Hamilton has lots of different types of breakfast spots. There are diners with sticky syrup bottles, greasy hash browns, and coffee that tastes like burnt toast. There are cafes that serve avocado toast and look like your cousin’s Instagram feed. Then there are restaurants that might be better for a meal with your hungover friends: bustling but not overwhelming, with a good variety of quality morning fare (and ideally also some much-better-than-average coffee).
Head to one of these spots and start your day right.
Sunnyside Grill Hamilton
$ | (289) 389-3652 | WEBSITE
A low-key spot to kill a couple of hours with a coffee, omelette, or plate of home fries. We like it even better inside if it’s raining out – it adds to the overall allure and coziness of this place. Sunnyside Grill also works well if you’re trying to hang out with your friends but your family wants to join you. Camp out in a comfortable booth and laugh at the water falling from the sky (until it’s time to go back outside and deal with it).
Saint James
$ | (289) 389-6565 | WEBSITE
The best breakfast-eating spot in the city. This place is perfect for pretty much anyone – including your early-rising friends and even their kids. Settle in at a cozy wooden table with some unforgettable pancakes or sourdough toast, plus generous portions of avocado toast or breakfast sandwiches you order from the friendly staff.
Woodward Restaurant
$ | (905) 547-2827 | WEBSITE
A very cozy little breakfast spot with old Hamilton pictures on the walls, a clean well-laid-out space, and a warm family atmosphere. Plus generous plates like hot breakfast classics, accommodating dietary needs, and the best coffee around – and you’d do well to get the full breakfast and enjoy every bite. Families feel welcome, after all.
Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House Ancaster
$ | (905) 304-7100 | WEBSITE
Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House Ancaster is a bustling breakfast spot in Hamilton with a menu so extensive they need multiple pages to list all the gluten-free and vegetarian options. The classic breakfast fare, like their signature pancakes, is delicious, and there’s even a special family-friendly seating area you can request for larger groups. Not a terrible idea for a weekend brunch, a casual date, or another relaxed morning, like that Saturday you finally slept in past eight.
AJ’s GRILL
$ | (905) 690-1900 | WEBSITE
If breakfast is at all important to your morning routine, resist the urge to settle for mediocre diner fare and head to AJ’s GRILL instead. Not only is this comfortable spot our favorite place in Hamilton to eat breakfast, but the staff is also super friendly and attentive without making you feel rushed for lingering over coffee.
If you’re hungry, order the Eggs Benedict they’re famous for, but if you want something truly satisfying, you’re going to want the Western sandwich with those perfectly cooked home fries. No matter what you choose, getting a bowl of the daily Beef Vegetable soup is necessary.
Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House McMaster
$ | (289) 266-3635 | WEBSITE
If you’re a breakfast lover, you’ll be pleased to know that Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House McMaster is in a strip mall – parking available and all. Aside from that, this place has plenty of bright, clean space, generous portions, and great food – like the Thursday burger, with a thick mushroom patty, a nice bun, and excellent frozen fries. Add some pancakes for best results.
Jet Cafe
$ | (905) 297-8113 | WEBSITE
Jet Cafe is more than a breakfast spot. It’s a community hub. OK, that sounds like a tired cliché, but what we mean is that eating at this place is both satisfying and surprisingly engaging. First, you find parking nearby. Then, you enter through the welcoming door and notice the artwork on the walls. Once you speak to the friendly staff, you’ll feel right at home. Sit down and order from the wide variety of coffee and excellent food selection – there are vegetarian options too.
Your meal comes with generous portion sizes at great prices (kind of like a value proposition in bistro form), so assess your kids’ appetites/budget constraints prior to visiting. The owner, Jeff, provides a unique historical experience, sharing the rich nostalgia of the local community, making it a pleasant atmosphere that’s kid-friendly. Overall, Jet Cafe offers a wonderful dining experience.
Cora
$$ | (905) 574-7077 | WEBSITE
There are plenty of cozy mornings you might want your family around for. A lazy Saturday. A birthday breakfast. Grandma’s visit. Cora is a pretty great spot to have a meal for any of those things. It’s a cheerful sit-down situation, so expect a warm welcome with walking past the fruit display, settling into a booth, and finally being served in this bright space with views of the bustling kitchen (plus a kids’ corner with coloring books).
Any crepe or omelet here will be good, and dishes range from the crepe with sundried tomatoes, Benedict sauce, olives, chorizo and halloumi cheese to the GIGI omelet with a large portion of fresh fruit. Be sure to bring your appetite.
Sunset Grill
$ | (905) 643-9900 | WEBSITE
A cozy breakfast spot that serves up traditional morning fare with a smile. It does get busy on some mornings, but you can still enjoy perfectly cooked eggs with chives and spices alongside generous portions in good company. Bonus points if you take advantage of the unlimited coffee refills and try one of their new menu additions like the quesadilla.
