5 Savory Monterey Bay Brunch Hot Spots to Satisfy Every Breakfast Lover

Early morning hunger caught you in the Monterey Bay? Check out these awesome locations to break in your first meal of the day!

Everyone knows Monterey, California, thrives on the hospitality industry. With the majority of our business coming from tourism, visitors and locals alike will find restaurant after restaurant down basically any street. You could always join us on our Old Monterey Food Tour to check out some great spots downtown, but some people are more into breakfast than lunch. Outside some of the great restaurants we feature on all of our tours, we wanted to take a moment and shout out a couple of other great brunch spots you can find in the surrounding areas, if that’s more your thing.

Crema — Pacific Grove

@cremapg / via Instagram.com

This mansion-turned-restaurant, Crema is a definite favorite of Pacific Grove and Monterey locals alike. There are three different room options for dining, with a little garden outside, as well. With their bottomless mimosas for $17, their cafe downstairs, and their homemade-fresh brunch favorites, make sure you come with some time to wait for a table. They’re usually packed, and for good reason. Their food is always on point, and no matter where you sit, you feel like you’re in a portion of history in this Victorian-style home. My personal favorite are the breakfast fries, which come with eggs and bacon. Get yourself a Chile Verde California Breakfast Burrito or a Good Morning Breakfast Sammy, though, and I’m sure you won’t regret it.

First Awakenings — Pacific Grove/Salinas

@firstawakeningspg / via Instagram.com

Another favorite for the locals, especially for those who love an outdoor patio, First Awakenings never disappoints. Like, ever. You order a coffee, they bring you a pot. You order a water, they bring you a pitcher. You order a bacon avocado omelet with no salsa sub Monterey Jack/cheddar mix (which is what I get,) it comes to the table in three minutes, hot and cooked to perfection. It’s a good thing it only takes twenty minutes to eat — sometimes it takes almost an hour just to sit down! But don’t worry, if the location on the New Monterey/Pacific Grove Border near Cannery Row is too busy, you can always try out their original location in Salinas, too!

The Breakfast Club — Seaside

@breakfastclub831 / via Instagram.com

Those in the mood for a diner where you feel like part of the family should look no further than The Breakfast Club in Seaside. When they’re at their busiest (aka Saturday and Sunday mornings), prepare yourself for the parking nightmare that awaits. Perhaps pack a light snack to tide yourself over, or park a few streets down. The coffee they serve outside while you wait certainly helps keep the breakfast grumps at bay, but make sure everyone in party is prompt for your reservation — they won’t seat you until everyone’s there! Once you’re situated, the waffles and French toast portions of the menu are always satisfying. The Ron’s Omelet or Turkey Avocado Eggs Benedict are always equally worth ordering.

Salt Wood Kitchen and Oysterette — Marina

@saltwoodkitchen / via Instagram.com

Apart from their killer oyster bar and to-die-for-libations (see: 6 Incredible Whiskey-Based Drinks in Monterey Bay), Salt Wood Kitchen and Oysterette offers another salivating offer on Saturdays and Sundays: Brunch! If you have a sweet tooth (like I do,) you must try their monkey bread. I don’t want any excuses. You have to try their monkey bread. (If you don’t like sweets, carry on.) Other than the monkey bread, feast on some hearty chicken and waffles, or a Croque Madam. Who doesn’t love a French-styled sandwich with bistro ham, cheese, pickled onions, and an egg to bring in the new day? Word on the street also says the Duck Biscuits and Gravy is also out-of-this-world, but we’ll leave you to try that one out for yourself.

Melville Tavern — Old Monterey

@melvilletavern / via Instagram.com

If you’re at all familiar with our Old Monterey Food Tour, you’ve probably experienced (or at least heard of) Melville Tavern. Apart from being part of our jam-packed list of tour partners, they’re so much more than just the impressive lunch spot we showcase! If you have a chance to check them out in the morning, (perhaps the morning after visiting them on our tour?), we heavily encourage you to check out their brunch menu. It might not be something you’d usually expect from a tavern, but we promise, the Breakfast Quesadilla won’t upset you. Or the classic Eggs Benedict. Or the Chocolate Chip Bacon Pancakes. Or their bottomless mimosas. Actually, come to think of it, nothing on their menu disappoints, so good luck choosing what to go with!

Have you ever tried out these brunch spots? What are some of your favorites? Any we missed you think we should know about? We’d love to hear from you in the comments! Hope to see you on a tour!