Best Breakfast in the North Bay

Best Breakfast in the North Bay

Clean Plate Club

Clean Plate Club

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Just north of the Golden Gate Bridge lies a patchwork of small cities and towns known for their natural spaces, health-conscious culture and laid-back vibe. While the breakfast scene isn’t as bustling as the city, it is thriving in its own way — think morning coffee accompanied by birdsong. Whether you want French toast, eggs and the works or freshly baked pastries, here’s where we think you should start your day in the North Bay.

These are our North Bay Best Breakfast winners for 2023, selected by our editors — look for our readers’ choice winner, selected by our audience.

Featured photo: Equator

Southern Marin

Sausalito - Mill Valley - Tiburon

Bootjack-Wood-Fired-Breakfast-North-Bay-@bootjackwoodfired-800x450-1.png
Photo: @bootjackwoodfired

Bootjack Wood Fired

This little gem, located on a small side street just off downtown Mill Valley, offers coffee drinks, artisan pastries, breakfast sandwiches and focaccia pizza. A perfect place to fuel pre- or post-Dipsea hike. And its not uncommon to walk in when the baker is pulling an assortment of scones, muffins or galettes out of the oven. Hot, buttery pastries on a foggy Bay Area morning — need we say more? (Vegan and gluten-free options available.) Hours are Wednesday through Sunday 7:30am to 2pm. bootjackwoodfired.com

Photo: Courtesy of Whitney R./Yelp

Bayside Cafe

A harborside joint frequented by bicyclists and yacht owners alike boasts eggs and omelets in nearly infinite combinations. Sandwiches (the BLTA has avocado, of course), burgers can all be paired with drinks from an espresso and juice bar. Hours are 7:30am to 3pm Wednesday through Monday. Closed Tuesday. baysidecafe-sausalito.com 

Breakfast Farley Cavallo Point Lodge
Photo: Courtesy of Aubrie Pick

Farley

Fresh off a full remodel, Farley (formerly Farley Bar) has an energetic feel and snazzy look. Open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch on weekends, menus have the feel of an American bistro. All-day favorites such as the Niman Ranch Burger, Grilled Ahi Tuna Sandwich, and Umami Fries make appearances on both the dinner and lunch menus. The Huevos Rancheros is a breakfast standout; in addition to a Classic Benedict you can opt for a version loaded with Dungeness crab. But whether you have a sweet tooth or not, we recommend you start off with the Vanilla Bean Donuts. Topped with a brown sugar streusel, it’s like coffee cake disguised as doughnuts and with three to an order, they’re easy to share. The front porch boasts dog-friendly seating with, fog-permitting, amazing views of the Golden Gate and San Francisco skyline. Hours, Monday through Friday, 7am to 11am, Saturday and Sunday, 7am to 2pm. eatatfarley.com 

Photo Courtesy of Lighthouse Cafe Facebook

Lighthouse Café

Feel like breakfast followed by a two-minute walk to the Sausalito Marina? Look no further – Lighthouse Café is the place to go. Try one of their many variations of eggs, from benedicts to omelets and everything in between. Enjoy additional sides such as bacon, pancakes, hashbrowns, or, for a sweet treat, try their famous French Toast. Open daily from 7 am to 3 pm. lighthouse-restaurants.com

Photo: @equatorcoffees

Sausalito Equator

Apart from serving some of the most popular coffee in the area, this particular Equator (there are five others in the Bay Area) has ample patio seating and a full kitchen on the local end” of Sausalitos main strip. Their menu features seasonal toasts, sandwiches, salads, soups and some of the best gluten-free waffles around — both sweet and savory varieties. Pastries like fruit galettes and browned butter banana bread are also made in house. Hours are Monday through Friday 7:30am to 3pm. Saturday and Sunday 7:30am to 4:30pm. equatorcoffees.com

Photo: Courtesy of Van P./Yelp

Shoreline Coffee Shop

A former diner that subscribes to Marin’s holy trinity (sustainable-local-organic) churns out hot Stumptown Coffee and eggs and hash brown plates named for former waitresses. The eggs come from a farm down the street, the meatloaf is Stemple Creek grass-fed and gluten-free and the cochinita pork taco is a nice change of pace from a burger with a ‘62 set-up. Hours are 7:30am to 2:30pm daily, but open later if busy. shorelinecoffeeshop.com

Photo: Courtesy of Sam's Anchor Cafe

Sam’s Anchor Cafe

Seafood is the focus here, even at brunch when tower of fresh seafood and oysters sparkles in the sun glinting off Richardson Bay. Regulars come for the crab Benedict and smoked lobster roll; tourists love the ginormous prickly pear margarita bowl and everyone loves the deck — lines are known to stretch down the street on Sunday afternoons. Hours are 12pm to 10pm Monday through Friday, 10am to 10pm Saturday and Sunday. samscafe.com

