Plan your weekend and pour those mimosas. We’ve compiled a whole bunch of brunch options — whether you’re on the hunt for fluffy eggs or stacked chicken and waffles — along with menu recs, pro tips, and an interactive map to track ‘em.
Editor’s note: All times listed are brunch-only.
Hash House A Go Go’s famous dish: Andy’s Sage Fried Chicken + Waffle Tower.
Photo via @hashhouseagogosd
Weekday wonders
Morning Glory | Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. | Dripping in velvet + Instagrammable vibes, this Little Italy “it” spot is known for its fluffy soufflé pancakes; slide in during the week to avoid the weekend crowds.
Madi | Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | This hip, colorful eatery on Adams Avenue makes brunch a whole lifestyle, and we’re not mad about it. Pro tip: Those Waffle Churro Sticks are game-changers.
Hash House A Go Go | Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | Huge hankering for brunch? Hit up this farmhouse-focused eatery in Hillcrest, order the Sage-Fried Chicken + Waffles, and 100% share with a friend.
Malibu Farm | Daily, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | This Seaport Village (celebrity) restaurant serves farm-to-table meals inspired by California cuisine. You can sit down for brunch with views of San Diego Bay, or head to the cafe downstairs for coffee and a pastry to-go.
Crushed | Daily, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. (Pacific Beach) | Go for the sweet stuff — aka “Bresserts” — like the French Toast Sticks or Blueberry Cheesecake Pancakes at two locations: Pacific Beach + North Park (open Saturday-Sunday only, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.).
Sheldon’s Service Station | Daily, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. | This cute La Mesa café will help you fuel up with its mouthwatering menu — the caprese avocado toast is calling our name.
Brockton Villa | Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m. | The Coast Toast — a soufflé-style twist on French toast — has been this La Jolla restaurant’s jam for 30+ years.
Little Frenchie | Daily, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | This beautiful bistro on Coronado Island will transport you to France for “le brunch” — housemade pâtiserries and all.
We’re howlin’ for brunch at Werewolf.
Photo via @werewolfsd
Werewolf | Daily, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | Order a round of Breakfast Balls for the table — hush puppies with country gravy + bacon crumbles — and you’ll be top dog, for sure.
Pacifica Del Mar | Daily, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. | The brunch offerings are small but mighty at this upscale spot — we see you, honey marscarpone stuffed French toast + sugar-spiced salmon hash.
The historic Cottage celebrates its 30th anniversary as a restaurant on Tuesday, Dec. 6.
Photo via The Cottage La Jolla
Truckstop | Daily, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Classics like country fried steak n’ eggs and biscuits + gravy are calling our name on this robust brunch menu.
The Cottage La Jolla | Daily, 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. | This seaside staple turned 30 in late 2022 and is beloved for its breakfast items like the famous Brioche French Toast, Lemon Ricotta Pancakes, and Southern California Omelet. Pro tip: If you’re in North County, try The Cottage Encinitas or The Cottage Del Mar.
Witherby | Daily, 7:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. | Tucked inside the Gaslamp Quarter’s renovated Beau Hotel — inside a brick building that dates back to 1886 — this beautiful bar and restaurant debuted in spring 2025. It now offers a breakfast + brunch menu that includes a crab cake benedict, crispy duck hash, and French toast soaked in Lucky Charms cereal milk. Ask about the brunch cocktails, too.
Little Lion Cafe | Wednesday-Monday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Don’t miss the toasts and Superfood Bowl at this cute Point Loma eatery.
Breakfast Company | Daily, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pop into this cute eatery in Mission Valley or the Gaslamp Quarter for everything from a California Breakfast Burrito to the Breakfast Co. Flight featuring three of any waffle, pancake, or French toast.
Three words: Maple Bacon Donuts.
Photo via @thegreatmaple
Pastry paradises
The Great Maple | Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Elevated comfort food shines at the Hillcrest eatery — including those signature glazed Maple Bacon Donuts that you just can’t miss.
Sunny Boy Biscuit Co. | Daily, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | This café’s and “biscuiteria’s” name says it all — the Southern-style biscuits with honey butter + raspberry jam are the must-try specialty.
Blackmarket Bakery | Daily, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. (North Park location) | Loaded croissant sandwiches, cookies, muffins, tarts + other treats make this menu a sweet one. Bonus: Blackmarket also has a location in Oceanside.
Pâtisserie Melanie | Tuesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Find the French experience right here in SD through this cafe’s incredible pastries and brunch dishes (available daily, 9:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m., or until sold out) like the croque monsieur, croque madame, and quiche lorraine. Pro tip: Get there early to try the fresh croissants, kouignettes, and chaussons, which fly off the shelves.
