9 Fabulous Breakfast Spots in North Lake Tahoe

A couple of weeks ago I did a blog post on the wonderful places to fuel up in the morning in South Lake Tahoe. Knowing that breakfast is important no matter where you are, it's only fitting to continue on around the lake to highlight some of the other fabulous places to fill the belly in the morning hours.

Keep reading to learn my nine favorite places for the most important meal of the day while enjoying North Lake Tahoe. Stay tuned for Truckee's nine next week.

Top photo: Choices abound at The Old Post Office Cafe.

Spindleshanks

Kings Beach

Known for its happy hour and incredible dinners, Spindleshanks also serves up a mean breakfast. With a menu full of hearty dishes, Spindleshanks offers meals that are certain to fill you up and get you ready for whatever your day has in store. A few of their favorites include chicken and waffles with sausage and gravy, chicken fried steak and a selection of incredible Bennies. My favorite happens to be the crab cake Bennie with breakfast potatoes. They also have scrumptious pancakes and waffle dishes. Breakfast is served from 9 to 11:30 a.m.

Pep's Place

Tahoe Vista

A breakfast and lunch restaurant created to serve quick, delicious, healthy meals to match the outdoor adventures that await, Pep's Place is all about getting your order to you in a quick and friendly way, while at the same time using the healthiest ingredients possible. Their breakfast menu is stacked full of items like bagels, breakfast burritos and a delicious acai bowl. They also offer prepared treats in their Grab and Go cooler. Pep's offers all of their goodies from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fresh banana walnut muffins made with love at Pep's Place. Get 'em while they are hot! 

JavaHut 

Kings Beach

Considered by many locals as a favorite place to fuel up before a big day, JavaHut is a breakfast paradise. It might be because of the plethora of coffee and morning drinks available. Or maybe it's because their motto is "Generating good vibrations, love and coffee daily!" Or maybe it's because everything that is offered is organic and fair trade. Either way, JavaHut is always a great call for starting your day off right. Beyond the vast morning beverage choices, they also serve up a tasty breakfast bagel with bacon, egg and cheese and pastries like chocolate almond bear claws, croissants and a yummy muffin of the day. JavaHut is open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Old Post Office Cafe

Carnelian Bay

A common choice for those who love a friendly, cute place to get delicious breakfast, Old Post Office Cafe has a long history of serving up tasty meals that satisfy. It's known as the place to go to cure a hangover; they even have a dish that goes by the same name and is known to lift the spirits after a big night. They also have incredible Bloody Marys. Be sure to expect a wait if visiting on the weekends, as the line can be pretty long at times.

There's nothing tastier than fresh-cut strawberries with whipped cream on piping hot pancakes at The Old Post Office Cafe.

Rosie's Cafe

Tahoe City

Another favorite for nursing a hangover, Rosie's is maybe the longest-running breakfast joint in North Lake Tahoe. A place that exudes a welcoming, laid-back atmosphere, Rosie's is perfect for taking life at a leisurely pace while enjoying good food and good company. A couple of the favorites on their gigantic menu include their Tahoe Loco-Moco (an old Hawaiian favorite of sticky rice, two eggs, two sausage patties and sausage gravy, garnished with green onion) and their Eggs New Orleans that comes with crab cakes, two poached eggs, hollandaise sauce and hash brown potatoes. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tahoe Waterman's Landing

Carnelian Bay

Waterman's Coffee House at Tahoe Waterman's Landing is a wonderful place to get breakfast, especially for those looking for alternative meal choices. Their paleo bowl, for example, comes with spinach, cauliflower rice, roasted potatoes, egg, chicken sausage, pumpkin seeds, shredded carrot and sriracha aioli. They also offer gluten-free waffles and a breakfast burrito in a bowl. On the beverage side of things, they offer a full coffee bar that has everything a sleepy person could ask for as well as tea, carbonated drinks, beer, wine and smoothies. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Fire Sign Cafe

Tahoe City

Known for their amazingly tasty dishes, huge menu and incredibly friendly staff, Fire Sign Cafe is a favorite that many locals are known to frequent multiple days a week. Housed in a historic home, Fire Sign has that homey feel that only a loved place can offer. Beyond their four different kinds of benedicts, five types of scrambled eggs and eight breakfast specials (I did mention their menu is huge, didn't I?), they are also known for six different styles of waffles, three different flavors of pancakes and French Toast that is to die for. The Fire Sign is known for being busy on the weekends, so expect a wait. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Eggs Benedict is an appreciated art at The Fire Sign Cafe. 

The Dam Cafe

Tahoe City

My go-to place before heading out to do a backcountry ski tour or big hike in the summer, The Dam Cafe is perfectly situated in Tahoe City to take advantage of heading towards the west shore of the lake. The cafe is tiny, offering a few tables to sit at, but most meals are in the grab-and-go form. Their breakfast burritos have a longtime reputation for being a good option for fueling up for a big day, as do their breakfast bagels or homemade granola. They also have a huge menu of coffee drinks, smoothies and freshly baked items. The Dam Cafe serves up the goods from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Tunnel Creek Cafe

Incline Village

Considered the go-to cafe for enjoying Tahoe's stunning east shore, Tunnel Creek Cafe is perfectly situated for easy access to the Flume Trail after enjoying their tasty treats. Offering espresso, coffee, breakfast and lunch, their menu has everything you need to feel energized and ready to enjoy the day. Their protein breakfast bowl is made of two scrambled eggs, bacon, ham or sausage, potatoes, black beans, onions, grated cheese and salsa, and their Swedish oatmeal pancakes are divine. Beyond breakfast, they offer a full lunch menu as well as eight beers on tap and shuttles to some of Lake Tahoe's prime mountain biking trails. They even will set you up with a bike rental if needed.

After enjoying your breakfast on the north shore of Lake Tahoe, be sure to enjoy one of the amazing events happening around town. Learn more at our Daytime or Nightlife sections.