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Top 21 Philadelphia Brunch Restaurants

Ah, brunch. The amalgamation of breakfast and lunch. A special meal that is usually consumed on Saturday or Sunday with friends after a long work or school week. 

group of friends eating brunch in philly

Brunch has always been my favorite meal of the day. I’m pretty obsessed with breakfast foods, but I’m not a big lunch person, so I’ll take any excuse to eat breakfast past 11:00 am.

Although I’m usually an early riser, brunch also gives me that rare opportunity to sleep in, especially if everything is booked until 2:00 pm and I’m left eating linner. 

It’s not always sunny in Philadelphia, but everyone is always brunchin’ in Philadelphia. You’re sure to see people out on a Saturday or Sunday morning, rain or shine, snow or hail.

Whether you’re looking for bottomless mimosas, brunch prix fixes or BYOBs, this list has you covered.  


Cafe La Maude

816 N 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: (267) 318-7869
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If there’s two kinds of cuisine I love, it’s Lebanese and French food, so when I heard there was a restaurant that managed to combine the two of them, I needed to see it to believe it.

Their French-Lebanese inspired menu includes dishes like berrylicious pain perdu, red and green shakshuka, a croque maude and a Mediterranean platter.

All of the portions are huge, so there’s plenty to share for the slightly steep price tag. 

Unfortunately, they are first come, first serve. However, they make up for it by being BYOB, so you can bring all of the champagne and orange juice or tomato juice and vodka that you want, depending on your week. I won’t judge.  


K’Far

110 S 19th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (267) 800-7200
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Michael Solomonov never ceases to impress with K’Far, an Israeli cafe in Rittenhouse Square. I recommend ordering in advance rather than doing walkup, but you should still expect to wait a little past your pickup time, as they’re usually busy on weekends. 

Their unique, ovular Jerusalem bagels are pressed like a panini. Pro-tip: order one egg, cheese and zaatar bagel and one lox and cream cheese bagel and split them with another person.

K’Far has a variety of pastries for dessert, like chocolate babka bread and pistachio sticky buns.

Complete your meal with a Yemenite latte, take your brunch to Rittenhouse Square Park, and stroll through the Saturday farmer’s market.


Suraya

1528 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Phone: (215) 302-1900
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If you’re able to book a reservation a month in advance and snag a seat at Suraya, please go. And if you can reserve a spot in their upscale backyard for garden brunch, even better.

For the girl who wants to try everything (aka me) Suraya has a $35 prix fixe brunch menu. For the table, you get hummus, baba ganoush, labneh, muhammara and taboule, and for each guest, you can choose one brunch entree, including Turkish eggs or a Lebanese omelet. 

Not that hungry? Want to save a little money? Get the $25 pastry basket, if not just for the cruller, and pair it with a Lebanese chai latte. 


Cafe Lift

428 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: (215) 922-3031
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Cafe Lift is the perfect pick-me-up for those Sunday blues. Come before 11:00 am to skip the line, and order a dirty chai no matter what the temperature is. 

Trying not to be too unhealthy? Order the mushroom toast. Completely throwing calories out the window? Order the cannoli french toast. Somewhere in the middle?

Order the lox sandwich with their specialty savory cream cheese on an infamous Kismet everything bagel. 

FYI: it’s BYOB, and students get a 10% student discount, which is something I wish I would have known before. 


Honey’s Sit N Eat

800 N 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Phone: (215) 925-1150
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Look for the notorious sign in Northern Liberties to find Honey’s Sit N Eat, a rustic breakfast and lunch restaurant with an even more notorious wait and menu. 

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Whether you’re ordering something as simple as scrambled eggs with rye toast and latkes (the fact that they give you latkes, not hash browns, immediately takes them to the next level) or as complex as a breakfast quesadilla with cilantro sour cream, you can’t go wrong. 

Or you can be a little naughty and order one of their more gluttonous options, like BBQ ribs and  cornbread waffles or mac and cheese pancakes. 


The Love

130 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 433-1555
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I love The Love. I know that’s the oldest joke in the book, but I can’t help it. Their appetizers are called “new beginnings,” and if I could marry this restaurant, I would.

From miniature lemon-lavender scones, to carrot ginger soup, to baby buttermilk biscuits, they’re already off to a great start. 

But wait, there’s more. The OG classics include some traditional favorites like the “Take Me Away,” fried Nashville hot chicken, and some interesting additions, like the “Posh Brunch,” Italian truffle scented scrambled eggs. C’mon, how often do you have truffles in eggs?

Or you could just skip right to dessert and get the brownie skillet for breakfast, which would be a respectable choice. 


Booker’s Restaurant & Bar

5021 Baltimore Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19143
Phone: 215-883-0960
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Booker’s is in the Cedar Park neighborhood, a few blocks from Malcolm X Park. It’s a swanky spot that combines sophisticated elements with industrial decor.

With wood tables, colorful walls, industrial ceilings, and plush leather booths, it’s an eclectic restaurant that is impossible to resist. 

