settle in over pancakes and coffee, I’ve picked some of my favorite places for breakfast in Cleveland below.
I’ve included a real mix, so whether you’re after classic American comfort food, something sweet, vegan options or a proper Cleveland corned beef breakfast, you’ll find somewhere to start your day.
If you are looking for something more substantial here are some of the best restaurants in Cleveland.
15 Best Places For Breakfast In Cleveland
| Restaurant | Best For | Good to Know |
|---|---|---|
| West Side Market Cafe | Breakfast before exploring the market | Great if you’re already visiting West Side Market |
| Slyman’s | Famous Cleveland corned beef | Weekdays only |
| Inn on Coventry | Pancakes | Classic neighbourhood breakfast |
| TownHall | Healthier options | Better for weekend brunch |
| Juneberry Table | Seasonal local food | More modern, destination-style breakfast |
| Martha on the Fly | Breakfast sandwiches | Quick and casual |
| Al’s Deli | Early downtown breakfast | Handy before sightseeing |
| Grumpy’s Cafe | Classic neighbourhood breakfast | Open daily |
| Lucky’s Cafe | Homemade comfort food | Tremont favourite |
| Cleveland Bagel Co. | Quick breakfast | Good grab-and-go option |
| Vegan Doughnut Company | Sweet vegan breakfast | In nearby Lakewood |
| Big Al’s Diner | Old-school diner food | Big portions |
| Astoria | Mediterranean brunch | Weekends |
| My Friends | Breakfast anytime | Open 24 hours |
| Gus’s Family Restaurant | Big family breakfast | Traditional and filling |
West Side Market Cafe
Best for: Breakfast before exploring the market
Located in West Side Market’s southeast corner, not only is this café great for breakfast it is also a fabulous place to people watch. The vibe here is great and the prices are really reasonable. And most agree it is one of the best spots for breakfast for Cleveland.
The restaurant uses local ingredients from the market vendors and creates delicious homestyle dishes at an affordable price. You will find all the usual breakfast dishes here but with names like The Hot Mess you know you are in for something a little different.
The Andouille Frittata and the Market Monte Cristo seem to be favorites with the guests and to be honest, everyone seems to love this place. You get the idea that this place really cares about the food.
Why I love it: You can have breakfast in one of Cleveland’s most iconic restaurants and then wander around the West Side Market afterwards.
Try Cleveland’s Famous Corned Beef at Slyman’s
Best for: A proper Cleveland corned beef breakfas
If you are a corned beef sort of person then this place is for you. You get piles of corned beef with almost everything. That is what it is famous for.
They do also do other breakfast fare that you are more accustomed with and it is just as yummy.
If you like big portions then come here as they are famed for Clevelands biggest corned beef sandwich and it is huge. This is a breakfast in Cleveland that will last you well past lunchtime.
Why I love it: This place just feels so Cleveland. It’s an icon and a must try.
Go for Pancakes at The Inn on Coventry
Best for: Pancakes and a classic neighbourhood breakfast
If you like clean, modern, and fresh, then this place is for you. Serving breakfast since 1981 this is comfort food at its best.
Most locals agree they do the best pancakes in all Cleveland so if you love pancakes head here.
It is a casual and relaxed restaurant that manages to be cozy and spacious at the same time.
You will find all the traditional breakfast items here but they have something extra like the No Carb Bennie Bennie and the Crab Cake Benedict.
The menu is extensive and the pancakes seem to come in all shapes and forms. It can be a little more pricey but it is well worth it. A great place for a Cleveland breakfast.
Why I love it: This feels like the kind of neighborhood breakfast place you could spend all day, especially if you love pancakes.
Go for a Healthier Brunch at TownHall
Best for: A healthier weekend brunch
Open for brunch from 11 a.m. during the week and from 9 am during the weekend if you can please pay this place a visit.
Their ethos is to be as organic as possible and have no GMO-modified foods. It is a contemporary comfortable setting with a hip vibe.
Prepared with locally sourced ingredients from local farms this is beautiful healthy good food with some great vegan options.
The brunch menu has plenty of choice, from sweet potato hotcakes and breakfast tacos to avocado toast, huevos rancheros and lighter options such as the paleo power bowl. There are also plenty of vegan, gluten-free and other dietary-friendly choices.
