The Best Guide to Brunch in San Diego
Looking to find the best places to brunch in San Diego? Years of research and brunching all of San Diego, I’m here to help you find the perfect place to brunch in San Diego. From swanky hotel brunches, to laid back beach brunches, to DJ hosted vibing brunches, or even a brunch where everything is infused with chocolate (yes chocolate) here is my guide to the best brunch in San Diego!
As always my guides are based on where I have brunched personally. I would never put my stamp of approval on guides like these to something I had never even tried. I might brag about the bloody marys because I am Bloody Mary Obsessed after all but trust if they are in this list overall it is amazing!
How I decided to rate each brunch in San Diego
How I determined the best brunch in San Diego was based on a number of factors including ambiance, food, drinks, and wait times with 5 being the best in each category. So for example, if a restaurant has a 5 star rating for wait times that means generally there is little to no wait or you are able to make a reservation so wait times are a moot point.
Wait times
Speaking of wait times for brunch make sure you check with each San Diego brunch restaurant directly to see if they accept reservations as many restaurants do not accept reservations for brunch. However, some busy places on this list like Great Maple do accept reservations and it is highly recommended to do so to decrease your wait. Always check each restaurant's website or give them a call!
The wait times category is applicable to weekends only. Some of these fine establishments serve brunch 7 days a week and you can find little to no wait times for brunch during the week versus a 2 hour wait on weekends!
Skip the Wait: The Best Places to Grab Brunch in San Diego Without the Wait
Food & Drink
Food is pretty self-explanatory but when it comes to drinks it is all encompassing. Places like Breakfast Republic and Cafe 21, in addition to fun and delish brunch cocktails also have a variety of fun coffee drinks or home-brewed teas that are sans spirits!
Ambiance
Finally, ambiance can mean all sorts of things and the rating here is based on my personal experience. Ambiance can range from the dope decor of Morning Glory, to the pond and waterfall of insideOUTs atrium. It can also mean that the brunch is vibing with people and music or is relaxing, quiet and just has a great view. Some vibes may be for some and not for others!
Check out some of my other San Diego guides here:
Where to Find the Best Hotel Brunch and Bloody Marys in San Diego
The Best Bloody Marys of San Diego!
Key
$ = average up to $30 per person for a cocktail and brunch dish, excluding tax & tip
$$ = average $31-$40 average per person for a cocktail and brunch dish, excluding, tax & tip
$$$ = average $40+ per person for a cocktail and brunch dish, excluding, tax & tip
Here is the guide to The Best Brunch in San Diego!
Cusp Dining & Drinks
$$
4/5 food
4/5 drinks
5/5 ambiance
5/5 wait times
Overall rating: 4.5
*Great for jaw-dropping views, romantic brunch date, special occasion
180 Degree views of the Pacific Ocean perched atop the iconic Hotel La Jolla on the 11th floor, Cusp is a hidden gem for brunch in La Jolla! Sip mimosas or one of their savory and delicious house made bloody marys while you gaze out into the horizon, as their custom designed tables all face west so you and your guest both have a prime viewing seat. The staff provides impeccable service and the atmosphere is romantic and relaxing, great to celebrate a special occasion or just get a little dressed up for a fun brunch date!
While the views are definitely the biggest highlight of dining at Cusp, the brunch food is delicious! Chef Ingrid Funes Shelton takes inspiration from her families recipes and infuses her brunch menu with bold and colorful flavors. The Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast with cherry tomatoes, citrus cream, capers, pickled shallots, on a rustic sourdough with arugula salad and lemon vinaigrette is one of my faves in SD and the fluffy stack of Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with seasonal berries, whipped mascarpone, and maple syrup will have you on cloud 11(th floor)! You also can’t go wrong with the juicy Cusp Brunch Burger!
insideOUT
$ - $$
⅘ food
5/5 drinks
5/5 ambiance
5/5 wait times
Overall rating: 4.75
*Great for a fun Sunday Funday, groups, mimosas, outdoor dining
Where you go inside to dine outside, insideOUT is an urban oasis nestled in the Hillcrest neighborhood. Open skies surrounded by the Eitol Towers and a striking water feature with 3 dining levels encapsulated by plush greens and trees are the backdrop for a sophisticated yet edgy brunch boasting craft cocktails and energetic vibes & music reverberating through the restaurant. Relax and unwind while getting freaky with the tropical freaky tiki or alert your senses and catapult your Sunday Funday with a strong horchata brew. insideOUT has become one of the hottest brunch spots in all of San Diego but still is very much a community haven where guests are treated as family.
