The Peninsula's Best Breakfasts Places

Road Journals Blog—Searching for the perfect place for that stealthy, morning venture capital tete-a-tete or a spot to recharge with carbs and caffeine after that a.m. jog? Look no further than these Peninsula joints.

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Hobee's blueberry coffeecake stands tall. | Hobee's

Buck’s of Woodside Don’t let the kitschy décor (old license plates, cowboy hats, a Statue of Liberty) fool you. This is the power spot for Silicon Valley movers and shakers. Google founders, tech executives, and venture capitalists dine on puffy omelets served with home fries and silver dollar pancakes made extra tender with sour cream in the batter. 3062 Woodside Rd., Woodside, (650) 851-8010, buckswoodside.com [3].

Country Gourmet Order at the counter at this family-owned restaurant, then grab a table as you await your food brought out by servers. Wake up with crab quiche made with Fjordland Swiss cheese or the “Spinach Benedict’’ (house-made buttermilk biscuit topped with spinach, poached eggs, and hollandaise). 2098 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View, (650) 962-1700, countrygourmetmv.com [4].

Hobee’s A breakfast institution since the first one debuted in Mountain View in 1974, Hobee’s now boasts nine locations on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. Enjoy sweet potato pancakes or loaded hashed browns topped with grilled chicken, cheese, and pesto. What everyone craves, though, is a tall slice of the legendary blueberry coffeecake. It’s included with any omelet or scramble, or can be ordered separately. 2312 Central Expressway, Mountain View, (650) 968-6050, hobees.com [5].

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The giant buttermilk hotcake at Mayfield fills you up. | Ed Anderson

Mayfield Bakery & Café With its own on-site bakery, you can’t go wrong with buttery brioche transformed into French toast, then topped with vanilla poached strawberries and strawberry syrup. The “Giant Buttermilk Hotcake’’ is the size of a dinner plate and smeared with maple pecan butter. It takes 15 minutes to prepare – but your patience is justly rewarded. 855 El Camino Real (in the Town & Country Village), Palo Alto, (650) 853-9200, mayfieldbakery.com [7].

What's your favorite place to grab breakfast on the Peninsula?

This blog post was first published in July 2012. Some facts may have aged gracelessly. Please call ahead to verify information.