Choosing a breakfast spot in Nelson is like picking your favourite child – it’s an impossible choice, and each one is special. Sometimes we’re in the mood for all of them!
Nelson is known as the culinary hotspot of the interior; fabulous creative dishes served with a backdrop of the town’s stunning natural beauty. When it comes to starting your day off right, this charming Kootenay city has breakfast and brunch options that cater to every taste, from quick coffee and pastries to hearty dad-approved staples. If you’re wondering where to get breakfast in Nelson, you’re in the right place!
We’ve put together a guide to Nelson’s top breakfast spots, in no particular order. Fuel up for your adventures, whether you’re hitting the slopes, exploring the lake, or simply enjoying the laid-back Nelson vibe.
Best Nelson Breakfast Spots
In no particular order – each of these have our stamp of approval! Let us know your favourite Nelson breakfast spot in the comments.
Ashman’s Smash Burger – Beyond the Burger for $5 Breakfast!
While their smash burgers are legendary, Ashman’s recently launched a new breakfast menu, and we’ve had the pleasure of trying several of their dishes.
You’ll find yummy breakfast sandwiches here both simple and deluxe, starting under $5! Try their breakfast burger with their signature beef patties, bacon, eggs, and smashed tater tots for a mouthwatering start to your day, or their breakfast poutine – a bed to tater tots and cheese served with bacon and a fried egg.
You won’t find a green dish on this menu, but when you’re in the mood for a quick, tasty, and very affordable breakfast, you can’t go wrong with Ashman’s! It’s feel good food all across the board.
Address: 301 Victoria St, Nelson
Website: https://ashmansburgers.square.site
Marzano – Elevated Breakfast & Signature Hash Browns
Looking for a more upscale breakfast experience? Marzano is the spot for you!
This Italian-inspired restaurant brings a touch of sophistication to any meal, and it’s such a lovely spot to have breakfast in Nelson.
Their whole breakfast menu is a delight, but it’s their beautiful, shredded-potato rosti that first blew us away – crispy, flavourful hash brown cubes that are soft as butter on the inside.
Try them in the Avocado on Rosti: a fresh breakfast dish served on a bed of arugula. Our favourite breakfast potatoes get to shine here, paired with runny eggs, avocado salsa, and lemon-dill aioli so each bite is a unique combination of flavours. Served with Kaslo sourdough, it’s a yummy breakfast that feels healthy!
The other menu items are equally delightful, with options like their incredible buttermilk apple pancakes served with cinnamon marscapone whip – a highly popular favourite in our social circle that’s inspired.
It’s a carefully curated menu, and you’re sure to find an item you love here. Artisanal coffee, a great brunch cocktail list and elegant presentations make breakfast feel like a special occasion.
Vienna Cafe – Affordable Casual Favourites
The Vienna Cafe is a longstanding favourite among locals and visitors alike, known for its European-inspired breakfast fare and the attached bookstore that brings a cozy sense of belonging.
It’s the kind of place where you can settle in with a good book and enjoy generous portions of all your breakfast staples, from perfectly cooked eggs Benedict to crispy hash browns and aromatic coffee. It’s a quintessential Nelson experience for a relaxed and hearty start to your day.
We’ve tried three different types of eggs benny at the Vienna Cafe. All were super tasty, with delicious hollandaise sauce and perfectly cooked eggs, but we loved the Pacifico: smoked salmon, capers, and red onion – yum!
They’ve also got great prices for both breakfast and lunch. If you’re interested, check out our list of affordable places to eat in Nelson with menu items under $12!
Address: 411 Kootenay St, Nelson
Phone: (250) 354-4646
Website: theviennacafe.com
General Store Restaurant (Hume Hotel) – Charming Historic Setting
Hands down our favourite building in town is the Hume Hotel! It’s so much fun to step back in time at The Hume Hotel’s General Store Restaurant, a Nelson institution that’s a great restaurant experience for all meals of the day – including breakfast!
