I know personally that I am the absolute worst when it comes to doing breakfast the right way. I usually eat whatever’s left over from takeout the other night and a strong cup of coffee before hitting the office. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and I bet you’ve been doing it wrong as well. Here’s a list of the best breakfast spots in Baltimore to ensure your work week, before-class routine or vacation gets off to a great start.
1. Blue Moon Cafe
1621 Aliceanna St.
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 522-3940
The Blue Moon Cafe will surely start your day off bright and early in Fell’s Point. One look at the brightly-colored and whimsical décor and you can’t help but be in a better mood. This breakfast must-have is usually packed, but it is certainly better than cold cereal and OJ. Blue Moon offers up good old diner favorites with killer hashbrowns and a specific Cap’n’Crunch French Toast that was featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. You can enjoy this favorite for around $6.
2. Miss Shirley’s Cafe
513 W. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21210
(410) 889-5272
Miss Shirley’s has three well-known locations, and all are just as good as the next. A general rule of thumb when eating some great down-home cooking, like the kind at Miss Shirley’s, is to come hungry and leave happy! For me, Monkey Bread reigns supreme in the breakfast world, and at Shirley’s, it’s no different. At around $12 or $15, you are sure to have a great, full-bellied experience. There are also locations at the Inner Harbor and Annapolis.
3. Pete’s Grille
3130 Greenmount Ave.
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 467-7698
Pete’s is a no-holds-barred, down-home diner spot. Plain and simple, it has a huge granite bar-style countertop with a wait staff behind it ready to fill your coffee or bring you some more of their awesome home fries. Definitely try the chicken and waffles with the home fries. For around $10, you can’t go wrong.
4. Jack and Zach Food
333 N. Charles St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(443) 435-7647
Jack and Zach’s doesn’t mess around when it comes to breakfast! It tosses up some serious food, mostly incorporating its awesome sausages. A local mainstay is the omelette of the day. For nine bones, you can snag local eggs with vegetables and that infamous sausage. If you’re lucky, you’ll have the chance to meet the owners, but most likely, they will be working the counter and the grill.
5. Teavolve Cafe Lounge
1401 Aliceanna St.
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 522-1907
If you love all things brunch, Teavolve is the way to go. This Inner Harbor brunch spot is a mecca for local specialties, including a crabmeat and egg sandwich on a croissant for $9. Not only is the breakfast, lunch and brunch great, but the atmosphere changes throughout the day. By morning, it’s a hotbed for business minds hustlin’ to the office, and by night, poetry readings and book clubs.
6. Papermoon Cafe
227 W. 29th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 889-4444
Papermoon, not to be confused with Blue Moon, offers everything from carnivorous dishes to fully vegetarian. The atmosphere is very similar to Blue Moon — very colorful and fun-loving. The Uptown Omelette With Grits seems to be the way to go. The omelette features bacon, mushrooms and spinach with goat cheese for $12.
7. Gertrude’s
10 Art Museum Drive
Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 889-3399
Gertrude’s is quite possibly the most convenient and delicious location in Baltimore for brunch. It’s situated in the Baltimore Museum of Art. Point blank, the crab omelette is to die for. It’s served with sherried mushrooms, Gruyere cheese and herbs with home fries for $20 — definitely a must-have. Also, a great addition would be the Jalapeno Popper Bloody Mary if you’re of age.
8. Golden West Cafe
1105 W. 36th St.
Baltimore, MD 21211
(410) 889-8891
Golden West is the best in town for a great Tex-Mex breakfast experience. There’s only room enough for one of its huge breakfasts. If you’re not in the mood for a breakfast burrito, which is delicious — along with the quesadilla, the polenta is the way to go. It’s served with bacon or chorizo, two sunny-side-up eggs, salsa, chile sauce and two big wedges of polenta for $10.
9. Langermann’s
2400 Boston St.
Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 534-3287
Langermann’s is a great spot for a weekend brunch; serving dishes up for around $15, you can’t really go wrong here. It’s all about the experience. For that $15, you get an entree, a complimentary mimosa and access to a buffet filled with hashbrowns and things of that sort. This is a hangover cure if I’ve ever heard of one!
10. Sip & Bite Restaurant
2200 Boston St.
Baltimore, MD 21231
(410) 675-7077
Finally, Sip & Bite is your good old-fashioned 24-hour diner. This place has everything, but notably, the best is the omelettes. Try a favorite — the Sip & Bite namesake is country ham, bacon, sausage, red and green peppers, tomatoes, onions and imported feta for under $9. This is a great deal any time of day!
Breakfast not your style? Don’t miss the Best Crab Cakes in Baltimore. For more fun in Baltimore, check out these apartments in the area!