Ready or not, the Christmas season is here. Soon, Santa look-alikes, bright green Grinches, and even the occasional Cindy Lou Who will begin popping up around some of Pensacola’s most popular breakfast and brunch spots. We’ve pinpointed some of the biggest Grinch and Santa Claus-themed holiday meals in the Pensacola area dining scene for you to score some good food and cherished photos.
8 Santa and Grinch brunches in the Pensacola area
Adonna’s Garden St. Café and Bakery
811 W. Garden St.
Adonna’s is hosting an extra special Grinch Brunch from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13, and Dec. 20, where they will be transforming their café into a “whimsical winter wonderland inspired by the Grinch,” in addition to an appearance by the Grinch himself every hour, according to Adonna’s.
“Step into Whoville for a brunch where holiday cheer, mischief, and a little Grinchy chaos collide! Join us as we bring the magic of How the Grinch Stole Christmas to life — from festive sparkle to cozy Christmas jammie vibes,” Adonna’s wrote in a social media statement.
The Grinch Brunch will feature a themed menu exclusive to the event. Reservations are highly recommended, no parties larger than 12 are accepted and any attire is welcome. To make a reservation, call Adonna’s at 850-696-2227 or email Adonna’s at GardenStReservations@gmail.com.
Casino Beach Bar & Grille
41 Fort Pickens Road
Casino Beach Bar is offering a breakfast with Santa experience from 8 to 11 a.m. on Dec. 14, featuring holiday games, a cookie-decorating station, and photos with Santa, while serving their brunch and regular menus. Reservations are required; three one-hour time slots are available.
Admission is free, but guests are asked to bring one new, unwrapped toy donation for Gulf Coast Kid’s House for a complimentary photo with Santa, and are asked to support the Casino Beach Bar team by ordering food or drinks while there. Reservations can be made by calling Casino Beach Bar at 850-932-6313.
Crabs on the Beach
6 Casino Beach Boardwalk
Crabs will be hosting a Grinchmas Breakfast at noon on Dec. 7, helping beachgoers get in on the holiday fun. The event will include appearances from the Grinch himself, accompanied by Cindy Lou Who, a hot cocoa bar, face painting, crafts, and more. This will be followed by the Surfing Santa Parade at 2 p.m. For reservations, call Crabs at 850-932-0700.
Courtyard by Marriott Pensacola
451 Creighton Road
Pensacola’s Courtyard by Marriott will be offering a special Breakfast with Santa event from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 20, with reservations required by Dec. 13.
“Join us for a magical morning of festive favorites — from Cinnamon Swirl French Toast and Mini Pancakes with Sprinkles to our Hot Cocoa Bar and bubbly Mimosa Bar!” Courtyard posted in a social media statement.
The adult brunch menu will include cinnamon swirl French toast with bourbon vanilla syrup, cheddar scrambled eggs with chives, Applewood bacon, herb-roasted breakfast potatoes, mini bagels, croissants and muffins with honey butter and jam. ($25 per adult)
The children’s brunch will include mini pancakes with holiday sprinkles, French toast sticks with maple syrup, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, and sausage links. ($12 per child.)
Courtyard can be reached at 850-857-7744 for reservations.
Gulf Coast Kid’s House
3401 N. 12 Ave.
The Pancakes with Santa event is in its 16th year and is organized and produced by the Rotary Club of Pensacola-Cordova to benefit Gulf Coast Kid’s House, offering warm pancakes, cute photo opportunities and cherished memories to help support the work of Gulf Coast Kid’s House.
The event will run from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Dec. 6. Tickets are $10 per person and free for children 3 and younger.
Not only can you get your picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, but also with the Chick-fil-A cow. The money will help fund the Gulf Coast Kid’s House, which began in 2004 when community members pushed for a children’s advocacy center that could serve as a “one-stop shop” where all the agencies needed to intervene and investigate on behalf of a child could operate under one roof.
Hilton Pensacola Beach
12 Via De Luna Drive
The Hilton is inviting its guests out to an extra special Grunch (Grinch brunch) out on Pensacola Beach held in the Hilton Pensacola Beach’s ballroom. Time slots run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Dec. 7 and 14. Families will get to experience a meet and greet with the Grinch, photo ops, holiday-themed background music and face painting.
The menu will follow suit with the theme, featuring lots of fun favorites for the kids, including green eggs, Fruity Pebbles French toast, pigs in a blanket, Grinch Punch, hot chocolate, a Grinch-themed dessert station, and much more. However, there will be plenty for the adults to enjoy, such as herb-roasted chicken, grilled Mahi, a carving station with roast beef and ham, and a cash bar. Tickets are $60 for adults, $30 per child for children ages 5 to 11, and free for children 4 years old and younger. A 20% gratuity and taxes are added onto the total. Reservations are required and can be made on the Hilton Beach website.
The Pointe Gulf Breeze
1255 Country Club Road
The Pointe will be hosting the fifth annual brunch with Santa and the Grinch on Dec. 7, which will offer “a Christmas celebration filled with festive flavors, laughter and timeless family photo ops that capture the magic of the season,” according to a social media statement by The Pointe.
The Pointe will be offering a buffet-style holiday brunch with chef-carved favorites, classic breakfasts, seasonal desserts and more. The brunch buffet includes coffee, tea and fountain drinks with the meal, and all other drinks are available separately.
Photos with the Grinch will be available from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., and photos with Santa Claus will follow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can plan their photo visits before or after their meals. Each reservation is for 1.5 hours.
Adult buffet pricing is $39.95 per person, $19.95 for children under 12 and complimentary for children under 3 years old.
To make a reservation, call 850-752-2522 ext. 1 to speak with a member of management about available time slots.
The Reef
63 Via de Luna Drive
Santa himself will be making a special appearance at The Reef from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 8 for photos. There will be lots of festive fun to be had in addition to the jolly fellow, including a hot chocolate bar, Christmas cocktails for the grown-ups and $2 off of The Reef’s famous wings the entire day until closing time at 8 p.m. Families can bring in a child’s toy or new clothing to donate to the Children’s Home Society and receive a free cookie kit while supplies last. The Reef is open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., so come early to eat or stay late after your photo.
Did we miss one? Send an email to PNJ dining reporter Brittany Misencik with the pertinent information and we’ll update the list.
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This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: 8 Santa/Grinch Christmas breakfasts to add to your holiday bucket list
Reporting by Brittany Misencik, Pensacola News Journal / Pensacola News Journal
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