Crema's Take
“First Awakenings has earned its reputation as Monterey's best breakfast spot with genuinely exceptional pancakes—think blueberry ricotta and raspberry granola—that keep people coming back for decades. The kitchen nails the savory side too with perfectly executed eggs Benedict and generous portions at prices that feel like a steal, all served by genuinely accommodating staff who'll even turn on heated outdoor benches for you. If you're in the area before hitting the aquarium or exploring Pacific Grove, this is the breakfast destination worth planning around, not just stumbling into.”
What to expect
Classic coffee drinks done right. A slow-sit, outdoor seating spot, good for meetings. Full breakfast, pastries, and light food on the menu. Family friendly. Parking available.
Google Reviews
See all on Google →The food here was amazing and all the workers were very kind. They let us know beforehand that the pancakes were huge so we didn't get too many. We loved the Works Omelette, grapefruit juice, and the Raspberry Coconut Granola pancake. Definitely recommend!! There's a lot of…
I’ve been here back in 2012, 2015, and now 2026. My orders have evolved. My expectations have been blown out of the water every single time the whole ordeal. First and foremost tremendously, clean restaurant. Service is fantastic and the food is memorable. I will definitely be…
This is a very popular spot, so make sure you have time in case of a wait. We only waited for a couple of minutes. I ate the cinnamon French toast with fruit, and my son had biscuits and gravy. Both were so good! The service was quick even though they were busy. They have indoor…
Had a stop in Monterey, casually searching for the breakfast place and found this place. Surprisingly had the best breakfast in town!! We ordered egg Benedict steak and turns out so delicious. Seasoning are perfect. Also we ordered tuna sandwich and it was good too. Parking lot…
Been here a few times, in both the older and newer locations, and I like it every time. Most recent visit was with the husband and we got the raspberry granola pancake, turkey sausage links and Belgian waffle with fruit. I’ve had some of the skillets and the biscuits and gravy…
This place is amazing! I’m a breakfast place fiend and First Awakenings has me sold. First of all, they were very accommodating to us being outside, turned on the heated bench for us and was able to get us umbrella coverage. For food, we got the Monkey Wrench pancake, All…
Crema Reviews
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