Warm, neon-lit interior of Old Monterey Café with a mimosa being poured
EST.
1985
Monterey

Downtown Monterey · 489 Alvarado St

Wake up to the
best breakfast in Monterey.

A cozy, family-run café that's been flipping pancakes and pouring bottomless mimosas since 1985. Every plate cooked to order, every morning worth showing up for.

40years of mornings
10×Best Breakfast winner
7 daysopen every week
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Our Story

A Monterey tradition,
served since 1985.

For four decades, the corner of Alvarado Street has smelled like fresh coffee and sizzling hash browns. What started as a small family café has become the place locals bring visitors, where regulars have their table, and where "the usual" actually means something.

We still do it the honest way: fresh ingredients, generous portions, and every single plate cooked to order. No shortcuts, no frozen anything — just the kind of breakfast that feels like coming home.

1985Family owned & run
995+Five-star reviews
All dayBreakfast, always
A server in the café's pink shirt carrying three loaded breakfast plates
Cooked to orderBreakfast Anytime · Lunch Too
The Favorites

What locals keep ordering

A taste of the menu that made us famous. Every dish made fresh, plated generous, and finished with a little Monterey sunshine.

Dungeness crab eggs Benedict with avocado and hash browns
House Signature

Dungeness Crab Benedict

Poached eggs, avocado & crab over a toasted English muffin, blanketed in hollandaise.

Belgian waffle with strawberries and whipped cream, syrup being poured
Griddle Classic

Strawberry Belgian Waffle

Crisp golden waffle piled with fresh berries, whipped cream & warm syrup.

Chorizo chilaquiles with two eggs, avocado and cotija
South of the Border

Chorizo Chilaquiles

Salsa-simmered tortillas, house chorizo, cotija, fanned avocado & two eggs your way.

Stack of pancakes with fresh strawberries and mimosas
Stack 'Em Up

Fresh Berry Pancakes

Buttermilk pancakes crowned with strawberries, powdered sugar & a side of mimosa.

Blueberry waffle à la mode with ice cream and orange
Sweet Tooth

Blueberry Waffle à la Mode

Warm blueberry compote, a scoop of vanilla, and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Loaded farmhouse omelette topped with melted cheese
Cooked to Order

Farmhouse Omelette

Three fresh eggs folded around your favorites and blanketed in melted cheese.

Hungry for the full lineup? Ask your server — the complete menu is always cooked to order.

Friends toasting mimosas and lattes in a cozy booth
Cheers to the weekend

Brunch & bottomless mimosas

Grab your crew, claim a booth, and settle in. Mimosas, spiced lattes, fresh-squeezed juice and a table full of plates — this is how Monterey does a slow morning.

Plan Your Brunch
Word on Alvarado Street

Loved by locals & visitors

"
★★★★★

Best breakfast in Monterey. The portions are generous, the service is friendly, and everything tastes homemade. We come every time we're in town.

M
Maria G.Local Guide
"
★★★★★

A must-visit. Fast service, cozy atmosphere, and the pancakes are unreal. You can tell they care about every single plate.

J
James R.San Jose, CA
"
★★★★★

Classic, comforting, and consistent. From the omelets to the coffee, everything is fresh and flavorful. A true neighborhood gem.

L
Lauren T.Frequent Guest
Come Say Hello

Find us on Alvarado

🕖
Hours

Open Daily · 6:45 AM – 2:30 PM
Breakfast served all day

📞
Reservations & To-Go

(831) 646-1021

🍳
Good to Know

Dine-in · Outdoor seating · Take-out · Family friendly

📞 Call to Reserve · (831) 646-1021