Updated June 4th, 2026

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Don’t start your day without a good breakfast. If you are wondering where to find the best breakfast in Atlanta, Georgia you are in the right place!

What’s the difference between breakfast and brunch? There is a big difference! Breakfast places in Atlanta are often open everyday of the week, whereas brunch spots may only serve their brunch foods during the weekend. Atlanta breakfast restaurants usually open earlier and close by early afternoon. Brunch places often open later, but also serve later in the day too. Breakfast usually sticks to the eggs, bacon, and pancakes staples. Brunch typically has some more lunch type offerings and often alcoholic drinks. Brunch items can be a little more inventive. This means there is a different vibe between the two and brunch can have more of a social gathering feel.

Okay okay, I admit many places work well for both breakfast and brunch or even serve different menus for both. Honestly most breakfast restaurants in Atlanta are great for brunch too. So because there is a lot of overlap, make sure to also check out my awesome list of brunch places in Atlanta.

For the best breakfast in Atlanta, whether you are looking for weekday breakfast or a weekend outing, you can’t go wrong with the following Atlanta breakfast spots.

Where to Eat the Best Breakfast in Atlanta

Home Grown

968 Memorial Dr SE (Reynoldstown)

Home Grown is the type of place you would think you would find in rural Georgia. Instead it is in the heart of Atlanta. Located in Reynoldstown, not too far from downtown Atlanta, Home Grown has a down home diner feel. While owner and chef Kevin Clark originally worked in fine dining, Home Grown is a nod back to his roots. All the comfort food menu items are made from local ingredients. There is even a garden out back!

I love the flavorful, fried chicken with a hint of heat. Whether you order the comfy chicken biscuit or the chicken and waffles you need to make sure chicken is included in your order! For a non-chicken dish go with the BEST, a French toast BLT. For any vegetarians out there, don’t worry the produce from the garden doesn’t go to waste and there are vegetable centric dishes for you.

The community feel and great service make Home Grown one of the best go to breakfast spots in Atlanta for locals and visitors alike. In a neighborhood that is rapidly gentrifying and surrounded by new development, it is great that the pricing hasn’t gone up a lot. Plus Clark and co-owner Lisa Spooner recently purchased the building so Home Grown is here to stay! The picture above doesn’t accurately convey the love of Home Grown that Atlantans have. On weekends you’ll always need to wait for a table. 

Ria’s Bluebird

421 Memorial Dr SE (Grant Park)

The NY Times rated Ria’s pancakes as the best in the world. I don’t know if I would quite go that far, but they are some of the best that I have had. I can confidently say they are the best pancakes in Atlanta. They are pretty huge, so you probably only need two, especially if you are ordering a side. I do have to say they are cooked to perfection. I hate when they are too doughy and nobody likes a burnt pancake either. Not to mention it is currently only $8 for two pancakes!

Ria’s Bluebird is one of the best Atlanta breakfast spots not just because of their pancakes. The other menu options are great too. One day they had a sausage and gravy biscuit special. I could taste that the sausage was truly homemade and not your typical skinny sausage patty. Definitely order a sausage on the side with your pancakes. The potatoes are also a delicious side with seasoning that makes them extra good. 

They have two seating places that aren’t connected. One is an indoor space that is fully temperature controlled. The other is a covered tent like area that is a little more spread out. They have heaters and it is quite warm all year round. It’s a colorful space with nice artwork on the walls.

Atlanta Breakfast Club

249 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd NW (Downtown) 

Many Atlanta breakfast places serve chicken and waffles. It’s so hard to choose the best chicken and waffles in Atlanta, but Atlanta Breakfast Club’s version is at the top of my list. It is one of my favorite breakfast items, but when it is done right with a thick and fluffy waffle and perfectly seasoned fried chicken I am an extra happy girl. This tasty combination and the peach cobbler french toast are the dishes to order here.

You can expect a long wait at many of the breakfast spots in Atlanta, but prepare for an even longer wait here. Put your name on the Yelp waiting list hours before you want to eat. The Georgia Aquarium, World of Coca Cola and other top city attractions are right across the street. Use the Atlanta City Pass and your wait will fly by as you check out one of these cool places. 

They do not provide tap water. Bring your own water or be prepared to pay for a bottle of water. Prices are more in line with brunch places in Atlanta versus the other Atlanta breakfast places I included in this post. Luckily the food is so good that you will soon forget any downfalls. 

