4.5 stars. This was our first time at the restaurant. We ended up there because they were the only place on the island that served breakfast after 12 noon. You can get breakfast until 3pm! I called ahead and Dan was ready for us when we got there. A small unpretentious place with open doors to a small outside dining area. Fast food delivery; good prices and delicious food. What more can you ask? Oh and there's a little shopping center in the plaza and the Lighthouse beach is just around the corner. Perfect location. Great service as well. They also have true maple syrup! Yummy. read more

The Summary: Atmosphere - 5/5 Neighborhood - 4/5 Food - 4/5 Drinks - 4/5 Inclusivity - 4/5 Experience - 4/5 The Story: Came here with my boyfriend to start a Sanibel Island adventure, and we were ready to test if they have the best breakfast. We came at a busy time, but didn't have to wait long to be seated. We loved how intimate and home-styled the atmosphere was from the moment we walked in, it's also a unique touch to have the walls decorated with lighthouses. My boyfriend had the red house frittata with a side of potatoes, and I enjoyed the french toast and the sangria. The meal was ok, but we were really wowed by the potatoes! However, the menu was a bit misleading in noting that guests can ask about gluten-free options besides the obvious (omelettes, fruits, veggies, etc.), since it implies that there's a gluten-free menu or gluten-free versions of other items. Besides this, we appreciated the service we received and the home-like atmosphere to start a great day. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Best advise for this place, go early! It's a small place but they're fast, friendly and the food is awesome! The coffee is hot and delicious. We have visited probably a dozen times now and have never had a bad experience. Definitely try the homemade strawberry preserves. Not sure what else I can say, other than it's a must go place when we're in Sanibel! read more

The blueberry hot cakes were delicious! I had to order them since they were so highly rated in southern cooking magazine! I also heard someone order Coconut hot cakes, but didn't see them on the menu - I think those would be equally as delicious. The restaurant is cozy, but I was still able to squeeze my baby pram with my 4 month old inside and by the table. The staff are very nice, but always very busy! So make sure to tell them what you want all at once! Might take a while to get something if you don't! Definitely would come back next time I'm in Sanibel! read more

Great food at a great price. Went for brunch with my family. I had eggs, bacon, potatoes and toast with their homemade strawberry sauce/jam. Everything was cooked perfectly and big portions all for 10$!!! I also had the fresh squeezed orange juice which was delicious. My family had the French toast with Vermont maple syrup. Quaint place. Some outdoor seating and indoor seating. The staff are very friendly. This is a great place to stop before going to the beach. We will definitely be back. read more

This island joint, serves simple morning staples. Nothing fancy but it's homey with fast service and on the whole, friendly. Started with fresh squeeze oj then went with a 'Seafood Benedict mixed with crabmeat, shrimp, Scallops and broccoli on a Croissant'. Mouthful isn't it? Well, that's why I went after it- along with a Malted Pancake to share. Midway, I went for a Mimosa but tasted more like an non-alcoholic, sweetened up, carbonated spritzer. When my Seafood Benedict arrived, on a very quick take, my dish looked tasty. However, staring at it just threw me off. The most edible parts of my breakfast were the poached eggs and the buttery croissant- despite it being drowned in really soft, over-seasoned broccoli with thyme mixed in with "Seafood". That "mixed seafood", consisted of imitation crabmeat, miniature scallops and shrimp the size of my pinky nail. Please no! I ate both poached eggs and the buttery croissant and left behind all that other mess. Sadly, after many breakfasts throughout the years in Sanibel, The Lighthouse is that long-standing staple on the island and truly feel that you just need to stick with the basics when you come here: omelette, fried eggs, pancakes- nothing fancy, seriously. read more

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If that is the best breakfast on the island that is very Sad. The eggs were ok but the bacon was tasteless and hard as a rock, the potatoes looked liked they were scrapped pff the bottom of a pan and tasteless and the toast was Not toasted....Service was so so with people who looked like they wished they were not there... Don't waste your $..nice location..not very good food read more

The food was wonderful and the people were so friendly. They have excellent menu choices and the specials were delicious. We just had to go here several times while on Sanibel. read more

What a great breakfast. This is a very small place with great decoration inside. Service couldn't have been any faster, and the quality of the food was excellent. I'd love to say I'll be back, but it'll be a few years before e get back here. But, when we do come back, we'll return to the Lighthouse Cafe. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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Lunch and a breakfast over Memorial Day weekend we're both great. Wonderful whole wheat blueberry pancakes.

