Good Morning, Sunshine: The Haute 5 Breakfast Spots in Los Angeles

Let’s set a scene here: you wake up feeling impossibly chic (as usual), you head into the kitchen, and you suddenly remember that you opted for after work drinks with friends instead of going to the grocery store.  Your hunger pangs grow worse.  Another scenario may be: you’ve got a houseguest who’s a bright-and-early type and they’re itching to see the town from the moment they get up.  Lastly, perhaps you’re getting a late and luxurious start to your day and it’s high time you treated yourself to a breakfast that someone else slaves over.  All of these vital morning meal situations can be easily hit or miss: breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so in an effort to help you not screw it up, here’s a list of LA’s most haute breakfasts.

BLD

The name of the restaurant stands for: breakfast, lunch, and dinner, so it should come as no surprise that they do each meal quite well.  Breakfast (and brunch), however, is their specialty.  Known far and wide for the Ricotta Blueberry Pancakes, luxuriating over breakfast at BLD can be as health-conscious or as delectable as you’d like.  The Fried Egg Sandwich can be easily described as scrumptious, the Three Bean Huevos Rancheros likewise, and for any slim hipster who’s just done Runyon and can’t bear to see so much as a slice of cheese, the Vegan Benedict is ideal.

BLD is located at 7450 Beverly Blvd. in West Hollywood (323) 930-9744

The Fountain Coffee Room at the Beverly Hills Hotel

For a classic, old-fashioned diner feel, without the smells that emanate from Mel’s, the Fountain Room at the Beverly Hills Hotel harks back to another era while you sip black coffee and order your second round of the famous Pecan Rolls. It’s a small room, just downstairs from the Polo Lounge and with bright green palm trees painted on the walls, pink napkins, white iron stools, and a curvy bar, it’s everything you and your vintage-y morning could ask for.  It’s unlike any other spot in the hotel and yet still feels perfectly at home there.  If you leave without eating their Hash Browns, you’ve made a mistake.

The Fountain Coffee Room is located in the Beverly Hills Hotel at 9641 Sunset Blvd. in Beverly Hills (310) 276-2251

Cecconi’s

When this black, white, and blue concoction swooped into the space that was once Morton’s, Angeleno’s felt a collective skepticism.  With a beautiful atmosphere, incredibly chic waiters, and all their dangerously good menus, Cecconi’s has begun to prove itself worthy.  Their breakfast is no joke, either.  Whether you’re an espresso-and-a-croissant type or an eggs-benedict-isn’t-just-for-Sunday, Cecconi’s can accommodate you.  Try their Oatmeal with Strawberry Marmalade, Rosti and Duck Egg, Scarmbled Eggs with Smoked Salmon, or just stick with their sweet, flaky Croissants.  A piping hot coffee, a seat in their covered courtyard, and a newspaper should set your day off just right.

Cecconi’s is located at 8764 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood (310) 432-2000

Huckleberry

Just one peek through the window at Huckleberry and you’ll be sold.  If it’s not their sweet, school-like red chairs or the bustling open kitchen that gets you, it will likely be their unreal case filled with prepared foods and pastries or perhaps their breakfast menu.  Choosing between their House Made Granola and the Quinoa with Spinach and Sunny Side Up Eggs (hey, it is Santa Monica) is made even more difficult by that nagging Fried Egg Sandwich.  Once you’ve settled on your food order (Valrhona Chocolate Croissant, anyone?), you’ll want to check out their blackboard beverage menu – from the simple (espresso, caffe latte) to the simply amazing (macchiato, caramel latte made with house made caramel), the baristas know how important your morning coffee is.

Huckleberry is located at 1014 Wilshire Blvd. in Santa Monica. (310) 451-2311

Figaro Café

This charming and very Parisian café is the perfect antidote to a boring morning routine.  It has the look and feel of a perfectly mismatched, comfortable Parisian bistro complete with waiters in button-downs and vests, checkered floors, and a delicious menu for le petit dejeuner.  Their Pain Perdu (French Toast) is divine, as is the Crepes a la Fraise, Omelette a la Provencale (with Onions, Bell Peppers, and Swiss Cheese), and the sinful Croissant Parisien – a croissant with French Ham, Swiss Cheese, and creamy Bechamel Sauce to top it off.  It’s such a Francophile’s dream, it almost seems like you can hear Edith Piaf’s distinct voice purring to “Rien de rien.”

Figaro Café is located at 1802 N. Vermont Ave in Los Feliz (323) 662-1587