Executive Chef Johnny Duran boasts a new and refreshed brunch menu where every drizzle, sauce, and topping is made from scratch. The elevated and savory brunch dishes will tantalize your taste buds and have you singing to the open skies above you. Nosh on one of his favorites, the Loco Mocco with a savory and rich shitake mushroom brown gravy or gorge on a full order of the dreamy Dutch Bourbon Apple Crumble French Toast topped with a mascarpone whipped cream and sea salt caramel sauce.
Images: Camila Badaro Photography
JRDN - Tower 23 Hotel
$$ - $$$
4.5/5 food
⅘ drinks
5/5 ambiance
5/5 wait times
Overall rating 4.6
*Great for tourists, families, or a fun beach brunch for locals and fresh seafood
Beach, breeze, brunch and bloody marys! When living in or visiting San Diego, these are 4 essentials you don’t want to sleep on while brunching! Located right above the shores of Pacific Beach, JRDN, inside the Tower 23 Hotel is the perfect place to experience San Diego at its finest while sipping on one of the best bloody Marys in San Diego made with cilantro and jalapeño infused vodka, or enjoying a bottle of prosecco while toasting to the good life!
The ambiance and views can’t be beat, but the brunch food is no slouch either. Hitting the beach after brunch? Try the bright and flavorful Chilaquiles & Eggs dish that will satisfy but wont overstuff. If you want to get Brunchfaced I suggest reveling in the Steak and Eggs Rancheros with two eggs any style, rancheros sauce, black beans, short rib & mashed potato rolled tacos, guacamole, lime crema, queso fresco, pico de gallo! Are we drooling yet? Both a tourist and locals hangout, you won't find ghastly prices or sub par food and service, and Tower23 even offers free 2 hour valet service for restaurant diners.
The Mission
$
5/5 food
3.5/5 drinks
⅗ ambiance
⅖ wait times
Overall score: 3.3
*Great for families, groups, and healthy and casual delicious brunch
A long-time San Diego staple with multiple locations, there is a reason why this quaint family brunch restaurant has remained one of the best brunches in San Diego for over 25 years. The Mission is on a mission to remain price, family and neighborhood friendly, while giving back to their community, bringing awareness to being health conscious, supporting the local community and artists and being environmentally friendly. Enjoy a housemade, no frills bloody mary for $6.00, any specialty coffee for $5.00, or boost your energy with a PB&J Acai Strawberry Shake for only $7.00. The Mission also offers seasonal mimosas with fresh made juices for again, an unbeatable price!
“Simple, healthy, tasty food with a whimsical edge,” The Mission’s famous and decadent Cinnamon French Toast or the healthy and fresh Zen breakfast with a sesame-soy braised organic tofu are just two delicious dishes The Mission offers to their long-time and loyal customer base. Baking their own bread & pastries & using locally sourced ingredients, The Mission proves you don't have to sacrifice on stellar brunch/breakfast, service, and quality by driving up prices for your customers. Probably a good indicator why every location has a packed house almost everyday of the week!
Snooze - An A.M. Eatery
$-$$
5/5 food
5/5 drinks
⅘ ambiance
⅖ wait times
Overall rating: 4
*Great for tourists, families, pancake & bloody mary connoisseurs, brunch 7 days a week
Don’t Snooze on Snooze - An A.M. Eatery! What originally started as a popular breakfast and brunch spot in Colorado, has grown to 50 locations over 8 states, with several locations in San Diego. This blows my mind because the last feeling you get from Snooze is the feeling you are brunching at a “chain” restaurant. The staff and service is friendly, upbeat, and each server chooses one table a day to receive a free pancake after getting to know them better, creating connections and loyalty to their guests. House made and incredibly fresh cocktails are the backdrop to a seasonal and stellar bloody mary menu that rotates, but the constant is from-scratch tomato juice boasting some of the best bloody marys in San Diego!