Their menu is a mix of classic breakfast favourites and signature creations. Depending on the day, we’ll go for traditional eggs and bacon or the Green Goddess Omelette with kale, pesto and mushrooms.
Or how about the Shakshuka Skillet pictured above: poached eggs, paprika tomato stew, feta, avocado, and artichokes, and olives. It’s a unique combination of flavours that is a breath of fresh air, bringing in bold and savoury flavours from the Mediterranean. Talk about a treat!
With several signature eggs benedict offerings, avocado toast and more, The Hume provides a consistent and tasty meal in a beautiful heritage setting that feels like home away from home.
Address: 422 Vernon St, Nelson
Phone: 1-877-568-0888
Website: humehotel.com/general-store-restaurant/
Waits on Nelson Diner – Nelson’s Classic Diner Experience
Waits on Nelson is a classic diner that’s been a local favourite for generations. Originally a Baker Street staple, they now have an expanded menu at their location on Nelson Avenue.
Known for its cheerful, family-friendly atmosphere and unpretentious, delicious food, it’s a great spot for a traditional breakfast. You’ll find all the comfort food staples here – think pancakes, eggs, bacon, and, as we’ll be the first to tell you, some of the best milkshakes in town. It’s a taste of authentic Nelson, and at a price that keeps the wallet happy too.
Breakfast sandwiches, wraps, eggs benny, hash brown poutine, and our favourite: the corned beef hash, served with eggs any style, hash browns, and corned beef. It’s Nelson’s only old-school diner: classic food with classic prices to match, and we’re so happy to have this gem still serving the community since 1937!
Address: 323 Nelson Ave, Nelson
Phone: 250-352-2555
The Block – Breakfast Sandwiches with All Local Ingredients
If you’re craving a truly exceptional sandwich in Nelson, The Block is a must-try spot, whether you’re hungry for breakfast or for lunch.
They elevate the humble breakfast sandwich to an art form, with high-quality local ingredients like farm eggs, smoked Gouda, and fantastic made-in-house highlights like their chili fennel sausage or braised beef.
Their menu might be simple, with only three dedicated breakfast options, but each sandwich here is exquisite: carefully crafted, balanced, and absolutely delicious. The Breakfast Banger (pictured above) is a real treat, made with only the best ingredients available and a farm-to-table approach that you can taste in each bite. From the bun to the herbs, each ingredient has a story, and the combination of basil, heirloom tomatoes, crunchy lettuce, and handcrafted sausage patty is breakfast perfection.
We’ll definitely give a shout out to their lunch menu here too (available all day), with four additional sandwich options, soups, and other goodies. This gem is tucked away at the end of Baker Street in the Railtown area.
Address: 91 Baker St, Nelson
Phone: 1 (778) 463-2017
Website: https://www.theblockeatery.com
Relish – All-Day Breakfast & Smoked Salmon Eggs Benny
Where should we go for brunch in Nelson? How about Relish! They serve breakfast all day – perfect for the late risers in your group.
Their Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict is a local favourite: perfectly poached eggs, dill hollandaise, capers. and buttery smoked salmon. Ask around and you’ll frequently hear this come up as one of the best eggs benny’s in town.
If you’re not in the mood for eggs, you’ve got to try the carbonara skillet. House cured pork, veggies and pan fries, topped with crispy pork rind and prosciutto – it’s a decadent meal served piping hot in a cast iron skillet.
We love the Server’s Choice: a baked egg cooked inside of a bacon-wrapped avocado. Rich and creamy, with crunchy bacon and a beautiful runny egg yolk, and served with crispy potatoes and a salad, it’s a must-have Nelson breakfast dish. Wow!
For the brunch cocktail crowd: make sure to get a caesar here, it’s one of the best in town!
