Breakfast of champions: These are some of Springfield's best morning cocktails

There are days when a breakfast cocktail just feels like the right way to start your day.

Whether it’s an indulgent brunch or a start to a lazy weekend, there are some delicious early-bird libations in Springfield. From mimosas and Bloody Marys to more creative cocktails, these brunch drinks will put a smile on your face.

Mimosas at Rise

An excellent mimosa can be found at Rise. This version of the classic stands out for two reasons: First, it’s made with fresh squeezed orange juice that they make in-house. Then it’s mixed with Good Clean Spumante, which is a local wine company. The grapes for the Spumante come from Italy, but the owners are local, so you’re supporting two local businesses at once.

This downtown restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. It has healthy options, such as house-made yogurt and a tabbouleh grain bowl, scrumptious toast, pancakes that melt in your mouth and decadent choices like the Croque Madame.

It’s a casual eatery, so order at the counter and someone will bring your meal — and mimosa— to you. They also serve wonderful coffee drinks.

Bloody Mary bar and bottomless mimosas at Where House Bar

Feeling really thirsty? The Where House Bar has bottomless mimosas, a Bloody Mary bar and brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

If you like variety, there are 18 Bloody Mary garnishes on the list. Some carry an upcharge of $1, like the shrimp, meatball or peppered bacon. Free garnishes include pickled okra, pickled asparagus, jalapenos, pearl onions, cucumbers and more. You also have the option of adding tequila for a Bloody Maria instead.

The Lavender Prosecco at Aviary Café

Aviary Café by Lavender Falls Farm has a signature cocktail that is perfect for summer sipping. The Lavender Prosecco was Lavender Falls Farm’s signature cocktail from day one, said Catherine Bersted, one of the owners.

It features Italian brut Prosecco topped with house-made lavender simple syrup from the lavender farm. Crisp, refreshing and slightly sweet, with the aroma of lavender. The only problem with this drink is it’s so good, it’s almost impossible to stop at one.

They also make a mean Bloody Mary. The Bloody Mary mix is made in-house and the drink comes garnished with bacon, lime, olives and a lemon wheel. For the rim, choose between Marina’s Kitchen’s Top Tomato Olde Smokey Bacon Salt or Dill’licious Salt, Tajin or a traditional salt rim.

Marina’s Kitchen is owned by Marina Backes, a New Jersey native with Italian roots. She has a line of Bloody Mary products if you’d like to make your own at home.

The Pick Me Up and Greene Bloody Marys at Springfield Brewing Company

Springfield Brewing Company has brunch on weekends. Instead of reaching for a beer, try one of their flavorful cocktails. The Pick Me Up is perfect for anyone who wants a caffeine kick with their drink. It features iced coffee, topped with sweet cream and locally-made Sweet Blondie’s Café Mocha Liqueur.

Throughout the year they have a solid Bloody Mary, but June-August you can score a Greene Bloody Mary. This seasonal brunch drink features locally-made Iechyd Da Vodka, house-made tomatillo Bloody Mary mix, Tabasco and a Tajin salt rim, garnished with house pickle, celery, lime, jalapeno and olive, served with a sidecar of Greene Ghost IPA. This is for the spicy flavor lover.

Wake Me Up Before You Go Go and bottomless mimosas at The Order

The breakfast options at The Order are fantastic, and so are the bottomless mimosas. If you plan to drink more than two mimosas, this is the cheaper way to go. It starts with cava, which is a sparkling wine from Spain. There are different juice options, but you can never go wrong with orange juice.

If you prefer a coffee-flavored drink, try the Wake Me Up Before You Go Go. It has a nice kick and starts with espresso, topped with Copper and Kings apple brandy, Uncle Val’s Restorative gin, Mr. Black coffee liqueur and cinnamon syrup.

The Order boasts a creative menu and sources from many local and regional farmers. The Bodega breakfast or Brioche French Toast are perfect if you’re in the mood for breakfast food, but if lunch is calling your name, then opt for the Wagyu Smash Burger. It may be one of the best burgers you ever taste.

Blind Side Mary at The Pitch Pizza & Pub

For a classic Bloody Mary — done really well — head to The Pitch Pizza & Pub. It starts with Zing Zang, one of the ultimate Bloody Mary mixes. Then they add American-made, smooth Tito’s vodka and stir in horseradish, Worcestershire and a touch of Tabasco. It’s not too spicy, has great consistency and is smooth as can be.

They call it the Blind Side Mary, which is a rugby term. The owner has a passion for rugby, which is evident throughout the bar and restaurant. There’s a lot of construction going on right now in the Southern Hills Shopping Center where The Pitch is located, but the restaurant is open, so come support them because that’s always a challenge for restaurants. They also source southwest Missouri products, such as Terrell Creek Farm.

Happy Hot Chocolate and mimosas with a punch at Van Gogh's Eeterie

Dutch pancakes are front and center at Van Gogh's Eeterie. This is a perfect spot for a completely unusual breakfast from savory to sweet, thin, Dutch-style pancakes.

Keeping with that unusual theme, mimosa lovers can branch out and try a mimosa that delivers a little more punch: The Hard Mimosa. This drink includes 4 Roses bourbon, cinnamon syrup and apple juice, and is topped off with brut. Or try the Happy Hot Chocolate, which is basically hot chocolate spiked with Irish cream and butterscotch schnapps.

The food is lovely. Try the Rotterdam, a savory pancake topped with beef, cheese, curry ketchup, creamy garlic dill sauce, diced cucumbers and tomatoes, pickled onion and arugula. It’s a flavor bomb. The sweet choices are wonderful, too. There are vegan breakfast options as well.

Breakfast margaritas at Early Bird Breakfast Pub

Last, but definitely not least, is the Early Bird Breakfast Pub. Since it arrived on the brunch scene in 2015, it’s been serving up morning cocktails, breakfast tacos, pancakes and so much more. In fact, the menu is so extensive you will need time to mull it over. The bird’s nests are a variety of egg dishes served in puff pastry, so you can’t go wrong there. There’s eggs benedict, monkey bread, burritos and sandwiches.

As far as drinks, they have one of the larger morning cocktails menus around. Of course, you’ll find mimosas and Bloody Marys, but also hangover cures, breakfast margaritas and a tropical Mai Tai. The breakfast margaritas have a wonderful orange lime flavor with a kick of tequila and pair nicely with breakfast tacos.

Juliana Goodwin

Juliana Goodwin is a freelance journalist with experience covering business, travel and tourism, health, food and history. She is a former Food and Travel Columnist for the Springfield News-Leader, a former business reporter for The Joplin Globe, and has written for USA Today and Arkansas Living Magazine, among others. More by Juliana Goodwin

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