Whether you’re grabbing a quick breakfast at a casual café or treating yourself to an elegant brunch, these Arizona restaurants have you covered when it comes to a delicious morning meal.
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Baja Café, Tucson
While Baja Café may be the home of the snickerdoodle pancake, this restaurant also does a bang-up job with corned beef and eggs, smoked brisket rancheros and the Liege waffles (named for a Belgium town). The scene is relaxed and the menu items, even traditional breakfast dishes, lean Southwestern.
Gathering Grounds, Patagonia
The buzzy and locally loved Gathering Grounds offers classic breakfasts such as omelets or biscuits and gravy, but its vegetarian options are equally impressive. Check out the Green Machine Bowl, a scramble layered with poblano peppers, spinach, green chiles and avocado. And don’t miss the gluten-free pastries.
Harlow’s Café, Tempe
Old-school diner Harlow’s has been a fixture in Tempe since 1980. Vintage movie memorabilia and photos of local and national sports heroes decorate the wood-paneled walls and straight-forward breakfast dishes such as creamed chipped beef or steak and eggs grace the menu.
Hash Kitchen, Phoenix
Hash Kitchen turns Sunday brunch into a party with deejays spinning tunes on the weekends and a stacked build-your-own Bloody Mary bar featuring everything from olives and asparagus to an array of cheeses. Don’t miss the restaurant’s namesake—hash entrees, such as birria, carnitas, chicken parm, chile relleno and huevos rancheros.
Credit: @hermosainn
Lon’s at Hermosa Inn, Phoenix
Brunch at Lon’s at Hermosa Inn is synonymous with elegance. Settle into a table on the patio to take in stunning mountain views amid vibrant bougainvillea while you sip on a kiwi mimosa, a perfect start to oysters on the half shell followed by a smoked salmon croissant benedict.
Makai Café, Lake Havasu City
This is waterfront dining at its best. Makai Cafe overlooks Lake Havasu City’s London Bridge, a stellar view that pairs delightfully with Makai’s homecooked breakfasts. Try the egg white, turkey and avocado omelet, or one of six benedict styles, or banana nut French toast.
Otro Café, Phoenix
Otro Café offers an inventive take on Mexico City-style cuisine, an interpretive fusion that extends to its brunch menu. Go bold with Consuelo del Sur—two eggs with chorizo, linguica sausage and tomatillo gravy—or keep it classic with a spinach frittata.
Otro Cafe, Phoenix.
The Secret Garden Café, Sedona
Hiking the red rocks can whip up an appetite, so head to The Secret Garden Café, a flower-filled bistro with an enchanting patio. If you’re craving healthful breakfast options, the menu is bountiful: veggie omelets, a garden scramble with tofu, gluten-free pancakes.
Toasted Owl, Flagstaff
The eclectic décor at Toasted Owl — owl paintings, retro bric-a-brac, knick-knacks galore, all of which is for sale should something catch your interest — might distract you from the menu. But that would be a mistake. The cinnamon rolls are legendary, the breakfast burritos are stuffed to the max, and the espresso drinks are exceptional.
Trapper’s Café, White Mountains
The country fried steak at Trapper’s Cafe will keep your belly full long after breakfast, but try to save room for the real charm of Trapper’s —the homemade pie. Choose from apple, apricot, blueberry and coconut cream.
Discover five-star chefs and nationally lauded restaurants tucked away in some of the state’s most off-the-beaten-path locales.
About the Author
Rudri Bhatt Patel
Rudri Bhatt Patel is a former attorney turned writer and editor. Prior to attending law school, she graduated with an MA in English with an emphasis in creative writing. She is the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, and her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Business Insider, Civil Eats, Saveur, Dame Magazine, Brain, Child Magazine, ESPN, Phoenix New Times and elsewhere. Find her work at www.rudribhattpatel.com.
