Saturday and Sunday mornings are prime time for sipping something strong — be it Bloody Mary, Mimosa, or Bellini — and settling in for some good food and even better company. Whether kicking off the weekend or reminiscing about the previous evening’s indiscretions, brunch really is the best time to unwind before the start of the week. Here now are the 8 hottest brunch spots in L.A.
Lanea
Location: 217 Broadway, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Starting at 11 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, Lanea is dishing up breakfast tacos from Barba Kush along with Bloody Maria’s and Micheladas to wash it all down. As an added bonus, a mariachi band plays the whole time to keep spirits running high.
Fia Restaurant
Location: 2454 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90403
Head to Santa Monica’s Fia from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays for Brendan Collins’ globally-influenced brunch. There’s something for everyone with huevos rancheros, eggs Benedict, and even loco moco on the menu. Share a few of the house-made pastries including croissants, challah, and pecan sticky buns with the table.
Yours Truly
Location: 1616 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice, CA 90291
Vartan Abgaryan’s daytime menu is chock-full of delightful sweets and savories. Consider the Nashville hot shrimp that’s served atop cheesy grits, as well as the rye waffles with house-made ricotta. An order of the warm cinnamon rolls for the table is a must. Weekend brunch is served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hatchet Hall
Location: 12517 Washington Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066
Find Louisiana-style fried chicken paired with Waffle House-inspired pecan waffles every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Old Man Bar. To drink are a.m.-inspired cocktails like the Whiskey & Coffee with bourbon and coffee liquor. It’s a walk-in only situation so plan accordingly.
Norah
Location: 8279 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90046
For Sunday brunch with a side of live jazz, the place to be is West Hollywood’s Norah from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. While the menu reads mostly of brunch-time’s greatest hits, hone in on the Southern-inspired fare like the cast iron cornbread, buttermilk biscuits with pimento cheese, and the fried chicken sandwich for something more unexpected.
Mixtape
Location: 7450 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Stop by Jeremy Fall’s new spot for his take on “modern urban comfort” food. There’s a pastrami hash served with sunny eggs on the menu, and chorizo with drop biscuits, too. The cocktail with vanilla-infused bourbon, cold brew coffee, and maple syrup sounds just about perfect for the occasion.
Petty Cash Taqueria & Bar
Location: 7360 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036
Chef dream team Walter Manzke and Margarita Mazke are serving up Mexican-inflected fare from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. On the menu are chilaquiles with black beans and a fried egg, a Mexican breakfast sandwich with chorizo, and plenty of tacos from the regular menu. To drink, a warm mug of champurrado with chocolate, hazelnut, corn atole, and a mezcal shot.
Here’s Looking At You
Location: 4202, 3901 W 6th St., Los Angeles, CA 90020
For the most innovative brunch in town, look to chef Jonathan Whitener’s Koreatown hotspot. There’s a Jerusalem bagel with smoked salmon roe, lebni, and herbs on the menu, as well as a coconut waffle with koji and blueberries. The cocktail offerings are just as thoughtful, so definitely plan on imbibing.
Freedman’s
Location: 2619 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90026
Chef Ryan Costanza serves up Jewish American comfort food for brunch Friday through Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dig into the kippered salmon hash with cucumber, bearnaise, and a fried egg or the glazed beef bacon with a sunny egg and peach mostarda. The babka sticky bun is a must for dessert.