The Best Tallahassee Breakfast Spots

Tallahassee and FSU are known for several lunch and dinner spots (think Guthrie’s, MadSo, Sweet Shop) but a quality meal often overlooked in small college towns is the first one of each day—breakfast. While plenty of students are satisfied with a simple Waffle House experience or a breakfast food that starts with a ‘Mc’ (McMuffins, anyone?), there is still nothing like a go-to eatery designed to please those early morning cravings.

Regardless of whether you’re just tired of dining hall mundanity or simply have yet to venture out and sample some of Tally’s famous cuisine, you need to check out some of these restaurants the next time you get a craving for some classically delicious breakfast dishes.

Canopy Road Café

With locations all around Tallahassee, this modern-day diner has some unique selections to make any breakfast aficionado happy. They’ve been voted “Tallahassee’s Best Breakfast” by FSView and Florida Flambeau for 5 years straight, “Best Breakfast and Brunch” by Tallahassee Magazine in 2013 and 2014, and ranked “Top Breakfast Spot” on Trip Advisor. You’ll agree with these awards the second you taste one of their varied breakfast skillets or melt-in-your-mouth waffles. My personal favorites on the menu are all the creative pancake flavors, such as sweet potato, cookies and cream, and s’mores.

Maple Street Biscuit Company

This spot that specializes in breakfast biscuits is perfect for fans of the classic Chick-fil-A biscuit who will love the inventive twists on the dish. The choices include fried chicken toppings such as bacon, apple butter, pickles, fried eggs, and goat cheese. The sides are arguably the best part: Smokey Mountain mac-n-cheese, fried green tomatoes, and sweet potato fries with honey mustard are sure to make your meal here.

Madison Social

What would a Tallahassee best breakfast post be without a Madison Social mention? While MadSo technically offers brunch, not breakfast, their unique and delicious brunch selections are always the talk of the town. They’ve been voted “Best Brunch in Tallahassee” and if you taste some of their dishes, you’ll know why. From mimosas and Bloody Mary’s to chicken and waffles and avocado toast, MadSo’s weekend brunch is something you have to try at least once while you’re at FSU.

Paisley Café

This adorable little place nestled in the heart of Midtown Tallahassee is full of unique brunch specialties. The restaurant’s concept is rooted in the motto that “We are not only able to nourish our customers physically, but also emotionally and spiritually through our ‘Love on a Plate.’” This motto is clear in the way they prepare some of our favorites, such as chorizo hash with a honey sour cream sriracha drizzle, or fresh shrimp and grits. While technically a brunch spot and not a breakfast one, their menu is still guaranteed to fulfill all your early morning cravings.

Merv’s

Unlike any of the other options on this list, Merv’s is worth a mention for their signature breakfast melts and “fancy” tater tots. While Merv’s is commonly known for their gourmet grilled cheeses at lunchtime, their breakfast wraps, spicy steak and eggs sandwich, or their French toast melt solidify their menu as a classic Tallahassee breakfast contender.

• breakfast
• brunch
• FSU
• Madison Social
• Tallahassee