There is something about a Door County morning that demands a great breakfast sandwich. Maybe it is the cool air rolling off the bay, maybe it is the anticipation of a full day exploring the peninsula, or maybe it is just that everything tastes better on vacation.
When we have a full day of adventures planned in Door County, we love to fuel up with good coffee and a great breakfast sandwich before heading out. Over the years, we have made it a bit of a personal mission to seek out the best breakfast sandwiches the peninsula has to offer. Below are our top three favorites, spanning from Sturgeon Bay up to Fish Creek. Each one has earned a regular spot in our rotation, and each one is worth a stop the next time you find yourself spending the day in Door County.
The Breakfast Sammy at Scaturo’s (Sturgeon Bay)
If you have spent any time reading our blog, you already know how much our family loves Scaturo’s. It is one of our favorite spots in Sturgeon Bay no matter the time of day, but breakfast is where they really shine, and the Breakfast Sammy is the reason we keep coming back to start our mornings here.
The Sammy is built on a freshly baked kaiser roll and stacked with fried eggs, black forest ham, sliced cheddar, and Renard’s two year aged white cheddar. That second cheese is the secret weapon. Renard’s is a Door County staple, and the sharpness of the aged white cheddar plays beautifully with the salty ham and the buttery roll. It is the kind of sandwich that makes you slow down between bites just to appreciate what is happening.
Pair it with a cup of Door County Coffee and you have a morning. They offer plenty of indoor And here is the move. You cannot leave Scaturo’s without a stop through the bakery on your way out. Their cinnamon rolls are a family favorite and have ruined other cinnamon rolls for us forever. Grab a few for later, throw in some of their freshly baked cookies or scones, and you are set for snacks the rest of the day. They also have an award winning cherry pie that is worth bringing back to the cabin.
Scaturo’s is open daily throughout the year, which is a nice bonus when so many Door County spots are seasonal.seating in their relaxed, casual dining area, plus a covered outdoor back porch that is one of our favorite places to linger on a nice Door County morning.
The Breakfast Sandwich at the Big Easy (Egg Harbor)
The Big Easy brings a little bit of New Orleans flair to Egg Harbor, and their breakfast sandwich is a fantastic way to start your day in the village. We ordered the ham, egg, and cheese on a bagel and it absolutely delivered. The bagel was the perfect base, soft on the inside with just enough chew, and the proportions of egg, ham, and cheese were spot on.
The kicker? It comes with a side of tater tots. Crispy, golden, salty tater tots. We are craving them right now just thinking about them. It is the kind of side dish that makes you remember being a kid in the best possible way.
While you are at The Big Easy, do yourself a favor and order some beignets for the table. You are not going to find fresh beignets dusted with powdered sugar at most Door County breakfast spots, and they are exactly the kind of thing your travel crew will be talking about for the rest of the trip. Egg Harbor is a wonderful village to spend a morning in. After breakfast, you can wander down to the harbor or pop into the shops along the main drag.
If you are looking for a breakfast sandwich with a little personality and a side that punches above its weight, The Big Easy is a solid pick.
The Sunrise Egg Sandwich at Blue Horse Beach Cafe (Fish Creek)
Up in Fish Creek, the Blue Horse Beach Cafe has become one of our favorite places to grab coffee and breakfast before heading into Peninsula State Park or out on the water. Their Sunrise Egg Sandwich gets it right by keeping things simple and using great ingredients.
It features a fresh egg, a slice of Wisconsin cheddar, and ham, all served on a butter grilled English muffin. That butter grilled English muffin is what separates this sandwich from the pack. Crispy on the outside, soft and warm on the inside, with just enough buttery richness to make every bite feel a little decadent.
Blue Horse is also a coffee lover’s stop. They offered four varieties of coffee to choose from when we were there, which is great when half of your group wants light roast and the other half is hunting for something bolder. The cafe has both indoor and outdoor seating, and on a Door County summer morning, that outdoor seating is hard to beat.
Here is our little secret. If we are doing a later morning brunch at Blue Horse, we will stop into Fish Creek Market right afterward to grab to go lunches to take on our adventures. Their from scratch deli sandwiches are delicious, and we particularly love the Italian Stallion. It is the perfect way to head out for the day knowing your next meal is already handled, whether you are heading to the beach, the park, or out on a hike.
What Breakfast Sandwich Did We Miss?
Door County is full of great spots we have not gotten to yet, and we are always looking for our next favorite breakfast sandwich. Did we miss a Door County morning staple that should be on our radar? Maybe a hidden gem up in Ellison Bay or Sister Bay, a longtime favorite in Bailey’s Harbor, or a place tucked away in Egg Harbor we have not tried yet?
We would love to hear where you go when you are craving a great Door County breakfast sandwich. Drop a comment below and tell us. We are always game for a new excuse to make a morning stop on our next visit up the peninsula.
WeWisconsin Tip:
Traveling with the family? Door County is one of our favorite family destinations in Wisconsin, and we have plenty of dining suggestions for everyone in your crew. Check out our list of the Top Seven Family Friendly Restaurants in Door County for our favorite spots that work well for kids and parents alike, including a couple of these breakfast favorites and a few surprises.