If there’s a meal Washingtonians can call their favorite, it’s brunch. Whether it’s the call of bottomless mimosas, the smell of fresh pancakes off the griddle or the simple joy of loosening one’s tie after a long workweek, weekend brunches seem to call crowds like no other. Here’s a list of the best of the best brunch spots around the District.
District
Head To These Top Brunch Spots In D.C.
Best classic: Open City
Photo credit: Suzanne A via Yelp
A restaurant that serves brunch from open till close seven days a week has got to be doing something right. They don’t even have a separate menu for “brunch”—you’ll find everything from your brunch dreams any time of day, every day of the week. The food is no-frills classic, with a couple of twists thrown on the menu to keep things interesting. From omelets and scrambles to pancakes and such, Open City’s dishes are for the brunch traditionalist.
Address: 2331 Calvert St. NW, District 20008
Phone: 202-332-2331
Best baked goods: Kafe Leopold
Photo credit: Carly C. via Yelp
With bread baskets, cakes and pastries that will make you want to dive right in, Kafe Leopold in Georgetown takes carbs to the next level. The menu itself is pretty extensive, including pastries, savories, entrees and desserts. Don’t worry, they even have a breakfast menu for those who don’t legitimize brunch without pancakes. But, this brunch spot is definitely noteworthy first and foremost for its oven magic.
Address: 3315 Cady's Alley NW, District 20007
Phone: 202-965-6005
Best coffee: Tryst
Photo credit: Tryst DC Instagram
If you live and die for coffee, the actual food during brunch might fall by the wayside. Who cares if the eggs are scrambled to fluffy golden perfection or if the breakfast potatoes are crispy and soft in all the right places? As long as the coffee hits the spot, the rest can’t be that bad, right? Wrong. Even the best coffee cannot elevate a bland brunch food experience. Luckily, Tryst has a stellar menu in addition to its diverse beverage selections that will satisfy the toffee-nosed foodie as well as the coffee snob.
Address: 2459 18th St. NW, District 20009
Phone: 202-232-5500
Best vegetarian: Equinox
Photo credit: Equinox
Every Sunday, Chef Todd Gray of Equinox in downtown D.C. serves up a vegan brunch buffet from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Instead of just a handful of forlorn vegetarian and/or vegan dishes scattered across the menu, you’ll find an entire spread of options. If the Black Bean and Walnut Chili isn’t to your liking, that’s okay, because you can still try the Granola Crusted French Toast or the veggie tempura. The buffet is $35 for adults and $15 for children under 12.
Address: 818 Connecticut Ave. NW, District 20006
Phone: 202-331-8118
Best drunch: Sixth Engine
Photo credit: Sixth Engine Instagram
Some people take their eggs with a side of toast and coffee. Others like to jazz it up with a flute of champagne or a mimosa. Sixth Engine offers bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas at $15 for two hours, as well as a food menu worthy of its venue in one of D.C.’s oldest firehouses.
For a truly endless bottomless deal, Acre 121 in Columbia Heights offers an $18 bottomless mimosa deal with their southern brunch menu. The best part is that mimosas come in a variety of flavors: Classic, Grapefruit, Cranberry, or Pineapple.
Address: 438 Massachusetts Ave. NW, District 20001
Phone: 202-506-2455
Best tourist trap: Ted’s Bulletin
Photo credit: Ted’s Bulletin
Who wouldn’t want to eat at a brunch joint that offers cinnamon rolls as big as your head, and specialty pop tarts rechristened as Ted’s Tarts? Top it off with “adult milkshakes” or one of Ted’s classic cocktails, and you’ve got yourself one of the busiest tourist attractions in the city. Serving breakfast all day in a retro contemporary space on 14th Street, Ted’s is a requisite stop for any tourist, newcomer or people-watcher in D.C.
Address: 1818 14th St. NW, District 20009
Phone: 202-265-8337
Best nontraditional: Maketto
Photo credit: Lynda N. via Yelp
The Sundays-only dim sum menu at Maketto may not jibe well with coffee, but if offers an adventurous take on brunch. From plates that may sound a bit strange put together, such as Red Bean Profiteroles or Anchovy Peanut Brittle, to items you may never had heard of before (Mala Cucumbers, anyone?) Maketto’s dishes take brunch in a new direction.
Address: 1351 H St. NE, District 20002
Phone:(202) 838-9972
This article was written by Hanna Choi.