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.
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
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
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
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
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
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.
- Arch charcuterie board | A decorative wood tray that doubles as a charcuterie board? Yes, please.
- Simple Times Mixers carafe bundle | Whip up your favorite cocktails or mocktails with these clean ingredient mixers.
- Adams Apple Co. apple pie jam | Spread on a biscuit or heat up with a scoop of ice cream for a sweet treat — this delectable jam is versatile.
- 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.