Rise And Shine – The Five Best Breakfasts In Destin
While breakfast might be the most important meal of the day, during the busy work week, it almost always gets eaten on the go. Coffee, muffins, fruit, even breakfast sandwiches are eaten in the car, scarfed at the bus stop, and picked at from our desks while we check emails. It seems like breakfast is another task to check off our never ending to-do list. So, when we have a little down time, it feels down right indulgent to have a proper breakfast. And what says vacation more than a breakfast complete with hot coffee, homemade pastries and biscuits, bacon, eggs, and pancakes than breakfast out? Whether you’re looking to fuel up for a day’s worth of paddle boarding, an afternoon of dolphin cruising or treasure hunting, here are If you’re in here are five ways to start your day off right.
The Donut Hole has been a Destin tradition since 1978 and both locals and visitors will wait in line for overstuffed omelets, pancakes as large as your head, crispy bacon, and, of course the donuts. In addition to the classic chocolate covered, glazed, sugared, and jelly, you’ll find red velvet, blueberry, and key lime pie on the menu. If you can’t decide, there’s always “The Everything”, two eggs any style, hash browns or grits, ham, bacon, or sausage, two pancakes and a biscuit. Need a little irony with your breakfast, try the “Diet Plate” a plate of biscuits topped with sausage patties, cheese and fried eggs, all smothered in gravy and served with hash browns. Homey and unpretentious, The Donut Hole is closest you’ll get to a dinner in Destin, where everything is served with a smile. While the Donut Hole serves breakfast all day, you can also find classic deli sandwiches, like Rueben, club sandwiches, and BLTs. Served with your choice of fries, homemade potato salad, or cole slaw, they are the perfect way to break up a beach day. Visitors should make sure they save room for the homemade desserts, like key lime pie, or take a dozen donuts home for the next day. The Donut Hole has three locations, Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, and Inlet Beach on the east end of 30-a, and you can expect to find a line at all three locations if you don’t get there early. You know what they say, “the early bird gets the donut!”
If you’re looking for something a little lighter and healthier than donuts, First Watch will be at the top of your list. This “daytime café” is only open from 7:00 am -2:30pm, and offers seasonal specialties, breakfast staples, and healthy options like power bowls and granola. First Watch uses cage free eggs in their dishes, including omelets, frittatas, and benedicts. Craving carbs? First Watch has you covered, with light lemon ricotta pancakes, Belgian waffles smothered in warm berry compote, and french toast with strawberries, bananas and kiwis. Be sure to save room for a side of the Million Dollar Bacon, smoked bacon coated in pepper, brown sugar, and drizzled with maple syrup. First Watch also offers a daily selection of juices, including the morning meditation, a mix of orange, lemon, turmeric, organic ginger, agave nectar, and beet juice, or the crisp kale tonic, with kale, Fuji apple, cucumber, and lemon. Paired with a quinoa power bowl or avocado toast, these choices can provide a little balance to your vacation indulgences. First Watch has two locations, in Destin and Santa Rosa Beach, and offers on-line reservations so you can get a little extra shut eye.
Tucked in a shopping plaza in the heart of Destin, the Local Market offers hearty breakfast with a locally sourced twist. Brought to by the Morgan family, which owns and operates Harbor Docks, and La Paz, Local Market is a casual spot with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Choose from breakfast burritos, chicken biscuits, house made granola, homemade donuts and cinnamon rolls, or avocado toast. As you would expect from this family of restaurateurs, ingredients are locally and sustainably sourced where possible, and pastries, biscuits, and sauces are made on site from scratch. Filled with cheese, chorizo, and egg and served in a handmade tortilla, the Local Market has the best breakfast burrito in town, Need a beverage? The Local Market serves beer, wine, champagne for mimosas, strong coffee, and house made juices and smoothies. If you need a break from the crowds and tourists, look no further than Local Market. The Local Market is open daily from 7:00 am-3:00 pm.
Looking for breakfast with a view? Look no further than Harbor Walk Village’s Harry T’s Lighthouse. This circus themed restaurant has been a Destin favorite for more than thirty years and provides premier people watching with sweeping views of the Harbor. While people come for the views, they stay for the bottomless champagne and eggs benedict. Serving breakfast weekdays from 10-2 and weekends from 9-2, you can choose from omelets breakfast tacos, and all kinds of benedicts.
Are you in Italy, or in Destin? It’s tough to tell when you visit the Capriccio Cafe’. Capriccio Café offers a taste of Italy right on the Emerald Coast. Specializing in gourmet coffees, pastries, crepes, and imported meats and cheeses, Capriccio Café is a sophisticated spot in the heart of Destin. With a simple mission of using the highest quality ingredients, Capriccio Café offers a selection of sweet crepes, with Nutella, berries, among other toppings or homey, savory crepes, stuffed with prosciutto, chicken, imported cheeses and fresh vegetables. You can also get your crepes gluten free for an additional $1.50. Be sure to grab a fresh brewed coffee or espresso to round out your European experience on the Emerald Coast.
Whether you’re looking for classic eggs and bacon or a contemporary crepe, these are five options to help you start your day off right. And they are all worth getting up early for, so treat yourself to some goodness first thing in the morning.