Booker’s serves dinner too, but their brunch menu is sensational, with shrimp cocktail, deviled eggs, and cheese curds.

I always get their sweet and spicy Thai chicken wings and the strawberry fields salad. Both are prepared exquisitely and deliver a symphony of flavors.

Their Bloody Mary is yummy and robust, but I adore their refreshing and juicy peach bellini.


Alma del Mar

1007 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: 215-664-8158
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Ala del Mar is a tasty Italian breakfast spot between the Italian Market and Bella Vista neighborhoods.

It has a sweet and laidback vibe, with fresh-cut flowers always on the tables and uncomplicated decor that puts all the focus on their mouthwatering food.

Their menu changes frequently, but some staple items are the French toast brulee, calamari tacos, and chicken and waffles.

But my favorite dish is the bacon banana French toast, which excites the tastebuds and fills you up

quickly. The salty bacon, subtly sweet bananas, and fluffy brioche toast play together perfectly.


Dutch Eating Place

51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-922-0425
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The Dutch Eating Place has that classic diner feel we all know and love. And crave when we’re hungover. It’s colorful and whimsical, with a long bar and plenty of tables.

It’s in the Center City neighborhood near the African American Museum. The staff couldn’t be sweeter, and the food couldn’t be better!

They serve everything a traditional diner should and more. They have it all, from blueberry pancakes to veggie omelets to grits to loaded home fries.

One of their more unique items, and my favorite, is the bacon jam sandwich. It comes with bacon, egg, cheese, and homemade bacon jam.


Pho 75

1122 Washington Ave F, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: 215-271-8566
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Pho for breakfast? Hear me out. Pho 75 is in the Italian Market neighborhood near Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens.

The restaurant has a cafeteria-style setup with long tables and an uncomplicated atmosphere. This place is no fuss, no muss, and ideal for a quick breakfast or brunch.

They open at 9 am and serve everything, and once you get one of their massive soup dishes for breakfast, you’ll wonder why this isn’t the norm for brunch.

My favorite pho is the Thai basil, loaded with veggies sitting in the most flavorful and umami broth I’ve ever had. It will warm your belly and your soul.


Famous 4th Street Delicatessen

700 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: (215) 922-3274
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I have a soft spot for Jewish delicatessens. Going to Catholic School all my life, I never got to experience much Jewish food growing up, and I didn’t even have my first latke or matzah ball soup until college when I met my roommate and co-runner of the foodstagram who happens to be Jewish.

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So, I like to go to delicatessens to make up for lost time, and Famous 4th Street is one of my favorites.

Their title isn’t just for show; they really are famous for their lox and whitefish platters and reuben sandwiches, which are so comically large, they should be on “Man vs. Food.” 

Located on 4th Street (again, in the title), they’re a little far from me, but luckily they deliver, so I can have brunch from the comfort of my own home. 


Parc

227 S 18th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 545-2262
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While none of us will be going to France for quite some time, Parc is the closest you will feel to al fresco dining in Paris while staying in Philadelphia. 

There’s no better way to spend a Sunday afternoon than by sitting outside of Parc and people watching across the street at Rittenhouse Square Park. After all, le parc translates to the park in French.  

On a cold, wintery day, order the french onion soup, which has one of the most epic cheese pulls ever known to mankind. On a warmer, spring day, order the smoked salmon benedict with a glass of frose.

But try not to eat the entire bread basket in one sitting. Trust me, I’ve done it before, and your stomach won’t be thanking you later. 


The Landing Kitchen

617 Righters Ferry Rd, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004
Phone: 484-434-8765
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The Landing Kitchen is a large breakfast spot with tons of outdoor seating. It sits right on the Schuylkill River, so it has a refreshing and al fresco vibe.

You can get to it from the Pencoryd Bridge, and it’s in such a peaceful spot. It’s a bright, cheerful restaurant with high ceilings and natural elements that make you feel at home.

The Landing Kitchen serves breakfast all day, and its upscale menu is exquisite. I always get their smoked salmon snack, which comes with caper cream cheese, pickled onion, dill, and everything seasoning for that classic bagel and lox flavor.

Their salads and sandwiches are particularly scrumptious too.


Winkel

1119 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (267) 639-3453
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Winkel is one of those brunch spots where no matter what time of the day you walk by, the drinks are flowing, and everyone looks like they’re having a great time.

If you catch a glimpse of their plates, you might be tempted to stop and ask for a table yourself. 

Not only are they one of the few places in Philadelphia that doesn’t only serve brunch on weekends (they have it Thursday, Friday and Monday as well) but they are one of the few that serves Dutch fare, like a smoked sausage, red cabbage and gouda omelet or Uitsmijter ham and cheese. 

You don’t need to know how to pronounce anything. Just know that they don’t take reservations, and they only offer outdoor seating (for now.) 


High Street Philly

101 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 215-625-0988
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High Street Philly is near Chinatown, a short walk from Independence Hall, so it’s a great restaurant to check out if you’re doing touristy sightseeing.

The unassuming exterior hides the fancy and upscale vibe within, so don’t be fooled by the simple front.