Snooze is quirky, lively, with creative twists on breakfast. Much like the drink menu, many brunch items are seasonal, which allows them to be thoughtfully and locally sourced but you’ll never be disappointed with a Snooze pancake flight or a healthy choice from their Plant Power menu. Decadent Blueberry Danish Pancakes topped with blueberry coulis & sweet cream and almond streusel or one of my favorite avocado toasts, the Bravocado Toast with red onion honey jam and spiced-pepitas and parmesan greens are just too great options for those looking to balance their breakfast!
Los Panchos Tacos & Cantina
4/5 food
4/5 drinks
4/5 ambiance
4/5 wait times
Overall rating: 4
*Great for groups of friends, Sunday Funday, Mexican cuisine, micheladas, bottomless mimosas
Los Panchos Tacos & Cantina in Hillcrest does desayunos brunch not one but seven days a week with special guest DJ’s on Sundays for the ultimate Sunday Funday. Not only that but you can order bottomless mimosas 7 days a week for $19 from 8am - 3pm, a rare find in San Diego! Los Panchos housemade michelada is smoky, savory, with the right amount of acidity and fizz, served in a giant goblet, with Los Panchos secret ingredients!
A “I’m pretty but loca,” sign adorns the wall in Los Panchos and I couldn’t think of a better way to describe the food. Beautifully presented but crazy! Crazy good that it! One of the best Chilaquiles & Huevos Rancheros in San Diego, dripping in delicious home-style sauces. Gorge on a giant breakfast burrito and cure your ailments with a Hangover Breakfast Burrito with shrimp, angus carne asada, scrambled eggs, cheese and a diablo sauce!
Great Maple
4.5/5 food
5/5 drinks
3.5/5 ambiance
⅗ wait times (make a reservation to avoid a 2 hour wait)
Overall rating: 4.1
*Great for families, bloody mary enthusiasts, brunch food connoisseurs, brunch 7 days a week
What’s so great about Great Maple you ask? Well, everything really! With locations throughout Southern California, and a few in San Diego, Great Maple’s brunch delivers 7 days a week! Heading up the cocktail menu is a full bloody mary menu! Herein lies one of the best bloody marys in San Diego in Great Maple’s Famous Pickle Mary garnished with one of the biggest pickles I’ve ever seen, no pun intended. I’ve also enjoyed the Guadalupe Mary and Classic Mary, but there are no wrong choices! Not feeling boozy for breakfast on a Tuesday? Try one of their delish herbal teas like the Sex Pot or Bad Bromance or make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up with a double shot of espresso.
3 words: Maple. Bacon. Donuts. Great Maple’s signature dish is the star of a modern, playful and incredibly delicious brunch menu that are reason enough to make a trip. Do the dip with Johnny's Lolliwaffle’s on a stick complete with yummy dipping sauces; Salted Caramel, Lemon Custard, Raspberry Coulis & Whipped Cream. Keep it light with Cerrillos Chilaquiles made with Fried Corn Tortillas, Gourmet Chorizo, Hatch Chile Salsa Verde, Queso Fresco, Piquillo Peppers, Scrambled Eggs, Onions, Avocado, Fresh Cilantro, Cherry Tomatoes, Cilantro Sour Cream. You’ll always leave Great Maple with a Great(ful) belly!
The Corner Drafthouse
$$-$$$
3.5/5 food
4.5/5 drinks
3.5/5 ambiance
⅘ wait times
Overall Rating: 3.875
*Great for locals, families, watching local sports, before or after visiting Balboa Park & beer enthusiasts
On the corner of Laurel & 5th Avenue you’ll find Bankers Hill neighborhood gem The Corner Drafthouse. Corner Drafthouse also has a great wraparound patio perfect for taking in views of Balboa Park and the lively Bankers Hill. Stop in before or after your visit to Balboa Park for a gastropub brunch that boasts over 70 beers on tap and a bloody mary menu to ease those Sunday woes.
Supporting over 25 local and regional farmers and artisans The Corner Drafthouse brunch food is incredibly delicious! Come in hot with their crispy and yummy bone-in buffalo wings. Keep it light with Chilaquiles or or an Egg White Frittata but the real star of the brunch menu is the towering Fried Chicken & Waffles made with crispy buttermilk chicken, bacon herb waffle, bacon strips, and a bacon rum maple syrup. Mic Drop.
