Where to Get Breakfast in Arts District
Zinc Café & Market
Zinc Café on Mateo St is a compact spot that draws a consistent crowd for coffee and a menu that leans heavily vegetarian. It can get busy, but it's a dependable neighborhood option for a sit-down coffee or a light meal.
Tea Master Matcha Cafe and Green Tea Shop
A simple counter-serve spot on 2nd Street doing Japanese-style matcha soft serve, green teas, and smoothies, and doing them very well by most accounts. The menu is tight and focused, which is part of why it works. A good stop before or after exploring the block.
Bread Lounge
A modern bakery and cafe on the Arts District's main drag, Bread Lounge is a reliable stop for artisanal bread, pastries, and sandwiches. The patio makes it a decent place to sit with a coffee, and they offer takeout and delivery if you're not staying.
Yamazaki Bakery
This counter-serve bakery in Japanese Village Plaza is the place for Japanese-style breads, buns, cakes, and baked goods, with a wide enough selection to make choosing difficult. Prices are easy on the wallet and takeout is straightforward.
Mitsuru Cafe
Mitsuru Cafe has been a fixture at Japanese Village Plaza Mall for a long time and draws genuinely enthusiastic regulars. Takeout is available, though the facts on the full menu are thin, so it's worth a visit to see for yourself.
Beard Papa's
The Japanese cream puff chain with a location inside the Alameda complex, offering a rotating range of flavors at low prices. Simple and consistent, good for a sweet stop if you're already in the area.
TOUS les JOURS
A Korean-French bakery chain on 2nd St with a good selection of pastries and breads. Takeout and delivery are available, and it's a solid stop if you're walking through the neighborhood and want something sweet.
Cafe Knotted
Facts are thin on this one. A cafe in the Arts District offering takeout and delivery, with generally positive reviews.