Bread and Olive Oil Madrona Bakery Mill Valley
Photo: Courtesy of Madrona Bakery

Madrona Bakery

Sourdough bread, baguettes and pain d’epis (a pull-apart bread) are baked in the built-in, wood-fired Alan Scott oven. The opening menu includes coffee and tea, a range of pastries — such as kouign amann, lemon meringue croissants and pain au chocolat — cookies and a snack board. Stop in at lunch for a tartine or sandwich on house-baked bread, or a salad with a glass of bubbly. madronabakery.com

Shelves with bread loaves, Jane in Tiburon
Photo: Courtesy of Jane

Jane / Marin

1 Blackfield Dr, Belvedere Tiburon

415.388.8583

A coffee bar and seating area are much the same after a 2023 refresh of the Sweet Things space into San Francisco’s Jane. A grab and go fridge with salads and drinks is new while some legacy pastries from Sweet Things — carrot cake, black tie cake, and all the cupcakes — share shelf space with mocha, Oreo and other Jane cakes as well as croissants, naturally leavened breads and gluten-free cookies. The homewares and hostess gift aspect of business remains. Teas, dish towels, cookbooks, baking tools, jams that pair with breads, and other homewares are the focus. itsjane.com

Woman with plate of pancakes and bacon at Malibu Farm Tiburon
Photo by Alina Schessler

Malibu Farm Tiburon

Founder and chef Helene Henderson abides by a home-grown and sustainable ethos, using simple ingredients and techniques to make dishes like fennel-rubbed boneless half chicken and soy-ginger hanger steak feel fresh. The menu leans into seafood — there are ample choices for caviar, salmon, oysters and other ocean treats — as well as vegan or gluten-free reimaginings. “We aspire to be more inclusive,” says Henderson. Though the menu is vegetable-forward, “we recognize that not everyone in a group or family is craving or ready for those options.” malibu-farm.com/tiburon

Interior of Bob's Donuts Mill Valley with case full of colorful donuts
Photo: Courtesy of Bob's Donuts

Bob's Donuts

Established in the 1960s, Bob’s Donuts and Pastries has become a staple for donut lovers in San Francisco and the greater Bay Area, with their latest shop opened in Mill Valley. Famous for their apple fritters, giant donuts (a must-see to believe), and quality baked goods, stop by for a sweet treat. bobsdonutssf.com

Central Marin

Corte Madera – Larkspur – Kentfield – Ross – Fairfax – San Anselmo – San Rafael

Photo: Courtesy of Li W./Yelp

Half Day Cafe

The small touches on each dish — coffee and Kahula-infused French toast, fresh corn on the fiesta chicken salad — and all-day brunch menu on holidays attracts a dedicated following. The side patio is shaded and a large, tented outdoor space out back can accommodate larger groups. Hours are 7am to 2:30pm Monday through Friday, 8am to 2:30pm Saturday and Sunday. halfdaycafe.net

Photo: @sabrinapproved

MH Bread & Butter​

This snug breakfast, brunch and lunch place offers heated outdoor seating and plenty of fluffy omelet and traditional or spicy Benedict options, all with a side of the crispiest home fries or hash browns. Not into a savory breakfast? Their French toast is made with homemade cinnamon walnut bread and their griddle cakes nearly cover the circumference of the plate — add bananas, pecans and/or the seasonal berry for a treat in every bite. Hours are Tuesday through Sunday 7am to 2pm. Closed Monday. facebook.com/marvinsbreakfastclub

The exterior of Boichik Bagels, a breakfast spot in Larkspur
Photo: Courtesy of Boichik Bagels

Boichik Bagels

In March, 2021, New York Times food writer Tejal Rao famously called Californiaʼs bagels better than New Yorkʼs. The article put Emily Winstonʼs Berkeley bagel shop on the map and sheʼs never looked back. The freshest shop in the burgeoning Bay Area sandwich chain landed in downtown Larkspur in November with all the lox and schmears. Thereʼs even Sanka for the diehard Boomer New Yorkers among us. boichikbagels.com

Interior of Sour Kid Cafe San Rafael
Photo: Courtesy of Sour Kid Cafe

Sour Kid Cafe

When the unit next to the San Rafael location of Michaelʼs Sourdough Sandwiches became available, mom-son owners Jole and Christopher Braun decided to open another restaurant. A tight menu includes a full espresso bar with coees from San Franciscoʼs Grand Coee Roasters and fresh pastries from Woodbine Bakery and Rustic Bakery. Breakfast sandwiches like a Bacon, Egg and Cheddar or Pastrami, Egg and Swiss, are served on the familyʼs famous sourdough bread. Christopher insists the sleeper item on the menu is the avocado toast. sourkidcafe.com

