Atlanta Good Food category interest

Atlanta doesn’t mess around when it comes to brunch. There’s one to suit any mood and vibe, whether you want something upbeat or low-key — and bonus points if they take reservations, right? Plenty of places serve the mid-morning meal that strikes the balance between sweet and savory, with plenty of mimosas and bloody Marys to go around. From old institutions to newbies, these are the G.O.A.Ts. Here are 14 of Atlanta’s best brunch bets.

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Recently reopened after a fire shut them down for two years, the sunny corner cafe pumps upbeat music through the speakers and puts their own twist on southern classics like shrimp and grits. Don’t skip the house-made lemonades with fruit infusions, they can be used in mimosas or zero proof drinks.

You can’t miss Breakfast At Barney’s, with its floral archway and a huge crowd waiting to get in, at the intersection of Decatur and Hill streets. One of the stars of Atlanta’s Black brunch scene, people wait over an hour to dine in the posh restaurant with teal and gold accents and splashy black and white patterned walls. The upscale-meets-fun flair translates to their dishes, with signature items like the soul rolls, eggrolls stuffed with greens, candied yams, and macaroni and cheese. For a splurge, there’s the $1,000 Mansa Musa tower, an impressive arrangement of 24k gold pancakes, fried chicken, lobster, grits, and a bottle of champagne.

The French brasserie within Hotel Clermont makes a lovely spot to start a weekend day with its blush pink surroundings. Start with a pastry basket before going savory with one of their star dishes like the croque madame or the veggie quiche. Imbibers can’t go wrong with any of the bunch cocktails, but the French 75 keeps things light.

You can’t talk about brunch in Atlanta without talking about Murphy’s. The Virgina-Highland mainstay of 40 years now takes reservations for its famously popular brunch (offered on Saturdays and Sundays), so you don’t have to wait hours to feast on crab cake Benedict or malted waffles topped with berries and whiskey maple syrup.

West Egg’s served up comforting brunch classics for 20 years in West Midtown. You can expect to wait on a weekend, but it’s worth it for churro waffles with a chocolate dipping sauce, and the black bean cakes and eggs with chipotle sauce. They serve locally-roasted Kaldi Coffee (formerly Batdorf andamp; Bronson) and whip up creative latte flavors like the seasonal peaches and cream iced latte.

With two locations in Atlanta (Buckhead and Midtown), Toast on Lenox brings a high-energy vibe with an indulgent menu. There are brunch classics like avocado toast and an acai bowl, but it’s the treats like strawberry shortcake French toast, with a strawberry crumble reminiscent of ice cream bars, that make Toast standout. Those who like a mid-morning cocktail will enjoy the “morning screw” with cold brew, Irish cream, and peanut butter whiskey.

The recently opened Virginia-Highland spot excels at brunch with its playful approach to Mediterranean-style dishes. You’ll want to bring a friend or two to share items like the spherical, pistachio-crusted baklava cinnamon roll, Ela’s salad with poached eggs and crisp onions, and the warmly spiced shakshuka. Their creamy, tangy Greek frozen yogurt rounds out the mid-morning meal.

Two words: bubble waffle. At Whiskey Bird, the laidback Asian-fusion restaurant located in Morningside, the Hong Kong-style bubble waffle is served with fried chicken, strawberries, mango, and maple syrup bringing together the best of savory and sweet flavor profiles. On the lighter side, their avocado toast with tomato and everything bagel season also hits the right morning notes.

Channel those weekend brunch vibes any day of the week at Daily Chew. The jewel box space decked out in zellige tile and Persian rugs, specializes in dishes with with Israeli and South African notes. Standout items include the carrot and potato latke stack with smoked salmon and labneh, and the brekkie pita with boerwors (South African beef sausage), fried eggs, and caramelized onions. Take a chewy halva brownie for the road.

Local Three’s Sunday brunch isn’t your ordinary buffet. Grab a plate and walk through the spacious kitchen where the feast of sweet and savory dishes awaits. The menu changes to reflect what’s in season, but may include items like strawberry wedge salad, buttermilk biscuits with jam, quiche and macaroni and cheese. Note: Local Three is closed for renovations through August 5.

When you want a refined brunch with riverfront views, there’s Canoe. More than just a pretty setting, the food delivers too, with pecan sticky buns (just go ahead and get a pastry basket), roasted chicken and cheddar grits, and brioche French toast with berries and vanilla mascarpone.

When the Tex-Mex craving hits on a weekend morning, there’s Superica and its many locations in the metro area. Dishes like the huevos rancheros and the migas plate satisfy, while the hotcakes with buttermilk syrup are big enough to share with a large group. While mimosas and margaritas are available, as well as nonalcoholic agua frescas, the cold brew could perk anyone right up.