Famous Sanibel cafe, and one of the few eateries on island's east end. Been twice. I had the seafood omelet last time and cranberry pecan hotcakes this time. Both passable. Not bad but not memorable either. Inside has a fun old-school, islandy vibe. Be prepared to wait in season. 5* = incredible (rare) 4* = very good/ I really want to return 3* = generally good experience 2* = so-so/ I don't want to return 1* = a particularly awful experience read more

The jelly is the best part of this place. The pancakes are the worse. They are whole wheat and boy are they not fluffy. Have to be better breakfast options on the island. read more

This place was amazing. The food was soooooo good and the service was friendly. We were seated immediately even though we were expecting to have to wait since it looked super busy but they were super quick with their service. We had our food in under 15 minutes once we ordered. The homemade strawberry jam was awesome. I bought two jars to take home. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Garden omelette - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

The billing as one of the best breakfast places in the world is spot on. Especially if you get the blueberry pancakes! Generally there's a line, but don't let that keep you from going in. The staff is always extremely courteous and fun. The only thing I would say is that the fresh squeezed orange juice is posted as incredible according to bon appétit. I don't really get it. It tastes like really good fresh squeezed orange juice, but no better than any other place I've ever been to. That particular journalist must have been really, really thirsty. Ha ha ha! At any rate, this is a really great spot read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Those famous blueberry pancakes with eggs over easy on top and bacon! A little bit of grits to throw in - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Had a great reasonably priced breakfast. Service was great and restaurant was clean and tastefully decorated.

This place is the iconic lotttttts of breakfast food place. Soooo much on the servings, but so good. Everybody was happy. The pancakes were fluffy, thick and worth it. A lot of people got seafood items and it was good. This place is not too cool inside, but such a good spot. Lighthouse pictures all over the wall made it cool too read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Blueberry Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

Delicious scrambler and pancakes. Service was nice. It's a bit small so there was a wait even though we called ahead, but a good little place. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Scrambler with pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

What a dream perfect service And perfect food but it's truly the people that make it !!! read more

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Too late we discovered this place for breakfast, which was close to our hotel, the Seaside Inn. Service was fast, very fast, and everything was good. I've been thoroughly enjoying the freshly squeezed orange juice everywhere on the island. I had the French toast, which was done perfectly. The one very minor complaint I had was that I wished they had more combos for people like me - a little bit of this and that and oh hey, that too. Oh, and their homemade strawberry jam IS THE JAM. read more

Doesn't look like much when walking by, it's actually a pretty small restaurant. Be ready for a decent wait time due to this unless you're eating outside like we did. Overall, the food is above average. The Eggs Benedict was really good but had nothing special to it, lacked some seasoning and can pretty much get this dish anywhere else. The 2 egg breakfast again was nothing special, a simple breakfast one could probably make at home. The potatoes were delicious though. They had some grated onion and garlic in them which packed them with flavor. The homemade strawberry preserves was also a treat, not too sweet and not too tart. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Eggs Benedict (On Top) and 2 Egg Breakfast with toast, bacon, and potatoes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

