Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Madison area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Madison area by diners
Breakfast holds a special place in American culture, serving not only as a source of nourishment to start the day but an opportunity to create traditions. It's a daily ritual for more than 290 million Americans and is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.
While staples like eggs, bacon, and pancakes are common nationwide, regional preferences showcase America's culinary diversity. In the South, biscuits and gravy are a staple, while the East Coast is known for dishes like eggs Benedict and bagels with lox. The Midwest often favors hearty skillet breakfasts, while the Southwest's spicy breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros reflect the region's Mexican influence.
There are a wide variety of restaurants that serve breakfast today. Traditional diners often feature laminated menus filled with pages of combo meals pairing eggs with a breakfast meat of your choice served alongside hash browns, buttered toast, and endless coffee refills. Then there are modern breakfast spots that embrace innovation, adding global influences and creative twists to traditional dishes. Avocado toast, kimchi fried rice, and churro waffles are some of the more recent popular offerings that reflect how multicultural flavors have become part of contemporary breakfast traditions.
American breakfast culture has evolved significantly over the years. In the mid-20th century, diners and coffee shops dominated the morning meal landscape, catering to workers and families with fast, affordable options. Then, the rise of fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s shifted breakfast trends, introducing convenient grab-and-go items like McDonald's Egg McMuffin. By the early 2000s, the brunch boom transformed weekends into social events, with restaurants offering elaborate dishes, bottomless mimosas, craft Bloody Marys, and vibrant atmospheres that encourage extended Saturday and Sunday morning dining experiences.
Today, breakfast culture continues to balance nostalgia with innovation as classic comforts meet modern trends in both casual diners and brunch destinations, ensuring that morning meals remain a meaningful and celebrated part of life.
Curious about where to head near Madison for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the Madison area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of March 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp that are open at 7 a.m. and are within a 10-kilometer radius of Madison were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 15 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to discover new inventive egg-centric dishes or time-honored classics for your next leisurely morning!
#29. Highway Cafe
- Rating: 3.6/5 (27 reviews)
- Address: 6162 Hwy 51 Deforest, Wisconsin
- Categories: Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#28. Yola's Cafe
- Rating: 3.6/5 (163 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 494 Commerce Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Cafes, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#27. Copper Top Restaurant
- Rating: 3.7/5 (79 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5501 Schroeder Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#26. Bennett's Meadowood Country Club
- Rating: 3.8/5 (41 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2009 Freeport Road Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Dive Bars, Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Colectivo On the Square
- Rating: 3.8/5 (210 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 25 South Pinckney St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#24. CIRC
- Rating: 3.8/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1 West Dayton St. The Madison Concourse Hotel And Governor's Club Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, New American
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Gus's Diner
- Rating: 3.8/5 (191 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 630 North Westmount Drive Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#22. Willalby's Cafe
- Rating: 3.9/5 (143 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1351 Williamson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Parkway Family Restaurant
- Rating: 4.0/5 (94 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1221 Ann St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: New American, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Sofra Family Bistro
- Rating: 4.0/5 (168 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 7457 Elmwood Ave. Middleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#19. Luke's Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (58 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5700 US Hwy 51 McFarland, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, American, Wraps
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Golden Nest Pancake And Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 2812 Prairie Lakes Drive Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Prairie Cafe & Bakery
- Rating: 4.1/5 (90 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3109 Pheasant Branch Road Middleton, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Short Stack Eatery
- Rating: 4.1/5 (643 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 301 West Johnson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#15. Crema Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (249 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 4124 Monona Drive Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#14. The Curve
- Rating: 4.1/5 (110 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 653 South Park St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Mickies Dairy Bar
- Rating: 4.1/5 (428 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 1511 Monroe St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Jet Room Restaurant
- Rating: 4.1/5 (215 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3606 Corben Court Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, American
- Read more on Yelp
#11. McFarland House Cafe
- Rating: 4.1/5 (64 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 5923 Exchange St. McFarland, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Ancora Cafe + Bakery
- Rating: 4.2/5 (113 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 3256 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Lazy Jane's
- Rating: 4.2/5 (363 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 1358 Williamson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#8. The Victory
- Rating: 4.2/5 (69 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 2710 Atwood Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Bakeries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Cottage Cafe
- Rating: 4.2/5 (149 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 915 Atlas Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Marigold Kitchen
- Rating: 4.3/5 (852 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 118 South Pinckney St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Johnson Public House
- Rating: 4.3/5 (205 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 908 East Johnson St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Ancora Cafe + Bakery
- Rating: 4.3/5 (188 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 107 King St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Original Pancake House
- Rating: 4.4/5 (260 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 5518 University Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Ancora Cafe + Bakery
- Rating: 4.6/5 (48 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 611 North Sherman Ave. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Ogden's North Street Diner
- Rating: 4.6/5 (179 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 560 North St. Madison, Wisconsin
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 293 metros.
