Review: Breakfast at Café Metropole: Gluten‑Free Toasts & the Best Açaí Bowl on Catalina Island

Every trip has that one food spot you end up claiming as yours, and on Catalina Island, Café Metropole became exactly that for my family. Tucked just off the main walkway in Avalon, it has this breezy, relaxed energy that makes you want to slow down, sit outside, and relax. It’s bright, fresh, and unfussy — the kind of place where everything tastes clean and intentional, like they actually care about the ingredients they’re using. And, it happened to be close to Catalina Coffee & Cookie Co., a very popular coffee shop with amazing lattes. We tried a handful of things during our mornings there, but three items became instant favorites: the gluten‑free Not‑a‑Bagel toast, the PB+B toast, and the Strawberry Banana Açaí Bowl. Each one had its own personality, and together they pretty much set the tone for our perfect island mornings.

Café Metropole quickly became our go‑to breakfast spot — the place we kept returning to because everything tasted fresh, the atmosphere was relaxed, and the food just made us happy.

The Gluten-Free "Not-a-Bagel" Toast was my mom's favorite breakfast the entire trip. It is so simple, but she loved it. Gluten‑free bread can be unpredictable, but theirs had the perfect texture — lightly crisp on the outside, soft inside, and sturdy enough to hold toppings without falling apart. It had that cozy, bagel‑adjacent vibe without the heaviness of an actual bagel. The cucumber, cream cheese and Everything But the Bagel seasoning was just the right topping for the toast, so delicious! It felt like the ideal breakfast when you want something satisfying but not too filling, especially before a day of walking around Avalon or heading out on the water.

My dad had the PB+B Toast. This toast is pure comfort. Thick peanut butter, creamy and warm from the toast, topped with perfectly ripe banana slices — simple, but done with so much care that it tasted like a childhood favorite upgraded for adulthood. It’s the kind of breakfast that keeps you full for hours and somehow manages to feel both nostalgic and energizing at the same time. We ordered it more than once because it just hit the spot every single time.

If Catalina Island had a flavor, this Strawberry Banana Acai Bowl would be it. Cold, refreshing, fruity, and beautifully layered, it was the perfect way to start a sunny morning. The açaí base was smooth and not overly sweet, and the fresh strawberries, bananas, and crunchy granola on top made it feel like a treat without being heavy. It’s one of those bowls that makes you feel good the moment you start eating it — bright, clean, and exactly what you want on a warm island day.