Brian Nagele
In Austin, Texas, the culinary landscape is as diverse and vibrant as the city itself, particularly when it comes to the institution of brunch. This mid-morning meal has evolved into a significant culinary experience, replete with an array of options that include traditional American fare, Tex-Mex specialties, and gourmet innovations. Whether you are a resident seeking to explore local offerings or a visitor keen on experiencing Austin’s gastronomic culture, this article aims to guide you through the city’s most outstanding brunch spots. With an emphasis on quality, ambiance, and unique menu offerings, this comprehensive review aspires to serve as your authoritative guide for a memorable brunch experience in Austin.
Josephine House
1601 Waterston Ave, Austin, TX 78703
512-477-5584
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Josephine House serves an elegant brunch inside a stylish and casual space. The restaurant is near the Palma Plaza Triangle Pocket Park. All of their American classics get made to order, so you know all of your food will be fresh. Josephine House boasts a wide selection of drinks that perfectly complement your meal. Take your friends here to carry on in polite conversation and to enjoy a relaxing day on their patio.
Hillside Farmacy
1209 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
512-628-0168
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If you’re ever near Lott Pocket Park, drop in at Hillside Farmacy. This eatery that specializes in brunch has so much history packed into a quaint and cozy building. In the 50s it was an actual pharmacy, and it was closed in the 70s, but it was restored and declared a historic landmark in 2019. I absolutely loved the Ham and Egg Breakfast Sammy as one of the tastiest dishes in the restaurant. Hillside Farmacy combines quality food with even better service to create a wonderful dining experience.
Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile
3235 E Cesar Chavez St, Austin, TX 78702
512-366-5808
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Driving down East Austin on the Colorado River we spotted Jacoby’s Restaurant & Mercantile in plain sight. Its chic design and riverfront view are sure to draw you in right away. This place offers a ranch-to-table dining experience. They are family-operated, and there’s an inviting and rustic aura about Jacoby’s. The servers are very patient and even suggested that I try the Smoked Chicken Migas and the Jackfruit Rice Bowl.
Launderette
2115 Holly St, Austin, TX 78702
512-382-1599
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Nestled inside of the Holly neighborhood is the lovely retro-styled restaurant known as Launderette. This is a modest and upbeat place with an eclectic menu that features big global flavors. Launderette serves weekend brunch every Saturday and Sunday if you want to stop by. This is truly a great place to take a date or even to go just to relax with friends.
Bird Bird Biscuit
2701 Manor Rd, Austin, TX 78722
512-761-4922
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This eatery feels like it is right from the heart of Austin with its quaint name and authentic cuisine. The food here can be summed up in one amazing word “comforting”. The food simply tastes good no matter what you order from the menu. You can stop by and get house-made buttermilk biscuit sandwiches for both breakfast and lunch.
Paperboy
1203 E 11th St, Austin, TX 78702
512-910-3010
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Paperboy is located not too far from Huston-Tillotson University, you’ll know when you come across it because it’s a rustic stationary trailer with a patio. This quaint place serves delicious seasonal breakfast sandwiches, bowls, toasts as well as coffee. Locals unanimously declare Paperboy as serving up the best brunch in all of Austin. The service is impeccable as they serve some of the best steak and eggs you ever had.
Suerte
1800 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702
512-953-0092
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Sporting contemporary decor with upbeat vibes is Suerte, a chic restaurant located near Blackshear Prospect Hill in the heart of East Austin. Suerte is an award-winning eatery inspired by a passion for masa which is an ingredient that’s quintessential to Mexican cooking. There’s a bar that offers some of the best drinks that Mexico has to offer. However, the ridiculously flavored food is the star of the show at this restaurant.
Mattie’s Austin
811 W Live Oak St, Austin, TX 78704
512-444-1888
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Mattie’s Austin is an actual Victorian home, which has a regal feel. You can feel the depth of history as soon as you step through the door. This place serves brunch and hosts special occasions as well. Apart from the beauty of the home, the servers are attentive and patient. They recommended the Fried Chicken Eggs Benedict to newcomers, which many locals say is one of the best items on the menu.
The Cavalier
2400 Webberville Rd suite a, Austin, TX 78702
512-696-4318
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You can find The Cavalier in Downtown East Austin, serving up some elevated southern-inspired pub food. At the Cavalier, you can enjoy everything there is to embrace about a good pub while having some excellent food as well. If you love comfort food then this is the place to be. Stop by and try Chicken and Waffles which are very popular among the locals as well as the deviled eggs.
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
Multiple Locations
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Find Snooze, an A.M. Eatery a bit North of Downtown Austin, in the Rosedale neighborhood. The chefs like to put their spin on American favorites, and they treat their guests like family. Only the highest quality ingredients get used every day, and they source from local farmers. Their creativity shines through with unique pancake and french toast toppings, like the Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes or the Spiced Gingerbread French Toast.
Magnolia Cafe
1920 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
512-445-0000
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Magnolia Cafe serves breakfast and brunch in Austin at all hours, with a mix of Tex-Mex and vegetarian dishes. The restaurant has upbeat vibes in a quaint restaurant setting that remind you of a 70s-style diner. Outdoor seating is also available. The Magnolia Cafe is the perfect place to start your day. The exceptional customer service and attentive servers allow you to kick back and relax in good company or alone.