Sugar and Scribe Bakery | Daily, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. | Bread pudding French toast and scrambles on the brunch menu, plus cupcakes, cookies, and double-stacked Rice Krispie treats from the pastry bar make this spot the sweetest lil’ thing.
Claire’s Too | Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Don’t miss the muffin tops at this Solana Beach eatery.
Brunch at the Duck Dive is calling — fly to PB.
Photo via Duck Dive
Bottomless mimosas
Duck Dive | Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | The weekday + weekend brunch menus differ slightly, but the good times roll daily at this Pacific Beach favorite. Try the gluten-free hotcakes, the PB French Toast, and the bottomless mimosas.
GARAGE Kitchen + Bar | Tuesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | We recommend the magnum bottle of bubbles with up to four juice mixers or a mimosa flight paired The Best Breakfast Sandwich Ever with wild boar sausage. Cheers.
Baja Betty’s | Weekends, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Come for the yummy Mexican food + lively ambiance at this Hillcrest restaurant — stay for the $19.95 bottomless mimosas.
Worth setting an alarm: Snooze’s pancake flight.
Photo via Snooze
For the fam
Snooze | Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m; Saturday-Sunday, 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m. | Three words: Signature Pancake Flight; don’t hit the snooze button — it’s worth getting up for this brunch outing. Ask about Snooze’s new, lighter menu items too, like the whipped cottage cheese bowl and the greens + grains bowl.
Breakfast Republic | Daily, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | The kiddos will love the selection of pancakes — from Oreo Cookie to Churro — and French toast offerings at the eight locations across San Diego County.
The Trails Eatery | Daily, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. | This adorable café offers special dishes for kids 12 and under, including French toast + pancake combos, and a classic cheesy scramble.
The kiddos will love Flap Your Jacks in North Park — you can make your own pancakes.
Photo via @FlapYourJacks
Flap Your Jacks | Monday, Thursday + Friday 7:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Mini chefs will love this one: Each table is outfitted with its own pancake griddle, so you can flip your own pancakes — and add all kinds of toppings.
Mama Kat’s | Monday + Wednesday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. | This San Marcos restaurant + pie shop has a downhome family feel — and a great selection of comfort food and organic cold-pressed juices.
ARLO is putting a spin on the most important meal of the day with its weekend “DJ Brunch.”
Photo via ARLO
Veggie focused
Farmers Bottega Restaurant | Daily, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Fruits and grains, omelets, frittatas, pancakes + French toast, anyone?
Second Nature | Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | The brunch menu at this North PB eatery features fruits, grains, omelets, and scrambles — we see you, Cali Brah Omelet with cilantro aioli and hemp seeds.
Kindred | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | So many veggie standouts on one menu — the Doom Bloom dish with fried mushrooms has our attention.
Donna Jean | Wednesday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | We spy tofu + breakfast potatoes in The Motherload scramble, peach pie French toast, and biscuits + gravy.
Weekend musts
ARLO | Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. | This eatery launched its DJ Brunch in summer 2024, which mixes a fun brunch menu with a DJ spinning beats while you eat. Try the Croffle — it’s a croissant-meets-waffle, and it’s incredible.
The Rabbit Hole | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Hop over to this Normal Heights restaurant for brunch bites like the cinnamon donut holes or chicken chilaquiles. For drinks, try the citrus gin spritz made with local Storyhouse Spirits gin.
Cellar Hand | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Hop over to this Hillcrest spot, sit on the patio, and enjoy coastal Cali-inspired dishes like specialty toasts, the Vanilla Labneh Bowl with sesame granola, or the Bluefin Schnitzel with lemon-caper brown butter, sungold, cucumber, and Asian pear. The drink offerings are on point, too.
Queenstown Public House | Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | The New Zealand-inspired favorites shine here — including the meat pie and sausage rolls.
Casa Gabriela | Saturday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. | Beautiful brunch offerings like enchiladas marisco suiza, Mama Lopez’s huevos rancheros, and chicken barbacoa chilaquiles await at this La Mesa Village restaurant helmed by Executive Chef Gaby Lopez. Oh, and you definitely heard it from us — the Chisme cocktail made with tequila + coffee liqueur is a perfect brunch drink.
The Sunday brunch menu at Kettner Exchange is back + revamped.
Photo via @jtran_photos
Kettner Exchange | Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Find a rotating brunch menu on Sundays only — always based on seasonal ingredients — at this Little Italy staple.
Trust | Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. | With shareable plates, trust that dishes like stuffed French toast and smoked pork shoulder hash will bring you + your brunch crew closer.
