Whether you’re a Pancake Purist (just butter and syrup) or a Pile-on-the-Toppings Type, the Virginia Beach pancake scene will set your carb-loving heart aflutter. Here’s where to find some of the best pancakes that ever sizzled.
Fab Pancakes, Killer View
The buttermilk pancakes at Big Sam’s Inlet Café & Raw Bar, are golden orbs of deliciousness – and for good reason: They’re made with Big Sam’s grandma’s recipe. These “Best Pancakes in Tidewater” award winners come with a bonus: Fabulous views of Rudee Inlet so you can watch the paddleboarders as you navigate your stack of pancakes with a Pungo Mimosa. (Rudee Inlet)
When Bourbon Met Maple
There’s good maple syrup. And then there’s bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup you can drizzle atop the buttermilk pancakes at Becca Restaurant & Garden at the Historic Cavalier Hotel. Call it “yum with a kick.” The garden terrace setting is foliage-fabulous, too, so you’ll feel very posh as you devour those syrup-drenched, honey-butter-kissed pancakes. (Oceanfront District)
Gooey Goodness Lives Here
For a perfect pancake oozing with sweet, gooey goodness, head directly to Pocahontas Pancake & Waffle House, where Nutella and Reese’s peanut butter chips rule. Adding street cred: The folks at Food Network deemed Pocahontas the best pancake house in Virginia Beach. A long list of pancake varieties includes organic multi-grain and gluten-free options, along with stacks topped with fruit, paired with chicken, or sweetened with chocolatey goodness. (Oceanfront District)
Pancake Perfection, 60 Years Strong
For more than 60 years, pancake fanatics have shown Mary’s Kitchen lots of love. Breakfast is served all day, using founder Mary Croft’s original recipes. Make it a custom carb-a-thon by adding some fruity freshness (or a hint of chocolate) to your stack: Extras include chocolate chips, fresh strawberries, blueberries, bananas or spiced apples. (ViBe Creative District)
Sweet Potato Pecan Pancakes? Sweet!
Set within a former doctor’s office, Doc Taylor’s (Oceanfront District) is a local institution. Stepping inside is like entering someone’s home, and the food has the same vibe – the hearty, tasty food you’d whip up for out-of-town guests. Ignore the rest of the menu and proceed directly to the sweet potato pecan pancakes. No matter what date the calendar says, it’s Thanksgiving in your mouth.
Blueberry + Lemon + Maple? Yes, Please
Eat Well, Be Happy. That’s the slogan at Baker’s Crust Artisan Kitchen. One of the early players in the farm-to-table movement, the restaurant buys from local purveyors whenever possible. The breakfast menu is short, but who needs 100 options when there are blueberry and lemon curd flapjacks with warm maple syrup on the menu? Trust us. (Inland District)
A Throwback Breakfast Joint
There’s nothing fancy about Log Cabin Pancake House, but it’s reassuring to know these homey places still exist, with their paneled walls, diner-like ambiance and breakfast served all day. Indecisive types, beware: The menu features more than a dozen varieties of pancakes for all tastes. (Oceanfront District)
Bacon Makes It Better
Buzzworthy dining spot The Bee & The Biscuit serves breakfast and lunch in the most charming of settings: a cute circa-1919 cottage. The pastoral locale is a perfect match for meals that would fill up a farmhand, such as the Back Bay Big Stack, a pile o’ pancakes studded with blueberries, chocolate chips or – the one to beat – crumbled bacon. (Pungo District)
If a Cinnamon Roll and a Pancake Had a Baby…
Sweet tooths shouldn’t miss the delightfully indulgent cinnamon roll pancake at Pop’s Diner Company. Think tender golden pancakes topped with a melty swirl of cinnamon sauce and icing, with a tangy cream cheese glaze and a dusting of cinnamon sugar. Even the best cinnamon roll can’t compare. (Inland District)
Make Mine Fruity
The name says it all: Citrus Breakfast & Lunch goes all-in on fruit and other health-conscious breakfast options. But if you’re craving a little sweet with your citrus, you can’t go wrong with the signature citrus pancakes with orange glaze, sliced bananas and pineapple. (Inland District)
You Had Me at “S’mores”
With its red-white-and-blue vintage Navy theme (so Virginia Beach), veteran-owned Anchor Allie’s is a lively base for morning eats, but breakfast is served all day. We’ll give a sweet shoutout to one particular menu item: S’mores-style pancakes topped with toasted marshmallows, chocolate chips, chocolate syrup and graham cracker crumbles. (Chesapeake Bay District; second location in Town Center District)
Good Old-Fashioned Breakfast Joint
If you’ve stayed up way too late or are heading out early before the sun rises, no worries. Rick’s Café is open 24/7 and serves breakfast any time. Pancake lovers can count on classic stacks like chocolate chip, strawberry or banana & pecans… topped with whipped cream, of course. (Oceanfront District)
From fruity to chocolatey and everything in between, the endless options of perfect pancakes are even more proof that breakfast in Virginia Beach really is the most awesome meal of the day.
About Our Writer
East Coast-based writer D. Chérie Bair covers travel, food, and outdoor recreation for newspapers, magazines, and online travel sites. She has contributed to several guidebooks for Fodor’s, Michelin, Lonely Planet, and Frommer’s. A global traveler, Bair admits she is “besotted” with Virginia Beach. Her favorite things to do there include paddling with dolphins in Rudee Inlet and loading up on taffy at Forbes Candies.
