If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then the choice of where to begin your culinary odyssey each morning is just as significant. Not to worry, we’ve done the leg work for you and found the best places to eat breakfast on Folly Beach, even identifying the most sought-after menu items that keep their patrons coming back for seconds.
Lost Dog Café
Known for their great food, generous portions, relaxed atmosphere and hospitable service, customers rave that Lost Dog Café boasts the best breakfast on the island. Both regulars and visitors highly recommend the cinnamon rolls and pancakes, the latter of which come layered with fresh strawberries and bananas. Other fan favorites include the eggs Benedict (topped with a fried green tomato), the breakfast burrito and the seasonal fresh fruit. With a name like Lost Dog, you would expect them to be Fido friendly, and the café indeed extends a welcoming paw to pooches, even laying out water bowls at each outside table and adorning their interior with pictures of dogs. Plan ahead for parking and prepare for long waits during peak season because this breakfast spot is popular.
Planet Follywood
Some locals rate Mama Flo’s breakfast at Planet Follywood tops on Folly. Sample their hearty and scrumptious biscuits and gravy, the shrimp omelet or indulge your sweeter side with pancakes. This casual gathering spot just five minutes from the beach has indoor and back deck seating, as well as a walk-up service window with café seating overlooking Center Street. Planet Follywood offers breakfast only a couple times a week and days vary depending on the season, so it is recommended that you check their website in advance for breakfast availability.
Center Street Coffee
If you’re looking for lighter breakfast fare and an invigorating cup of Joe using coffee beans roasted on adjacent James Island, Center Street Coffee may be more your speed. It’s a small and cozy place to start your day, featuring a wide assortment of pastries and baked goods like croissants and cookies delivered daily from local bakeries that you can pair with your espresso, latte or cappuccino. Customers can’t say enough about the Turkish coffee. It’s a powerful brew that is certainly not a match for every palette, but if you’re willing to go outside your comfort zone you should give it a whirl.
Rita’s Seaside Grill
Okay so maybe this is a mixture incorporating weekend brunch items, but Rita’s Seaside Grill gets high marks for many of its signature breakfast-related fare. They are known for their nachos, so it comes as no surprise that their breakfast version is also popular: eggs, sausage, queso, Jack, peppers and onions layered with corn tortilla chips. And chicken and waffles grab all the hype these days, but don’t sleep on fried chicken and pancakes. Rita’s come stacked with applewood-smoked bacon and two sunny side up eggs smothered in gravy. Or take a walk on the sweeter side with Captain Crunch French toast. Enjoy it in a laid back atmosphere just a block from the beach.
BLU Restaurant and Bar
BLU Restaurant Bar based inside Tides Hotel offers the option of waterfront breakfast dining on their outside patio. Try savory selections like classic eggs Benedict, a breakfast sandwich, or biscuits and gravy, while you enjoy views of the ocean and Folly Pier. And why limit your seafood intake to lunch and dinner? Order BLU’s seafood omelet featuring shrimp, crab, scallions and Swiss cheese served with a side of fresh fruit.