The Breakfast Enchiladas at The Whiskey House in downtown San Diego
Photo via The Whiskey House
The Whiskey House | Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | This downtown San Diego spot holds the Guinness World Record for the most varieties of whiskey/whiskey commercially available — and it also serves up a mean brunch. If you’re looking for savory, try the breakfast enchiladas; for a sweet treat, try the trio of pancakes plate.
Louisiana Purchase in North Park offers a weekend brunch menu inspired by The Big Easy.
Photo via Louisiana%20Purchase
Louisiana Purchase | Saturday-Sunday, 12-3 p.m. | The North Park restaurant with New Orleans vibes offers a weekend brunch menu that will have you dreaming of The Big Easy. We spy a vanilla waffle topped with fried wings and the Catfish Monica (cute name, for real).
94th Aero Squadron Restaurant | Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Like to graze? The unlimited weekend champagne brunch buffet boasts a little of everything — breakfast classics, salads, seafood + more.
This downtown hotspot offers a 1980s-themed brunch on the weekends dubbed “Wake Me Up Before You Yolk Yolk.”
Photo via The Smoking Gun
The Smoking Gun | Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.1- p.m. | This trendy downtown restaurant + bar offers a 1980s-themed weekend brunch dubbed “Wake Me Up Before You Yolk Yolk,” which focuses on stacked sandwiches inspired by songs of the decade. Try the Loxxane with smoked salmon and cream cheese or the You Smoked Me All Night Long featuring smoked prime brisket with au jus.
The Corner Drafthouse | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | While you enjoy libations like the Drafthouse chilaquiles, check out the 70 draft beers on tap.
Beginner’s Diner | Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Tucked inside the historic and newly renovated LaFayette Hotel in North Park, this diner gives 1940s energy and a weekend brunch menu that includes the Latkestrami Benedict (latkes and pastrami), deviled eggs, and the Grav Lax Tower — homemade gravlax, pickled herring, bagels, cream cheese, and accouterments, perfect for sharing.
We’re feeling the Caribbean vacation vibes at Miss B’s Coconut Club.
Photo via Miss B’s Coconut Club
Daytime party
Miss B’s Coconut Club | Daily, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | The sun is out and brunch is on with Miss B’s unforgettable breakfast tacos.
Urban Mo’s Bar and Grill | Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Try the Hangover Burger to keep the party vibes going at this buzzy hangout in the heart of Hillcrest.
King & Queen Cantina | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Mimosa towers, birria Benedicts, huevos rancheros, tres leches pancakes — truly a brunch menu fit for royalty.
The Local Pacific Beach | Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Enjoy a bubbly 3-liter champagne tower with your friends to top off your weekend daze.
Quick and easy
Parkhouse Eatery | Monday + Wednesday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Savory scrambles + so much more in the cutest little café atmosphere.
Atypical Waffle | Friday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Waffles in every which way — don’t miss the Berry Patch with mixed berries, kiwi, banana, vanilla whip, guava jam + micro basil.
Eggies | Daily, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. | Stacked breakfast sandwiches + layered egg creations served in jars make this an egg-cellent spot to grab a laid-back brunch in the East Village or PB.
Spill the Beans | Times vary by location| Get to the Seaport Village location early, order a bagel and specialty coffee (can’t go wrong with the Basic Sitch), and sit facing the waterfront. Spill the Beans also has locations in the Gaslamp, OB, PB, and a Mission Valley cafe with a spacious patio.
Public Square Coffee House | Daily, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. | The Homemade Sugar Scones are always fresh — make sure you try the flavored butters. Public Square also opened a downtown San Diego cafe on C Street in January 2025.
Benedict’s | Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m.; Friday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | As its name suggests, this cute food truck (OK, it’s an Airstream) parked at the Ocean Villa Inn in OB specializes in Benedicts — from a traditional version to a farmhouse creation. There’s a coffee bar, too, so you’ll walk away nice and caffeinated.
DIY brunch
Prefer to stay in? Host your own brunch with crowd-pleasing spreads + supplies good enough for a chef.
- Yellow French press | Bring some cheer to brunch + make coffee for a group with a sunny 34 fl oz. French press.
- 3-tier wood serving tray | Arrange pastries, sandwiches, or treats on a stunning three-tier display that will be the centerpiece of your table.
- Fancy espresso cups | Upgrade your mugs with some orange glazed ceramic cups.
- Fried egg spoon rest | A cute kitchen addition that screams “brunch.”
- 24-piece black silverware set | A highly-rated silverware set in a sleek, stylish black finish.
- Elite Gourmet four-slice toaster | Make toast for a crowd with this best-selling toaster.
- Clear drinking glasses with bamboo lids | Iced coffee can now be served at your brunch, thanks to cute and convenient drinking glasses.
