Ryan F.
Ann Arbor, Michigan, is home to the University of Michigan and about 125,000 residents. The University is known for outstanding research programs and The University of Michigan Museum of Art, displaying global art from different centuries. It is a fun place to visit for families and guests of all ages.
Additionally, Ann Arbor offers various attractions for visitors like the Museum of Natural History and the interactive Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Because it is a college town, there are many places to grab a coffee or a cocktail any time of the day. For college kids, residents, and visitors alike, restaurants in the city prepare delicious dishes.
I visited Ann Arbor to try all the best brunch dishes to share this comprehensive list of the best brunch spots in the city.
Best Brunch in Ann Arbor
- Afternoon Delight
- Juicy Kitchen
- Angelo’s
- Avalon Cafe & Kitchen Ann Arbor
- Zingerman’s Roadhouse
- Cafe Zola
- Sava’s
- Dimo’s Deli & Donuts
- The Lunch Room
- Mani Osteria & Bar
- Nick’s Original House of Pancakes
- Northside Grill
From pancakes to benedicts to scrambles, I have all the sweet and savory tips to help you plan your next visit!
Afternoon Delight
251 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-665-7513
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Afternoon Delight is a casual eatery located near the Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum in the Old Fourth Ward neighborhood.
It is open between Tuesday and Sunday from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. The restaurant is women-owned; it has been a go-to spot for brunch for more than thirty years!
When I visited Afternoon Delight, I enjoyed the potato pancake smoked salmon eggs benedict with cream cheese, red onions, capers, and bearnaise sauce.
Other popular menu items include sausage gravy and biscuits, the western omelet, and the pecan waffle. The restaurant has a full list of espresso drinks as well.
Juicy Kitchen
1506 N Maple Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 734-585-5562
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Situated in the Garden Homes community, Juicy Kitchen is a cozy restaurant serving one of the best breakfast menus in Ann Arbor.
It is open between Thursday and Sunday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Women own the restaurant, and the place’s vibe is immediately welcoming. The menu is vegan and vegetarian friendly.
My favorite dish at Juicy Kitchen is the BLT Scramble with eggs, bacon, spinach, and sun-dried tomatoes.
Additionally, I recommend ordering the baked tempeh, the French toast, or the smoked salmon benedict. Try an iced latte or kombucha with your breakfast order.
Angelo’s
1100 Catherine St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-761-8996
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Angelo’s is a family-operated no-frills dinner serving tasty brunch classics. The restaurant is located near University Hospital in the Old Fourth Ward community.
Angelo’s opens at 7:00 am every day. Angelo Vangelatos, and his wife Patricia, opened the eatery in 1956, and in the 1980s, their son took over ownership of the spot.
Try one of Angelo’s favorites, like the deep-fried French toast with homemade raisin bread, the Florentine eggs, or the special breakfast with eggs, bacon, ham, and toast.
I enjoyed the steak and eggs with an eight-ounce New York strip steak the most. Try an almond milk latte or a milkshake with a shot of espresso!
Avalon Cafe & Kitchen Ann Arbor
Pretzel Bell Building, 120, E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-263-2996
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Avalon Cafe & Kitchen Ann Arbor is located along Liberty Street, near the University of Michigan.
The cafe has a bakery on-site, a coffee bar, and a full restaurant. Avalon opened in the summer of 1997, and now the bakery uses its own freshly baked bread and supplies about forty other restaurants in the area. It is open from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm every day.
The restaurant has an expansive menu. Popular menu items include avocado toast, potato tacos, and blueberry muffins.
I recommend ordering the shakshuka with spiced tomato sauce, eggs, goat cheese, and toast. I also enjoyed a cocktail; the harvest sangria is delicious!
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
2501 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 734-663-3663
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Zingerman’s Roadhouse is located across from Veterans Memorial Park Pool and Ice Arena, near Interstate 94.
The restaurant is open for breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner every day. In 2019 and 2020, the restaurant was a James Beard Foundation finalist. It’s a great place to enjoy brunch with your friends!
When I visited Zingerman’s Roadhouse, I enjoyed the Grits and Eggs with stone-ground grits, two fried eggs, applewood smoked bacon, and aged cheddar cheese.
Other tasty brunch options include huevos rancheros, corned beef hash and poached eggs, and a bagel with cream cheese and smoked salmon.
Cafe Zola
112 W Washington St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-769-2020
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Cafe Zola is near the Old West Side district. It has an eclectic vibe and serves global wines. The restaurant’s space is lovely, with high ceilings and exposed brick.
Cafe Zola opens at 8:00 am daily. The cafe is named for French writer Emile Zola due to the culinary influence of French cuisine on the menu.
