This article is part of our Nutrition + Dining series. Here we explore holistic health topics and share favorite dishes from aligned restaurants.
10 top breakfast spots with sustainable and healthy options you can't miss
We know first-hand how incredibly frustrating it can be to find a delicious breakfast restaurant with a sustainable ethos that also serves healthy, nourishing options — including some leafy greens!
So we’ve taken on the challenge to do the work for you!
Did you catch the memo? Last week we dropped over 114 top US breakfast spots for health-conscious foodies.
These verified restaurants prioritize high-quality ingredients and sustainability… and they include leafy greens and veggies on their breakfast menus. They’re also highly rated, so you know the food is good!
A sample of 10 top-rated breakfast restaurants and cafes from our recent project are featured below. Enjoy this small ‘taste’ of healthy.
Bon appétit!
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Top healthy breakfasts from Coast to Coast
1. Farmstand (Farmhouse Inn, Forestville, CA)
In Sonoma Wine Country, Farmstand offers casual all-day dining backed by sustainable agriculture and a closed-loop approach from plants to plate.
The surrounding edible landscape of Farmhouse Inn boasts fresh herbs, veggies, and edible flowers used throughout the seasonal menus. The owners’ nearby farms provide additional organic produce, eggs, honey, heritage pork, and more.
These locally-grown greens and veggies are about as fresh and wholesome as they get, and much of your breakfast plate is sustainably sourced right onsite or down the road from nearby farms.
Kitchen waste is up-cycled to feed chickens that produce those glorious orange-yolk eggs. Biodegradable takeout containers are offered.
Our picks for a delicious healthy breakfast at Farmstand? The Savory Breakfast Bowl or Eggs in a Frame.
The Avocado Toast is topped with seasonal and/or pickled veggies. And certainly, there are more indulgent options like french toast, Croque Madame, and more.
They’re open as early as 7:30 am. You’ll wanna come back for a veggie-filled lunch or dinner too.
Photos courtesy of Farmstand
2. Bastion (Portland, OR)
Healthy seasonal fare’s a staple at our next top healthy breakfast pick, Bastion, a welcome addition to the Portland dining scene in late 2021.
This all-day counter-service cafe was started by a nutritionist on a mission to make craveable healthy food.
Bastion emphasizes organic ingredients, sustainability, community, and a healthy lifestyle. The menu is 100% Gluten-Free, Soy-free, and Refined Sugar-Free. It’s largely dairy-free, and no processed foods are used. Nearly everything is made in-house using nutrient-dense whole foods.
Find unique all-day items like grain-free smoked oyster mushroom tacos (with house kimchi and cilantro) or fancy Avocado Toast with microgreens, seasonal garnish, and more. Wild salmon salad or chimichurri chicken salad over a bed of greens make a wonderful protein-packed meal with leafy greens.
Don’t miss the all-day brunch running Friday – Sunday, with Wild Salmon hash and a scrumptious Breakfast Sando. And yes, the hash includes kale. 🙂
Breakfast here starts on the later side, at 9 am.
Photo courtesy of Bastion
3. Madrona (Healdsburg, CA)
The recently renovated Madrona Hotel in Sonoma Wine Country has an incredible breakfast menu with ample healthy deliciousness.
The Madrona’s weekday breakfast menu is one of the healthiest we’ve seen. It’s simple and succinct… and includes ingredients picked fresh from the surrounding grounds and the dedicated regenerative farm. What’s not to love?
But how to choose between the Brown Rice bowl with pickled veggies and egg or Vegetarian Garden Frittata?! You may need one of each to share. There’s also Straus Yogurt & granola, porridge, or more indulgent waffles.
Weekend brunch incorporates deviled eggs (featuring trout roe or kimchi) and the Madrona salad. The latter’s made with changing ingredients picked exclusively from the onsite garden.
Photos courtesy of Madrona
4. Maison Cafe + Market (Dana Point, CA)
at Maison Cafe
This European-inspired all-day cafe & bakery is a treat for both breakfast and lunch.
The veggie-centric seasonal menu changes often based on what’s available locally, and organic produce is always used.
Discover a tasty variety of savory toasts and tartines made with local artisan sourdough, veggie and grain bowls, egg scrambles or frittata, house-made gluten-free granola, and more. (not gonna mention that dutch baby!) And it’s all available til’ close. All-day breakfast, for the win!
PS their more recently opened sister artisan bakery, Giana, is just 5 minutes North on Hwy 1.
Photo courtesy of Maison Cafe
5. The Grove Cafe & Market (Albuquerque, NM)
This all-day artisan cafe was started by trail-blazing husband/wife team Jason & Lauren Greene in 2006. At the time, The Grove was the first farm-to-table restaurant of its kind in the area. And ever since, they’ve forged relationships with dozens of local producers to procure sustainable local produce, micro-greens, eggs, meat, fish, and more.
