A guide to breakfast restaurants in Columbia, SC
There are so many great breakfast spots in the area and we are excited to share them in this guide to Columbia, SC breakfast. After all, when it comes to Columbia, SC eats, breakfast is our favorite meal!
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 article.
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! And if you are looking for a more brunch-like setting, don’t miss our guide to brunch in Columbia.
Map of Breakfast Spots in Columbia, SC
No matter where you are in or around Columbia, SC, this map will show you the nearest breakfast spot that we recommend visiting!
List of the Best Breakfast Spots in Columbia, SC
Enough with the small talk, let’s dive into the details!
Gourmet breakfast in Columbia with casual vibes
Starting off with one of the best places for breakfast in Columbia! SmallSUGAR in the Vista is a favorite of ours. It’s a great spot to catch up with friends, grab a bite with your colleagues, get some work done or just enjoy a meal out.
They have fantastic pastries and brunch-like dishes. It’s an order-at-the-counter place with an upscale feel.
For breakfast, you’ll find tons of 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 on the menu.
They also have excellent coffee and espresso drinks, as well as tea and house lemonade.
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.
Casual breakfast spot with way more than cinnamon rolls.
Here’s another great one! Breakfast is served all day at Cinnamon Roll Deli and boy is it delicious.
You may be expecting only cinnamon rolls, but they have so much more than that. In addition to their many flavors of cinnamon rolls, they serve breakfast sandwiches, bagels and grit bowls!
If you are wondering what to order at Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli, get the Big Max Sandwich! It comes with eggs, cheddar cheese, black pepper bacon and whole grain mustard spread. We always opt for sourdough bread and it’s a winning combination.
And if you need more convincing, People magazine voted Cinnamon Roll Deli as the Best Breakfast in South Carolina!
While Cinnamon Roll Deli doesn’t offer espresso drinks, they have drip coffee, iced and hot tea and fountain drinks.
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.
Awesome biscuits in Columbia’s North Main area
Rambo’s Fat Cat Biscuits is the perfect place for absolutely delicious biscuits and cheesy hashbrown bake in Columbia.
You’ll find everything from a classic fried chicken biscuit to a brisket biscuit with pickled green tomato on it. There are a ton of flavors to choose from– we really love the herbed goat cheese biscuit!
They also have from-scratch sausage and pimento cheese grits. Oh, and Fat Cat recently added their perfect biscuit cinnamon rolls to the regular menu (though you can’t order these online!)
As far as drinks go, they have the usual breakfast drinks including coffee, cold brew, tea, chocolate milk, spindrift, and even mimosas.
Fat Cat is actually a Soda City Market success story. They started vending there years ago and finally opened their brick-and-mortar shop in November 2020. You can still find them on Saturday mornings on Main Street, though!
Parking is easy with a lot right behind the building. You can also find Fat Cat in the atrium of Richland County Library (main branch) and at Soda City every Saturday!
Great breakfast sandwiches and the perfect cup of coffee
The best, the best, the best! If I could only eat at one place in Columbia it would definitely be Drip. They have amazing coffee and espresso drinks and such an unassuming but delicious breakfast menu.
Drip’s breakfast menu includes fun and unexpected items, like brie and apple butter on cinnamon raisin bread. Their egg, roasted red peppers, gruyere and avocado pesto on focaccia is also great, as well as the Nutella french toast. The menu changes seasonally but you can always count on something delicious.
They also have a small bakery case with a few daily pastries, bagels and excellent chocolate chip cookies.
You order at the counter and grab a seat– there’s seating up front and additional hidden in the back. There are also a few tables out front.
Parking for Drip Coffee is available in metered spots on the street out front.
Perfect all-day breakfast and brunch spot in West Columbia
Café Strudel is definitely worth the drive from Columbia (it’s literally just over the river!)
You’ll find all the breakfast classics and one of our favorite dishes in all of the Columbia area: hangover hashbrowns (hashbrowns, cheese, onions, banana peppers, tomato and sour cream.) So good!!
We also like their sunrise burrito. The menu includes classic breakfast plates, avocado toast, a chicken biscuit, french toast and cinnamon pancakes.