The vegan menu has loads of options on it, and the crepe menu is really extensive. If you want a bit of a lighter breakfast then this will be the place for you.
Why I love it: This is the one I’d choose when everyone in the group wants something different, particularly if you’re looking for vegan, gluten-free or lighter brunch options. It’s a great place for weekend brunch.
Enjoy Breakfast at Juneberry Table
Best for: Seasonal, locally inspired breakfast
Juneberry Table is one of the newer names on Cleveland’s breakfast scene and has quickly become one of the city’s standout places to start the day.
The focus here is on seasonal Midwestern food, using ingredients from local farmers and producers wherever possible. The menu changes with the seasons, but expect familiar breakfast dishes given a more interesting twist, alongside pastries and plenty of savoury choices.
One of the things Juneberry does particularly well is make breakfast feel special without becoming overly fancy. It’s somewhere to linger over breakfast rather than simply grab something on the way to your next stop.
Don’t miss: The sweet potato cinnamon roll has become one of Juneberry Table’s signature dishes, so grab one if it’s available.
Why I love it: It’s modern and creative, but the food still feels comforting and familiar.
Grab Breakfast at Martha On The Fly
Best for: Breakfast sandwiches with a Cleveland twist
Martha on the Fly is a fun addition to Cleveland’s breakfast scene, particularly if you want something quick without settling for an ordinary grab-and-go breakfast.
The speciality here is breakfast sandwiches made with house-made brioche buns and their distinctive square egg patties. It’s retro, playful and a very different experience from the traditional diners elsewhere on this list.
This is also a good choice if you want to grab breakfast before exploring Tremont rather than spending a couple of hours over brunch.
Don’t miss: The breakfast sandwiches are the reason to come here. The Doris, particularly with bacon added, is one of the popular choices.
Why I love it: It’s fun, distinctly Cleveland and gives you a modern breakfast option that isn’t another sit-down brunch.
Grab an Early Breakfast at Al’s Deli
Best for: A quick breakfast in downtown Cleveland
This is your typical friendly neighborhood deli like the ones your grandma may have spoken about.
Breakfast is served most of the day so this is the place to come if you are off to a late start. You will find all the usuals like hot breakfast sandwiches, bagels, french toast and there is always something new on the breakfast specials.
It opens at 6.30 AM, and you can get anything from a peanut butter sandwich to a green pepper onion wrap. This hometown deli is a great option to have a great breakfast in Cleveland.
Why I love it: Not every breakfast needs to be somewhere trendy. Sometimes you just want good food, served early, right where you need it.
Start the Day at Grumpy’s Cafe
Best for: A proper Cleveland neighbourhood breakfast
Do not let the title put you off. The ethos of this restaurant is to serve fresh food that makes you feel good in a setting that feels like home.
Opening in the late 90’s in the Tremont district it is an independent family run restaurant much loved by the locals
The menu is extensive and caters to most needs. The menu is full of generous Cleveland-style comfort food, with pancakes, breakfast tacos, huevos rancheros, omelettes and plenty of vegan and gluten-free options too.
Most things are served with their famous Cajun Fires. If you after breakfast in Cleveland with some personality and a friendly smile then this is where to come.
Why I love it: It’s independent, unfussy and clearly loved by the people who actually live there.
Try the Homemade Breakfast at Lucky’s Cafe
Best for: Homemade food and a Cleveland breakfast institution
Close to the arty Tremont area, this place is a little quirky, unusual, and well, creative. You will find original art on the wall, freshly brewed coffee, and a menu full of delights.
You will find homemade granola, freshly baked goods, and such items on the menu as a Shipwreck and Canoewreck.
The menu isn’t huge but it is delightful and delicious. And a great place for a quirky breakfast in Cleveland.
Don’t miss: The biscuits and gravy. They’ve become one of Lucky’s signature dishes and were featured on both Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and The Best Thing I Ever Ate.
Grab a Cleveland-Style Bagel at Cleveland Bagel Company
Best for: A quick Cleveland-style breakfast
If you are looking for something lighter then head to Cleveland Bagel. There are two shops one in midtown and one on Detroit Ave.
They serve bagels the Cleveland way which means they are super chewy and not too sweet. The flavors are interesting such as Thyme Black Pepper Horseradish and Chorizo Chipotle. You can have them filled with an assortment of items or just plain butter.