Flying Biscuit

ITP Locations: 118 Centennial Olympic Park Dr Suite 18 (Castleberry Hill), 705 Town Blvd Suite R – 480 (Brookhaven), 857 Collier Rd NW Suite 16 (Howell Mill Village), 3280 Peachtree Rd NE #145 (Buckhead), 1530 DeKalb Ave NE (Candler), 1001 Piedmont Ave NE (Midtown), 2935-A N Druid Hills Rd (Toco Hills) 

When I visited Atlanta for the first time I was told the best breakfast in Atlanta was at Flying Biscuit Cafe. Now six years later after month long visits each year, Flying Biscuit is still one of the Atlanta breakfast places that I go to every single year.

In 1993 the first Flying Biscuit opened in Candler Park. Since that time over 30 locations have popped up in the Atlanta metro area and across the South and Southeast. There is still a location in Candler Park, but it has moved a few blocks away into a location with more parking. I was disappointed that it doesn’t have quite the eclectic charm of the original location. Luckily there are still some colorful murals. Spot the hand painted “flying biscuits” on the walls.

The second Flying Biscuit to open was the Midtown location, that is still in the same location. This one also has the signature, bright colorful tablecloths and painted walls. I always dine in Candler Park or Midtown.

Southern and comfort foods from pancakes to omelets fill the menus at all the locations. One of their most popular menu items is their award winning creamy dreamy grits. I don’t even like grits and I love their grits! Of course the signature biscuits with cranberry apple butter are a big hit as well. With how fast they are eaten the biscuits seem like they truly are flying away!

If you aren’t sold yet, the big portions and reasonable prices will seal the deal. The ‘high flyer’ will fill you up with a lot of Flying Biscuit’s best breakfast staples. It sadly no longer includes a biscuit, but if you ask nicely you may luck out and get one included!

Snooze an AM Eatery

ITP Locations: 931 Monroe Dr NE Suite 112A (Midtown) &  2973 Cobb Pkwy SE #100 (Cumberland)

Snooze is one of the best Atlanta breakfast restaurants. You’ll find classic breakfast items here with a bit of a twist. They make a variety of egg and omelet dishes. The corned beef hash with toast and eggs has the perfect flavor combination. French toast, Benedict’s, pancakes, and breakfast tacos are also on the menu. Seasonal specialities, such as pumpkin pancakes in fall, are also available. 

There are several varieties of mimosas, Bloody Marys and other boozy drinks to go along with your breakfast. Of course there are juices and coffee drinks as well.

Snooze is perfectly named because both ITP locations are open until 2:30pm during the week and 4pm on the weekends. You can sleep in and hit the snooze many times without having to worry about missing breakfast. Put your name on the Yelp waitlist ahead of time to reserve your table inside or outside on the patio.

Highland Bakery

25 Park Place Northeast (Downtown)

Looking for the most affordable breakfast places in Atlanta? Highland Bakery is your answer five days a week. Their breakfast items are served weekdays until closing time. Omelets and breakfast sandwiches are all under $10. Most of their bigger entrees are under $15. Those with a smaller appetite will be happy to know that you can order half orders of some of the dishes. 

Whatever you are craving you can find it on the menu. You need to try the sweet potato pancakes. If you have a sweet tooth you can grab a house made baked good after your meal…..or for your meal! Some of their mouthwatering entrees like the peanut butter french toast are basically eating a dessert for brunch.

After 20 years in business the original location of Highland Bakery in Old Fourth Ward closed. The only remaining location is downtown at GSU. The loss of the of O4W location was followed by the loss of the cilantro corn pancakes. Known as the Hobo Breakfast, these delicious pancakes were something different that couldn’t be found at other breakfast restaurants in Atlanta. I really hope they bring them back at their downtown location!

Thumbs Up Diner

ITP Locations: 573 Edgewood Ave SE (Old Fourth Ward), 826 Marietta St NW (West Midtown), 1617 White Way (East Point)

Thumbs Up Diner is another one of the best Atlanta breakfast spots with a casual, community atmosphere, and good comfort food. The prices are great here too, but they are cash only.  

All your favorite classic and Southern breakfast items are on the menu. You can build your own breakfast plate and order most items like pancakes, grits, eggs, bacon, and more a la carte.  You can order bigger breakfast originals like steak and eggs or shrimp and grits. 

It is one of the only places in Atlanta that serve chicken and waffles with eggs included. Both the waffle and eggs were delicious. The chicken strips were good, but wouldn’t be my first choice for chicken in Atlanta. The waffle can also come with smoked chicken wings instead. 