They have self-serve coffee, as well as espresso drinks, soda, tea and breakfast cocktails. The cocktail menu includes several different types of mimosas available by the glass or pitcher. Cafe Strudel also has a few bloody mary varieties, one of which is their signature bacon-infused bloody mary.
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
If you want to feel like you just popped into Paris for breakfast, then head to Five Points to The Gourmet Shop! It’s such a darling place that just gets everything right.
Once you are done with your breakfast, check out the market section of the shop. You will find all sorts of kitchen and household goodies, from specialty salts to a dutch oven!
While they call it their brunch service, we are including it here because it’s available daily beginning at 9am.
Their brunch menu includes an egg and cheese croissant, Belgian waffle, smoked salmon bagel and yogurt + granola, among other things. You can also grab a specialty croissant (chocolate, spinach & feta, or strawberry cream cheese, to name a few.)
Their drink menu includes coffee and espresso drinks as well as bloody maries, mimosas, and peach bellinis.
Metered street parking is available in front of The Gourmet Shop.
Old-school diner with a hearty breakfast
A Columbia staple! The Original Pancake House can get super busy, especially on the weekends, but part of the charm is the wait. The servers are always very friendly and the food is delicious!
Original Pancake House has an old-school feel. We really love getting their apple pancake and their bitty dollar pancakes are precious.
Their menu also includes brioche French toast, crepes, omelets, Belgian waffles, pigs in a blanket, home fries and even a dutch baby (served with whipped cream, lemon and powdered sugar.)
Original Pancake House offers coffee, hot chocolate, milk, tea, freshly squeezed juices (orange and grapefruit), apple juice, and tomato juice.
There is a lot of parking available in the Trenholm Plaza shopping center where they are located. It can get kind of full as the day goes on, though!
8. A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen
Vegan breakfast in Columbia like no other
If you are looking for an absolutely delicious breakfast that just so happens to be vegan, head to North Main for A Peace of Soul Vegan Kitchen!
Their breakfast menu includes pancakes, ‘chicken’ and waffles, a ‘bacon egg and cheese’ biscuit and even a ‘turkey and cheese’ monte cristo. Everything on the menu is vegan and extremely tasty!
What I really love about A Peace of Soul is that they are to-go only, so they have an awesome takeout setup. Just order online and they’ll provide an estimated pickup time before you complete your order.
Go-to spot for breakfast tacos in Columbia, SC
Family Fresh Mex is the perfect destination for a quick breakfast in Columbia, especially if you love Mexican food! They are right 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
Speaking of great breakfast in downtown Columbia, Crêpes & Croissants is an awesome spot! And, unlike Family Fresh Mex mentioned above, it’s open every day of the week.
As the name suggests, you’ll find both crepes and croissants on the menu. I personally prefer their crepes because you can’t get them anywhere else in Columbia.
You can either get a savory crepe, like their classic ‘Paris’ with ham, egg and cheese, or a sweet crepe like a strawberry lemon one. My go-to flavor is always their Nutella crepe! Can’t get enough!
They have several croissant sandwiches on the menu and you can also build your own if you prefer. The same goes for crepes. There are a ton of options! Apart from that, you’ll also find omelets, amazing french toast and avocado toast on the menu. Oh, and delicious macarons!
The atmosphere is very casual at Crêpes & Croissants. It’s counter service and you can also order online in advance if you prefer.
Crêpes & Croissants is located in downtown Columbia, so parking can be tough at times. There’s street parking available as well as a few nearby garages.
Great spot for an indulgent breakfast in Columbia
Another Broken Egg Cafe with its original location in Mandeville, Louisiana can now be found all over the region including Columbia!
Their tried and true dishes range the full gambit of breakfast foods so there is something on the menu for everyone. You’ll find 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.
Another Broken Egg also has quite the brunch cocktail list. You’ll find a blueberry margarita, a tequila sunrise and even a NOLA-style house-made punch on the menu, as well as several spiked coffees, a full bloody mary list and lots of champagne-based drinks.
Apart from their cocktail menu, you’ll also find drip coffee, tea, juice and soft drinks. Speaking of coffee, one of my favorite things about Another Broken Egg is the coffee mug they use! It looks like it just came out of a potter’s studio and was made specifically for me.
