It has been said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Whether you are looking to remedy the shenanigans of the night prior or to get a jumpstart on your day, Milwaukee has a great collection of cool breakfast spots to check out. Here are a few of my favorites:
Engine Company No. 3
Located in a former Milwaukee fire house, Engine Company No. 3 pays homage to firefighters with photos and memorabilia throughout the two-story restaurant. The menu features ingredients from area Wisconsin farms and producers. Traditional breakfast items include blueberry hotcakes, French Toast and omelettes, while the specialty items may include Patacon con Huevo, a dish of Colombian origin with smashed plantains, or Urtain, a Basque region inspired plate with sirloin steak, chorizo, truffle fries and Spanish-style fried eggs. The house smoked baby red potatoes are a must have. A full bar is available. Suggested breakfast time cocktails include the Engine Company Bloody with a shorty Rhinelander chaser, a Classic Mimosa with Cava (available by glass or for the table), and a Cannella Bellini.
Location:
Walkers Point Neighborhood
217 W National Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53204
414-226-5695
Hours:
Tuesday – Friday 7AM – 2PM
Saturday & Sunday 9AM – 2PM
Closed Monday
Price: $$
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Story Hill BKC 
Story Hill BKC is a stylish new café in the Story Hill Neighborhood offering a different ambiance than the many neighboring sports pubs on Bluemound Road. BKC stands for Bottle, Kitchen, Cup, as the restaurant also houses a retail bottle shop with a nice selection of wine, specialty liquor and beer, including growlers. Breakfast specialties include a variety of sweet and savory crepes, a Crep-urrito, Baked French Toast Bread Pudding and a House-Made Sausage Loaf. Specialty coffee drinks such as Spiked Mexican Mocha and Fisherman’s Coffee made with bourbon and espresso feature the local roaster Valentine Coffee. Other popular choices include a Bloody Mary with house-infused vodka and a Man-Mosa made with O’so Brewery’s The Big O Wheat Beer and fresh squeezed OJ.
Location:
Story Hill Neighborhood
5100 W Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI
414-539-4424
Hours:
Tuesday – Thursday 9AM – 10PM
Friday & Saturday 9AM – 11PM
Sunday & Monday 9AM – 2PM
Price: $$
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Café Hollander
Café Hollander is a casual restaurant in the style of a European grand café found in the Benelux region (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg). Bicycles hang from the ceiling, plenty of Belgian beers are on tap and a great patio with a fountain invites people to relax and enjoy the neighborhood. Breakfast specialties include the Green Torpedo Omelette with spinach, basil, feta and goat cheeses; Banana Coconut Pancakes and a Maker’s Mark Bourbon Butter Waffle. Each menu item is listed with a Bierklasse suggested pairing, or you can choose from five different Bloody Marys. Another popular choice is the Bier Mosa made with OJ and Café Hollander’s specialty brew, High Speed Wit.
Location:
Murray Hill Neighborhood/Eastside
2608 N Downer Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 532111
414-963-6366
Hours:
Sunday – Thursday 8AM – 1AM
Friday & Saturday 8AM – 2AM
Price: $$
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Comet Café
Comet Café is a popular eastside eatery with a hipster vibe. Seating choices include booth, counter, bar or sidewalk seating, but be prepared for a wait. Menu items are the classics with a rule of thumb – always leave room for pie. The beverage list is extensive with nearly 100 beers and a variety of classic cocktails. Seriously, when is the last time you had a Harvey Wallbanger? Specialty cocktails include a Booze-a-latte made with coffee liquor and Ginger Brandy, the ‘Sconnie Mimosa taking the classic mimosa and adding a float of Door County Cranberry Wine and the Brunch Box, a concoction of amaretto, OJ, white beer and a float of Guinness. And I shouldn’t even tell you about the Sunday night bacon special.
Location:
Lower Eastside Neighborhood
1947 N Farwell Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-273-7677
Hours:
Monday – Thursday 10AM – 2AM
Friday 10AM – 2:30AM
Saturday 9AM – 2:30AM
Sunday 9AM – 2AM
Price: $$
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Café at the Plaza
This vintage Art Deco café inside The Plaza Hotel will make you feel that you’ve been transported back in time. Eggs Benedict, Corned Beef Hash and Brioche French Toast are classics on the menu. Specialty items include Lemon Poppyseed Pancakes with blueberry syrup, Veggie Benedict and Pork with Spaetzle. A great curvy counter with a view to the open kitchen is the most popular seating choice. Cocktails include the popular Bloody Mary with a Miller High Life shorty chaser; the Plaza Sunrise with amaretto, OJ, brandied cherries and grenadine; and the Greyhound, featuring Rehorst Lemon Vodka, grapefruit juice and LaCroix sparkling water. The open-air courtyard, tucked away between the buildings, is a great escape for al fresco dining in the warm weather. You’ll want to stay there all day.
Location:
Yankee Hill Neighborhood/East Town
1007 N Cass Street
Milwaukee, WI 53202
414-272-0515
Hours:
Daily 7AM – 2PM
Price: $$
