Here are the eateries at the top of our list of places to enjoy breakfast in Townsville.

From brekkie favourites including smashed avo and eggs benny, to cat poo coffee and minced meat on toast – the breakfast options in Townsville are quirky and wonderful. Below is our guide to the best cafes in Townsville for breakfast and coffee.

And if you’re looking to dine beyond breakfast, make sure to check out our guide to Townsville’s best restaurants.

The shortlist:

Best for views with Coral Sea vistas: CBAR
Best family-friendly breakfast: Happy Place
Best coffee: Born Wild Wholefood + Espresso

1. CBAR

The location of CBAR on the Gregory Street Headlands reveals Townsville’s promise as a foodie destination. Arriving at CBar after a stroll along The Strand as the sun rises is a very civilised idea. Sit outside on the deck to enjoy roasted field mushrooms with whipped goat’s cheese and poached eggs on sourdough while drinking in views across the Coral Sea to Magnetic Island.

Average price: $$$ 

Atmosphere: Elevated casual 

Location: 80 Gregory St, Townsville City 

2. Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms

For culinary connoisseurs who collect food experiences like souvenirs, a visit to the oldest known building in North Queensland is a must. Relax in the historic Herveys Range Heritage Tea Rooms with a cup of rare kopi luwak ($50 per cup), coffee that has passed through the digestive tract of the Asian palm civet. Of course, those less inclined to drink beans extracted from faecal matter can order a standard flat white alongside a menu of sweet treats and classic breakfasts of waffles and bacon and egg sandwiches. The heritage tea rooms are housed in an 1865-built building located 30 minutes from Townsville atop Herveys Range. 

Average price: $$$ 

Atmosphere: Bush charm 

Location: 37 Thornton Gap Rd, Hervey Range

3. The Balcony Restaurant

The food at Balcony has absorbed influences from around the globe, which mirrors the city’s multicultural makeup. The Balcony Restaurant colonised the quirky upstairs space 30 years ago. Enjoy a waffle with ice cream, banana and honeycomb or a robust bacon chop with poached eggs served overlooking Flinders Street, which is bustling on Sundays when it hosts weekly markets. 

Average price: $$$ 

Atmosphere: Outdoor bustle 

Location: 287 Flinders St, Townsville City

4. The Beet Bar

Although The Beet Bar is known for its healthy raw, vegan fare, you can also pick up rainbow salads with chicken and hefty cheeseburgers to boot. Start your day with an acai bowl, toast with avocado, lemon and feta, or a bacon and egg roll, washed down with a crunchy nut protein smoothie or freshly squeezed signature beet juice. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Bright and lively 

Location: G1/21 Stokes St, Townsville 

5. Hoi Polloi Cafe

Melbourne meets Seattle at this music venue and cafe, which features a gritty, grungy, vintage-chic vibe. The space tucked into the heritage-listed Howard Smith Building is popular with Gen Zers, who look as though they’re playing dress-up and are the epitome of hipster cool. Visit the laneway for its street art and stay for great coffee and quick bites, such as pumpkin scones and pretzel cookies. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Grungy laneway vibes 

Location: LOT 2 Flinders St, Townsville

6. Otto’s Fresh Food Market

All up, Otto’s has 10 departments spread across two locations, which include a meat market, bakehouse, deli and fresh harvest section, fish market and even a ‘doughnut gallery’. Otto’s sells everything from pastries to Japanese favourites, smoked meats and house-made German small goods, such as bratwurst. Order a grazing platter and set up your perfect breakfast picnic on the Strand. 

Average price: $-$$$ 

Atmosphere: Euro marketplace 

Locations include: Warrina, Precinct and JCU

7. Betty Blue and the Lemon Tart

Cheesy Doorstop Toast and Betty’s (eggs) Bennys are the top-selling items on the menu at Betty Blue and the Lemon Tart. Located in a dinky Art Deco arcade, the bustling cafe, adorned with tropical accents, has a rotating list of daily specials that are a huge hit with locals. To round out your breakfast, do as the locals do and order a Tim Tam frappe to fuel your walk up Castle Hill. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Come as you are 

Location: Suite 8/95 Denham St, Townsville City 

8. The Palm House

The Palm House is part of The Ville Resort-Casino, one of Townsville’s best places to stay. If you’re not a guest, you can buy a pool day pass and indulge in an all-morning eating extravaganza at this bright and breezy buffet. Browse the ever-changing selection from chia pudding and granola to Eggs Benedict made at the live cooking stations enjoyed alongside fresh juice and barista-made coffee. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Resort chill 

Location: The Ville, Sir Leslie Thiess Dr, Townsville

9. Born Wild Wholefood + Espresso

Born Wild Wholefood Cafe is located in the busy, buzzy City Lane precinct, which is worth a detour for its proximity to some of the city’s best street art. The murals make a splash at the back end of the laneway, which feels more Melbourne than Melbourne. Follow Born Wild on Instagram for what to order – from a mountainous serving of teriyaki chicken benny to acai bowls and corn fritters. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: City stylish 

