This guide shares where to get breakfast in Columbia, SC, from quick breakfast eats to the best morning meals to linger over.
This roundup of Columbia breakfast spots includes all of the best eateries in town. We love to get our day started right with a coffee and biscuit at Drip, pimento cheese grits from Cinnamon Roll Deli or a perfect croissant from smallSUGAR. You really can’t go wrong at any of the places featured in this guide.
What You’ll Find In This Article
- Map of Breakfast Spots
- Our Top Picks
- smallSUGAR
- Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli
- Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits
- Drip Coffee
- Cafe Strudel
- The Gourmet Shop
- Ruby Sunshine
- Another Broken Egg Cafe
- Original Pancake House
- A Peace Of Soul Vegan Kitchen
- Family Fresh Mex
- Crêpes & Croissants
- The Flying Biscuit Cafe
- Lizard’s Thicket
- Good Life Cafe
- Carolina Cafe
- Eggs Up Grill
- Poogan’s Southern Kitchen
Whether you are looking for a quick breakfast on the go, the best hashbrowns in the area or breakfast all-day, this guide will help you find the perfect breakfast in Columbia!
Where To Get Breakfast in Columbia
No matter where you are in or around Columbia, SC, this map will show you the nearest breakfast spot that we recommend visiting!
Restaurants WIth Breakfast In Columbia
Below you’ll find a roundup of the best places to get breakfast in Columbia. If you are looking for a less casual morning meal, make sure to check our guide to brunch in Columbia.
Casual eatery with elevated breakast in the Vista
SmallSUGAR in the Vista is an excellent destination for breakfast in Columbia. It’s a casual, order-at-the-counter place with gourmet fare and espresso drinks.
For breakfast, smallSUGAR serves beautiful pastries (get an almond croissant!), tartines (get the avocado one!), a breakfast plate with a soft-boiled egg and ricotta with seasonal vegetables, granola and overnight oats.
Parking: You’ll find metered street parking behind Small Sugar on Lady Street and in front of the building on Main Street. SmallSUGAR pays their staff a living wage, so tips are included in the food price on the menu.
Breakfast sandwiches and cinnamon rolls
Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli is a local eatery with all day breakfast. Their menu is full of great breakfast sandwiches, including the Big Joe Breakfast wtih eggs and sausage and an Italian Bambino with capacolla and salami.
Cinnamon Roll Deli also has bagels and excellent grits bowls. And of course, we have to mention the cinnamon rolls! Choose from several flavors, like strawberry cheesecake and bourbon caramel.
Beverages: Coffee, tea, soda
What To Order: Try the Big Max breakfast sandwich on sourdough. It comes with eggs, cheddar cheese, black pepper bacon and whole grain mustard spread. All breakfast sandwiches are served with a mini cinnamon roll.
Parking: There is a parking lot in front of the restaurant. It can get full at busy times, but you’ll find additional street parking on Devine Street.
2430 Main Street | the North Main area
Awesome biscuits in Columbia’s North Main area
As you can probably surmise, Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits is the perfect place for absolutely delicious biscuits in Columbia.
You’ll find everything from a classic fried chicken biscuit to a brisket biscuit with pickled green tomato on it. Try the herbed goat cheese biscuit!
They also have from-scratch sausage and pimento cheese grits. Try a cinnamon roll if they have any!
Beverages: Coffee, latte, cold brew, tea, chocolate milk, mimosas
Parking: Parking lot behind the building
Great breakfast sandwiches and the perfect cup of coffee
Drip is a coffee shop in Five Points with an excellent breakfast. It’s a casual spot, so order at the counter and grab a seat.
Their food menu changes, but you can typically count on a great egg sandwich combination, a flavorful french toast and something fun like brie and apple butter on cinnamon raisin bread.
Drip also has a small bakery case with daily pastries, bagels and chocolate chip cookies.
Beverages: Coffee, espresso, hot chocolate, tea, matcha, juice, mimosa, beer, wine
Parking: Metered spots on Saluda Ave
300 State Street | West Columbia
Perfect all-day breakfast and brunch spot in West Columbia
Café Strudel is an all-day breakfast restaurant in West Columbia.
Try the hangover hashbrowns topped with banana peppers, tomatoes and sour cream. They also have breakfast burritos, classic breakfast plates, a chicken biscuit and french toast.
Beverages: Self-serve coffee, espresso drinks, soda, tea and breakfast cocktails. Try the signature bacon-infused bloody mary.
Parking: Street parking is available along State Street and there are a few spots behind the building.
Cute sidewalk cafe with delicious breakfast in Five Points
The Gourmet Shop is a charming market and restaurant in Five Points. They are open daily and have a breakfast/brunch menu from 9 am to 12 pm.
You’ll find breakfast fare like an egg + cheese croissant, brie and bacon croissant, grits bowls and pastries.
Apart from the cafe area, the Gourmet Shop also has a market area with cheese, charcuterie accompaniments, fresh bread, wine and cooking supplies.
Beverages: The Gourmet Shop’s drink menu includes coffee, espresso drinks, Bloody Mary, mimosas and peach bellinis.
Parking: Metered street parking is available in front of The Gourmet Shop.
Ruby Sunshine opened in November 2023
6 variations of eggs benedict + breakfast cocktails in Five Points
Open daily at 7 am, Ruby Sunshine in Five Points is the perfect destination for a fun breakfast. This brunch chain out of Louisiana opened in the former Yesterday’s space in 2023.
Their menu features everything you crave for breakfast, from fluffy stuffed french toast and savory migas to hearty shrimp & grits and omelets.