Morning Glory
$ - $$$
5/5 food
4/5 drinks
5/5 ambiance
2/5 wait times
Overall rating: 4
*Great for tourists, groups, lively music/atmosphere for a fun Sunday Funday, brunch 7 days a week
Kick your hangover to the curb and take back Sunday morning with brunch at Morning Glory in Little Italy. Everything including the eye-catching decor is meant to stimulate your senses and revive your corpse like body from Saturday night shenanigans. A brunch cocktail menu that is, “designed for no day-drinking downsides, just the boost you need to take on the daily struggle. #thestruggleisreal. My favorite is the savory Bloody Mary made with umami juice, garlic bitters and celery foam; my kind of juice cleanse! Reve up with a boozy coffee creation or perk up with an instagramable Glitter Fizz or take a day off the booze and enjoy one of their delish drinks sans spirits, there’s something for everyone!
I have always heard amazing things about their souffle pancakes but I just had to have the Breakfast Carbonara. Carbs and cheese just really spoke to me that morning and the creamy and rich dish made with crispy pork belly and Calabrian chili oil for a little kick is most definitely, as mentioned on the menu, a sleeper hit….so don’t sleep on it! Morning Glory’s brunch menu was also made for groups with interactive family-style offerings like the Born and Raised Steak and Eggs Experience, Fried Chicken Extravaganza, or the Table-side Lobster Omelet, and bonus if you’re ordering one of these family-style experiences you get to make a reservation ahead of time!! So clutch.
Smokey & The Brisket
$
5/5 food
⅗ drinks
⅗ ambiance
5/5 wait times
Overall rating: 4
*Great for families, groups, brisket enthusiasts, pup friendly patio
I never knew that brunch and brisket went so well together but sometimes you gotta risk it for the brisket! Smokey & the Brsket’s Sunday brunch is well worth the drive to La Mesa and is a new favorite hidden gem for brunch in San Diego! What I love about places that serve bbq or brisket is they always incorporate the seasonings or juices into their bloody marys! For this savory loving gal a smokey and bubbly michelada on a hot summer day, there’s nothing like it! Plus it keeps things light but the savory cocktail still compliments the bbq! You can also sip on one of their seasonal mimosas or bellinis!
Smokey’s Pulled Pork Chilaquiles made with eggs, homemade red sauce, crispy tortillas, queso fresco, cilantro, and crema restored my faith in chilaquiles with it’s smokey and juicy pork that can be substituted for their smokey and juicy pulled chicken or brisket! Literally mouthwatering. I’m also going to go out on a limb here and pronounce Smokey’s Breakfast Burger made with a brisket burger patty, fried egg, bacon, and cheddar cheese on a brioche bun, the BEST burger I’ve ever had in San Diego! Smokey & the Brisket’s outrageously delish brunch menu has something for everyone, even the kiddos and vegetarians, and be on the lookout for crazy good specials like the towering Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese sando!
Elixir Delalune
$-$$
food 4/5
drinks 4/5
ambiance 4/5
wait times 4/5
Overall rating: 4
*Great for vegans, vegetarians, gluten intolerances, healthy lifestyle advocates, friends, whole family
Looking for a healthy, revitalizing brunch in San Diego? Look no further than Elixir Delalune, a vegan healing foods cafe in Bird Rock! Get Brunchfaced but make it plant-based, sustainable, and intentional in the most adorable cafe. You won't find liquor here but try one of their superb lattes like the new Lavender Rose Cacao Latte, or sip on a mocktail like the new Ocean Blue Mocktail Elixir or the Green Garden Elixir. Don’t end your journey with the food, stop by the Spiritual Wellness shop that’s attached to Elixir, Lavandae!
Elixir has some new brunch/breakfast items, served up 6 days a week, that are all vegan, gluten-free,and organic. The idea is to leave feeling better than you arrived! The new Matcha Chia Pudding topped with coconut, fresh fruit and granola is filling and yummy and the Beet Hummus Toast with housemade beet hummus, raspberry balsamic glaze, hemp seeds, and microgreens on gluten-free toast is the perfect pinch of sweet and energy boost to fuel your day! If you’re feeling more lunchy than brunchy then nosh on one of their wraps, soups, or indulge in a locally sourced/made vegan desserts!