Location: 383 Flinders St, Townsville 

10. Grandma’s

If you’re craving some home-cooked comfort food, Grandma’s is the place. This menu is a combination of recipes passed down by four real-life grandparents, embracing global flavours of the Mediterranean, North Africa, Greece and Italy. The breakfast menu includes Grandma’s ricotta pancakes – try the classic version topped with fresh banana, caramelised figs and dollops of cream, drizzled with pure maple; or choose from the all-day breaky options, which includes homemade Challa bread and Grandma Haya’s beloved shakshukas. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Cottage cosy 

Location: Shop 14/45 Eyre Street, North Ward

11. Pedlar Project

Inspired by 1920s French jazz cafes and mid-century contemporary design, Pedlar Project is a boutique coffee roaster from the same master behind Townsville’s much-loved Piccolo Pedlar coffee cart. The menu features breakfast bowls packed with veggie goodness, buttery croissants, flavourful corn fritters and fair trade organic coffee. There’s plenty of sidewalk seating among green foliage to relax and enjoy your brekkie in the fresh air and sunshine. 

Average price: $$–$$$ 

Atmosphere: Greenhouse lounge vibes 

Location: 320-334 Flinders Street, Townsville

12. Fresno Espresso & Wine Bar

The brainchild of three mates, Fresno is a sleek new cafe, bar and events space in the CBD. Using Code Black Coffee, exclusive to Townsville, the food menu is limited, but excellent espresso by day and espresso martini by night make it worth the visit. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Laidback sips 

Address: 139 Sturt Street, Townsville

13. Odyssey on the Strand

In a breezy spot at Townsville’s northern end, Odyssey on the Strand is a relaxed Greek restaurant where you can enjoy ocean views along with hearty Mediterranean fare. 

Its breakfast menu offers simple options, from toasted croissants to bircher muesli, when you feel like a lighter start to the day. For something more filling, try a traditional oven-baked omelette, a vegan stack of fresh veggies, or the signature Greek breakfast, a plate filled with roasted tomatoes, avocado, halloumi, and grilled pancetta, all drizzled with olive oil. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Casual and generous 

Address: 120 The Strand, North Ward

14. Sirens Bayside

Slinging sustainably minded and nourishing plates until midday, this beachy keen cafe has community and womenfolk at its heart. It’s a come-one, come-all vibe with a kids’ play corner and a pups-welcome policy. Caffeination comes by way of Byron Bay’s Moonshine roasters, and the menu is a procession of considered and colourful dishes, such as the maple-roasted beetroot and feta dip with feta, microgreens and mint on local sourdough and the ocean smoothie bowl with mango, blue spirulina and seasonal fruit. Parents can treat their little ones with healthy milkshakes, and there are health add-ons targeted at women and kids’ wellbeing, such as sea moss gel, collagen protein and probiotics. 

Average price: $$$ 

Atmosphere: Sunny, sustainable and uplifting 

Address: 1/36 Primrose St, Belgian Gardens 

15. Happy Place

When the menu serves you uplifting messages alongside its list of dishes, you know you’re in for a good meal. An encouraging “You’re doing great!" does wonders to make you feel good about your breakfast choices, which may range from a classic bacon and egg roll to black bean fritters. There’s also a Happy Kids Breakfast menu, which parents will hope does exactly as promised. Need extra energy to embark on a day in the tropics? Go for an energy bowl that features acai, fruit and muesli. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Upbeat and welcoming 

Address: 62 The Strand, North Ward 

16. The Gypsea Collective

This courtyard cafe adjacent to The Gypsy Collective wellness studio is a peaceful sanctuary from the city bustle. Set yourself up post-workout under a tassel-trimmed umbrella and tuck into the signature breakfast of sourdough crumpets with your choice of toppings, such as butter and maple, avo and sauerkraut, or choc-hazel. If you need to calmly rush off, grab a chia pot or vegan slice to go with your turmeric latte or coffee made with Long Shot beans. 

Average price: $$ 

Atmosphere: Mindful 

Address: 146 Ross River Rd, Mundingburra 

17. Hey days

Doing double time as a cafe in the day and event space come evenings, Hey Days can take you from your first fortifying sip of caffeine right through to a nightcap. Freelance Roasting roasts the beans onsite, while the menu makes its way through some updated cafe classics, such as chilli eggs, brûléed sourdough with a scorched praline top, and an aloha chicken burger with mango chilli aioli. 

Average price: $$$ 

Atmosphere: City cool 

Address: 482 Flinders St, Townsville

For more insider tips on where to eat and drink in Townsville, check out our guide here.

Originally written by Megan Arkinstall with updates by Lara Picone