Although “The Best Breakfast” has been an elusive title, we have managed to come up with a list of our five best breakfasts in Florida – so far. By no means is this all of them – and we travel continually, so we are always discovering new and interesting places.

That being said, we have found five eateries of great merit. These have combined a unique atmosphere, a wonderful presentation, delicious food and a reasonable pricepoint to make their breakfast experience something special.

The Perfect Cup

The Perfect Cup in Matlacha came on a recommendation by our hotelier at The Angler’s Inn. Fairly unimpressive from the outside, the interior is funky, fun and inviting.

In addition to the printed menu, there were options on a chalkboard, white board and a replaceable letter menu that opened a world of dining opportunities

We opted for the regular breakfast off the menu. The food came out quickly and cooked exactly as we had ordered. The coffee was some of the best that we we’ve tasted. In addition to being a restaurant, The Perfect Cup also is a roastary.

It would be hard to find any complaints about breakfast at The Perfect Cup. Even our crisp bacon was cooked to perfection.

It’s easy to see how they have won the local “Best Breakfast” award seven years in a row. We give it The Best Bacon Award for the best thick and crispy bacon we have ever had.

And looking over TripAdvisor reviews of this place, they also were challenged to find anything wrong. I guess we should have known something was up when this little place had its own gift shop with their namesake T-shirts and other merchandise.

For us, recommending this place too highly is impossible. In fact, it might be one of the major attractions of Pine Island. We urge you to go across the drawbridge to Matlacha and try it for yourself.

One taste and you’ll understand why it is a Florida best breakfast.

Backwater

There are several great breakfast restaurants in Melbourne but a trip to Backwater is a must – both for the atmosphere and the culinary experience. The dining room features a breakfast bar, high top and “griddle” tables. There, you actually have a hot plate where you can make your own pancakes to order.

You can make regular pancakes and kids have the option of colored batter to make their own creations for themselves, hot and ready to eat.

Backwater prides itself on having an “old southern” feel with a unique decor that includes an aluminum tile ceiling, plenty of pictures and advertising signs. They also feature many locally sourced ingredients for their recipes.

There’s actually a butcher paper sign that greets customers at the entrance, suggesting where some items on today’s menu actually originated. To that end, my first choice was the Candied Citrus Fried Gator Waffle (how could you not)?

Yes, the infamous Gator Waffle and my wife’ Traditional Southern Breakfast

In a word, it was spectacular. It was topped with breaded gator and infused with orange zest and marmalade. We only wished our breakfasts had not been so filling and that our time constraints would not allow us to come back again (at least on this visit.)

Backwater really is the kind of place that encourages return trips just to try some of the other great menu selections. And is easy to rank as a Florida best breakfast.

The Orange House

Who would think that a wine bar also would make a good breakfast restaurant? Obviously, the folks at The Orange House in Punta Gorda. The restaurant gets its name from a line of houses on Sullivan Street – each with it’s own specific color.

This is the cheery exterior that greets you at The Orange House

We had seen this on TripAdvisor as a breakfast place and decided to check it out. Imagine our surprise when the interior was darkened wood, with jazz music playing and lighted wine bottle illuminating the tables – not exactly a breakfast decor.

However, the breakfast menu was intriguing. They have “Do-scuits, ” a combination of donuts and biscuits, there also was Avacado Toast, a selection of flatbreads and a quiche-of-the-day.

A breakfast of Quiche and Biscuits ‘n Gravy, Illuminated by a wine bottle

My ham & cheese quiche was served with a nice spinach and arugula salad, my wife had a more southern-inspired breakfast with a biscuit tomato, crispy bacon and a side of sausage gravy. Lisa in the kitchen took care to make certain it was tasty and well presented.

The Orange House provides both a best Florida Breakfast and one of the more unusual combinations we’ve experienced.

Simply Delicious

Simply Delicious in Cocoa Beach is, well, simply delicious. We liked it so well that we actually ate there two consecutive mornings. We sat in different dining areas and tried different selections. What remained unchanged was the high quality of the food and the service.

With its bright color scheme, Simply Delicious is simply hard to miss.

We should have guessed that it would be good. When we arrived early, there already were people milling about waiting for them to open the doors. The bright color scheme is continued inside, with the food and drinks served on Fiesta ware.

The Simply Delicious breakfast is healthy and tasty

Looking for a best Florida breakfast served with panache? In Cocoa Beach it’s Simply Delicious. Warning: there is a great bakery case on your way out.

Over Easy Cafe

Sanibel is an island full of great eateries. For our breakfast, we chose the Over Easy Cafe. It was the right move. The morning we were there, the place was packed full of participants from a just-finished marathon run.

Despite the fact they had spacious indoor and outdoor seating, the place was jammed. Not a problem, they took our name, gave us a pager, and we set out shopping at the nearby shops. It wasn’t long before I began buzzing and we had a great seat.

We were served in the Over Easy Cafe vanity cups, blue for my coffee and pink for her tea.

We were seated in the covered patio and enjoyed our breakfast in the cool morning island breeze. Billed as “one of the most popular spots in the two islands,” it’s easy to see why. The ambiance is palpable and breakfast was a delight at the Over Easy Cafe

Additionally, the menu selections are virtually endless. They boast Pancakes-o-Plenty, French Toast, “Skillets to Fill Ya,” 3-Egg Omelets and a variety of Eggs Benedict. And that’s just for breakfast.


A great breakfast can be had at The Over Easy Cafe

Moreover, the staff was wonderful and the service is impeccable. Again, there is no shortage of great places to eat on Sanibel and Captiva Islands – but this one makes our best Florida breakfast top five list for sure.

What’s your favorite breakfast place in the Sunshine State? Let us know at the Florida Fun Travel Group Facebook page.