There is plenty of parking available in the shopping center parking lot. If it’s full, you can use the Staples parking lot just behind the building.
All-day breakfast in Five Points
If you are looking for southern-style breakfast in Five Points, head to Flying Biscuit! Flying Biscuit Cafe is a restaurant chain that is known for its Southern food and all-day breakfast selections.
You’ll find breakfast all day at Flying Biscuit. The menu features items like shrimp and grits, French toast, biscuits and gravy, and chicken and waffles. The restaurant also has a full bar.
They also have several vegan breakfast options, like a vegan tofu wrap, a vegan tofu scramble and oatmeal. Flying Biscuit is a great spot for vegan breakfast in Columbia!
The atmosphere is casual and there are several outdoor tables available. It’s a popular spot for locals and tourists and alike.
You’ll find parking out front on Harden Street and a parking lot on the side as well as one behind the building. It’s located just a bit up Harden Street from the main Five Points area, but it’s an easy walk.
13. Lizard’s Thicket
The perfect spot for a classic southern breakfast in Columbia
With 13 locations around the Midlands, this locally owned restaurant serves up delicious southern cooking including authentic southern breakfast specialties. Their hearty breakfast dishes will fill you up!
Lizard’s Thicket has such an extensive menu including southern specialties like country ham & eggs, southern fried catfish and chicken fried steak. They also serve up all the traditional breakfast options you would expect.
For beverages, you’ll have a choice of Drip coffee, tea, soft drinks, and juice.
All locations have dedicated parking lots, making parking a breeze.
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,
Good Life Cafe also has a kids waffle or pancake on their breakfast menu.
Apart from food, you’ll find some great vegan breakfast drinks at Good Life Cafe. 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. And they are really good! Good Life is actually one of favorite places to get a smoothie in Columbia, SC.
Metered street parking is available on Main Street. There are also several parking garages nearby.
Awesome bagels and cream cheese 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.
Awesome bagel combos include their sesame seed bagel with garlic herb cream cheese and their blueberry bagel with honey walnut cream cheese.
You can also get a breakfast sandwich, like a bacon, egg and cheese, on your choice of bread. Carolina Cafe also has a great lunch menu with tons of signature sandwiches and a few salads.
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.
Eggs Up has quite the variety, with everything from eggs benedict and breakfast burgers to pancakes and french toast.
For drinks, Eggs Up has drip coffee, tea, juice, soft drinks and even a few breakfast cocktails. Their cocktail menu includes a classic mimosa, a cranberry mimosa and a ‘Good Morning Sunrise’ with orange juice, club soda and a splash of grenadine.
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 locations have parking lots, though the Devine Street location fills up pretty quickly. They have an additional parking lot behind the restaurant.
Hearty southern breakfast in Forest Acres
You’ll find quite an extensive breakfast menu at Poogan’s Southern Kitchen in Forest Acres. It’s more of a brunch menu, but we are including them on this list because they offer it daily.
Poogan’s menu includes several classic Southern breakfast dishes, like country fried steak, biscuits and gravy and chicken and waffles.
Despite the name, Poogan’s ‘dog bowl’ entree is actually pretty great! It has 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.
In addition to the delicious food, you’ll also find a few breakfast cocktails. Choose from a spiked iced coffee with espresso vodka, Bailey’s and Kahlua, bloody mary and a mimosa.
Poogan’s is still relatively new to Columbia, having opened in the fall of 2022. If you are familiar with Poogan’s Porch in Charleston, you may be surprised by how different the Southern Kitchen spin-off is. It has more of a chain/diner vibe than the historic, charming feel of Poogan’s Porch.
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.
Breakfast sandwiches, wraps and bagels in downtown Columbia
Sandwich Depot is a breakfast and lunch spot in downtown Columbia with quite the menu! Well, specifically their lunch menu because it has everything from a regular sandwich to burger, a fish sandwich and even wings.
Their breakfast menu includes a few sandwiches, like a classic bacon, egg and cheese, as well as several breakfast wraps. You’ll also find bagels and muffins on the menu.
