These 15 breakfast places in Salt Lake are where real locals actually eat. No chains, no tourist traps — just food-forward mornings that hit hard in 2025.
Mornings Done Right: Where to Eat Breakfast in Salt Lake
If you’re looking for the best breakfast places in Salt Lake City, stop listening to lists written by interns who don’t live here. I’ve lived in Salt Lake for over a decade and have eaten at every single breakfast joint that’s made noise — from the classics everyone knows to the deep-cut neighborhood gems that don’t even have websites. And let me tell you: breakfast in Salt Lake City Utah hits different when you know where to go.
This isn’t a list for people who want dry toast and overcooked eggs. These are real, local-approved, food-first breakfast places in Salt Lake City that deliver cracked morning energy — whether you’re dragging from a night out, brunching with your in-laws, or eating solo with a black coffee and a to-do list. I’ve eaten at every single spot on this list multiple times. I know what to order, what to skip, and where to sit. So let’s get into it.
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☕️ Local and Unfiltered
(Where regulars are treated like family and coffee refills never stop)
1. The Park Café (Liberty Park)
📍 604 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Credit: @theparkcafeslc
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The Park Café is sacred ground for anyone who’s serious about breakfast in Salt Lake. It’s the kind of place that doesn’t need a rebrand or marketing push because the food speaks for itself. I’ve been eating here for 11 years. You walk in, it smells like sizzling bacon and hashbrowns, and you’re seated by someone who’s probably worked there since the early 2000s. It’s the exact opposite of corporate brunch — and that’s why locals love it.
This spot faces Liberty Park, and in the spring, that outdoor patio feels like a cheat code. The vibe? Chill, neighborhood-heavy, no pressure. It’s where dog-walkers, hungover friends, and college kids all end up — and everyone leaves full. It’s my go-to when I don’t want to think. Just coffee, hash, and whatever’s coming off the griddle.
Recommended Items (bolded inline):
Always get the Michigan Hash — spicy sausage, crispy potatoes, melty cheese, all smashed under two perfect eggs. The French Toast Foolishness is legendary and worth every carb. I like to add a short stack of pancakes on the side, because no one here judges. Also: bottomless coffee that never tastes burnt.
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2. Sweet Lake Biscuits & Limeade (Central City)
📍 54 W 1700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Credit: @sweetlakebiscuits
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Sweet Lake is what happens when a breakfast spot has zero identity issues — they know what they do well, and they double down. This is one of the most original breakfast places in Salt Lake City Utah, hands down. Started as a farmer’s market booth and now one of the most packed brunch joints in town, Sweet Lake makes buttermilk biscuits that taste like someone’s Southern grandmother reincarnated in SLC. And the limeade bar? Wildly underrated.
When I’m craving something heavy but still want to feel good after, I come here. It’s a fast-moving restaurant with casual energy and food that doesn’t play around. I’ve brought coworkers here. I’ve brought my mom. I’ve even sat at the bar alone just to crush a biscuit and lemon-mint limeade in silence. Never had a mid bite.
Recommended Items:
Get the Hoss — a giant biscuit stacked with fried chicken, crispy bacon, a fried egg, and smothered in sausage gravy. The Avocado Biscuit Toast is a surprising sleeper hit with lime crema and microgreens. Always get a fresh limeade — try the honeydew mint or the classic raspberry.
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3. Penny Ann’s Café (South Salt Lake)
📍 1810 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Credit: @pennyannscafe
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Let’s be clear — if you haven’t had the Heavenly Hot Cakes at Penny Ann’s, you can’t say you’ve had real breakfast in Salt Lake. These aren’t your average pancakes. They’re almost like custard in the center — soft, rich, lightly tangy — and they soak up syrup like sponges sent from above. Penny Ann’s is family-run, unapologetically old-school, and absolutely vital to the Salt Lake breakfast scene.
The dining room is pure neighborhood diner energy. Servers call you “sweetheart,” the coffee pot never stops, and there’s usually a crowd waiting by the door (because locals know). If I’m ever in need of comfort, this is where I go. It’s not trendy, and thank God for that.
Recommended Items:
Get the Heavenly Hot Cakes Combo — two cakes, eggs any style, crispy bacon, and hashbrowns that are always perfectly golden. If you’re in a savory mood, the Corned Beef Hash is salty, meaty perfection. The Denver Omelet is big, fluffy, and cooked like someone actually knows how to use a flat-top.