Cocina de Barrio
$$
⅘ food
⅘ drinks
⅗ ambiance
5/5 wait times
Overall rating: 4
*Great for groups, tequila lovers, pancake connoisseurs
Cocina de Barrio now open in Point Loma brings delightful Oaxacan cuisine to the San Diego brunch scene where the drinks are playful and beautifully crafted. Cocina de Barrio also serves as a tequila and mezcal bar and you can’t make a brunch trip there without imbibing on one of their Popsicle Margaritas, garnished with a fresh fruit popsicle and flowers or one of their signature tequila cocktails with infusions like jalapeno or pineapple & coconut! So refreshing!
Not only are the drinks refreshing and bright, the food is flavorful, vibrant, and Instagramable! Try one of their Oaxacan-inspired dishes like the Polle En Mole Negro or devour the Soppes Benne made with fried corn cakes, beans, lamb birria, poached eggs, chipotle hollandaise, home potatoes for a beautifully satisfying brunch meal! Have a sweet tooth? Try one of their signature pancakes like the Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes, Arroz Con Leche Pancakes or the Mazapan Pancakes with berries, banana, and marzipan, dripping in a chocolate abuelita ice cream!
Cafe 21
$$ - $$$
5/5 food
5/5 drinks
⅘ ambiance
⅗ wait times
Overall rating: 4.25
*Great for families, groups, tourists, vegetarians, farm-to-table connoisseurs, bloody mary connoisseurs, brunch 7 days a week
One of the most innovative brunch restaurants in all of San Diego, with locations in University Heights and the Gaslamp District, Cafe 21 is a completely from scratch kitchen with Master Chef Leyla Javadov at the helm. One of the best if not the best bloody marys in San Diego can be found at Cafe 21 made with a from-scratch tomato juice using local tomatoes and garnished with Layla’s fermented veggies and a four-cheese grilled cheese sandwich made with homemade bread. Fun fact the bread yeast is made from a grapeseed off the 13 year old grapevine from the University Heights location! If bloody marys aren’t your jive then buckle up for a mimosa flight complete with 6 different flavors made with housemade syrups and juices! #farmtobar OR sip on a handcrafted cocktail like the pretty pink Rosemantic cocktail!
Cafe 21’s brunch menu is tapas-like with small plates great for sharing with friends and family. Come hungry and come ready to share and try several dishes that are all made from scratch. The Shrimp Corn Cake made with poached egg, shrimp, potato, corn, mozzarella, cilantro cream sauce is a delightful and effervescent take on shrimp and grits and the Tomato & Egg simmers in a delicious tomato sauce made with a sunny-side up egg, tomato, goat cheese, and housemade sourdough. You also can't go wrong with the Mezze platter or any of the Crumpet Sandwiches, especially the Short Rib Crumpet!
Breakfast Republic
$$
4/5 food
5/5 drinks
4/5 ambiance
⅗ wait times
Overall rating: 4
*Great for families, groups, tourists, vegetarians, cheeky brunch goers, bloody mary connoisseurs, brunch 7 days a week
Clucking good breakfast served daily across many locations in San Diego and SoCal, Breakfast Republic knows that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and they have a serious yet cheeky sense of humor about it. Breakfast Republic always has fun seasonal drinks like the Pomegranate Mimosa or the Iced Cereal Milk Latte and is home to the Jurassic Pork Bloody Mary oozing with sweet and smokey Jurassic Pork bacon, it is one of the best in San Diego! Got little ones or non-drinkers who want to join in on the fun? Order bottomless strawberry lemonade and the whole crew will be cheersing and celebrating!
Play Fare and local with any of Breakfast Republic’s dishes with eggs made from cage-free chickens on a range free family farm in Ramona! I’ll give you my top picks of dishes because I’ve been so many times; Breakfast Bacon Mac N’ Cheese topped with the yummiest parmesan bread crumbs, Shrimp & Grits Breakfast with gouda cheese infused grits (need I say more), Cluck Madame (hubby fave), and the chocolate Oreo Cookie Pancake with cream filling and oreo cookie filling. You will not leave Breakfast Republic hungry!