This restaurant was great! My family and I are in town for the long weekend and knew we wanted to go to Lighthouse Beach Park & there weren't many options to grab a quick bite. We were so excited when we found Lighthouse Cafe. It was very close to the beach. The restaurant itself was clean, quiet and very fast. The service was great and the staff was very friendly. The food came out quickly and was very good. The fried shrimp platter was the special of the day and it was awesome! The shrimp was really crispy and the fries were seasoned perfectly. Great spot. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Fried Shrimp Platter - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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A hidden gem right on Sanibel island. Such a cute restaurant The walls are lined with pictures of lighthouses from all around the Country. Staff was really friendly, the wwre patient with my friends and I while asking for ideas to do while on the island. Best beach areas, best bars, and gift shops. The food--- so good! I got the steak and cheese. It was so fresh, made just right. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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If you haven't been to the "Lighthouse Cafe" you may want to consider putting it on your list of favorite things you did in 2021! Dan will greet you like you deserve the best food on the Island. Everything I have ordered has been excellent! Their French Toast is my favorite. Actually it's so delicious it is the only thing I have ever ordered. Time after time it's the French Toast. It's that good and it's served till 3:00pm. Maybe I'll go there for lunch too... read more

Food is amazing! Everyone is Friendly and very knowledgeable. Very nice place. Keep up the good work. read more

Such a great little cafe with friendly and accommodating staff and delicious home style food. Breakfast is served until 3 which is great for those that like to sleep in. They make some great whole wheat pancakes but their star item is their homemade strawberry preserve - delicious! Also, doggies are welcome outside and our waitress was nice enough to bring out some water for our pup! read more

My husband and I just finished breakfast here and highly recommend checking this place out! The service and atmosphere is excellent and you wont believe how fast the service is! The food was phenomenal and the strawberry jam made in house is to die for!! read more

Eat where the locals eat! Recommended by everyone you meet while in Sanibel. Close to the Sanibel Island Lighthouse on the south end. Mimosas with fresh squeezed orange juice and Bloody Mary's with Sake are very popular. Seating is by booth or by table, all indoors. Low wait times when busy. Seafood Benedict was the most popular food item and was delicious. Coconut pancakes were another favorite and were quite tasty. Banana Nut French Toast was a daily special. It came with four half slices. Eggs with bacon came with toast and choice of grits, potatoes or sliced tomatoes. It was very good. Everything was reasonably priced. Service was good. Parking easy. During our visit it was a little loud as tables are close but it was fine for how busy they were. Food came out quick, leaving more time for the beach! read more

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OMG so happy to have breakfast here before we left the island. Staff are happy, Service was great. Food was good.

The place was small and homey feeling. Everybody was friendly. It was busy in the morning on a weekday. We had the banana nut French toast which was basically pieces of banana bread dipped in eggs and cooked. It was good but a bit too sweet. You definitely didn't need syrup for it. It was a first though so that was interesting. We also had the lighthouse special with breakfast potatoes. The omelette and potatoes were good, nothing really different about it from any other place. The food came out pretty fast considering they were so busy. We also didn't have to wait long for a table as there were just two of us and they have two-seat tables. It was a bit crowded inside with tables close. I would say we had overall a good experience. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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Like the sign on the front of building reads, "Best Breakfast in the World ". I would not disagree. Great food, great service. Fast and friendly and great atmosphere. Come hungry and leave full and satisfied. read more

Such a cute place on the island! The orange juice and the mimosas were AMAZING, which is a must have! The egg meal was very delicious and can tell it is very high quality food! Pancake was okay. Overall, very adorable place with several homemade options read more

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Small and beautiful cafe with the amazing food. I stopped by for a breakfast, ordered one of the dishes on their "specials of the day", an omelette with feta, spinach and mushrooms. It was delicious!! I was served by Cecilia, very attentive and polite. Would be definitely back when I visit Sanibel next time. read more

We popped in here for breakfast this morning before going to visit the lighthouse and I'm glad we did!! It's a small, cute little spot where you pay at the front and they sell homemade preserves. The strawberry was delicious! We shared the red sauce frittata which was surprisingly delicious for having marinara on top of eggs for breakfast! We also shared the lighthouse special omelette which had delicious pieces of turkey, broccoli, mushrooms and cream cheese and it's topped with hollandaise sauce! It sounds like a different type of combination but trust me, it was so delicious! I didn't take any pictures because we were so impressed with our food right away that it was gone by the time I thought about it. For a glass of fresh juice and two entrees, both served with potatoes or grits or tomatoes and toast or an English muffin, it was about $30. Not a bad price in my eyes for something so delicious!! Check it out if you're in Sanibel- you won't regret it! read more