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4. Ruth’s Diner (Emigration Canyon)
📍 4160 Emigration Canyon Rd, Salt Lake City, UT 84108
Credit: @ruthsdiner
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There are breakfast places in Salt Lake — and then there’s Ruth’s Diner. This place is a literal institution. It opened in 1930, and not much has changed since then — in the best way possible. You drive 10 minutes out of the city into Emigration Canyon, and suddenly you’re in a mountain oasis with massive portions, killer biscuits, and coffee strong enough to jumpstart your soul.
The first time I came to Ruth’s, I was skeptical. I’d heard it was “classic” — which sometimes means boring. But once that mile-high biscuit hit the table and I took my first bite of their country gravy, I knew I’d found one of the best breakfast places in Salt Lake City Utah. The setting, the history, the food — all unmatched.
Recommended Items:
You have to get the Biscuits and Gravy — preferably with a side of eggs and crispy sausage links. The Peach Cobbler French Toast is ridiculous — sweet, crunchy, and exactly what your inner child needs. And don’t skip the Huevos Rancheros — easily one of the most flavorful I’ve had west of New Mexico.
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🥂 Bougie Brunch With Vibes
(For when you want aesthetic lighting, craft coffee, and pancakes with a POV)
5. Eva’s Bakery (Downtown)
📍 155 S Main St, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Credit: @evasbakeryslc
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There are very few breakfast places in Salt Lake that hit this many boxes at once: beautiful space, excellent pastries, espresso that doesn’t taste like regret, and a full brunch menu that’s actually cooked with intent. Eva’s Bakery is easily the most Instagrammed breakfast spot downtown — and I’m telling you now: it’s not just a pretty face.
This is my default for morning meetings, solo journaling sessions, and any breakfast that needs to feel like Paris without trying too hard. The space is powder blue, the baguettes are real, and they don’t cut corners on anything. You can come in just for a croissant and cortado, or sit down and work your way through the full brunch spread. Either way, you’re leaving with butter on your fingers and a desire to move to France.
Recommended Items:
If you want a classic, get the Croque Madame with smoked ham, gruyère, and béchamel — the egg on top ties it all together. The Pain Perdu (French toast) is rich and caramelized. And their almond croissant is the best in the city, full stop. For drinks, I get the Vanilla Bean Latte or house chai every time.
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6. Café Niche (Central City)
📍 779 E 300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Credit: @cafenicheslc
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Café Niche is one of those breakfast places in Salt Lake City Utah that doesn’t get enough love. It’s tucked into a quiet corner of Central City and doesn’t scream for attention — but once you eat here, it becomes part of your regular rotation. I’ve come here for birthdays, business catch-ups, and hangover resets. It works for all of it.
The chef-driven menu is tight but clever. They care about ingredients. You’re getting local eggs, fresh herbs, and flavor that feels layered — not just salty. The service is warm but never clingy. And most importantly, the vibe is elevated without being bougie for the sake of it.
Recommended Items:
The House-made Granola with Yogurt & Berries is simple but perfect. If you’re going in, the Steak & Eggs with chimichurri is one of the best plates of protein in the city. I’m also obsessed with their B.E.L.T. Sandwich (bacon, egg, lettuce, tomato) — comes on toasted sourdough with lemon aioli that slaps.
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7. Lazy Day Café (Millcreek)
📍 2020 E 3300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Credit: @lazydaycafeslc
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Lazy Day Café is the exact opposite of what the name suggests. The food comes out fast, hot, and dialed in every time. This is one of those breakfast places in Salt Lake that you hear about from people who really eat — not influencers, not tourists, just locals who know good lemon pancakes when they taste them.
This spot is small and unassuming, but don’t let the strip mall exterior fool you. The inside is cozy, the coffee’s strong, and the food is honest. I’ve eaten here probably 20 times. The staff remembers you, the kitchen hits the griddle hard, and they don’t try to reinvent the wheel. They just make breakfast taste like home.
Recommended Items:
The Lemon Pancakes are the move — citrusy, soft, and just sweet enough. Get them with a side of country potatoes and a cup of their house roast coffee. If you want savory, the Chorizo & Egg Burrito is loaded and has actual flavor, not just filler. Add hot sauce and live your best life.