Where Ruby Sunshine truly shines, though, is their amazing eggs benedict selection. Choose from several variations or pair 2 for a custom entree.
Beverages: They have an excellent brunch cocktail menu, as well as coffee, espresso, milk, tea, juice and soda.
Parking: Metered parking in Five Points and a pay-to-park lot behind the restaurant.
4600 Devine Street | near Cross Hill Market
Great restaurant for an indulgent breakfast in Columbia
Like Ruby Sunshine, Another Broken Egg Cafe is a Louisiana brunch chain with a location in Columbia.
Their breakfast entrees include several varieties of eggs benedict, omelets, chicken & waffles and shrimp & grits. They also have quite the ‘indulgent’ breakfast menu with french toast, pancakes piled with whipped cream and even lemon blueberry goat cheese pancakes.
Beverages: Tons of brunch cocktails, as well as coffee, tea, juice and soft drinks.
Parking: You’ll find plenty of parking in the shopping center parking lot. If it’s full, you can use the Staples parking lot just behind the building.
4840 Forest Drive | Forest Acres
Old-school diner with a hearty breakfast
The Original Pancake House is a popular breakfast eatery in Trenholm Plaza. It has an old-school feel and serves excellent pancakes, french toast, omelets and Belgain waffles.
Try the apple pancake or their bitty dollar pancakes. They also have pigs in a blanket pancakes and a dutch baby.
Beverages: Coffee, hot chocolate, milk, tea, juice.
Parking: Shared parking lot at Trenholm Plaza. It can get really full but you can typically find a spot toward the middle.
2338 Main Street | the North Main area
Amazing vegan breakfast in Columbia
A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen is an excellent option for breakfast in Columbia. While they cater to vegans and vegetarians with 100% plant-based ingredients, we recommend it to everyone.
Their vegan breakfast menu includes all of your favorites reimagined with vegan ingredients.
You’ll find pancakes, ‘chicken’ and waffles, a ‘bacon egg and cheese’ biscuit and even a ‘turkey and cheese’ monte cristo.
Awesome spot for breakfast tacos in Columbia
Family Fresh Mex is a local Mexican restaurant with breakfast. They are in downtown Columbia across from the SC State House.
The breakfast menu includes tacos, burritos, a quesadilla, chilaquiles and huevos rancheros. The burrito is massive and super delicious!
Like many downtown Columbia lunch restaurants, Family Fresh Mex is only open on weekdays! They are open 8AM-8PM Monday through Friday.
A perfect spot for crepes in Columbia
Crepes & Croissants is the perfect destination in downtown Columbia for a crepe. It’s a counter-service eatery conveniently open every day of the week.
They offer a variety of crepes, from savory options like their classic “Paris” with ham, egg, and cheese to sweet selections like the strawberry lemon crepe.
And as the name suggests, they also have croissants, along with omelets, french toast, and macarons.
All-day breakfast in Five Points
Flying Biscuit Cafe is a restaurant chain known for its Southern food and all-day breakfast selections.
The menu features items like shrimp and grits, French toast, biscuits and gravy, and chicken and waffles. The restaurant also has a full bar.
Flying Biscuis has a few vegan breakfast options, like a vegan tofu wrap, tofu scramble and oatmeal.
The atmosphere is casual and there are several outdoor tables available.
3147 Forest Drive | Forest Acres
Classic Southern breakfast in Columbia
Local chain Lizard’s Thicket offers a southern breakfast at over 10 locations around town. You’ll find biscuits, breakfast plates and even fried catfish on the morning menu.
For beverages, you’ll have a choice of Drip coffee, tea, soft drinks, and juice. There’s plenty of parking at their Forest Acres location.
Excellent vegan breakfast in Columbia
If you are looking for a great vegan breakfast in Columbia, head to Good Life Cafe. They offer a weekday breakfast with everything from almond butter + eggplant bacon toast to vegan waffles and oatmeal,
Their ‘healthy coffee’ menu includes a unicorn latte with blue majik, golden latter and a beet-based pink latte. They also have a ton of smoothies and smoothie bowls.
Metered street parking is available on Main Street. There are also several parking garages nearby.
The best place for bagels in Columbia
Carolina Cafe is our pick for the best bagels in Columbia, SC! We love snagging a bagel hot out of the oven and pairing it with one of their 4 cream cheese flavors.
Bagel combos include their sesame seed bagel with garlic herb cream cheese and their blueberry bagel with honey walnut cream cheese.
Carolina Cafe also has a great lunch menu with signature sandwiches and a few salads.
Eggs Up
Breakfast place with a great menu and 2 Columbia locations
You’ll find classic breakfast dishes and coffee at Eggs Up served daily from 6 am until 2 pm. They have everything from eggs benedict and breakfast burgers, to pancakes and french toast.
Eggs Up is a breakfast franchise with locations all over the southeast. They have two locations in the downtown Columbia area. One is on Devine Street and the other is in Forest Acres. Both have parking lots out front.
4605 Forest Drive | Forest Acres
Hearty Southern breakfast in Forest Acres
Poogan’s Southern Kitchen offers a daily breakfast with Southern breakfast dishes, like country fried steak, biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles.
For an especially hearty breakfast, try the Poogan’s Dog Bowl. It includes a biscuit, gravy, their famous fried chicken tenders and two sunny-side-up eggs. They also have brioche french toast, a veggie quiche, shrimp and grits and steak & eggs.
Beverages: Choose from a spiked iced coffee with espresso vodka, Bailey’s and Kahlua, bloody mary and a mimosa.
Poogan’s is located in Cardinal Crossing next to several other restaurants. There is a parking garage nearby if the spots outside the restaurant are full.
