Coffee Breakfast

5 suggestions for a tasty breakfast in downtown San Diego, including the Gaslamp Quarter, the East Village, and the Marina district, plus suggestions on what to order and a few insider’s tips.

The Mission ($)
Hands down, my favorite spot for breakfast in San Diego. The Mission’s got it all: great coffee, excellent French toast, vegetarian-friendly options, even gluten-free bread. Better yet, everything is affordably priced, and the portions are ample. On weekends, it’s busy around brunch time, so arrive early to beat the rush.

Recommended dishes: French toast, blueberry cornmeal pancakes, Mission Rosemary, papas locos (with eggs)
Insider’s tip: You can add eggs and bacon to one of the sweet options for a couple extra dollars. It’s the perfect complement of sweet and savory, and just enough food to split between two people.

Zanzibar Cafe ($-$$)
If your first thought upon waking up is “coffee”, Zanzibar is a great option. Grab an espresso-based beverage (the mochas are my favorite) and take a seat outside. Or, if you’re looking for a more “complete breakfast”, there’s a full menu with slightly more upscale takes on the classic egg preparations, including scrambles, omelettes, and bennys. They also offer acai bowls, something every visitor to San Diego should try at least once. Think of it as a thick berry smoothie/fruit salad hybrid.

Recommended dishes: Cowboy’s eggs, Southwestern omelette, The Californian (bagel platter), acai bowl
Insider’s tip: If you arrive early enough, you can score a day-old baked good for . They’re located in a basket by the cash register closest to the espresso machine (on the window side).

Cafe 21 ($-$$) Located in the center of the Gaslamp Quarter, Cafe 21 is a good option for a more exciting first meal of the day than what you’ll find elsewhere. It’s a place where French toast is stuffed with mascarpone and ricotta cheese and topped with fruit (banana, strawberry, or peach), and omelettes are dressed up with lamb sausage, goat cheese, and filet mignon. Pancakes and French toast are under $10, other dishes top out at $15.

Recommended dishes: stuffed French toast (“Azeri style”), spicy Monte Cristo sandwich, chicken curry cakes

Cafe 222 ($)
This quirky cafe is busiest on weekends, but the cheap eats are worth the wait. Settle in for plenty of coffee and one of the dressed up waffles, like the peanut butter waffle, topped with sliced bananas, or try the other house specialty: pumpkin waffles. They’ve also got more lunch-like fare, but for me, this place is all about the sweeter side of the menu.