Your Go-to List for DC Brunch

I was born and raised in Arlington, Virginia, 5 minutes from DC. Brunch is me and I am brunch. My earliest brunch memory was at 5. I knew what an egg benedict was before instant ramen. My blood is 15% mimosas. (This is 75% sarcasm.)

You get the vibe.

Let's get into my curated list, crafted with recommendations from my friends and I.

Disclaimer: Some of these listed restaurants fall under multiple categories. I tried my best to appropriately categorize. Don't roast me.

Your Go-to List for DC Brunch

And the categories are...

Black Brunch

Great Valued Bottomless

Brunch Buffet, say what?

Non-Traditional Brunch

Just Good Freakin Food

It's Lit

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Black Brunch

(Meaning- I've seen black people enjoy Brunch here... and I can say that because I'm black. )

Half Smoke

U St. Corridor

Entrees come with bottomless mimosas! Half Smoke also has one of the coolest looking bloody marys I've ever seen. I’m talking a bloody mary stacked high with a burger and fried cheese balls.

http://halfsmoke.com

Busboys and Poets

U St. Corridor (multiple locations)

A classic DC restaurant chain. Great value for food plus vegan and vegetarian options! Busboys hosts great artistic events and has a bookstore inside.

https://www.busboysandpoets.com/#

The Park at 14th

Downtown/14th St

You haven't experienced black DC until you go to The Park.

https://www.park14.com/brunch

Ben's Next Door

U St. Corridor

I would never recommend Ben's Chili Bowl, BUT I would recommend visiting its next door sister restaurant for comfort food and great vibes. Also- try a famous DC half smoke here!

https://www.bensnextdoor.com/

Ozio

Dupont Circle

Rooftop day parties in Dupont Circle.

Check out their eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ozio-sundays-the-morning-after-brunch-day-party-tickets-58653476126

Gryphon

Dupont Circle

One of those, will my Sunday ever end places. Girl, it's Sunday Funday, keep going.

http://www.gryphonsundays.com/

Red Rocks on H st.

H St. Corridor

Great rooftop, easy access to after brunch bar hopping. Red Rocks also features a drag brunch on Sundays!

https://www.redrocksdc.com/location/redrocks-h-street/

Great Valued Bottomless

(aka I'm trying to get drunk for the low)

801

U St. Corridor

$15 bottomless mimosas with stellar brunch entrees.

http://801dc.com/

Mission

Dupont and Navy Yard

$37.99 for Bottomless mimosas/margaritas, free tequila shot, free chips and guacamole, and an entree. Mission comes with all of the perks!

https://www.missiondupont.com

https://missionnavyyard.com/

Shaw's Tavern

Shaw

$16 bottomless mimosas, smoked gouda grits, and prime people watching outdoor seating.

http://www.shawstavern.com/

District Commons

Foggy Bottom

$16 bottomless mimosas and bloody marys, conveniently located right by the Foggy Bottom Metro stop.

http://www.districtcommonsdc.com/

Local 16

U St. Corridor

$27 for bottomless drinks (mimosa, bellini, blood mary, beer, wine, sangria and coffee) and an entree. Menu showcases traditional brunch fare with an Afghan flare.

https://www.localsixteen.com/

Brunch Buffet, say what?

(It's okay... we all like to overindulge)

Farmers, Fishers, Bakers (Georgetown) and/or Farmers and Distillers (Downtown)

Both these spots should be at the top of your list for delicious food. For $33, you get access to all you can eat breakfast buffet at one of DC's best restaurants.

https://www.farmersfishersbakers.com/

https://farmersanddistillers.com/

Kennedy Center Terrace Restaurant

Foggy Bottom

Rooftop restaurant offering a bougie bottomless brunch ($55 w/ mimosas, $48.95 without) with a gorgeous view of the city in one of the most beautiful venues in the world. You will feel like royalty.

http://roofterracedc.com/

Whitlow's on Wilson

Clarendon (Arlington, Virginia)

All my Arlington folks probably think this is a crazy suggestion, but Whitlow's has an incredible all you can eat buffet with snow crab legs for $40 per person.

http://www.whitlows.com/

Marriott Wardman Park

Woodley Park

I never knew I needed bread pudding for breakfast until I came here.

https://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-information/restaurant/wasdt-washington-marriott-wardman-park/

Non-Traditional Brunch

(or- I'm tired of waffles, let's try something new)

Maketto

H St. Corridor

If Dim-sum and brunch had a baby, it would be Maketto. Visit this H street establishment for Cambodian and Taiwanese fusion. Also this place is a restaurant, cafe and clothing store all in one.

http://maketto1351.com/

Cuba Libre

Chinatown

Cuban/Caribbean style tapas brunch. Yucca fries and churros are unbeatable.

https://www.cubalibrerestaurant.com/en/washington/

Ambar

Capitol Hill and Clarendon

Who knew Balkan food would be so delicious? Ambar brunch consists of unlimited Balkan small plates at $39 per person!

https://www.ambarrestaurant.com/

Tiger Fork

Shaw

If you're into dumplings for brunch, try this place. Tiger Fork tops the list for almost every must do brunch lists for DC.

https://www.tigerforkdc.com/

Just Good Freakin Food

Palette 22

Shirlington (Arlington,Virginia)

$26.22 for bottomless food featuring everything from brisket tacos, crab cake benedict, and frosted flakes french toast sticks. Yall, they also have a waffle, blood mary and taco station. Go here. I don't care that it's in Arlington.

http://www.palette22.com/

Cava Mezze

Capitol Hill and Clarendon

$35 gets you all you can eat Mediterranean tapas. I heard the pork belly benedict will knock your socks off.

http://www.cavamezze.com/

Duke's Grocery

Dupont Circle

Delicious East London-style brunch selections and a crazy good spread for drinks.

http://dukesgrocery.com/

Ted's Bulletin

Capitol Hill/Barrick's Row

They make their own pop tarts. One of my dad's favorite spots for good breakfast. Trust my dad.

https://www.tedsbulletin.com/

It's Lit

Madhatter

Dupont Circle

Three things: $14 bottomless champagne, $15 bottomless mimosas, and a bloody mary bar. Also, shared cocktails out of a hat, what more could you need? My cousins (shoutout Doug and Malik) hail this Dupont establishment as their stomping ground. And yes ladies, they’re single.

http://www.madhatterdc.com/

Don Tito

Clarendon (Arlington, Virginia)

I once almost passed out here when I drank 8 mimosas after getting my blood drawn. What I do remember is an incredible passion fruit mimosa pitcher and the best breakfast burrito I've ever had.

https://www.dontitova.com/

Hawthorne

Shaw/U St. Corridor

$37.99 for two hours of bottomless (mimosas, bloody marys, orange crushes and bud light), shot of fireball whiskey, and an entree. Hangover guaranteed.

https://www.hawthornedc.com/

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Update: My brunch thread on twitter went VIRAL! Check it out here:

https://twitter.com/lilmsawkward/status/1156286484804186113?s=21

Here’s some screenshots which include even MORE brunch suggestions:

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Thanks for reading and happy brunching to you all! If you feel like I left a critical brunch spot off this list, fight me.

Haha, just joking. Comment below and let me know! I'm always down for new brunch recommendations.