All-day breakfast and brunch are mainstays with organic eggs and wildly popular English muffins. There’s something for everyone, and we love that leafy greens and veggies are ubiquitous throughout their artful dishes. House-pickled vegetables and the house kale salad often accompany main plates. 🙂
Sauces, granola, chia jam, cookies, and treats are also made in-house. You can stop by the market to take home house specialties by the pint or pound, alongside other goods and gifts like cookbooks, candles, cards, etc.
Photos courtesy of The Grove
6. Bouldin Creek Cafe (Austin, TX)
Austin is practically bursting with breakfast tacos and Migas. But what’s one thing that’s not as prolific?
Greens and veggies with breakfast!
Thank goodness all-Vegetarian Bouldin Creek Cafe has our number. And they’ve had it for over two decades.
First, their eggs are pasture-raised locally in Texas.
Second, their omelettes and tofu scrambles come with 2 sides, notably including organic greens salad and your pick of beans. Hello, healthy breakfasts!
Dairy-free and Vegan options are available.
Hit up the omelettes and scrambles with confidence and then come back after 10 am to try their “Big Azz Salads”! There’s no shortage of opportunities to eat the rainbow here. They make a mean weekend brunch too.
Photo courtesy of Bouldin Creek Cafe
7. Lula Cafe (Chicago, IL)
One of the O.G. farm-to-table spots in Chi-town, Lula’s been around since 1999 and is known for creative, seasonal – and healthy – eats.
Most everything’s organic, with ample Vegetarian options plus Vegan, gluten-free or dairy-free options upon request.
Don’t miss their special seasonal breakfast sandwich.
Other healthy breakfast picks include the Trout Scramble, Tofu & Veggie Scramble, and grain bowl. Lunch offers vibrant salads and signature sandwiches. And definitely try the house slaw.
Photo courtesy of Lula Cafe.
2 Birds is a family-owned small coffee shop and all-day cafe with a passion for the smaller details.
Think: dishes finished with high-quality oils like EVOO or Walnut oil and a pinch of unrefined salt, not to mention microgreens and herbs. 🙂 The resulting delicious dishes are vibrant and made with care.
Morning choices here are comprised of solid breakfast staples plus an array of fancy toasts that are available all day.
The breakfast bowl’s a healthy go-to with grains, greens, veggies, and a soft-boiled egg.
The breakfast sammy’s a crowd favorite. We love it even more with farm greens 🙂
Try the house granola with berries atop greek yogurt drizzled with ginger-turmeric honey. Or have the dairy-free porridge served with coconut or almond milk.
And yes, locals and vacationers alike with a sweet tooth can indulge in baked goods and pastries (not gonna mention those donuts!). Healthy lunch options are also served.
2 Birds is one of 5+ remarkable spots we identified with healthy breakfasts around the Florida 30-A community!
Photos courtesy of 2 Birds Cafe.
9. Sunny Point Cafe (Asheville, NC)
Speaking of microgreens and vibrant flair, Sunny Point Cafe adorns many dishes with beautiful greens, microgreens, and edible flowers grown within an eyeshot of your table – fresh picked onsite from the restaurant’s own organic garden.
Scope out what’s growing at the Sunny Point gardens while you wait for a table (it’s popular – especially on weekends!).
Seasonal ingredients that are not grown onsite are sourced as locally as possible, along with local farm eggs and organic coffee.
They typically offer a breakfast salad, and you’ll otherwise need to choose a salad as your side of choice to keep it on the healthier side. E.g. Omelette du Jour with a side salad! This is upscale comfort food, after all.
And you may need someone else to order those carrot hotcakes so you can have a ‘taste’! 🙂 not to mention those insane biscuits or house-made desserts.
Photos courtesy of Sunny Point Cafe.
10. Cafe Lift (Haddonfield, NJ)
This outpost of the Philly original serves all-day, every day breakfast and brunch from 8 am – 3 pm.
The menu evolves seasonally with ample Vegetarian options. All ingredients are consciously sourced from responsible growers and producers and are hyper-local when possible.
In addition to a nice variety of egg dishes, find salads and a grain bowl, plus sandwiches and more.
And they bring the greens!
Healthy veggie-forward options include the Lyonnaise Salad, Veggie benedict with sauce on the side, Seasonal frittata, Grain bowl, Veggie Pita, Mushroom Toast, or Avocado Toast.
Quite a few more indulgent brunch dishes also beckon, making it the perfect spot to bring your not-as-healthy-seeking friends for a fantastic brunch for all.
Photos (+ cover) courtesy of Cafe Lift.
Find delicious healthy meals all day
We hope you enjoyed our roundup of these 10 remarkable places for a great breakfast across the US. All of these top breakfast spots have healthy, sustainable, and delicious options to help start your day off right.
If you’re looking for more amazing places to enjoy a great breakfast – or any meal – be sure to check out our full Collection with over 1,000 hand-selected places (and counting!) from the Bay Area and beyond. Thanks for reading!
18 States. 65 cities. 121+ great breakfast locations. And counting…
Members can view all best breakfast spots, including curated summaries, directions, and more for every single restaurant.
last updated: April 22, 2023
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