Trust
$$-$$$
5/5 food
⅘ drinks
⅘ ambiance
⅗ wait time
Overall rating: 4
*Great for groups, outdoor dining, locals
Trust me when I say, you have to try Trust in Hillcrest brunch at least one time! Dine on the cozy covered outdoor patio or dine inside where vaulted ceilings and contemporary design are the backdrop to the aromatic embers of the wood burning stove. Get comfortable and order one of Trust’s craft cocktails including a sultry Bloody Maria made with a house-made mix or the Trust Cocktail with grapefruit, agave, lime and jalapeno tequila, because we like to keep things spicy.
Food at Trust is cooked over an open flame, a staple at nationally recognized and awarded chef Brad Wise’s restaurant. The bold and rustic brunch menu must start with the Ultimate Sticky Bun that is oh so delicious! Soak up every inch of the savory and flavorful Baked Eggs made with moroccan sauce, peppers, tomatoes, tzatziki, kale, chickpeas, feta cheese, served with grilled bread or inhale the Smoked Pork Shoulder Hash; juicy pork smothered with a sunny side egg, Fresno chiles, black bean & radish salsa, ‘nduja mayo, and cilantro. P.S. Although it’s a dinner staple, don't sleep on the Wood Grilled Cauliflower, you’ll thank me later!
Davanti Enoteca
$$
⅘ food
3/5 drinks
⅘ ambiance
⅘ wait times
Overall Rating: 3.75
*Great for families, tourists, groups, vegetarians
“Davanti Enoteca is a lively wine bar and restaurant with shareable contemporary twists on rustic Italian cuisine,” that offers a stellar weekend brunch in the heart of Little Italy. Sip on a mimosa or aperitivo or try their decadent tableside Bloody Mary Tower. A tower complete with all their popular bloody mary fixings like grilled prosciutto wrapped asparagus, or pickled hard boiled eggs, build your own bloody mary at your own table to your heart's desire.
Equally delicious is the brunch menu from Davanti. Start out with my personal favorite and an absolute must; Focaccia Di Recco, a Ligurian flatbread with soft cow’s cheese and honeycomb. It will blow your mind. Dana's Omelette is one of the healthiest but tastiest omelets in San Diego made with egg whites, feta, avocado, tomato, onion, and basil and if you’re not feeling up to brunch try one of their signature pasta dishes available during brunch! They also have an entire section dedicated to vegetarian options!
Luce Bar + Kitchen
$ - $$
⅘ food
⅗ drinks
3.5/5 ambiance
5/5 wait time
Overall rating: 3.875
*Great for locals, great for gastro pub fare, beer & watching local sports
Eating good in the neighborhood at Luce Bar + Kitchen in Bay Park. A neighborhood hang directly across from Mission Bay with wide open garage door windows so your view is not spoiled. Luce’s brunch is great for football Sunday Fundays but also keeping things low key! Local beers on tap, mimosas, and a tasty bloody mary with horseradish and black pepper vodka, Luce keeps it simple and fun.
A brunch menu Luce is proud of, they boast one of my favorite breakfast pizza’s in all of San Diego. Made with 2 free range eggs, bacon, spinach, mozzarella, a sweet and savory red sauce, and a sprinkle of parmesan. Other standouts on Luce’s brunch menu include the Kimchi Fried Rice with house hoisin pork belly, kimchi, edamame, green onion, carrot, cilantro, 2 sous vide eggs and sweet corn fritters and the juicy Luce Burger dripping with caramelized onions, aged white cheddar, tomato, arugula, garlic aioli, topped with a fried egg on a buttery brioche bun.
Westgate Hotel
$$-$$$
⅘ food
⅘ drinks
5/5 ambiance
5/5 wait time (reservations only)
Overall rating: 4.5
*Great for a tourists and locals, great for a special occasion or celebration
Fancy AF but make it San Diego at the Four Diamond, award-winning Westgate Hotel downtown San Diego. Covid has temporarily paused their decadent and luxurious brunch buffet but fret not, Sunday brunch still happens every Sunday on the veranda or in the Westgate Room. Pop a bottle of champagne and sip on mimosas, bellinis, or rossinis all day and toast to the good life. Need a break from the bottle? Try one of their many teas like chocolate truffle, jasmine, or cranberry hibiscus.
