Washington, D.C. is a city where people work hard and play even harder. Brunch is its own spectator sport in this town, with reservations at top spots difficult to come by and hour-long lines for stacks of flapjacks and bottomless mimosas not uncommon. The District has a brunch spot in every corner of the city, from classic diners and neighborhood coffee shops to Parisian-style brasseries and contemporary Spanish tapas restaurants, perfect for fueling up for a day of wandering through the city’s Smithsonian museums or soaking up the previous night’s festivities.
Here are the top brunch spots in Washington, D.C., ranging from hearty American classics at Founding Farmers to New York City-style bagels at Call Your Mother Deli.
1. Le Diplomate
Le Diplomate, a famed French bistro on 14th Street in Washington, D.C., embodies real Parisian café culture. Le Diplomate, founded in 2013 by owner Stephen Starr, thrives thanks to rigorous attention to detail, attracting celebrities, politicians, and locals. It is well-known for its seasonal ice cream cart and strives for great service and ambiance. Over the course of ten years, the bistro has grown to represent excellent eating on the busy 14th Street area.
2. Jaleo
Chef José Andrés’ bright and modern Penn Quarter flagship serves Spanish-style tapas. Brunch options include classic huevos estrellados with Iberian ham and smoked salmon on Spanish crystal bread with a hardboiled egg, goat cheese, and capers. Freshly squeezed orange or grapefruit juice, house mimosas, and rosé sangria are available for breakfast.
3. Call Your Mother
This self-described “Jew-ish” establishment, with locations in Park View, Capitol Hill, Georgetown, and Bethesda, is a go-to for wood-fired bagels and other deli classics. Choose from 13 different bagel varieties ranging from sesame to poppy seed, which also serve as the foundation for the delicious sandwiches. The brightly colored, ’90s-themed shops also provide a variety of muffins and desserts, as well as speciality coffees, teas, and sodas.
4. Old Ebbitt Grill
This D.C. institution is the city’s longest continually functioning bar and is currently housed in a historic Beaux-Arts edifice that was originally a theater. During the week, customers pour through the sliding doors for happy hour, when oyster and seafood platters are half-priced. Brunch is the draw on weekends, where you can still order oysters on the half shell and seafood platters, as well as conventional breakfast foods like chicken and waffles.
Brunch menu items include burgers, sandwiches, pasta, steak, and crab cakes, as well as the restaurant’s usual dishes. Save room for dessert, which includes a peanut butter pie with a peanut-chocolate chip crust, peanut butter mousse, chocolate sauce, and whipped cream.
5. Unconventional Diner
Unconventional Diner, located inside the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, draws customers for both its modern comfort food and its bright, Instagram-worthy pop art. Brunch is available seven days a week, with dishes including a cheddar-chive cornbread waffle with habanero butter and “granny gravy,” fried eggs with Brussels sprouts, and Lebanese fried rice with lentils, two fried eggs, yogurt, and nuts.
Vegans and vegetarians, as well as gluten-free eaters, can find lots of options here.
6. Estadio
This bustling Logan Circle cafe serving contemporary Spanish tapas is ideal for large groups, but get there early because it fills up quickly. Shareable appetizers such as artisanal cheese and ham croquettes or bigger plates such as grilled hanger steak and eggs with patatas bravas and a housemade croissant sandwich with serrano ham, manchego, and egg are available. Save space for dessert, which includes the nine manchego cheesecake and churros.
7. Founding Farmers
Farmers own the majority of this Foggy Bottom institution, as the name implies. Brunch is provided on Saturdays, Sundays, and most holiday Mondays, with a menu centered on robust American classics such as French toast, pancakes, and waffles, as well as more savory hashes and scrambles. Don’t overlook the drinks: Founding Spirits, the restaurant’s in-house distillery, produces spirits that are used in the restaurant’s cocktails.
8. Cafe Milano
This Italian-style cafe in Georgetown is a must-see for local power brokers as well as visiting superstars such as LeBron James. Dine on the outdoor patio or inside, where vivid murals of famous Italians provide the perfect backdrop for sipping a Bellini or glass of sparkling wine gently. A mushroom frittata, an egg-white omelet topped with smoked salmon, and smoked salmon bruschetta with avocado, heirloom tomato, pan-fried eggs, and cheese sauce are among the staples on the Sunday brunch menu.
9. Open City
This coffee shop meets eatery in Woodley Park serves brunch all day, every day. There are plenty of locations to enjoy Counter Culture coffee, sophisticated lattes, and hearty breakfast dishes like a fried chicken biscuit with sausage gravy, huevos rancheros, and filled French toast, with an inside café and restaurant as well as outside patio seating. Choose a yogurt parfait, smoothie, or one of numerous salads for lighter cuisine.
10. The Market Lunch
In Washington, DC, The Market Lunch is a popular brunch place. It is famed for its classic American breakfast dishes and is located in the Georgetown district. Pancakes, waffles, eggs benedict, and omelets are on the menu. The Market Lunch also serves bottomless drinks such as mimosas, bloody marys, and coffee.
The Market Lunch has a casual and easygoing ambiance. The restaurant is frequently full, but service is prompt and efficient. The Market Lunch is an excellent choice for a relaxed brunch with friends or family.
11. Ambar Capitol Hill
Come hungry, since this Balkan establishment on Capitol Hill serves all-you-can-eat (and drink) brunch on weekends. The bargain includes limitless flatbreads, spreads such beet tzatziki and garlic beans, soups, salads, egg scrambles, sliders, and traditional sides like creamed corn and mushroom pilav, as well as sweets.
There is a two-hour restriction, and the entire table must participate.A Bloody Mary, a conventional mimosa, and a peach lavender mimosa with Balkan sparkling wine are among the drinks available. Pets are permitted on the terrace.
12. Fiola Mare
The waterfront location of Fiola Mare in Georgetown is ideal for the restaurant’s seasonal Italian coastal food. Start with raw bar classics like shrimp cocktail or raw oysters, or go for the trademark seafood tower, which includes East and West coast oysters, hamachi, Nova Scotia Lobster, bigeye tuna, king salmon, prawn cocktail, and ceviche. Grilled foods at the restaurant, such as Mediterranean branzino and giant langoustine, are also excellent.
The “sparkling brunch” includes an appetizer, brunch meal, and dessert, as well as endless Prosecco or another brunch cocktail and a complimentary pastry and bread basket.