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8. The Rose Establishment (Downtown Warehouse District)
📍 235 S 400 W, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Credit: @theroseestablishment
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This is where I go when I want breakfast in Salt Lake that feels like a Pinterest board, but still delivers flavor. The Rose Establishment is part café, part brunch altar. It’s inside a reclaimed brick building with floor-to-ceiling windows, leather booths, and the kind of plant-based aesthetic that somehow doesn’t feel overplayed.
I usually come here mid-morning, laptop in bag, and end up staying longer than planned. It’s one of the only breakfast places in Salt Lake City Utah where you can get an oat milk cortado and a mushroom tartine that doesn’t taste like regret. Bonus: they have great vegan and vegetarian options, and the baked goods rotate constantly.
Recommended Items:
Try the Savory Porridge if it’s on — sounds weird, tastes like risotto on vacation. The Avocado Tartine with Pickled Onions and Radish is peak aesthetic and actually satisfying. Also, the daily quiche never misses, and their homemade pop tarts (yep) rotate flavors weekly.
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🧃 Hungover and Hungry As Hell
(Greasy, cheesy, carby breakfast places in Salt Lake that’ll bring you back from the dead)
9. Oasis Café (Central City)
📍 151 S 500 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Credit: @oasiscafeslc
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If I’m crawling out of bed with two hours of sleep, low blood sugar, and the existential weight of last night’s mezcal decisions — I go to Oasis Café. It’s peaceful, plant-filled, and deceptively packed with some of the most balanced breakfast in Salt Lake. This place lives in that beautiful space between “recovery zone” and “yes, I still want sourdough French toast.”
It’s tucked next to a bookstore and filled with morning light, so the energy calms you down immediately. But the food? Still goes hard. I’ve eaten here post-hangover, mid-breakup, and after long airport runs. Always reliable. Always low-key elite.
Recommended Items:
Their Huevos Rancheros are stacked and smothered — the house green chile gives them legit heat. The Lemon Ricotta Pancakes are pillow-soft with just the right amount of citrus bite. And don’t sleep on the Avocado Benedict — that herbed hollandaise is something else.
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10. Avenues Proper (The Avenues)
📍 376 8th Ave, Salt Lake City, UT 84103
Credit: @avenuesproper
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Avenues Proper is the brunch spot I bring out-of-towners to when I want to impress without trying too hard. It’s technically a brewpub, but it runs one of the cleanest weekend breakfast programs in the city. This is one of those under-the-radar breakfast places in Salt Lake City Utah that nails everything from house-cured bacon to sharp espresso to actual culinary technique on a plate.
The room’s stylish but unfussy. The staff knows their stuff. And the menu rotates enough to stay interesting without trying too hard. I’ve had mind-blowing cheddar biscuits here. I’ve had rabbit sausage hash that haunts me in a good way. And their brunch beer lineup is cracked.
Recommended Items:
Get the Proper Breakfast with over-medium eggs, smashed crispy potatoes, bacon, toast, and their housemade jam. If they’re running Fried Chicken & Biscuits, jump on it. And if you’re feeling bold, pair your meal with their Raspberry Saison or a Café Proper Coffee Stout.
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11. Feldman’s Deli (East Millcreek)
📍 2005 E 2700 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84109
Credit: @feldmansdeli
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If your hangover cure includes pastrami, pickles, eggs, and sarcasm, you need Feldman’s Deli in your rotation. This place is an East Coast-style Jewish deli — and one of the most slept-on breakfast places in Salt Lake if you like your mornings briny, beefy, and loud in all the right ways.
I love coming here when I want something unapologetically salty and satisfying. The portions are massive, the rye is thick-cut, and they’re not afraid of real butter. Half the staff sounds like they could be your cranky uncle, which honestly just makes the food taste better.
Recommended Items:
Get the Breakfast Reuben with pastrami, egg, and Swiss on grilled rye. The Matzo Brei (egg-fried matzo) is old-school, nostalgic, and amazing with applesauce. And if you’re really going in, get the Knish with sour cream on the side and don’t talk to me for 20 minutes.
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12. La Barba Coffee & Breakfast Tacos (Downtown)
📍 327 W 200 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Credit: @labarbacoffee
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Sometimes the only thing I want is a strong coffee, a breakfast taco, and total silence — and La Barba is built for exactly that. It’s part specialty coffee bar, part Austin-style taco shop, and 100% one of the most underrated breakfast places in Salt Lake for early risers or caffeine-first food people like me.
