Going for breakfast in a cafe has become not just a chance to have a quality meal and coffee, but to also connect with friends and family. As time goes by, Canberra has evolved into a place bursting with terrific places to grab a morning meal, so we've come up with a list of the best breakfast cafes in the community.
Skip to list of Canberra's best breakfast cafes
- EQ Bakehouse and Cafe
- Red Baron
- As Nature Intended
- Common Grounds Gowrie
- Eighty/Twenty
- Local Press Cafe
- L'Orange Patisserie
- Mayfair Espresso Cafe
- RYE Cafe
- Sweet Bones Bakery and Cafe
- The Cupping Room
- Trevs at Dickson
What makes a great breakfast cafe?
There are so many places to grab breakfast or brunch across Canberra, so here are a few things to look out for to help you select one of the best.
- Friendly and quick service: The best breakfast cafes in Canberra will have staff that greet you with a smile and have an inviting demeanor. Nobody likes to wait too long after ordering their food or coffee, so it's important to find a cafe that is also efficient.
- Tasty menu at an affordable price: A great menu with a variety of options is essential for any cafe these days. Most places will have your classic breakfast choices such as bacon and eggs or smashed avo, but the best ones will have options for people with different tastes or dietary requirements. They should also have a good choice of beverages, such as juice or smoothie options to go with coffee and teas. Make sure to check out the menu before you head into the cafe so you know there is something you will enjoy at a reasonable price.
- Warm environment: Going out for breakfast isn't always just about the food and coffee, often being in a place with a nice atmosphere really enhances the experience. It can be difficult to know the environment of the cafe before you experience it for yourself, but try and look at some images and read a few reviews to get a slight feel.
- Great coffee: Many people like to start their day with an amazing coffee alongside their breakfast, so finding a quality brew is super important. The great cafes around town will use high-quality beans, have well-trained baristas and the right equipment to make a consistently great cup of coffee.
Breakfast options
The best breakfast cafes in Canberra offer a wide range of options for people to eat or drink when dining out. Some people have a focus on health eating so having menu items such as acai bowls, avocados, free range eggs and healthy wholemeal bread options are important. Others may prefer to
If there is a country known for healthy living, it would not be surprising to see Australia on the list. Medical professionals would agree that breakfast can be considered the most important meal of the day, therefore most Australians value what they eat in the morning. The love for breakfast can be seen in its restaurants and cafes offering it all day. The components of a common Australian breakfast typically comprise natural and healthy choices such as avocados, eggs, and local wholemeal bread. It could also be from an organic source since it is popular in the region.
If you are looking for other great businesses in Canberra, check out some of our other articles on the best cafes in Fyshwick, The best Kingston Foreshore restaurants and bars and Canberra’s best butchers.
The best breakfast cafes in Canberra 2024
To be listed as one of Canberra’s best businesses, Canberra Daily requires them to have maintained a track record of positive reviews on Google and Facebook, with a minimum average of 4/5 stars.
When looking for the best breakfast cafes in Canberra, check out our list of Canberra Daily’s best local businesses below.
Eighty/Twenty
Eighty/Twenty is a local award-winning café serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, pastries and more.
They believe that food should be treated as your fuel and that everyone benefits from eating clean, unprocessed and natural foods. All of their products are raw, real and natural and feature no added refined sugars or flavours.
Their motto is to provide healthy daily café options without compromising on taste. The menu has a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, as well as amazingly fresh smoothies, acai bowls and more.
With seven locations across Canberra, there is bound to be one near you.
Lee B left this glowing review on Google; “Excellent place for getting healthy food with good serving sizes. Extensive menu and great protein and salad options. Whenever I’m in town I will be visiting.”
Idelic Cafe & Catering
Located in Kingston, Idelic Cafe & Catering specialises in breakfast, lunch and of course, delicious coffee.
The drinks menu features all of your favourite coffee variations, while they also have cold drinks, smoothies, milkshakes and fresh juices.
They offer a range of great breakfast dishes, including french toast, pesto eggs, breakfast burger and pancakes, while the lunch menu features favourites such as chicken parmigiana, burgers, salads and wedges.
Mon- Fri 6:30am – 3pm
Saturday 7:30am – 2pm
Sam H left this five-star review on Google: “Incredible food. Our meals were served beautifully by very lovely staff and we have to go back again as there are other dishes we want to try. Great cafe and lovely vibe inside. Perfect for groups where some people like savoury meals and others like sweet options – or both! I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to find this gem. Great pricing too for the quality.”
