• Oliver Parini
• Mirabelles Café

Mirabelles Café

198 Main St., Burlington, mirabellescafe.com

Enter this sunny Main Street bakery-café — a BTV staple since 1990 — and you'll be greeted with a buttery scent. The tantalizing aroma is just one of Mirabelles' many charms. The crowds come for the sweets stacked in tiered trays and glass cases — croissants, cinnamon buns, French macarons, meringues and more. The sit-down menu specializes in more savory fare. We dig the popover breakfast, heaped with scrambled eggs, smoked salmon and lemon-shallot crème fraîche.

August First Bakery & Café

149 S. Champlain St., Burlington, augustfirstvt.com

Laptops and tablets are off-limits at this screen-free café — so you'll have to actually strike up a conversation with someone over a delicious mocha and fresh-made pastry.

Nunyun's Bakery & Café

139 N. Champlain St., Burlington, nunyuns.com

• John James
• Nunyun's Bakery & Café

This bright Old North End café pairs a living-room vibe with egg sandwiches, breakfast burritos and buttery French toast.

Penny Cluse Café

169 Cherry St., Burlington, pennycluse.com

The long lines are a testament to this café's eternal popularity. Try the Zydeco Breakfast — two eggs any style, black beans, corn muffins and andouille sausage.

Sneakers Bistro

28 Main St., Winooski, sneakersbistro.com

• Courtesy of Sneakers Bistro & Café
• Crab cake Benedict

Weekend brunch at this retro café is legendary, and the daily specials are always eclectic. The classic eggs Benedict is a home run.

The Spot

210 Shelburne Rd., Burlington, thespotvt.com

• Jordan Silverman

Chill out at this surf-inspired space, where the menu features breakfast tacos, huevos rancheros and several omelettes.

The Swingin' Pinwheel Café and Bakery

11 Center St., Burlington, theswinginpinwheel.com

• Alice Levitt
• Chili with cornbread

Grab a stuffed popover or wafflini — that's a waffle sandwich — at this Western-themed bakery. The cowboy coffee is strong enough to bring you back to life.