The tacos come out fast, hot, and wrapped tight. The coffee program is dialed in — you can get an Oaxacan mocha with cayenne or a straight-up cortado. I usually order, crush two tacos in silence, and then order a third while pretending it’s for someone else.
Recommended Items:
Start with the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Taco on flour — it’s classic and built right. Then get the Chorizo & Potato Taco with the house green sauce. Add a Brown Sugar Cinnamon Latte if you want something sweet and caffeinated. They also rotate a vegan taco that slaps.
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13. Red Moose Café (Sugar House)
📍 1693 S 900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Credit: @redmoosecafe
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Red Moose Café is one of the most wholesome, unpretentious, and weirdly satisfying breakfast places in Salt Lake. It’s got that off-the-radar neighborhood vibe — no pretentious signage, no brand team, no influencer bait. Just good food, friendly staff, and walls covered in moose-themed art that somehow makes the pancakes taste better.
This was one of the first breakfast joints I ever stumbled into when I moved to SLC. It’s cash-register honesty and scrambled-egg excellence in a tiny red cabin. You walk in, grab a menu at the counter, and immediately smell bacon, brewed coffee, and maybe a cinnamon roll if you’re lucky.
Recommended Items:
Get the Breakfast Burrito with bacon — loaded, cheesy, and wrapped tight. Their Flapjacks are soft, buttery, and best with a side of peanut butter syrup (yes, really). If you’re rolling in late, the Moose Melt (egg, avocado, sausage, and cheddar on grilled sourdough) is the move.
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FAQ: Breakfast in Salt Lake (2025)
Q: What are the best breakfast places in Salt Lake?
A: Some of the best breakfast places in Salt Lake include The Park Café, Ruth’s Diner, and Sweet Lake Biscuits. Whether you want classic hash or biscuits covered in gravy, these spots hit every time.
Q: Where do locals eat breakfast in Salt Lake City Utah?
A: Locals hit places like Lazy Day Café, Red Moose, and Café Niche. These aren’t trendy — they’re tried-and-true favorites with flavor, soul, and regulars who’ve been showing up for years.
Q: Is there good breakfast in SLC Utah that isn’t just chains?
A: Definitely. Breakfast in SLC Utah goes way beyond chains — from avocado tartines at The Rose Establishment to lemon pancakes at Lazy Day Café, there’s serious variety if you know where to look.
Q: What’s the best breakfast for hangovers in Salt Lake City?
A: Try Feldman’s Deli for pastrami and matzo brei, or Oasis Café for huevos rancheros with green chile. Both will save your life after a wild night.
Q: Are there breakfast tacos in Salt Lake City worth trying?
A: Yep — head to La Barba Coffee downtown for breakfast tacos built with precision. Their bacon, egg & cheese taco is a low-key staple.
Breakfast Like You Actually Live Here
Salt Lake isn’t just snow and temples. It’s greasy diners. It’s patios with cracked coffee mugs. It’s almond croissants downtown and jalapeño-laced chorizo burritos in Millcreek. This list is for people who eat. Who wake up hungry and want something that actually satisfies. These are the breakfast places in Salt Lake that locals don’t just tolerate — they rely on.
I’ve eaten at every single one of these spots multiple times. I’ve waited in lines. I’ve taken food to go. I’ve spilled coffee at the counter while ordering a third pancake. If there’s one thing Salt Lake does right, it’s breakfast — you just have to know where to go.
Check my other articles:
- 🍽️ Want dinner plans? Hit our 13 Best Dining Spots in Salt Lake That Locals Actually Hit (2025)
- 🥞 Craving niche plates? Check out Salt Lake’s Best Red Velvet Pancakes
- ☀️ Need a view? Don’t miss Breakfast Patios in Salt Lake That Go Hard in the Sun
👤 About the Author
I’m Ellie Maren, and this guide is built from real nights out — not Google searches. I’ve walked into every restaurant listed here, ordered more than I needed, and stayed long enough to understand what makes each one matter. I write about Salt Lake’s dinner scene with a focus on chef-owned kitchens, post-shift hangouts, and spots locals don’t gatekeep (but probably should). You can find more of my work on my author page or see what we’re about at Utah Food Reviews.