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
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.
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.
The Park at 14th
Downtown/14th St
You haven't experienced black DC until you go to The Park.
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!
Ozio
Dupont Circle
Rooftop day parties in Dupont Circle.
Check out their eventbrite:
Gryphon
Dupont Circle
One of those, will my Sunday ever end places. Girl, it's Sunday Funday, keep going.
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!
Great Valued Bottomless
(aka I'm trying to get drunk for the low)
801
U St. Corridor
$15 bottomless mimosas with stellar brunch entrees.
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!
Shaw's Tavern
Shaw
$16 bottomless mimosas, smoked gouda grits, and prime people watching outdoor seating.
District Commons
Foggy Bottom
$16 bottomless mimosas and bloody marys, conveniently located right by the Foggy Bottom Metro stop.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Cuba Libre
Chinatown
Cuban/Caribbean style tapas brunch. Yucca fries and churros are unbeatable.
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!
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.
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.
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.
Duke's Grocery
Dupont Circle
Delicious East London-style brunch selections and a crazy good spread for drinks.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Update: My brunch thread on twitter went VIRAL! Check it out here:
Here’s some screenshots which include even MORE brunch suggestions:
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.
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