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47 great brunch restaurants to try in Raleigh

Raleigh restaurants, cafes, and diners serving up all the eggs, pancakes, mimosas, and other brunch favorites you want to eat.

A table of fried chicken, sweet tea, and biscuits and gravy.

If you don’t like chicken and waffles, try the classic fried chicken at Beasley’s Chicken + Honey.

Photo by RALtoday

Table of Contents

In this town, brunchin’ ain’t easy but it’s necessary. Whether you’re on the hunt for fluffy eggs, fried chicken and waffles, or mind-blowing bloody marys, the options can get as overwhelming as the lines at times.

Luckily, you have us to scout things out. With help from our readers, we’ve compiled a whole bunch of brunch options, along with menu recs, pro tips, and an interactive map to track ‘em. Plan your weekend and pour those mimosas. Note: All times listed are brunch only.

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Weekend musts

Barcelona Wine Bar, 430 W. Martin St. | Saturday + Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | This tapas restaurant features dishes like olive oil pancakes, chorizo hash, and serrano Benedict.

Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, 237 S. Wilmington St. | Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | What we’re ordering: Hot chicken eggs Benedict — poached eggs with bearnaise sauce and buttermilk biscuits.

Capital Club 16, 16 W. Martin St. | Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | This restaurant, housed in a former men’s social and literary club, pays homage to its 1930s roots but offers a modern take on brunch.

Cucciolo Terrazza, 4200 Six Forks Rd. | Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | What we’re ordering: The Monte Cristo — Jambon ham, fontina cheese, homemade blackberry Jam, dijonaise, and powdered sugar.

Driftwood Cantina, 8460 Honeycutt Rd. | Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Try this: Tres leches French toast.

Gussie’s, 927 W. Morgan St. | Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Enjoy everything from shrimp + grits and sweet potato chorizo hash to inventive breakfast beer cocktails and Left Hook Coffee.

Irregardless Cafe, 901 W. Morgan St. | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | What we’re ordering: Shrimp and grits with a sherry cream mushroom sauce, diced tomato, scallions, and Parmesan cheese.

The Oak, 4035 Lake Boone Trl. | Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Don’t miss a top-tier veggie omelet and the smoked salmon Benedict.

Parkside, 301 W. Martin St. | Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | What we’re ordering: Breakfast burrito with tater tot hash.

Relish, 5625 Creedmoor Rd. | Saturday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pro tip: Don’t skip Mama’s Chicken Biscuit (the pepper jelly is delicious).

Smokestacks Cafe, 701 E. Lane St. | Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. | Pro tip: Check Instagram for the daily menu — and if the smoked buffalo chicken biscuit is being served, order it.

Standard, 205 E. Franklin St. | Sunday 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Raleighites love this spot for oysters + grits, patatas bravas tacos, and the dreamsicle mimosa.

For the fam

A table against a wall of board games at Kitchen Table.

Share your competitive side with your date over a board game.

Photo provided by Kitchen Table at Relish.

Big Ed’s, 220 Wolfe St. | Tuesday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | What we’re ordering: An omelet made with local farm fresh eggs.

Creedmoor Cafe, 8315 Creedmoor Rd. | Tuesday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. | Try the challah French toast and Nova Scotia lox omelet.

The Kitchen Table, 5629 Creedmoor Rd. | Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pro tip: Order a pimento cheese board + choose a game to play.

Longleaf Swine, 300 E. Edenton St.| Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.| Indulge in barbecue for breakfast — we’re fans of the collard green melt.

Mecca Restaurant, 13 E. Martin St. | Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | What we’re ordering: French toast strata with country ham.

NoFo @ The Pig, 2014 Fairview Rd. | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | This quirky southern cafe located in a former Piggly Wiggly has great eats and treats in its attached market and gift shop.

The Shiny Diner, 1550 Buck Jones Rd., Cary | Monday-Sunday, times vary | Pro tip: Bring quarters for the mini jukeboxes at each table.

State Farmers’ Market Restaurant, 1240 Farmers Market Dr. | Monday-Saturday, 6 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pro tip: Start your morning with biscuits and hush puppies before shopping for local produce at the market.

Great outdoors

A plate of pumpkin spice pancakes with a mimosa.

In addition to your brunch, grab a rainbow flight of mimosas or make your own with a whole bottle of Cava.

Photo provided by Wye Hill

Hummingbird, 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Rd. | Saturday, 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Oysters for breakfast? Yes please. We’re ordering charbroiled oysters with lemon, chili, Parmesan, herbs, and toast.

