Christmas vacation starts tomorrow! I’m taking a full week off to relax during the holidays and couldn’t be more excited. I usually hoard my vacation days and use them to take a huge summer vacation (I’ve been dreaming of Positano again this year), but this year we did a smaller vacation so I had extra time off to use.
The best way to spend a day off in Chicago is to get up at the crack of dawn, I’m talking like 5am crack of dawn. I like to enjoy a cup of tea at home and then head out for breakfast. Previous to dating Mike, I hated breakfast. I felt like it was pointless, but now I love it! I’m a lot less cranky when I eat a full meal 🙂 I also love being out in the city when the rest of it is still sleeping. It still has the same energy and feel, but less crowded.
The breakfast scene in Chicago isn’t just traditional eggs and bacon. It’s so much more. In fact, the breakfast scene is just as trendy and exciting as the night time restaurant scene, but easier to get a reservation. To help you navigate the breakfast scene in Chicago I’m breaking down the Top Ten Breakfast Restaurants in Chicago and why I love them.
Best Hotel Breakfast – Free Rein
My favorite type of bar is a hotel lobby bar and my favorite breakfast spot is a hotel restaurant. I absolutely love hotel lobbies! For starters they remind me of vacation and a glamorous travel lifestyle. I also love the decor, it gives me great style inspiration.
Free Rein, located in the St. Jane hotel, has an adorable coffee bar right off the street and a full restaurant too. The eggs, in any form are the best thing on the menu. They are creamy and fluffy and melt in your mouth. Get the breakfast sandwich and you will feel full all morning long. The charred tomato aioli is delicious! For sides you have to get the breakfast potatoes. They are more like a dinner side than a traditional breakfast side. They are crispy and seasoned to perfection!
Best Traditional Breakfast – The Original Pancake House
Sometimes you just need a classic breakfast place with traditional options. The Original Pancake House in Chicago’s Gold Coast is the place to get this experience. While they are known for their pancakes, pretty much everything on the menu is delicious here. What I love about this place is anything you order comes with a side of pancakes. My go-to order is the western skillet (sub ham with bacon) and a side of blueberry pancakes. This place will always be on my list of the top ten breakfast restaurants in Chicago.
Best Foodie Breakfast – Little Goat
Located along restaurant row in Chicago’s trendy Fulton Market District, the Little Goat Diner will not disappoint. The decor is a nod to a traditional diner in the 50’s complete with bar stools at the counter. Everything on the menu is different, no classic eggs and bacon here. The Bullseye French Toast is a classic take on chicken and waffles. Grab a side of hashbrowns and be prepared to take some home. The helping is huge and they are smothered in a delicious white cheese.
Breakfast with a Side of Hustle- Cupitol
Grab your computer, notebook or whatever you need and get to work at this cafe. Located off the beaten path in the Streeterville neighborhood, this breakfast spot is packed with people hustling! They have traditional tables and a sizable lounge area with trendy furniture. The best item on the menu is the breakfast sandwich, as it’s served on a huge croissant.
Best Atmosphere at Breakfast – Summer House Santa Monica
Not all of my top ten breakfast restaurants in Chicago are downtown. Once in a while I venture “up north”, which means Lincoln Park to this downtown girl. It’s less than 2 miles from my house, though. Summer House Santa Monica has the best look and feel. It’s roof is all glass so it allows the warmth of the sun to creep in. No matter what time of year you go, it feels like summer inside. They offer several eggs benedict options, and all are delicious. However, the hashbrown eggs benedict is the best option. On your way out the door grab a chocolate chip cookie from the bakery. It will melt in your mouth.
Best Place for Bacon – Beatrix
If there is bacon being served I’m eating it. I love bacon. I mean who doesn’t? The best bacon is town is located at Beatrix. It’s candied bacon, coated in a sweet brown sugar mix. It’s to die for! I usually get the eggs your way, which is just like its sounds, eggs the way you want it. It is served with a side of hash browns, toast and bacon. Bring your computer with you and stay at the coffee shop when you are done with breakfast to get a little work done.
Best Fancy Breakfast – Nico Osteria
Sometimes you just want to get a little dressed up for breakfast. If your up for that, head over to Nico Osteria in Chicago’s Gold Coast. The inside is fancy and so is the menu. The food comes out looking as beautiful as the interior of the restaurant. The menu changes with the season, which is why I love it, but the teas are always consistent. Grab an Italian Green Almonide Tea. It’s worth the money, trust me!
Best Healthy Breakfast – True Food Kitchen
A restaurant that believes food should make you feel better, not worse. Their dishes are not only Instagram gold, they are healthy and delicious. They have traditional breakfast items, packed with super foods like avocados, sweet potatoes and kale. Go there for the breakfast and get ready to photograph everything!
Most Beautiful Brunch – 3 Arts Club Cafe
The 3 Arts Club Cafe is located inside the most beautiful retail store in Chicago, Restoration Hardware. I’d suggest making a day out of this spot because the line usually wraps around the block to get in. They don’t take reservations and the wait is usually around an hour, but it is well worth it. Grab a glass of wine and peruse the store, by the time you check out the entire space your table will be ready. Everything here is delicious, but I’d order the turkey club and a side of fries.
Best Bacon Breakfast – Bernies Lunch and Super
Any bacon lovers out there? If you are this is the place to be. The bacon here, is thick, savory and tasty. Bacon comes on about every dish they offer. I suggest the avocado toast. The blend of avocado, goat cheese and eggs are perfection. I might also mention they have the perfect photo backdrop on the outside of the restaurant.
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