Brian Nagele
Durham, North Carolina, is a bustling city known as the home of world-renowned Duke University. The city is known for being innovative, technologically advanced, and diverse.
Two of their most popular tourist sites are the Nasher Museum of Art and the Museum of Life + Science, which you can explore during your visit.
The culinary scene is also quite robust, especially for those looking for a quality brunch spot in Durham.
A good brunch consists of tasty cocktails, classics like waffles, pancakes, grits, and other breakfast/lunch foods with a twist.
Brunch is a great time to socialize with friends and family as you get your day started. Durham has various options available, but we selected the best of the best based on the menus, the drinks, the customer services, and the vibes.
Check out our list of restaurants with the best brunch in Durham!
Vin Rouge
2010 Hillsborough Rd, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: 919-416-0466
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Vin Rouge is an eatery located right outside the Duke East Campus. From the outside, the restaurant is modest and unassuming, despite the inside being the complete opposite.
The interior is elegant and has a Victorian feel to it, and the restaurant even boasts a stunning patio where seating is available for guests. Vin Rouge serves exquisite French dishes, and brunch is quite the experience.
The brunch cocktails are delicious, with the Bloody Mary packing a punch, and the Mimosa is perfectly mixed.
They also serve wine and other mixed drinks. Next time you’re in Durham, NC, be sure to stop by and try their amazing french toast, Duck confit, or Eggs Benedictine.
Monuts
1002 9th St, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: 919-286-2642
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Nothing screams brunch like gourmet sandwiches and delicious mimosas. Well, at Monuts, where they make some of the best donuts and bagel dishes you can think of, you can get all of that and more! This unique eatery is located right across Durham fire station 2.
Monuts has a very inviting and rustic vibe that just sucks you into the overall festive mood of the establishment.
You’ll never tire of their unique take on breakfast and other staple foods. Not to mention that you can always finish your meal off with a donut unlike you’ve ever experienced before for dessert.
If you’re ever in town, stop by Monuts and try some of their best dishes like the Chicken and Pickle Biscuit, Avocado Toast, and the Banh Mi bagel sandwich.
Guglhupf
2706 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707
Phone: 919-401-2600
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Guglhupf is near the Hope Valley Road and Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd intersection. The service is one of the highlights of this establishment, with friendly servers as well.
They have seating available both indoor and outdoor; the outdoor seats even have heating lamps to keep you warm on cold days.
Moreover, if brunch is what’s on the agenda, then look no further than Guglhupf to gather with friends over high-quality food and good vibes.
On your visit, just be sure to try the following must-have dishes: Eggs Benedict and fruit salad, Pork Schnitzel, and the delicate yet flavorful mushroom omelet.
Grub Durham
1200 W Chapel Hill St, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: 919-973-3636
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This is a quaint eatery that used to be a gas station and has now transformed into a Southern-style eatery with a rooftop bar.
Grub Durham is right down the road from the Emanuel AME Church. The waiters are very friendly, and the service is impeccable. Grub serves all the traditional brunch menu items with a twist.
One such example is the delicious smoothies they have like the Strawberry and Banana delight. They also have other brunch cocktails like the Mimosa and a California Sunrise with Prosecco.
The best menu items that receive the highest marks are the West End Grit Bowl, Cubano Burger, and Vegan Tostadas.
Foster’s Market
2694 Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd, Durham, NC 27707
Phone: 919-489-3944
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Foster’s Market is at the intersection of Hope Valley Road and Durham-Chapel Hill Blvd and is the next building over from Guglhupf, an eatery that has already been featured on this list.
This place serves breakfast, sandwiches, and delicious soups made from scratch. Foster’s Market is the perfect spot to have brunch.
Foster’s Market has a charming and rustic feel to its decor. It works well with their outdoor seating, right out front on the lawn.
The food is bright and fresh, and the ambiance is welcoming. If you’re ever in town, please do stop by and try any of the following dishes: Breakfast Biscuit, Daily Omelet, and the mouth-watering Huevos Rancheros.
True Flavors Diner
5410 Highway 55 Suite AJ AK, Durham, NC 27713
Phone: 919-316-7978
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True Flavors is in a remote area just off the highway, next to the North Carolina DMV. The interior of this diner has an industrial design that works well with its modern layout.
What’s more, the food is simply spectacular. This quaint diner serves up modern Southern-style dishes with a special knack for serving a fantastic brunch. The care and attention paid to the food are apparent.
Dishes such as the delicious Chicken and Waffles or the Cinnamon Pancakes and Eggs are the reason that you roll out of bed to ensure you get a seat at this bustling establishment!
Elmo’s Diner
776 9th St, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: 919-416-3823
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At Elmo’s diner, you can experience everything that a good brunch has to offer, and it is down the road from EK Powe Elementary School. This is an all-day breakfast eatery; however, you can order other delectable American fare meals.
Elmo’s Diner has a modest interior design, but it’s homey and inviting. The food is consistently good at this diner, and the dishes such as the Shrimp and Grits and the Baked French toast really demonstrate their culinary prowess as an eatery.
Moreover, the chicken burrito packs a flavorful punch in each bite. Don’t miss the opportunity to drop by Elmo’s diner!