The Cupping Room
Located in the city, The Cupping Room is a great place to grab breakfast and an exceptional cup of coffee.
They have a range of items on their food menu including smashed avo, bacon and egg roll, mango coco bowl, French toast and more.
While the food is delicious, The Cupping Room is most passionate about their coffee. The cafe was designed by Ona Coffee to share their knowledge about coffee with customers. So, if coffee is an important part of your breakfast, The Cupping Room may be the place for you.
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 7.30am to 3pm. Kitchen closes at 2pm.
- Weekends – 8.00am to 3.00pm. Kitchen closes at 2.30pm
Shona Parker wrote this on Google; “I can see why there’s a queue outside for The Cupping Room because it was superb. Avo on toast with poached eggs was a feast and accompanied by the smoothest, best flat white – so good I had a second! Service was warm and charming even when rushed off their feet. Will be back on our next trip to Canberra.”
Trevs At Dickson
Trevs at Dickson is a nicely located cafe where you can grab a bite to eat and enjoy good times with friends and family in a relaxed atmosphere.
Where possible, they use the best local and seasonal produce to create a varied breakfast menu that appeals to a wide range of people.
It offers a warm atmosphere to help you kick-start your day with an appetizing meal alongside an excellent coffee.
Opening hours:
- Monday 8:00am – 2:30pm
- Tuesday to Friday 8:00am – 2:30pm and 5:30pm – 9:30pm
- Saturday 8:30am – 2:00pm and 5:30pm – 10:00pm
- Sunday 8:30am-2:00pm
Alex Kindavong wrote this positive review on Google; “Fantastic service and food. Had the breakfast platter, all options were great, couldn’t go wrong.”
Local Press Cafe
Delightfully located on the Kingston Foreshore, Local Press Cafe offer some of the best fresh and natural breakfast items in Canberra.
The cafe is extremely passionate about healthy food with a motto “healthy planet, healthy planet” driving their core values.
They also support local farmers and businesses as it tries to use local ingredients as much as possible. Their menu has a range of delicious and nutritious food options, as well as quality coffee and other beverages.
Opening hours:
- Tuesday to Friday – 8am to 3pm
- Weekends – 8am to 4pm
Ella Russell left this five star review on Google; “Fantastic scenery. Great place and the staff were lovely. The tacos were out of this world incredible, highly recommended. The menu and vegan options were quite impressive, lots of different things to choose from. Overall, a really good little spot, just be aware that it’s quite expensive for the serving sizes given.”
RYE Cafe
Located in the heart of bustling Braddon, RYE has a focus on fresh, simple and delicious food, and also uses Five Senses coffee to help kick start your day.
They also have a wine list from some of our countries top producers, making it the perfect place to have a relaxed lunch with friends.
Sean left this review on Google; “Finally got around to trying out this place after walking by it a bunch. Don’t let the crowd scare you they got us seated quite quickly. Food, coffees, and service were excellent. Definitely a place you’ll want to try out. Very pleasantly surprised by the freshness of the fruits and pastries.”
Common Grounds Gowrie
Located at the Gowrie shops, Common Grounds is often busy with customers enjoying the quality coffee and great food.
A few other positives are that there is plenty of parking around the cafe, they have outdoor seating for when the weather is nice and the staff are always super friendly.
J wrote this review on Google; “Love common grounds! Good coffee and great vibe to this cafe. One of the better breakfast places to go in canberra. The french toast is great, as is the eggs benefict and smashed avo. Everything they do has a twist to the stock standard version of these classic dishes which you can get elsewhere.”
As Nature Intended
As Nature Intended, the popular café and grocery store, is stocked full to the brim with quality produce and delicious breakfast options.
Locally owned and run, they source their organic produce directly from producers via Eco Farms, and it comes with a certified organic guarantee.
They are committed to serving their customers healthy dishes made with quality ingredients. That’s why you’ll find everything on their menu is created with love and the produce from their in-house grocery store. They have high quality meat options, but also have a variety of vegan and dairy free menu items.
Opening hours:
- Tuesday to Saturday – 8.30am to 5.30pm
- Sunday – 8.30am to 4pm
Local guide on Google, Jasp, left this five star review; “An absolute oasis, surrounded by a beautiful garden setting with a great organic cafe, and high quality produce and products. The staff are super friendly and the cafe has a creative menu with lots of vegan options. A must try!”
