6 Best Brunch and Breakfast Places in Estes Park (My Favorites)

Pep Dekker

Updated on:

breakfast at The Egg Estes Park

The stunning town of Estes Park is a great spot to explore, relax, and take in the gorgeous scenery and wildlife!

As the sun rises over the mountains and your stomach starts to rumble, it’s time to decide what (and where) your first meal of the day is going to be. 

Going out and ordering a delicious breakfast or brunch is always a great decision. 

Whether you’re a local to Estes Park or visiting the town during your next getaway, you may have one question: Where is the best place to grab some breakfast or brunch in Estes Park? 

Don’t worry – I’ve got you covered. In this article, I’ll be going over my absolute favorite bunch and breakfast places in Estes Park!

From the best eggs in town to the perfect place to grab a late brunch and enjoy some live music, I’ve got the inside scoop on everything you need to know about breakfast and brunch in Estes Park. 

The cafes and restaurants that I will be taking a look at today are: 

  • The Egg of Estes
  • Mountain Home Cafe
  • The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern
  • Kind Coffee
  • Notchtop Bakery & Cafe
  • Claire’s Restaurant and Bar

Let’s go ahead and jump right into it – I hope you’re hungry!

Best options for brunch and breakfast in Estes Park

When it comes to the most important meal of the day, you’re going to want something that not only fills you up but tastes delicious as well. 

Let’s go ahead and check out some breakfast and brunch places in Estes Park with a great atmosphere, affordable prices – and, most importantly, incredible food. 

I will break down all of the essential information that you’ll need to know regarding these places and then give you my honest opinion on each of them!

1. The Egg of Estes

  • Address: 393 E Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, United States
  • Overall rating: 4.6
  • Best for: The perfect eggs!
  • Must-try dishes: The Pioneer Breakfast, Avocado Smash Egg Sandwich, Mexican Skillet 
  • Price range: $$
  • Hours of operation: 6 am – 2 pm
  • Pets: Allowed
  • Direction: Open in Gmap

The Egg of Estes, as the name suggests, is the absolute best Estes Park breakfast and brunch spot if you’re looking for somewhere that is going to be able to dish up the perfect eggs. 

The cooks at The Eggs of Estes will make your eggs exactly how you like them, and you can eat them while enjoying the cozy and welcoming atmosphere that this spot provides!

With onsite parking and friendly staff, The Egg of Estes is always my go-to pick when I’m stuck trying to decide where I want to go for breakfast while in Estes Park. 

The wooden booths and chalkboard menus give this spot such a homely and welcoming energy (and also make for some cute brunch photos). 

The food is genuinely phenomenal and keeps me coming back for more. The Egg of Estes’ Avocado Smash Egg Sandwich is to die for, and their iced tea is so delicious and refreshing!

You’re sure to find a meal that you love, no matter what your preferences are; The Egg of Estes has a huge menu that contains everything from omelets to fresh juices. 

You can go ahead and check out The Egg of Estes’ full menu here.

2. Mountain Home Cafe

  • Address: 457 E Wonderview Ave Ste C-1, Estes Park, CO 80517-9663
  • Overall rating: 4.6
  • Best for: Brunch with a view 
  • Must-try dishes: Swirled cinnamon french toast, Super Mountain home scramble
  • Price range: $$
  • Hours of operation: 7 am – 2:30 pm
  • Pets: Allowed 
  • Direction: Open in Gmap

If you want large portions of amazing food, welcoming staff, and stunning views, Mountain Home Cafe is definitely the best pick for your next Estes Park breakfast or brunch. 

This cozy little cafe tucked away near the Rocky Mountains provides the perfect breakfast and atmosphere to start your day off right. 

Are you craving a sweet treat? The swirled cinnamon french toast is hot, crispy, and absolutely delicious!

Or, perhaps you’re looking for a savory feast?  Not to worry – the Super Mountain home scramble has got everything you’d want in a hearty breakfast meal. 

Whatever your tastes are, Mountain Home Cafe has got you covered! After all: with onsite parking, beautiful surroundings, and quality, affordable food in huge portions, what’s not to love? 

You can browse the full Mountain Home Cafe menu here.

3. The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern

  • Address: 1675 CO-66, Estes Park, CO 80517, United States 
  • Overall rating: 4.5
  • Best for: Late brunch and drinks
  • Must-try dishes: Spicy Southwest Bowl, Brownie Sundae
  • Price range: $$
  • Hours of operation: 4 pm – 9 pm
  • Pets: Allowed
  • Direction: Open in Gmap

If you’re on the hunt for a place where you can grab a bit of a later brunch in Estes Park, then The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern is an ideal spot! 

This tavern has the best energy and atmosphere, with live music and outdoor seating – which means it’s also very pet-friendly! 

