The Bristol Diner

Diners and Breakfast Spots in Bristol

November 30, 2021 6:16 am

Want to grab a quick coffee on your way to the lake? Sit down for a hearty plate of eggs, bacon or pancakes? Bristol has plenty of locally-owned delicious spots to fuel up for the day.

Gilly’s Restaurant

Is there anything better than a hot breakfast at a local family-owned diner? Head over to Gilly’s Restaurant on Lake Street for a delicious meal and a never-ending cup of coffee. They’ve got all the classics: chocolate chip pancakes, home fries, corned beef hash, omelets, and even banana stuffed french toast. And the service is just as excellent as the food! This is a great spot to visit the next time you’re out to breakfast with the whole family.

Gilly’s is open 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 6:30 a.m. to noon on Sundays. 

Gina’s Place

Looking to grab a meal somewhere with a quaint, homey atmosphere and friendly service? Gina’s Place is a casual country restaurant serving breakfast and lunch. With their extensive menu of reasonably priced diner staples, you’re likely to leave with a smile on your face and a full stomach. Gina’s is the place to go, whether you’re grabbing a quick midday bite or enjoying a slow Sunday morning breakfast.

Located on Pleasant St near Central Square. Open Monday and Thursday through Saturday 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open 7 a.m. to noon on Sundays. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The Purple Pit Coffee Lounge

Need a coffee shop that does it all? There’s no better place than the Purple Pit Coffee Lounge, located in Central Square. The family-owned-and-operated business serves White Mountain Coffee, which was voted the best coffee in New Hampshire in 2014. They have sandwich options available for both breakfast and lunch, in addition to salads, desserts, and boba. And make sure you get one of the amazing cinnamon rolls!

The Purple Pit is so much more than a breakfast spot. It also hosts live music events in their jazz club/back lounge on Saturday nights. You can grab some beer or wine to sip as you listen to the soothing sounds of jazz in a cozy cafe environment. Head over to their website to see the full schedule of performances. But make sure you don’t miss out on their sister restaurant, Pizza Béne, located right next door with Italian brick oven deliciousness and homemade sauces.

Open Monday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Weekend hours: Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Show hours are 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturdays only. 

Bristol Diner

Sometimes all you want is a classic, old-fashioned diner. You can find that, in addition to great food for a great price, at Bristol Diner on Main Street. The staff goes out of their way to make customers feel at home, making this a great option for anyone visiting from out of town or just passing through Bristol. You need to try their homemade hamburgers and panfries, two dishes that customers rave about!

Open Wednesday through Sunday 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Closed Monday and Tuesday. 

Basic Ingredients

Basic Ingredients might be the best bakery in the Lakes Region. It offers a wide variety of baked items made fresh every day. You can’t miss out on their famous sticky buns–they were awarded best sticky buns by New Hampshire Magazine Best of NH. There are also muffins, pies, cookies, or you can pick up a tasty, fresh loaf of bread to use at home for sandwiches or toast. Don’t want to cook? Grab a sandwich right from the bakery, a vegetarian dish or some classic options, like chicken parmesan or roasted turkey. 

Keep an eye out for the Basic Ingredients food truck for great eats when you’re out and about, as well as the Tartaglia’s pizza truck, which was recently named one of the WMUR Viewers’ Choice spots for NH’s best pizza.

Whether you are taking the night off from cooking or grabbing food for a large group event, you can order a small or large portion from a long list of excellent dishes. Just make sure to call in ahead of time, preferably a day in advance, so the staff can have your meals ready when you need them. 

Open Wednesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to noon.

We like to think of ourselves as a foodie town, and these tasty breakfast spots and diners definitely round out the many dining options in Bristol. These local owners treat Bristol residents and visitors to the lake like their family, so make sure to stop in to one next time you’re in town.

Looking for more dining options? Check out our post “Great Places to Eat in Bristol, NH.”

Want to have your business included in this post or elsewhere on the blog? Contact Beth LaMontagne Hall at beth@blhwritingsolutions.com to learn how.