Try the Turkish eggs with sautéed spinach, feta, cucumbers, and Mediterranean olives. I also enjoyed Zola’s Monte Cristo, an open-faced sandwich with turkey, Havarti, challah bread, and lemon aioli. I’d also recommend the cafe au lait with Zola’s coffee blend and steamed milk.
Sava’s
216 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-623-2233
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Sava’s is a contemporary restaurant with multi-levels for guest seating. The kitchen prepares locally sourced ingredients which are served buffet-style during Sunday brunch.
Sava’s opened in 2007 and has continually expanded since, and in 2022, the restaurant is undergoing expansion and remodel.
I enjoyed the buttermilk pancakes with bacon and the Ghost of Hemingway cocktail when I visited.
Other popular weekend brunch items include the cinnamon-spiced sourdough French toast, the ricotta and avocado toast, and the breakfast burrito with chorizo. The weekday breakfast menu featuring breakfast bowls and omelets is also tasty.
Dimo’s Deli & Donuts
2030 W Stadium Blvd, Ann Arbor, MI 48103
Phone: 734-662-7944
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Dimo’s Deli & Donuts is in the Dartmoor community in Ann Arbor. The deli opens at 4:00 am between Tuesday and Saturday.
Karim and Mary Dimo have been making donuts since 1973, and now the restaurant also serves Mediterranean favorites.
The menu includes some delicious brunch items, specifically, the ham and cheese omelet in a pita or the hot pastrami with Russian dressing.
Try the donuts; my favorite flavors were the Maple Frosted Cinnamon Roll, Chocolate Sprinkles, and Butter Creme. The falafel and the stuffed grape leaves are also delicious!
The Lunch Room
2200 Fuller Ct # 8B, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone: 734-224-8887
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The Lunch Room is not just for lunch; it is also a breakfast cafe and bakery. It is open on weekdays from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm by Mitchell Field and the Huron River.
The menu is tailored to vegan and vegetarian diets with lots of plant-based options. It is an eatery serving incredible breakfast and lunch options.
When I visited The Lunch Room, I enjoyed The Supreme Ruth, an English muffin with Just Egg and spicy Beyond Meat breakfast sausage patties.
Other popular menu items include the breakfast tacos, the buttermilk pancakes, and the yogurt bowl. Also, try the tempeh Reuben sandwich.
Mani Osteria & Bar
341 E Liberty St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Phone: 734-769-6700
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Mani Osteria & Bar is open for brunch on the weekends. It is a restaurant that serves wood-oven pizzas and other authentic Italian dishes.
The bar offers old-world wines and local beer. The restaurant opened in 2011 and has been serving tasty cuisine to the Ann Arbor area.
Try the arugula and prosciutto wood-fired pizza. I’d also recommend the spaghetti, the arugula salad, and the butternut squash soup.
The dessert menu is delicious with tiramisu, cannoli, and gelato. The bar has at least a dozen rotating beer taps, like New Belgium’s Fat Tire and Bell’s Two-Hearted IPA.
Nick’s Original House of Pancakes
3030 Lohr Cir, Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Phone: 734-622-6425
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Nick’s Original House of Pancakes is a casual and traditional American diner serving a long list of breakfast favorites.
It is located off Interstate 94 in the Bryant Pattengill West community. The restaurant is open at 7:00 am daily with extended weekend hours. It’s a fun place for college kids to enjoy a homemade breakfast.
Try Jess’s Hangover Helper platter with two buttermilk biscuits stuffed with chicken tenders, topped with aged sharp cheddar and sausage gravy.
I also enjoyed the lemon poppy blueberry pancakes and the green meanie burrito. The restaurant also delivers via Postmates and UberEats.
Northside Grill
1015 Broadway St, Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone: 734-995-0965
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By the Huron River and Riverside Park, Northside Grill is a terrific place to enjoy brunch in Ann Arbor.
It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm daily. Owner Jim Koli takes pride in the kitchen’s American classic and the comfortable feel of the restaurant.
My favorite dish at Northside Grill is the Cinnamon Swirl French Toast, but I would recommend ordering the blueberry buttermilk pancakes, the Bourbon Street scramble, or the Farmer’s omelet.
The corned beef hash and the biscuits and gravy platters are local favorites and some of the most popular items on the menu at Northside Grill.
Final Thoughts
Ann Arbor is a college town with lots of restaurants and attractions. Visit the campus of the University of Michigan and explore one of the various neighborhoods in the area to try cuisine from some of the best restaurants in the area.
The brunch options in Ann Arbor are fantastic; from pancakes to egg dishes and beyond, there is something for everyone to enjoy at these brunch spots in Ann Arbor.
If you are interested in learning more about the dining scene in the city, check out these amazing seafood spots in Ann Arbor
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