Taverna Agora, 326 Hillsborough St. | Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | What we’re ordering: Baklava sticky buns.

Whiskey Kitchen, 201 W. Martin St. | Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Try this: Shakshouka or a Nash Square breakfast sammy.

Wye Hill, 201 S. Boylan Ave. | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | What we’re ordering: Morning Glory Burger with bacon and a gooey fried egg + a build-your-own mimosa.

For a special occasion

Two mimosas, a plate of Turkish eggs, and a plate of chicken and donut from Madre sit on a table next to the brunch menu.

Don’t skip the chicken + donut from Madre made with a Tepuy Donut creation and expertly fried chicken.

Photo by RALtoday

Coquette Brasserie, 4351 The Circle At North Hills St. | Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | What we’re ordering: Seafood crepe and mimosas.

Element Gastropub, 421 Fayetteville St., Ste. 103 | Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | Looking for a vegan alternative to your fave fast food breakfast? Try the “Nojangles” three piece supreme stack.

Madre, 518 N. West St. | Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. | We’re falling for the chicken + donut, salmon lox, and mimosarita.

Mandolin, 2519 Fairview Rd. | Saturday-Sunday, 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Pro tip: Fresh-squeezed orange juice mimosas are available by the bottle.

Rosewater, 110 Park at North Hills St. | Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | What we’re ordering: the breakfast risotto with a rose fashioned to sip.

STIR, 4242 Six Forks Rd.| Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | Pro tip: Start your meal with oysters and a cocktail.

St. Roch, 223 S. Wilmington St. | Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Enjoy mimosas, flame-roasted oysters, and Sinner Rolls for the table.

The Willard Rooftop, 9 Glenwood Ave. | Sunday, times vary | Be on the lookout for specialty events like jazz brunches.

Daytime party

Flavor Hills, 319 Fayetteville St., Ste. 105 | Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Try Southern bites with a twist, like the Belleau wood devil eggs and caviar of the South.

Good Day Good Night, 603 W. Morgan St. | Saturday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m. | Feast on traditional breakfast options + the Larry’s Adult’s Only Latte made with Larry’s cold brew and vodka.

Hibernian Pub, multiple locations | Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Pro tip: Ask for the corned beef hash in this Irish-inspired pub.

Salt & Lime Cabo Grill, 6006 Falls of Neuse Rd. | Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Margaritas for brunch? Yes please. Plus, try six different guac varieties.

Weekday wonders

The storefront of A Place at the Table

A Place at the Table offers good eats at a discounted rate for those who need it.

Photo provided by A Place at the Table

A Place at the Table, 300 W. Hargett St. | Tuesday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | Build your own breakfast platter and treat yourself to a cinnamon roll.

Brigs, 8111 Creedmoor Rd. | Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-2:30 p.m. | This family-owned restaurant serves eight different types of Benedicts all day.

The Flying Biscuit Cafe, 2016 Clark Ave. | Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-9 p.m | This spot has been serving brunch all day, everyday since 2009.

Plates Neighborhood Kitchen, 301 Glenwood Ave. | Wednesday-Friday, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. | Try this: Crab cake benedict.

Tupelo Honey, 425 Oberlin Rd. | Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Hailing from AVL, try scratch-made shrimp + grits, sriracha honey fried chicken and waffles, and more Southern classics made modern.

Quick and easy

An iced coffee.

City Editor Cat likes working outside at The Morning Times.

Photo by RALtoday

Benchwarmers Bagels, 500 E. Davie St. | Tuesday-Friday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 8 a.m.-2 p.m. | This shop takes bagel sandwiches to the next level — and food magazine Bon Appétit agrees.

Jubala Coffee, multiple locations| Times vary by location | Try this: The sweet drop biscuits are made from scratch and can be topped with anything from apple butter to country ham, egg, and cheese.

The Morning Times, 10 E. Hargett St. | Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Enjoy various breakfast sandwiches, grits, burritos, and more with great coffee.

Rise, three Raleigh locations | Monday-Sunday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. | Come hungry for biscuits, chicken, and donuts.

Sola Coffee Cafe, 7705 Lead Mine Rd. | Monday-Saturday, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. | Pro tip: Arrive before 11 a.m. to order from the morning kitchen with high-quality sandwiches and the mini donuts, available all day.

Union Special, multiple locations | Times vary by location | Try this: Carolina Grit Co. grits + greens.

DIY brunch

Prefer to stay in? Host your own brunch with crowd-pleasing spreads + supplies good enough for a chef.

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