Their modern and diverse menu includes items, like a breakfast Reuben, avocado toast, and chicken banh mi.

But I love their classic egg and cheese sandwich made with hope springs cheddar and a seeded roll. Add some maple sausage ham and caramelized onions, and it’s the perfect breakfast sandwich.


Nom Wah Philadelphia

218 N 13th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: 267-519-2889
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In Chinatown, you can find Nom Wah, a dim sum spot just a few blocks from the Pennsylvania Convention enter and Philidelphia City Hall.

The atmosphere is cozy and casual, with leather seats and a wooden bar. It’s ideal if you want a nice brunch but not something over-the-top fancy.

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Every single thing on this menu is executed to perfection, from the scallion pancakes to pan-fried dumplings to the stuffed eggplants.

They open early, so you can enjoy soup dumplings or fried rice for breakfast! I love their fried shrimp and fried noodles in the morning, but nothing beats their chicken soup dumplings!


TBD The Breakfast Den

1500 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
Phone: (267) 758-6008
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Your brunch plans will no longer have to be TBD at The Breakfast Den, an adorable breakfast nook on South Street that replaced one of my previous favorite cafes, The Little Spoon. However, I think TBD has surpassed its predecessor. 

This Vietnamese-American fusion restaurant has a one-of-a-kind menu, serving eggs, rice, spring rolls and fried eggplant all in one dish.

Their Vietnamese breakfast bowls are a healthy kick start to your day…but you can order their silver dollar hannah banana pancakes or brioche french toast sticks too. I won’t tell anyone. 

The inside of this cafe is so cute that I could sit in here for hours sipping on their pumpkin spice latte, which they offer year-round!


The Dutch

1804 Callowhill St, Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: (215) 636-9061
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The Dutch is a quaint sandwich shop in the East Passyunk neighborhood at the corner of Tasker St and S 11th St. It captures the friendly and charming Dutch vibe perfectly, and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported to Amsterdam.

So the entire menu is to die for, from the smoked salmon omelet to the chorizo hash to the avocado toast.

But you can’t go here for breakfast without ordering one of their authentic Dutch babies, which is like a super fluffy, thick pancake made in cast iron.

They’re sweet and airy, but you can also make them savory by adding veggies and cheese!


Front Street Cafe

1253 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: (215) 515-3073
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Finally, a restaurant where you can take your vegan friends out for brunch. Front Street Cafe had the clever idea to divide their menu in half, half vegan, half non-vegan, so there’s something for everybody. 

Their buffalo fried cauliflower and vegan scrapple will win over vegans and non-vegans alike, while their huevos rancheros and front street benedict are so good, you don’t even realize they’re vegetarian. And you know what else is vegan? A sunrise mimosa! 

Also, their outdoor patio is covered, so your brunch date is still on even if it’s suddenly pouring outside. This is fairly common in Philadelphia, as the weather is very fickle. 


LMNO

1739-1749 N Front St, Philadelphia, PA 19122
Phone: 215-770-7001
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LMNO is a Mexican spot in the Fishtown neighborhood near the Berks train stop. It has a super modern vibe with colorful walls and minimalist architecture.

The subtle art deco vibe is playful and matches their whimsical plating style and dishes. It’s perfect if you want a unique and delicious brunch.

I highly recommend trying their It’s All Guava Baby cocktail, made with tequila, Aperol, and some fruit juices for a puckering and balanced taste.

As for food, you simply can’t go wrong here. I love the coal-roasted oysters, guacamole, chorizo, and calamari, and every single one of their scrumptious tacos. And, yes, this can all be for breakfast!


Hawthornes

738 S 11th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
Phone: 215-627-3012
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Hawthornes Beer Cake is a New American restaurant in the Bella Vista neighborhood near the South 9th Street Italian Market, an iconic place to stop for some goodies.

It’s one of the smaller restaurants on my list but also one of my favorites. The vibe is casual but sophisticated, with twinkly lights and dark wood floors.

Their menu is innovative and delectable, with loaded sandwiches, refreshing salads, and mouthwatering desserts.

But when you go for breakfast, you must try the butternut Benny, my favorite dish. It’s an eggs Benedict with roasted winter squash, sauteed kale, polenta cakes, eggs, and hollandaise.


Well, that’s all folks. Writing this on a Monday has me longing for the weekend to come faster. From Mediterranean to French to American to Dutch, Philadelphia has a plethora of multicultural brunch options.

Is brunch not your thing (gasp)? If you said yes, I feel a little betrayed, but you can still browse the best Italian restaurants in Philadelphia!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t include all of my favorite brunch spots in this list. Did I leave your favorite restaurant out? Make sure you leave me a comment so I can check it out ASAP!

References:

https://philly.eater.com/maps/best-brunch-restaurants-philadelphia
https://phillystylemag.com/best-brunch-philadelphia
https://www.theinfatuation.com/philadelphia/guides/best-brunch-philadelphia

One Comment

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  1. This article is excellent. I appreciate the bits of personal experiences. Have you tried the Afternoon Tea at 1425 Locust St. ?

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

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