Great spot for brunch before the beach! Delicious food, the mimosas and bloody Mary's are delicious and a good price. The waitress was very nice. The atmosphere had a beachy feel and had a great selection on the menu. read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Cereal - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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We were excited to check out this popular spot during the last day of our Sanibel trip. Unfortunately, while it was fine, it didn't quite live up to expectations, and I can't give it a strong recommendation based on this visit, and based on the other excellent options on the island. First, the positives- - the Ocean Frittata was very tasty. It was a mix of shrimp, krab, scallops, and vegetables all cooked inside the omelette-like frittata. It was all then covered with an Alfredo sauce. While not the most appealing presentation, it was delicious. - Homemade Strawberry Preserves was excellent on the tasty toast - they allowed our puppy to be with us on the outside patio, and brought her a bowl of water. - besides the manager (see below) the wait staff were largely friendly and attentive. The negatives- - we had unpleasant interactions with the owner/manager, Dan. -On the phone we asked about brining our dog, and while he ultimately said yes, it was one of those yeses that sounds almost like a no. He stated several rules/conditions, including the odd one of the dogs being allowed inside as long as they stay beneath the table. -he had this unusual manner of handling the front of the house where he would ignore my wife and I while we were standing there. I understand managing the tables, wait list, server assignments, and phones must be very challenging, on more than one occasion he would appear to see us but continue on with whatever conversation he was having without the slightest nod of acknowledgement. For example, while I was waiting to talk to him about wanting a table outside, he had a full conversation with one of his servers about the server assignments. Apparently one of his staff had to leave early to "take care of her things" but he would "take it easy" on the person covering that section. I found it awkward to be present while he had this conversation with his staff, and would have appreciated him at least saying something like, "just a moment" as a courtesy. I would probably have let it pass if it didn't happen two other times, including him ignoring my wife while she was waiting to pay and ordering bottled waters while he was chit-chatting with 2 regulars. She waited so long, without a hint of acknowledgment, that one of the wait staff passing by stopped to ring her up. Apparently that was unusual enough that he made a jokey comment about her doing that once he noticed it. Just made us feel weird/unwelcome. - the blueberry pancakes were entirely mediocre. I'm not sure where they were able to find blueberries without any acid or sweetness, but these tasted bland. The pancake itself was fine, but nothing to crow about. I LOVE blueberry pancakes, and this was probably the most disappointing part of the meal. - I'm easy with coffee, I usually can't tell a good cup from an ok cup, but my wife (the coffee connoisseur) said it was pretty lackluster as well. Summary- -Food tastes mostly fine, especially the egg dishes -compared with our incredible experiences at other restaurants in the area, and perhaps our high expectations, it was disappointing. -It's just a hunch, suspect the change in management from the uncle Mike to the nephew, Dan, has something to do with the difference between the reviews of this classic popular local gem and the current reality. read more

A must when you visit Sanibel. It's usually packed and you have to wait, but there are shops to go into and the time passes fast. The Food is AAAA++++ and they are very friendly. Try the Pecan Waffles Great! read more

DELICIOUS!!! Super fast and friendly service. About a 30 minute wait.. but totally worth it. Great prices with a variety of delicious foods. Came for breakfast and will definitely come back for lunch. read more

Outstanding breakfast! A must try. Been a framing owned business for nearly 40 years. Does not disappoint.

Best breakfast on Sanibel Island!! The brown Sugar pancakes were delightful and the sandwiches were good too. Also, everyone agreed that the fries were too notch, not just some afterthought. I would happily go back again. read more

Ok the sign on the front of building days best breakfast in the world. Challenge accepted and I can confirm. Two times great food excellent service. This is the place breakfast till 2 this is a must on Sanibel read more

Lighthouse Cafe - Seafood Benedict. And an omelette first trip Ocean Frittata Turkey griddle second trip. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Sanibel, Florida

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