Address: 301 Baker St, Nelson
Phone: (250) 352-5232
Website: https://www.rel-ish.com
Port 701 (The Prestige) – Sunrise Lakeside Views
The most serene breakfast experience in town is undoubtedly Port 701. Located at the Prestige Hotel & Resort on Kootenay Lake, Port 701’s patio looks right out over lakefront – separated only by a beautiful curved walking path.
As Nelson’s seafood specialists, their menu has a few signature dishes that lean into this, such as their Smoked Salmon Omelette served with capers and herbed ricotta cheese.
And we’ve GOT to talk about the crab cake eggs benny here. This is an incredible breakfast – one of the very best breakfast dishes in Nelson! The heart of this dish is two fluffy crab cakes, which take the place of the English muffin in an eggs benny. They’re beautifully balanced, made with real crab, and a crispy golden brown on the outside.
Top them off with poached eggs, creamy hollandaise, arugula, and cherry tomatoes, and you have a truly incredible breakfast! It’s served with breakfast potatoes, and is such a treat to enjoy either on the patio or by the fire inside!
If you’re in the mood for an omelette, this is also the spot for you! Their omelette bar has four options to choose from: ham & cheese, Mexicana, tomato & basil, and the aforementioned smoked salmon.
No matter what we pick, we always love coming into this space. Relaxed colours, natural elements, huge windows and a fabulous view make this one of our favourite spots to enjoy a meal. If you’re visiting in the summer, their patio is hard to beat: beautifully paved, with wooden pergolas and plenty of space for larger groups.
Address: 701 Lakeside Dr, Nelson
Phone: (250) 352-7222
Website: https://www.port701.com
Full Circle Cafe – Huge and Varied Breakfast Menu
Right in the middle of Baker Street (and in the old Hudson’s Bay building) you’ll find the Full Circle Cafe. A busy, welcoming atmosphere full of locals and some tourists chatting over breakfast is the usual scene in this downtown staple.
Various egg scrambles, potato hash dishes, omelettes, and benny’s are available, in addition to breakfast sandwiches and lighter fare. In fact, each of these menu categories have a ton of options – each section bigger than the entire menu of some other breakfast spots!
It’s an impressive list, with something for everyone, whether you’re a tradition bacon and eggs person or looking for something a little less heavy to start your day.
Check out the Kick Hash, for example: a mix of buffalo sausage, bacon, banana peppers, potatoes, red onion, scrambled eggs & mozzarella cheese, topped with chipotle hollandaise & served with a slice of toast.
It’s been one of Nelson’s main breakfast spots for decades now, and still going strong today!
Address: 402 Baker St, Nelson
Phone: 250-354-4458
Website: https://fullcirclecafe.ca
Nelson Coffee Shops with Breakfast:
- Oso Negro Coffee: While primarily a coffee spot, Oso Negro also offers a selection of delicious baked goods and light breakfast bites, making it a perfect spot for a quick and delicious coffee and pastry on the go.
- La Ruelle Bakery: For freshly baked sourdough, buttery croissants, and other delightful pastries, La Ruelle is a great choice. Their baked goods make for a great grab-and-go breakfast.
- John Ward Coffee: Another solid option for coffee lovers, John Ward also features a selection of baked goods – particularly delicious breakfast sandwiches made with focaccia from La Ruelle Bakery.
- Empire Coffee: A charming spot known for specialty coffee and convenient grab-and-go options like muffins, cookies, and breakfast wraps.
Check out our article on essential Nelson coffee shops here, as well as the coffee shops that open early.
Nelson’s breakfast scene is as diverse and charming as the city itself. Whether you’re in the mood for a classic diner experience, a gourmet brunch, a quick coffee and pastry, or a unique breakfast sandwich, you’ll find just what you’re looking for here. Make sure to save this guide for the next time you’re in Nelson and wondering where to get breakfast!
Looking for other food options? Here’s a list of places you can eat for under $12 for some affordable lunch and dinner options.
We have articles on the best places to eat with kids, the best burgers in Nelson, and more you can check out here!