The Low Country Heap is definitely the dish to get! I had my eye on it after my first visit and was excited to go back to try it. It was quite spicy though and stung a bit. I loved the sausage and shrimp in it as well as the eggs. It is a hearty meal and a huge portion. It is served with a choice of a multi-grain biscuit or toast. Don’t miss the biscuit. It is huge and I haven’t had any other like it in Atlanta.

Currently there are seven locations, with three in the perimeter. I typically dine at the flagship location in O4W. Like all the best Atlanta breakfast restaurants, the wait can be long. They have a Yelp waitlist which makes the long wait a little more tolerable. Check out Thumb’s Up mural on the side of the diner while you’re there. It is one of the many cool murals you can find around the city. 

Sun in My Belly

2161 College Ave NE (Kirkwood)

Sun in My Belly is a cute neighborhood staple in Kirkwood. On a rainy Sunday afternoon I certainly needed some sun in my belly and the restaurant brightened my day. There was a short wait, but I can imagine it would have been even longer on a sunny day. No reservations can be made. There is a small covered patio in front of the restaurant along College Ave NE. 

The menu isn’t huge, but there are plenty of tempting options. The Kirkwood Breakfast is a popular choice. I went with the Belly Hash. With all the hearty and carby Southern dishes at other breakfast places in Atlanta, this is a flavorful, yet healthier option. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the lavender biscuit as lavender is something I think of looking at or smelling, but not eating. I’m a fan now!

Silver Skillet

200 14th St NW (Home Park)

I spend a month or two in Atlanta every year. Each visit I’m surprised with all the changes in the city. It’s a hard job keeping my Atlanta restaurant posts up to date with restaurants opening and closing left and right. Luckily there is some consistency with the best breakfast places in Atlanta. Silver Skillet is a prime example of that. The Southern diner has been around since 1956!

Due to the retro diner atmosphere, The Silver Skillet has been featured in countless movies and TV shows, including Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. The diner is often included in local, regional, and national publications. There is a long list of celebrities who have dined at The Silver Skillet. 

I asked the waitress for their specialties and she said the country ham, one of the omelets, and the chicken and waffles. Honestly when she said chicken and waffles I forgot about all the other options as I knew that is what I needed to order. I had been having a lot of hotel waffles so the waffle really hit the spot as well as the chicken. 

The Silver Skillet is the type of place I would take my dad to. That means it’s where you go when you want good, classic breakfast food. The food comes out really fast too.

First Watch

ITP Locations: 200 Bill Kennedy Wy SE Ste 702 (Reynoldstown), 2571 Blackmon Dr Suite 100 (Decatur), 5001 Peachtree Blvd #700 (Chamblee)

Other than a few local or small regional chains, I don’t include chains in my Atlanta restaurant posts.  I was hesitant to include First Watch as one of the best breakfast restaurants in Atlanta because the restaurant is a large chain with over 600 locations. 

After dining at First Watch I was pleasantly surprised and thought it was worth it to include in this post. Maybe I’m biased as it wasn’t a chain that I had grown up with and was a “new” chain for me. Although it has been around since the 1980s, the first time I had heard of it was when the Reynoldstown location opened in Madison Yards in 2020. The decor was nicer than I expected as well, with kind of a modern farmhouse chic decor. 

Another reason I wanted to include it is that they open at 7am seven days a week. Some of the other breakfast spots in Atlanta that I mentioned above don’t open until 8am. You won’t find me having breakfast at 7am or even 8am, but rumor has it that some people like to get up early. Crazy, I know!

Of course the food is a reason to dine at First Watch too. If it wasn’t you know it wouldn’t make it into the post. Do you want bacon and eggs, breakfast tacos, french toast, or avocado toast? Like many chain restaurants, the menu is huge. It’s a great place to go with a group who all have different preferences.

I enjoyed the Bacado ® Omelet with bacon and avocado. Its served with whole grain artisan toast and greens. The toast was very good. I regret not trying the jam until the end. I thought it was dressing and missed out on having more of it. The seasoned potatoes are a good choice too. I would like to go back for the farmhouse hash. 

Donuts

Is your idea of the perfect breakfast a delicious donut or two? You’re in luck. There are so many great donut places around the city. If you want to start your day off with a delicious sweet treat check out one of the best donut shops in Atlanta.

Waking up in the morning just got a little easier now that you know where to find the best Atlanta breakfast places! Don’t forget to read my post on the best brunch places in Atlanta for more ideas! If I helped you start your day with a happy belly, please consider supporting me by Buying Me a Coffee. 

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