They also offer vegan and vegetarian options. For a quick tasty Cleveland breakfast this might be just what you are looking for.
Why I love it: I love anything that’s become part of a city’s own food identity, and a proper Cleveland-style bagel gives you exactly that without needing to sit down for a huge breakfast.
Treat Yourself at The Vegan Doughnut Company
Best for: Something sweet and completely vegan
If you like your breakfast sweet then this is the place to go and the added bonus is they are 100% vegan. Just be warned go early as they sell out and then close.
Started by two sisters in 2018 this place is very popular and the doughnuts are delicious.
The flavors are unusual and change monthly. They open Thursday to Sunday from 8 am and 9 on the weekends.
Be forewarned, when having breakfast in Cleveland here, when the doughnuts are gone, they close!!
Don’t miss: See what the seasonal flavour is when you visit. Part of the fun here is that you never quite know what will be in the cabinet.
Go Classic at Big Al’s Diner
Best for: A classic Cleveland diner breakfast
If you are looking for a typical Cleveland diner experience then this is it. The menu is huge and the portions even bigger.
Breakfast is served from 7:30 AM, and this place has a reputation for great food. Expect generous portions of classic diner breakfasts, from pancakes and eggs to the corned beef hash Big Al’s has become particularly well known for. It’s straightforward, filling and exactly the kind of breakfast you hope to find in an old-school neighbourhood diner.
Customers rave about this place so if you are after a really big filling breakfast in Cleveland, then this is the place to visit.
Why I love it: Sometimes I don’t want breakfast reinvented. Big Al’s is the place I’d choose for proper diner food, big portions and absolutely no fuss.
Go Mediterranean at Astoria Cafe & Market
Best for: A Mediterranean-inspired weekend brunch
Astoria Cafe & Market brings something completely different with its Mediterranean-inspired weekend brunch. Part café, part bar and part speciality food market, it’s a great choice when you want breakfast to feel a little more like an occasion.
The food takes its inspiration from the Mediterranean, which means this isn’t another place built around huge stacks of pancakes and traditional American diner breakfasts. The market itself is also packed with imported and domestic cheeses, cured meats, olives, oils and other speciality foods, so it’s worth having a look around after you eat.
Why I love it: It is something genuinely different. Come here when you want a long, leisurely weekend brunch rather than a quick plate of eggs before sightseeing.
Cleveland also has some wonderful breweries to visit.
Eat Breakfast Anytime at My Friends Restaurant
Best for: Breakfast at absolutely any hour
Are you someone who wants breakfast when they want it rather than when someone says you should have it? If so this is the place for you!
This is breakfast how you want it and when you want it 24/7. It is classic American breakfast fare in a homey storefront eatery.
Opened in 1983 as the name suggests they wanted to make this a friendly neighborhood restaurant and they succeeded.
It is an eatery with soul and has an authentic feel that is hard to recreate. And the food is delicious and the menu extensive. Head here for your Cleveland breakfast!
Why I love it: There’s something wonderfully old-school about being able to walk into a proper neighbourhood diner at any hour of the day or night and order pancakes and eggs.
Fill Up at Gus’s Family Restaurant
Best for: Big portions and an old-school family breakfast
One of the oldest family restaurants in the area and located in the heart of Old Brooklyn, this restaurant serves breakfast all day.
They aim to deliver delicious food fast and serve all items within 5 -10 minutes of ordering. If you are in a rush you can count on this place
The restaurant really is part of the community and is a favorite with the locals. It serves all American fare but you will also find baked goods, blueberry hotcakes, and a chorizo breakfast burger.
Expect big smiles, big portions and a great atmosphere if you decide to have breakfast in Cleveland here!
Why I love it: This is the sort of place I’d choose when I want a no-nonsense breakfast, plenty on the plate and somewhere that feels rooted in the local neighbourhood.
Cleveland has a much better breakfast scene than people sometimes expect. From old-school diners and legendary corned beef to wonderful vegan food and great doughnuts, no one will be left out.
What I like about this list is the variety. You can grab something quick before sightseeing, there is so much to see and do in Cleveland or settle in for a huge diner breakfast or make brunch part of the day itself.
I hope this guide helps you find the right breakfast in Cleveland for your trip. And if you have a favourite local spot I haven’t included, I’d love to hear about it.
Wondering what to wear here are some outfits for Cleveland, Ohio.
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