Avocado toast with tomato from Rio Rock Acai Cafe
Photo: Courtesy of Rio Rock Acai Cafe

Rio Rock Açai Café

After years of studying at College of Marin and working at a local KWIK SERV, new owner Wuilian (Willy) Reyes took over the Kentfield café, reopening it in January after a ten month closure. Reyes kept the açai bowls, like the Carmen Miranda with cacao nibs and peanut butter, that the café was already known for and built out the menu to include sandwiches (avocado toast, lox bagel) and pastas. Boba and espresso drinks are coming soon. riorockacaicafe.com

Northern Marin

Novato

Photo: @marvinsbreakfastclubnovato

Marvin’s Breakfast Club

This snug breakfast, brunch and lunch place offers heated outdoor seating and plenty of fluffy omelet and traditional or spicy Benedict options, all with a side of the crispiest home fries or hash browns. Not into a savory breakfast? Their French toast is made with homemade cinnamon walnut bread and their griddle cakes nearly cover the circumference of the plate — add bananas, pecans and/or the seasonal berry for a treat in every bite. facebook.com/marvinsbreakfastclub

Long table set for breakfast at Kitchen Novato
Photo: Courtesy of Kitchen Novato

Kitchen

Tucked into the former Hangar 6 at Hamilton Landing, this breakfast and lunch café showcases a full espresso bar and the work of in-house pastry chef, Luis Neria, who crafts everything from croissants and cinnamon twists with hand-grated cinnamon to chocolate mousse cake and a tiramisu touched with brandy and coee. Look for a breakfast sandwich with herbed eggs and bacon or a veggie breakfast burrito in the morning, open-faced eggplant and burrata sandwich or kale and romaine Caesar at lunch. kitchennovato.com

Exterior of Star Restaurant's neon sign -- American and Latin American cuisine in Novato, California.
Photo by Sterling Reed.

Star Restaurant

Yeehaw! Star Restaurant in Novato is back, cowboy style. A full breakfast menu of American staples like bacon and waffles can be enjoyed in Star Restaurant’s Wild West-themed digs. With a massive menu and plenty of hot coffee, you’ll find plenty to enjoy at Star’s. Stick around for lunch when they switch the pancakes out for pupusas and a more Latin American-inspired menu. Slide into a booth and say howdy to your servers — all of them are decked out in cowboy garb! instagram.com/starrestaurantnovato

West Marin

Stinson Beach – Point Reyes – Marshall – Tomales – Lagunitas – Forest Knolls

Photo: @abbieattwoodwellness

Parkside Cafe

Perched where the beach meets the redwoods on the Marin coast, a cafe and market is a perfect spot to grab an outdoor table and savor the sunshine. A wood-fired oven turns out burnished loaves of bread and pizzas with just the right amount of char. Kids and beachgoers love the ice cream and hot dog takeout window; adults queue up for espresso and pastries. Hours are 7:30am to 9pm daily. parksidecafe.com 

Basket of muffins from behind the counter at Bovine Bakery in Point Reyes Station, California
Photo: @abbieattwoodwellness

Bovine Bakery

11315 Shoreline Hwy, Point Reyes Station

415.663.9420

A sprinkling of gluten-free fare such as a chocolate cherry almond cookies or blueberry banana muffins are regularly available, but the downtown Point Reyes Station bakery is beloved for its gluten-full raspberry almond marzipan tart and peanut butter blondies as well as for its savory croissants (chevre, spinach and mushroom is oh-so Marin). bovinebakeryptreyes.com

Tray of croissants and pastries from Brickmaiden Breads in Point Reyes Station, California
Photo: @abbieattwoodwellness

Brickmaiden Breads

40 Fourth St, Point Reyes Station

415.663.1203

The daily bread list includes country white sourdough and ficelle rolls but people often shop by day of the week for apricot hazelnut scones and lemon poppyseed poundcake. Thursday brings baker’s choice whole grain bread while Saturday means half or whole Khorasan miche — a French country-style sourdough made with ancient kamut — is available. brickmaidenbreads.com

Tray of croissants and pastries from Brickmaiden Breads in Point Reyes Station, California
Photo: @abbieattwoodwellness

Route One Bakery & Kitchen

The San Francisco Chronicle recently lauded Tomales’ popular bakery as one of the best bakeries in the Bay Area and we couldn’t agree more. Be sure to stop by during the morning for a breakfast biscuit sandwich stuffed with egg and cheese, an iced pecan roll or a ham and cheese croissant — the bakery transitions to a Roman-style pizzeria and sub shop at 11 a.m. routeonekitchen.com

More Local Favorites in the North Bay

Who’s writing these?

Meet our always-hungry team of foodies who compiled this list.
Please let us know if we’ve missed your favorite eat@localgetaways.com.

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