If it’s getting a bit later in the day but you’re still wanting to grab a delicious brunch and some drinks, then this eatery is absolutely the best place for you.  

Something to keep in mind, however, is they do open a bit later than most other restaurants on this list. 

If you’re looking for an early-morning breakfast, you may want to stop somewhere else and save The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern for later – perhaps as an evening drink spot!

Located right next to the Rocky Mountains, you can enjoy incredible food (such as their phenomenal brownie sundae, which I find myself ordering time and time again) while enjoying the rustic architecture and laid-back vibe. 

The Rock Mountain Inn is truly ideal if you want to wind down and relax while still enjoying a high-quality meal and refreshingly cold drinks. 

Take a look at The Rock Inn Mountain Tavern’s full menu here.

4. Kind Coffee

  • Address: 470 E Elkhorn Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517, United States
  • Overall rating: 4.7
  • Best for: A customizable breakfast 
  • Must-try dishes: Build your own brioche toast
  • Price range: $
  • Hours of operation: 6:30 am – 4 pm 
  • Pets: Allowed
  • Direction: Open in Gmap

Relaxed, sunny, and absolutely incredible value for money – Kind Coffee is an extremely popular breakfast and brunch spot in Estes Park for very good reason!

Sit outside for a stunning view of the water, or dine inside and admire the gorgeous bamboo flooring. 

Decorated with shelves full of coffee cups, string lights, and vintage tables, the atmosphere and decor of this place has got to be my favorite out of every establishment on this list. 

Kind Coffee is so beautiful, it has a starring role on my Instagram feed every time I visit Estes Park!

I haven’t even mentioned the food. You can customize your breakfast by building your own brioche toast to make it exactly how you like it – an absolute favorite menu option of mine! 

Their coffee game is also next-level, with delicious organic coffee made by extremely talented baristas. 

There is onsite parking available and ample outdoor space as well, making this spot pet-friendly for your pooch. Go ahead and check out Kind Coffee’s full menu here!

5. Notchtop Bakery & Cafe

  • Address: 459 E Wonderview Ave #5, Estes Park, CO 80517, United States
  • Overall rating: 4.8
  • Best for: A comfy atmosphere 
  • Must-try dishes: Cowboy breakfast, Mexican omelet  
  • Price range: $$
  • Hours of operation: 7 am – 3 pm
  • Pets: Allowed at outdoor tables
  • Direction: Open in Gmap

Notchtop Bakery and Cafe has to be one of the coziest and most comfortable breakfast and brunch spots in Estes Park. 

With a homely, rustic interior and plush vintage booth seating, this will always be my top pick when it comes to comfort!

I absolutely adore the vibe that this restaurant has, thanks largely to the staff who are always so friendly and welcoming!

The outdoor patio seating has gorgeous views and is also pet-friendly – in fact, staff will often bring a bowl of water out for your pup to drink as you dine! 

The menu at Notchtop Bakery and Cafe has a strong focus on local and organic ingredients, which really sets the food apart from the rest. 

This is why I rank this as my top choice if you’re hankering for a genuine taste of Estes Park. The Cowboy breakfast (which includes phenomenal, crispy home-fried potatoes) is a constant go-to pick of mine. 

You can take a look at the full menu for Notchtop Bakery and Cafe here.

6. Claire’s Restaurant and Bar

  • Address: 225 Park Ln, Estes Park, CO 80517, United States 
  • Overall rating: 4.5
  • Best for: Hearty food 
  • Must-try dishes: Blueberry lemon pancakes, Bond Park benedict 
  • Price range: $$ 
  • Hours of operation: 11 am – 8 pm
  • Pets: Allowed 
  • Direction: Open in Gmap

With cozy indoor seating and a gorgeous outdoor patio with a view of the park, Claire’s Restaurant and Bar is honestly a great pick no matter the weather!

This beloved eatery has a menu that offers a wide range of classic American favorites. 

This place can get a little busy at times, but the staff are so kind and attentive that it can feel as though you are the only people in the place!

It’s only fitting that an eatery that serves comfort food also has a comforting environment and friendly staff, but I am blown away every time by just how welcoming this place is. 

The portion sizes here are epic, and it is the perfect pick if you want hearty food that will sustain you all day long! My personal favorite on the menu is the blueberry lemon pancakes (though the cocktails are a close second). 

All in all, Claire’s Restaurant and Bar is a reliable favorite of mine that I highly recommend checking out. You can take a look at the menu for Claire’s Restaurant and Bar right here!

Author

  • Pep Dekker

    Hey. I’m Pep, Paige's husband, and dad to Juliana, Lucille and Maxine. I'm founder and writer here at EstesPark.com. I've been living full-time in Estes Park for 3 years now and been visting the Estes Valley for 8. I'm a seasoned traveller, and all around expert on all things Estes Park, Colorado and I'm excited to share all that I've learned with you.