Jack Tar & The Colonel’s Daughter
202 Corcoran St #3210, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: 919-682-5225
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Jack Tar & the Colonel’s Daughter is a modern restaurant located in the Unscripted Durham hotel. They serve upscale diner classics with a twist.
The interior is clean and blends neutral colors with vibrant accent pieces throughout the eatery. It’s a spacious location with excellent service and a casual setting.
During my trip to Durham, I had heard a lot about this restaurant from locals, and I wasn’t disappointed that I stopped by. The food was hot and fresh when it arrived, and everyone was courteous and friendly.
Their pancakes are fluffy and golden brown, and the hash browns have a special seasoning on them that pairs well with the Eggs Benedict.
I recommend the Avocado Toast and the Fried Chicken Sandwich as well. They serve coffee, tea, beer, wine, and an assortment of delicious desserts.
Parker and Otis
324 Blackwell St Bay 4, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: 919-683-3200
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You can find Parker and Otis in the American Tobacco Campus. This charming cafe serves artisanal coffees, sandwiches, breakfast foods, brunch, and gourmet wine all day.
The atmosphere is cozy and inviting, and the interior decor is tasteful. Expect to receive your food promptly, kick back, and relax with friends over great food.
Parker and Otis are known for their hot and buttery biscuits, scones, and bagels. During brunch, the most popular orders are the perfectly cooked bacon, lettuce, tomato sandwich, and the roast beef and muenster sandwich.
Whatever you choose to get from their small but well-organized menu, top it off with an espresso, latte, or iced tea.
Geer Street Garden
644 Foster St, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: 919-688-2900
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The Geer Street Garden restaurant is near the Historic Durham Athletic Park, on the corner of Geer and Foster street, in the downtown area.
Their specialty is simple: comfort foods and yummy drinks in a friendly and casual setting at the bar or on the patio.
They believe that food should be wholesome and serve as a joyous medium that brings people together.
They have the most amazing banana pudding for starters, and the fried chicken is crispy, juicy, and delicious. They also have a tasty Reuben sandwich and arugula salad with grilled salmon.
Or, if you want to go more of the traditional route, you can try breakfast foods like sourdough waffles, hash browns, or grits, which were creamy and came with shredded cheese and bacon bits on top. A craft beer or Sangria is an excellent way to finish the meal.
Beyu Caffe
341 W Main St, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: 919-683-1058
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The Beyu Caffè offers some of the best brunch in Durham. This Bohemian-style eatery is downtown near the Durham Marriott City Center. It has a soulful elegance about it and mellow vibes.
It’s an excellent option to catch up with friends over brunch, get some work done, kick back and listen to relaxing live music, entertainment, and more. They have free WiFi, a full bar, they serve coffee all day, and the menu features traditional American food.
In my opinion, this spot had a delightfully diverse array of options for brunch and unique drinks options.
The Apple Cinnamon French Toast, Shrimp and Grits, and Bebop Breakfast Burritos were different and equally satisfying in flavors and textures.
The portion sizes are also generous. The servers were attentive and quick to suggest their most popular items.
I also enjoyed the Oat Milk Cappuccino, which was a hard choice to make because they have so many coffee drinks to choose from, in a good way!
Harvest 18 Restaurant
8128 Renaissance Pkwy #114, Durham, NC 27713
Phone: 919-316-1818
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Harvest 18 Restaurant is in the Renaissance Village Shopping Center, a great location where you can shop around and then stop for a bite to eat.
This independently-owned restaurant focuses on southern hospitality and seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. The decor is modern with a farmhouse feel, it’s spacious inside, and the servers are charming.
The inventive menu features many brunch favorites like Biscuits & Gravy, pancakes, waffles, and Shrimp & Grits.
They also had a delicious brisket sandwich with tender meat, and the bread was thick and toasted well. You might also want to try the Trout and Fried Eggs, which were different and delectable.
This is one of the few places with traditional brunch cocktails like the Bloody Mary or a Margarita. They also have a tasty Sangria at Harvest 18, plus beer, wine, and spirits.
Dame’s Chicken & Waffles
530 Foster St #130, Durham, NC 27701
Phone: 919-682-9235
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Dame’s Chicken & Waffles is in Harrison Square Shopping Mall. You can tell they cook with love at this restaurant. Everyone is so friendly and down to earth, and you feel like family when you sit down to eat.
They display their tribute to jazz throughout the restaurant as the decor features prominent jazz artists, and the music playing is some form of jazz, classical, swing, or be-bop variety. It’s like stepping into a little slice of Harlem.
Of course, the most famous dish at Dame’s is the Chicken and Waffles, but you’re seriously missing out if you don’t try Mimi’s Sassy Shrimp & Grits and the Blueberry Waffles for brunch!
They also serve excellent drinks like the Peach Moscato cocktail, coffee drinks with a punch, tea, beer, wine, and more.
Hopefully, we’ve captured your interest when it comes to finding a top candidate for the nest brunch in Durham.
You honestly can’t go wrong with any of the picks above, as all of them have three things in common: excellent food, great drinks, and friendly service.
Some spaces are laid back, others are more sophisticated, but it ultimately depends on what you’re looking for when thinking of brunch.
Can’t decide where to dine tonight? Check out our list of the best restaurants around Durham.
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!