The Westgate’s brunch menu is still decadent and luxurious. Start by sharing a California Charcuterie Board or Dim Sum followed by a palate pleasing Diver Scallop Ceviche with jalapeno, cilantro, pickled red onion, lime juice and Aji Amarillo. Double your palate pleasure with the Eggs Benedict Duo with prosciutto, arugula, gravlax, and lemon hollandaise and end on the sweetest note with a crème fraiche cheesecake and a dollop of raspberry sorbet. There’s technically no dress code but it's a great opportunity to put on your Sunday’s best and brunch!
Cafe Gratitude
$$-$$$
4.5/5 food
⅘ drinks
⅘ ambiance
⅘ wait times
*Great for vegans & vegetarians, elevated healthy brunch fare, coffees & smoothies, brunch 7 days a week
Cafe Gratitude in Little Italy brings “Plant-based dining rooted in eating with intention and living a life of plenty,” to the San Diego brunch scene. Start off your intentional and healthy brunch with an I Am Illuminated power smooth rich with orange juice, goji berries, pineapple, coconut, banana, metabolic essential oil blend, shredded coconut, chia seeds, & hempseeds or regenerate with an I Am Cosmic antioxidant herbal tea with hempseed milk, blue spirulina, reishi, chaga, raw honey.
If you thought vegan brunch fare wasn’t for you, then you haven’t had Cafe Gratitude. The Hospitable Chicken and Waffles made with chicken-fried oyster mushrooms, maple syrup, and cashew coconut whipped cream will turn anyone on to vegan food (I dare you to challenge me). I Am Nourished burrito with tofu scramble, mushroom carnitas, potato, spinach, pico de gallo, black beans, spicy cashew aioli, avocado, is bursting with flavor and leaves you with a full and happy belly. Cafe Gratitude serves up daily brunch and affirmations, 7 days a week.
Half Door Brewing
$-$$
⅗ food
4/5 drinks
⅘ ambiance
5/5 wait time
Overall Rating: 4
*Great for beer, Padre’s game pre-parties, Irish-inspired fare, pup friendly patio
One of my favorite spots to visit before a Padre’s Game at Petco Park (thank goodness baseball is back) is Half Door Brewing Co. Half Door’s turn-of-the-century house turned brewery owned by the Drayne family is a little slice of Ireland in the East Village. I love to sit on the top floor porch with views of Petco Park before a game and sip on one of their home brewed beers (Roark Red Irish Ale & Gimmick Ale) or a craft cocktail, including their hair of the dog bloody mary because they’ve got a full bar!! Make sure you check out inside too, there’s lots of cool seating nooks and the building is quite interesting! Library meets Irish pub vibes!
Half Door Brewing Co.’s warm and savory brunch is inspired by the family's Irish roots. Nosh on brunch treats such as the ooey gooey Fried Goat Cheese Balls served with a sweet chili soy glaze or the best pretzels in town that you dip into the most delicious and rich cheese sauce that is concocted with Half Door’s Pale Ale. Usually you can also choose from their lunch/dinner menu as well and I highly recommend not sleeping on the Sausage Mac & Cheese or one of their house-made desserts! P.S. It's great for brunch anytime of year!
Herb & Wood
$$ - $$$
⅘ food
4/5 drinks
⅘ ambiance
4.5/5 wait time (reservations needed)
Overall rating: 4.1
*Great for tourists and locals, a special occasion, families, lively music and atmosphere
Celebrity Chef Brian Malarkey’s Herb & Wood serves up a Mediterranean-inspired brunch with California Ethos in Little Italy. The focal point of the contemporary and airy space is the bar. Not only does it serve looks but it serves delicious and timeless craft cocktails too! A classic bloody mary made with vodka, san marzano tomato, horseradish, Worcestershire, celery, green onion, lime might look simple but the umami of the fresh tomato and the abundance of horseradish will awaken your senses and tingle your taste buds.
