click to enlarge 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

click to enlarge 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

click to enlarge 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

click to enlarge 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

click to enlarge 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.