Better Half Coffee & Cocktails
406 Walsh St, Austin, TX 78703
512-645-0786
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Better Half Coffee & Cocktails restaurant is a tasty brunch spot with modest decor and cool hipster vibes. I can say this eatery has a unique flavor profile that sort of feels like a mix between traditional Texas meals and Asian flavors combined. Better Half also has excellent strong-brewed coffee, craft ciders, wine, beer, and unique brunch cocktails. Generous portion sizes and beautiful plating make Better Half Coffee & Cocktails a great destination for brunch.
June’s All Day
1722 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
512-416-1722
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June’s All Day is a hidden gem tucked away deli/diner in the Travis Heights neighborhood. The servers are friendly and patient, willing to make recommendations if asked. June’s reminds you of a Parisian deli. Their menu offers a nice variety of sweet or savory dishes. The wine list is extensive, focusing on French variations, and they make custom cocktails at your request. I suggest the Breakfast Chalupa or the Steaks and Parmesan Fried Eggs with a latte for your trip to June’s All Day eatery.
Counter Cafe
Multiple locations
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You can find the Counter Cafe in Central Austin near the Colorado River. You may be seated at the counter or you can select a table. The chefs come up with traditional diner favorites with a gourmet twist. They have delicious coffee and fresh-squeezed juices, local beers, and cocktails. My brunch consisted of Breakfast Tacos with a side of fruit and granola. The flavors were deep, the sauces were fresh. I highly recommend visiting the new and improved Counter Cafe if you travel to Austin.
El Naranjo
2717 S Lamar Blvd STE 1085, Austin, TX 78704
512-520-5750
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El Naranjo offers brunch in Austin every Sunday, featuring delectable and traditional Mexican food. They have well-seasoned eats and homemade tortillas and sauces, such as pungent salsa and savory mole. In my opinion, this is the perfect Austin brunch spot because of the great atmosphere and attentive staff. I tried the Cochinita Pibil and the Mole Coloradito with Coconut Flan for dessert.
Banger’s
79 Rainey St, Austin, TX 78701
512-386-1656
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In the East Cesar Chavez Neighborhood, next to Lady Bird Lake, Banger’s awaits guests in a rustic-chic cottage with lively vibes, or outdoors in their leafy beer garden. The restaurant often has live bands to play music during brunch, making the experience that much more enjoyable. Their specialties are sausage and beer. All of the different sausages that they offer, get made and smoked on-site. They also make the relish and mustard by hand, which tastes incredible on their hot and fresh grille buns. The best selection is out of this world, with more beers on tap than you could imagine. My favorite dish was the homemade Potato Salad with bacon. The Currywurst was also quite good.
Elizabeth Street Cafe
1501 S 1st St, Austin, TX 78704
512-291-2881
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Over by the Nicholas Dawson Neighborhood Park, the Elizabeth Street Cafe is a charming establishment that offers Vietnamese dishes for lunch and dinner, and French breakfast and brunch bites as well. They have a notable bright pink door, and the restaurant resembles a one-story home. The atmosphere overall is delightful between the top-tier customer service and tasty brunch dishes like the Breakfast Pho. If you enjoy fusion foods, this is a great place to visit. Be sure to try multiple items from their menu!
Café No Sé
1603 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
512-942-2061
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Cafè No Sé is inside of the South Congress Hotel. The atmosphere is pleasant and the decor is sleek and modern. They like to make familiar dishes, creating nostalgia, but also unique, forming a burst of fusion flavors. I can say that my experience was unlike any other brunch restaurant I’d visited. And even though the menu wasn’t that extensive, the Café staff focused on developing the flavors from the dishes that they specialized in making.
La Condesa
400 W 2nd St A, Austin, TX 78701
512-499-0300
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La Condesa is in Austin’s vibrant 2nd street district. They serve brunch every Sunday, which consists of contemporary Mexican dishes, and a huge Tequila selection in a modern and sophisticated atmosphere. The iconic cocktails, creative appetizers, and crispy tacos will keep you coming back for more. The service is fantastic, everything is freshly prepared, and the servers even take the time to tell you where your food was sourced.
Why Trust Us?
When it comes to local restaurant recommendations, we pride ourselves on being a reliable and trustworthy resource. Our suggestions are not just based on our personal experiences, ensuring a more authentic and well-rounded perspective, but also on extensive online research. We diligently searched the internet and reviewed 6 credible sites and blogs, including Austin.eater.com and Femalefoodie.com.
We compiled all the findings in one location and sorted them by the frequency of mentions to ensure you receive top-notch recommendations. We strive to present you with a curated list of establishments that truly stand out, allowing you to enjoy the best dining experiences possible.
Interested in the sources we consulted? Check out the list of all 6 sites we referenced below this paragraph, offering transparency and an opportunity for our readers to explore further. Our commitment is to deliver trustworthy and unparalleled recommendations, helping you make informed decisions on your culinary journeys.
https://austin.eater.com/maps/best-brunches-austin-restaurants
https://www.femalefoodie.com/restaurant-reviews/best-breakfast-and-brunch-in-austin/
https://www.austintexas.org/austin-insider-blog/post/best-brunches-in-austin/
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/austin/best-brunch-in-austin
https://www.theinfatuation.com/austin/guides/best-brunch-austin
https://somuchlife.com/24-best-brunch-spots-in-austin/