Classic brunch fare but make it approachable and seasonable. Herb & Wood wood-fires classic brunch dishes that add a pinch of pizzaz to every bite! A basket of warm Parker Rolls served with an herb honey butter is the perfect way to start your brunch. The Lox is next level great because each ingredient (cucumber, pickled onion, pickled beets, capers, za'atar cream cheese, petite house bagels) is full of flavor and together is quite delish! If you’re a fan of benedict’s you’ll appreciate the simple but yummy Benedict with prosciutto, heirloom tomato, basil, lemon hollandaise, english muffin, served with a side of potatoes.
Fig Tree Cafe
$ - $$
5/5 food
4/5 drinks
⅘ ambiance
3/5 wait time
Overall rating: 4
*Great for friends and family, locals and tourists, great four-legged friends, California brunch fare, vegans/vegetarians
Whether you're dining under the shaded fig tree’s of the eclectic outdoor patio in Pacific Beach or at one of their other lively locations, Fig Tree Cafe is understated but refined California breakfast fare and a San Diego brunch must! A sign on the wall reads, “I’m not yelling, you’re just hungover,” and whether or not you are Fig Tree has fresh and lively morning beverages like the Sparkling Strawberry Screwdriver, Vanilla Cream Cold Brew and a Man Candy Bloody Mary dripping in fabulousness.
Consistency is key, and you’ll always find consistently delicious California brunch fare at any of Fig Tree’s locations, no matter how busy they get. Bright, local ingredients make dishes like the Lemon Strawberry French Toast with lemon infused french toast, drizzled in a lemon glaze and a house made mixed berries jam, topped with fresh strawberries or one of my favorite breakfast burritos in San Diego, stuffed with 7 different delicious ingredients and bonus, $1 of each burrito sold goes to a charitable cause. Pro tip: keep your eyes peeled for the green menu items, indicating vegan options!
The Seventh House
$$-$$$
3.5/5 food
5/5 drinks
5/5 ambiance
4/5 wait times
Overall rating: 4.375
*Great for groups, cocktails, a unique and elevated experience
Where mysticism meets decadence, the newly opened The Seventh House in North Park brings a unique experience to the San Diego brunch scene. From the lavish bathrooms, to the Victorian meets modern decor, every nook and cranny is an Instagrammable photo op. For that photo op you’ll need a cocktail in hand and the beautifully crafted Mae West or La Blanche Deveraux are the perfect companion to your aesthetic.
Serving brunch everyday the Divorcée Eggs with beans, a tender and juicy pork belly, and green and red chili sauces, or the elevated Lobster Benedict served over lobster cakes with taragon hollandaise sauce and a caviar blini will have you luxuriously full. Or you could throw breakfast out the window and indulge in the, “Let them eat cake” experience, a champagne cart served with vodka, champagne, cake, and pastries, YOLO! Did I mention anytime during your visit you can recieve a tarot reading?
Brian's 24 - Now MORNING MUSE in Del Mar
$$-$$$
⅘ food
5/5 drinks
⅘ ambiance
⅘ wait time
Overall rating: 4.25
*Great for locals and tourists, great for weekday brunch, fun cocktails and lattes, kids menu, vegan and vegetarian options
San Diego’s most popular downtown breakfast joint has recently moved and rebranded to Morning Muse in Del Mar, as a breakfast speakeasy hidden in Del Mar Rendezvous. It’s still Instagrammable in all the right ways from the fun and cheeky wall art! What else is Instagrammable? Their creative morning libations and coffee drinks! Cereal Killer Lattes topped with your fave childhood cereal are nostalgically delicious and the Buzzed Barbie, because this doll needs her buzz! Morning Muse’s morning libations are also playful in name and presentation like the Eye of the Tiger & The Smoky Carrie Bloody Mary!
“Perfectly curated breakfast,” Morning Muse’s brunch menu is decadent and extra, with a mix of savory and sweet and everything in between. The Traditional Soufflé Pancakes are a fluffy AF, airy, and delish but if you’re vegan try the Vegan Matcha Pancakes instead, finished with a homemade coconut blueberry sauce! Head down south with Brian’s Chicken & Waffles, battered and crisped to perfection with a spicy honey butter sauce and and house blackberry drizzle! From Avocado Toast to a Cheesesteak Waffle, there’s literally something for everyone!
Brunchfaced Community sound off! Have you gotten Brunchfaced at any of these places? Did I miss a banging brunch you recommend? Leave a comment below!!
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