Mayfair Espresso Cafe
Mayfair is a locally owned and operated cafe, specialising in making great tasting food and exceptional coffee.
The food ranges from your classic breakfast options, to the more adventurous chilli prawn croissant, while they also serve burgers, wraps and more. They use Canberra’s own ONA Coffee for to make their coffee, adding to their value that fresh is best.
Sean Lim left this five star review on Google; Hands down one of the best breakfast spot in City. Amazing service, lovely staff, great coffee. Definitely must give their “Loaded Roti” a try.”
Sweet Bones Bakery and Cafe
Sweet Bones Bakery and Cafe are famous in Canberra for having a delicious organic and vegan menu.
Ideally located in Braddon, the cafe has become increasingly popular due to its outstanding menu, quality service and warm atmosphere. They also opened up a second shop in Scullin in 2022. For breakfast, they have a host of tasty options from smashed avo to healthy bowls, a range of sweets and of course great coffee.
Braddon cafe open everyday from 8am – 3pm. Closed public holidays.
Scullin cafe open weekdays from 7am – 2pm and weekends 8am – 2pm. Closed public holidays.
Simone Vieira left this five star review on Google; “Very nice vegan cafe and bakery, menu has lots of delicious options, plus their baked goods look really good. We had soy cappuccinos, breakfast burger with scrambled tofu and I also bought a vegan cinamon scroll to take away. Everything was very nice and tasty, I will definitely come back to try other dishes. Staff is very friendly and helpful, service is very fast.”
Red Baron
Red Baron combines a friendly atmosphere with tasty food and drinks to be one of Canberra’s nicest cafes to enjoy breakfast, lunch or grab a coffee.
Their menu features a variety of delicious options, with customers able to enjoy a classic bacon and egg roll, eggs benedict, big breakfast, super bowl, French toast and more, while vegan and gluten-free options are available. The drinks menu also provides plenty of choice, with great tea and coffee available as well as milkshakes, smoothies and fresh juices.
The environment in the cafe is also a delight, with a stunning interior design coupled with an outdoor area to enjoy when the weather is nice. There is also plenty of room both inside and out to sit and relax by yourself or with company.
Open 6.30AM to 4.00PM Monday – Friday
Satisfied customer Luke Bowman left this five star review on Google; “I would like to congratulate Peter and his team on a wonderful experience. Not only is the air quality 5/5, but the coffee, service and food is as amazing! This is definitely a favorite venue for myself and my team!”
EQ Bakehouse & Cafe
With four locations across Canberra, EQ Bakehouse & Cafe is a favourite for locals right across the region.
Along with its quality coffee, EQ also serves a range of other delicious drinks, including hot chocolate, tea, milkshakes, smoothies, protein shakes and juices.
The food menu is also high quality. You can enjoy the full range of breakfast options featuring Italian baked eggs, the EQ breakfast burrito, eggs benedict, rocky road waffles and plenty more. They also offer substantial lunch choices such as burgers, fish and chips, chorizo and haloumi fettucine, calamari, salads and more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to eat out for breakfast?
This can depend on a number of factors, mainly what you order. If you just want a simple bacon and egg roll and a coffee then the price will be a lot less than ordering a big breakfast with a smoothie. It may also vary depending on the cafe, with some charging more for if they have a complicated menu with high-quality ingredients. Check the menu before you head to a cafe so you know how much you are expected to pay.
What are the benefits of eating breakfast?
Breakfast restores energy after waking up and not eating for potentially ten hours. A healthy breakfast can also provide you with essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients to help kick-start your day.
Do cafes provide healthy options for breakfast?
It depends on the cafe but the best will usually have a few options for people looking to eat healthily. Some cafes around Canberra pride themselves on their healthy menu and using the best quality foods. If you are looking for a tasty and nutritious breakfast, make sure to do some research before heading in.
Do cafes have vegan options for breakfast?
Most cafes will cater for vegans with at least one option, which is typically smashed avo. However, there are other cafes that have more vegan variety so make sure to check the menu before heading in.
What time are cafes open for breakfast?
Most cafes typically open somewhere around 6.30am to 7am to help those looking to start their day early. However it can depend on the cafe and others may not open until around 8am, so make sure to check the opening hours before heading in. Some cafes may also be closed on the weekends or just Sunday, or their opening hours may just slightly differ.
