Brian Nagele
If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then brunch is the most luxurious.
You can pamper yourself with a decadent meal of sweet and savory comfort food, washing it all down with a hot cup of coffee and mimosa for good measure.
Harrisburg is Pennsylvania’s historic and quaint capital city with a wealth of brunch spots that offer a diverse array of dining experiences in which to luxuriate over a mid-morning feast.
Whether you’re looking for a fancy bistro or a family-friendly café, my list of the best brunch in Harrisburg has something for every mood and craving.
Home 231
231 North St, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-232-4665
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Home 231 is a refined New American bistro in a cozy and cute family-friendly dining space two blocks away from the state capital building.
The food is gourmet and presented with gourmet plating, while the service and ambiance are welcoming and unpretentious. They also have a great outdoor patio for al fresco dining.
Home 231 has Sunday brunch from 9 am-2 pm with a vast menu of breakfast, lunch, shareable plates, and brunch cocktails.
I went during the summer and delighted in the tropical pineapple mimosa to pair with an incredible take on Chicken and Waffles.
It was the most gourmet plate of chicken and waffles I’ve tasted, with fried chicken atop a cornbread waffle with honey butter, a poached egg, and maple syrup with a side of fresh fruit.
Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar
1 N 2nd St, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-237-6419
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Winner of OpenTable’s Diner’s Choice Awards, Ad Lib is a New American tavern in an elegant space inside downtown Harrisburg’s Hilton Hotel.
They put fresh, contemporary takes on traditional American bar fare with creative and playful dishes using locally sourced ingredients.
Sunday brunch features a vast menu of brunch dishes, a raw bar, complimentary Monkey bread, customizable Bloody Marys, and live music.
You could make a meal out of the bloody marys with garnish like jumbo shrimp and raw oysters. My favorite brunch dish was the French Toast, stuffed with blueberries, cognac cream cheese, and lemon curd.
Café Fresco
215 N 2nd St, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-236-2599
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Café Fresco is a charming contemporary American café and cocktail bar in downtown Harrisburg with 11 years as a beloved staple.
Café Fresco consistently receives OpenTable Diner’s Choice Awards and Harrisburg Magazine’s reader’s choice awards.
You can get breakfast and lunch every day at Café Fresco, choosing from a vast menu of breakfast scrambles, sandwiches, wraps, and coffee.
I loved their healthy and colorful avocado toast with mashed avocado, a sunny side up egg, tomato, and scallion on wheat toast.
note. bistro & wine bar
1530 N 2nd St, Harrisburg, PA 17102
Phone: 717-412-7415
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Located inside a historic early 20th century Victorian home in Midtown Harrisburg, note. Bistro 7 wine bar is a European-style bistro.
The friendly service and scratch-made seasonal menus have garnered a local following for romantic date nights and elegant Sunday brunches.
Their Sunday Brunch menu features French and Spanish specialties from breakfast crepes to patatas bravas and Manchego cheese.
They also have delicious brunch cocktails. I had a Susquehanna Sunset Martini with vodka, orange juice, cranberry juice, and champagne with a smoked pork belly eggs benedict.
The Millworks
340 Verbeke St, Harrisburg, PA 17102
Phone: 717-695-4888
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Another beloved Midtown institution, The Millworks is a massive brewery, events space, restaurant, and art gallery that fosters all things local.
They use only sustainable and locally sourced ingredients, display local art, and offer scratch-made creative plates.
They even use their house-brewed beer as an ingredient in different menu items. Their Sunday brunch plates are incredible and unique.
I recommend their savory potato donuts with bacon, jalapeno, and cheddar in the batter with jalapeno-infused honey and topped with candied bacon crumbles and scallions.
Greystone Public House
2120 Colonial Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: 717-829-9952
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Greystone Public House is one of Harrisburg’s oldest buildings that was built in the 18th century and became a bar in 1805.
The current owners honor their two-century-old legacy of serving Harrisburg fine drinks and upscale tavern food.
They have a beautiful dining space with a great outdoor space, and their food, drink, and atmosphere has been awarded TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Award, the Silver Spoon Award, and many other accolades.
I recommend their over-the-top continental breakfast called The Kitchen Sink, with three scrambled eggs, local cheddar cheese, country ham, home fries, and a cheddar biscuit smothered in pork sausage gravy.
Rubicon
270 North St, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-317-9027
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Located in between the State Capital Complex and the State Museum of Pennsylvania, Rubicon is a high-end European bistro in an elegant, vintage-chic two-story dining space.
The crystal chandeliers and two-story ceilings with a wrap-around indoor balcony make for a romantic, old-world atmosphere.
The globally inspired brunch menu has creative dishes from every corner of the globe, like a breakfast banh mi and a French Nicoise salad.
I liked their New York-inspired omelet called The New Yorker, with sour cream and chives folded into an omelet topped with smoked salmon and placed on a bagel.
Mellow Minded Cafe
5943 Linglestown Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: 717-412-7120
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This laid-back and peaceful café lives up to its name.
Mellow Minded Café is an intimate and zen brunch and dinner café in Linglestown inside an old Victorian house with quaint house plant-filled rooms with wooden tables and booths.
They serve Sunday brunches made with healthy and nutritious ingredients in colorful homemade displays.
They also have a wonderful smoothie menu.
I recommend the luscious chocolate almond smoothie with almond butter, dates, banana, almond milk, brown sugar, and cacao powder with a shot of coffee.
Cork & Fork
200 State St, Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-234-8100
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Cork and Fork is a quaint, country-chic Italian wine bar and eatery, making authentic wood-fired pizza and Italian small plates.
The dimly lit dining space and charming patio is a delightful space to enjoy an elegant brunch cocktail and meal with friends or your significant other.
Their brunch menu has Italian takes on classic brunch fare along with authentic Italian frittatas and brunch pizzas.
They have the most delicious pancakes I’ve ever had, layered with blueberry marmalade and mascarpone.
Yellow Bird Cafe
1320 N 3rd St, Harrisburg, PA 17102
Phone: 717-635-8991
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Yellowbird Café is a cheerful neighborhood coffee house and breakfast and lunch café in Midtown Harrisburg.
The coffee is locally roasted and served French-press style, and the simple yet delicious menu is full of sandwiches, scratch-made bread, pastries, and bowls.
I savored a fresh cup of coffee with a toasty English muffin sandwich stuffed with brie, egg, spinach, and tomato.
I loved their lemon blueberry and zucchini-chocolate chip muffins, which I got to go for a mid-afternoon snack.
Final Thoughts
Harrisburg is full of charming historical buildings with romantic bistros and family-friendly restaurants nestled inside. There are plenty of excellent weekend brunch options for locals and tourists alike.
You can find my favorite spots on the above list of bistros, wine bars, and cafes with the best brunch in Harrisburg.
And for dinner, be sure to check out these amazing sushi spots in Harrisburg as well!
Did we leave a restaurant out of this list? Make sure you leave us a comment, and we’ll check it out!
Best Brunch in Harrisburg
- Home 231
- Ad Lib Craft Kitchen & Bar
- Café Fresco
- note. bistro & wine bar
- The Millworks
- Greystone Public House
- Rubicon
- Mellow Minded Cafe
- Cork & Fork
- Yellow Bird Cafe