People flock to Buckhead’s Buttermilk Kitchen on the weekends and for good reason: everything is excellent (and now they take reservations.) In a sunny former Buckhead home, chef Suzanne Vizethann and her team prepare classics like orange zested cinnamon rolls, grit bowls with veggies and eggs, and breakfast sandwiches. The fluffy drop biscuit is the star, however. Order it alongside the pimento cheese omelette or topped with fried chicken, but it’s also just as good with house-made jam.

A drive to Johns Creek (and soon to be Alpharetta, too) for brunch at Hen Mother Cookhouse is worth the effort for those who live ITP. The plant-filled space is cozy, with more seating on the covered patio, and the food is over-the-top delicious. It’s a great place to share a few dishes, like the thick, larger-than-your head brown butter pancakes and the BLT with garlic aioli. Their pastries, like the cinnamon rolls and seasonal fruit danishes, sell out quickly so get there early if you want one.

Recently reopened after a fire shut them down for two years, the sunny corner cafe pumps upbeat music through the speakers and puts their own twist on southern classics like shrimp and grits. Don’t skip the house-made lemonades with fruit infusions, they can be used in mimosas or zero proof drinks.

You can’t miss Breakfast At Barney’s, with its floral archway and a huge crowd waiting to get in, at the intersection of Decatur and Hill streets. One of the stars of Atlanta’s Black brunch scene, people wait over an hour to dine in the posh restaurant with teal and gold accents and splashy black and white patterned walls. The upscale-meets-fun flair translates to their dishes, with signature items like the soul rolls, eggrolls stuffed with greens, candied yams, and macaroni and cheese. For a splurge, there’s the $1,000 Mansa Musa tower, an impressive arrangement of 24k gold pancakes, fried chicken, lobster, grits, and a bottle of champagne.

The French brasserie within Hotel Clermont makes a lovely spot to start a weekend day with its blush pink surroundings. Start with a pastry basket before going savory with one of their star dishes like the croque madame or the veggie quiche. Imbibers can’t go wrong with any of the bunch cocktails, but the French 75 keeps things light.

You can’t talk about brunch in Atlanta without talking about Murphy’s. The Virgina-Highland mainstay of 40 years now takes reservations for its famously popular brunch (offered on Saturdays and Sundays), so you don’t have to wait hours to feast on crab cake Benedict or malted waffles topped with berries and whiskey maple syrup.

West Egg’s served up comforting brunch classics for 20 years in West Midtown. You can expect to wait on a weekend, but it’s worth it for churro waffles with a chocolate dipping sauce, and the black bean cakes and eggs with chipotle sauce. They serve locally-roasted Kaldi Coffee (formerly Batdorf andamp; Bronson) and whip up creative latte flavors like the seasonal peaches and cream iced latte.

With two locations in Atlanta (Buckhead and Midtown), Toast on Lenox brings a high-energy vibe with an indulgent menu. There are brunch classics like avocado toast and an acai bowl, but it’s the treats like strawberry shortcake French toast, with a strawberry crumble reminiscent of ice cream bars, that make Toast standout. Those who like a mid-morning cocktail will enjoy the “morning screw” with cold brew, Irish cream, and peanut butter whiskey.

When you want a refined brunch with riverfront views, there’s Canoe. More than just a pretty setting, the food delivers too, with pecan sticky buns (just go ahead and get a pastry basket), roasted chicken and cheddar grits, and brioche French toast with berries and vanilla mascarpone.

When the Tex-Mex craving hits on a weekend morning, there’s Superica and its many locations in the metro area. Dishes like the huevos rancheros and the migas plate satisfy, while the hotcakes with buttermilk syrup are big enough to share with a large group. While mimosas and margaritas are available, as well as nonalcoholic agua frescas, the cold brew could perk anyone right up.

People flock to Buckhead’s Buttermilk Kitchen on the weekends and for good reason: everything is excellent (and now they take reservations.) In a sunny former Buckhead home, chef Suzanne Vizethann and her team prepare classics like orange zested cinnamon rolls, grit bowls with veggies and eggs, and breakfast sandwiches. The fluffy drop biscuit is the star, however. Order it alongside the pimento cheese omelette or topped with fried chicken, but it’s also just as good with house-made jam.

A drive to Johns Creek (and soon to be Alpharetta, too) for brunch at Hen Mother Cookhouse is worth the effort for those who live ITP. The plant-filled space is cozy, with more seating on the covered patio, and the food is over-the-top delicious. It’s a great place to share a few dishes, like the thick, larger-than-your head brown butter pancakes and the BLT with garlic aioli. Their pastries, like the cinnamon rolls and seasonal fruit danishes, sell out quickly so get there early if you want one.