Do you ever wish there was an acceptable occasion to eat breakfast and lunch at the same time that you could drink before noon? Well, dreamers rejoice! You need brunch! If you’re like us, you love a good brunch. Loveland has plenty of solid options for traditional (and some non-traditional) brunches. Here’s our list of favorites for you to try. (And don’t forget the sunscreen. Some have great patios!)
Taste Local Café
330 Cleveland Ave.
Taste Local Cafe’s kitchen serves scratch-made, delicious breakfasts and lunches made with local, fresh ingredients. The charming, rustic-farmhouse vibe only adds to the allure of this popular spot. Standout menu items include the Market Basket Benedict with a housemade English muffin, herbed cream cheese, roasted wild mushrooms, peppers, onion, tomato, spinach and homemade hollandaise. Sweet and savory European crepes abound, including “The Denver” with bacon/spinach/mushrooms/goat cheese and a side of hollandaise. The lavender lemon is filled with whipped lavender and lemon sweet cream, lemon curd and topped with fresh whipped cream. The robust drink menu includes pitchers of specialty mimosas, Victorian margaritas, bourbon coffees and more.
A.K.A. Kitchen
414 East 6th St.
Regularly voted “best brunch in town,” A.K.A. Kitchen takes classic dishes and adds a twist. Brunch is served Tuesdays through Sundays until 3 p.m. To start, opt for the pancake dipped bacon, served with maple syrup and powdered sugar. Don’t forget the s’more cinnamon roll with smoked chocolate and graham cracker crumbs wrapped in housemade dough and topped with toasted marshmallow fluff frosting, it’s no surprise it was voted the best cinnamon roll in Loveland. Standout entrees include the poblano biscuits and gravy, lemon ricotta pancakes and the corned beef skillet. Bottomless(ish) mimosas only add to the appeal.
Doug’s Day Diner
532 N. Lincoln Ave.
Considered a local gem and Loveland icon, Doug’s is a must visit for breakfast. At this downtown spot you’ll find attentive, friendly waitstaff, huge portions, and enjoy an always full coffee cup. From biscuits and gravy, to omelets, hot cakes, breakfast burritos and egg Benedicts, all the classics are available. Our preference is the Papas, crispy hash browns topped with your choice of goodies. We like the “Taos” option, which piles chorizo, turkey green chili sausage and fresh onions atop the browns, all topped with red chili, green chili or country gravy, two eggs and cheese.
Epic Egg
1477 E. Eisenhower Blvd.
The newest brunch option in Loveland can be found at Epic Egg, a local chain with locations in Greeley and Cheyenne, Wyoming. The menu features four varieties of “Epic Benedicts,” chilaquiles, skillets, breakfast burritos and more. Sweet options abound, including pineapple upside down cake pancakes, banana split French toast and strawberry fields forever waffles. Sip on flights of specialty mimosas, including the orange creamsicle mimosa, the aloha mimosa with pineapple juice and the lively lavender mimosa.
Cracker Barrel
5800 McWhinney Blvd.
For a Southern food fix and a taste of retro America, look no further than Cracker Barrel. Featuring a curbside or dine-in option, Cracker Barrel is conveniently located off I-25. Start by sharing an order of the biscuit beignets before tucking into the Old Timer’s Breakfast — two eggs cooked to order, grits, meat and either fried apples or cheesy hash brown casserole. Even better, breakfast is served up all day.
COFFEE/OTHER SIPS
Feel Love Coffee
210 E 4th St
Located in the heart of downtown, Feel Love Coffee is known for its eclectic vibe where you can get artisan espresso and coffee, master blended teas, Parisian pastries, as well as organic, vegan and gluten free drink and food options.
Colorado Coffee Company
254 N Cleveland Ave. (Foundry Plaza) and 1450 N. Boyd Lake Ave. (Centerra)
Colorado Coffee Company has been serving Colorado for over 20 years. It began as one of the first coffee shops and roasters in Northern Colorado in the Foothills Fashion Mall in Fort Collins in 1994. Small-batch roasted coffee from around the world and homemade pastries, including award-winning cinnamon rolls, set this spot apart.
The Muse
1629 W. 8th St.
Located in a 1905 farmhouse on the same property as renowned sculptor Jane DeDecker’s studio, Muse Coffee & Tea has been serving up tasty coffee drinks and gluten-free favorites since 2012. The coffee shop’s name and ambiance draw from the city’s arts-friendly atmosphere. It’s owned by DeDecker and her husband, Kyle Dallabetta, and is filled with beautiful artwork by DeDecker. Along with delectable espresso and tea drinks, nosh on homemade soups and sandwiches, including a variety of gluten-free options.
Dark Heart Coffee Bar
419 N. Jefferson Ave.
Dark Heart is fueled by a love and passion for quality in all things. The dream of owning a specialty coffee shop began with napkin sketches and a desire for the unseen and exceptional. In March of 2015, after 10 years of planning, the dream became a reality; Dark Heart was branded and born via a handcrafted mobile cart that hit the streets of Downtown Loveland. Dark Heart Coffee Bar found its brick-and-mortar roots in June of 2017. Opt for a honey latte, a smoky mocha or kombucha on tap. The loaded avo toast or the nutty mouse are standouts on the food menu.
NoCo Cat Café
Sip coffee or tea while cuddling adoptable cats at NoCo Cat Cafe, the first cat café in the region. The café’s mission is to provide a safe, friendly environment for cats and community members to socialize. To that end, adoptable cats and kittens are brought in from nonprofit partner Colorado Kitty Coalition cat rescue to roam free and – hopefully – be adopted. Note: There is a $15 fee to enter the café and the money funds rehoming the cats.
Tom Davis Saloon
450 Cleveland Ave.
While not a breakfast spot by any stretch, if you’re fighting a hangover and want a killer Bloody Mary, head to Loveland’s first Honky-Tonk, the Tom Davis Saloon. This rollicking spot opens at 4 p.m. and serves a Bloody Mary tower (half price on Sundays!) that will get you back in the game.
With brunch options like these, who could eat breakfast (or lunch) at home anymore? Get out there and enjoy brunch in the Sweetheart City!
