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Brunch Spots In San Francisco
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by San Francisco Bucket List
Much like airports—where you might see people nap on the floor or have a beer at 8 AM—brunches in SF are lawless occasions where time stands (delightfully) still. Showing up in sweats to guzzle coffee and breakfast burgers? Welcome. Taking your grandparents out to a charming meal? Brunch it is. Ordering bottomless drinks at 10 AM? More power to you.
But given our favorite 7x7’s wide range and stellar reputation for food, narrowing in on one place for your mid-morning meal can be more than daunting. To get you to your eggs benedict with the speed and delicious results you deserve—here’s our favorite eateries in SF to brunch:
Sweet Maple
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With decadent deep fried french toast resembling funnel cake, thick slabs of slow-cooked, sugar-glazed “millionaire’s” bacon, and whiskey-infused maple syrup, Sweet Maple flawlessly blends indulgence with substantial portions and meaty flavors. Check the scrambles: the Bulgogi includes marinated rib-eye, and another is topped with curry chicken. We also love their gently elevated morning cocktail list—sporting an excellent Espresso Martini and “Beermosa” (because, why choose).
Brunch special:
- Home of the world-famous “Millionaire's Bacon,” as featured on "United States of Bacon" on the Discovery Network. Thick, free range bacon, baked with brown sugar, cayenne, red and black pepper. Add $4 to substitute/$8 for a side order. (Now available in their sister restaurant, Kitchen Story, and several locations in the Bay Area).
- $20 for bottomless mimosas (one flavor only). Two-hour limit. $17 bottomless
Where: Sweet Maple at 2101 Sutter St, San Francisco, CA 94115
Brenda’s French Soul Food
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This artistic and breezily cool spot in the Tenderloin emits “Big Easy” vibes upon entry. Brenda’s French Soul Food serves delicious, hearty Louisiana/Creol meals (with fresh twists), fluffy beignets and traditional po’ boys to adoring brunchers from all over SF. That includes full beignet flights, with unusual fillings to choose from like crawfish.
Brunch special:
- Beignet Flights are $12 for 4, where you can mix and match flavors.
- Brunch served from 8 AM—8 PM on Sundays
Where: Brenda’s French Soul Food at 652 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94102
District
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Only thing better than the District’s exposed brick walls, sunbasked seating area and plush couch seating? The fact it serves a bottomless brunch of classic american staples—like freshly made pancakes—and bottomless mimosas. It even has a few surprises, like a delicious fried sweet plantain dish, and a “Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar.”
Brunch special:
- Bottomless Buffet $22/person with a 90-minute time limit
- Bottomless Mimosas $16/person
Where: District at 216 Townsend Street, San Francisco, CA 94107
Tartine Manufactory (of Tartine Bakery locations)
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Tartine Bakery is so beloved that it actually has 5 locations in the Bay Area alone. Simply put, they probably definitely serve the best bread in the country. The kind of croissants, pastries and loaves that dreams are made of. They’ve recently opened up full brunch menus, which feature plenty of range including hot pressed sandwiches, dungeness crab rice and braised short rib with eggs—as well as their renowned breakfast pastries.
Pro tip: get there early and score a coveted Morning Bun before they run out for the day.
Brunch special: None.
Where: Tartine Manufactory at 595 Alabama St, San Francisco, CA 94110 (pictured above).
For more information.
Zazie
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It’s hard to say what the best part of Zazie is: the heavenly, seasonally updated French plates, or the heated garden patio you can enjoy it in. Hailed by many as the best brunch in SF (there will be a wait), the bistro offers a substantial and delicious array of options—including a “plats du jour” sample menu that changes daily—but they are best known for their exceptional french toast and pancakes.
Brunch special: Ever changing options.
Where: Zazie at 941 Cole St, San Francisco, CA 94117
Palette Tea House
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From the owners of Koi Palace and Dragon Beaux, comes SF’s newest electric, upscale Dim Sum delight: Palette Tea House. For the uninitiated, Dim Sum is a traditional Cantonese full tea brunch, consisting of steamed buns, dumplings, rice noodles and other traditional treats. And not only is Palette’s food satisfyingly delicious, it's also incredibly photogenic—thanks to the artful designs of items such as their swan taro puffs and colorfully wrapped xiao long bao (XLB).
Brunch special: None.
Where: Located in The Original Ghirardelli Ice Cream & Chocolate Shop at Ghirardelli Square at 900 North Point St b201, San Francisco, CA 94109
Chubby Noodle
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Speaking of Dim Sum, experience the same delicious cantonese dishes (albeit simplified), all inside a clubby atmosphere with the likes of Drake and E-40 thumping in the background, at the glorious Chubby Noodle. Come with friends and drink and eat a Sunday away at their noodle-focused bottomless Dim Sum brunch. They do three 90-minute seatings on Saturday and Sunday, at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm. This place gets hyped, to the point that their playful menu specifically states not to “chug” or “double-fist” drinks, and that they reserve the right to slow your roll.
Brunch special:
- 13 Dim Sum Dishes (mix and match) + 4 Brunch Drinks for $45/Person
Where: Chubby Noodle at 570 green street San Francisco, CA 94133
Causwells
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Two words: breakfast burgers. These are the must-tries of the menu, but the petite rustic spot in the Marina has everything you need: eggs, mimosas and cocktails, and popular small plates, like their Brioche French Toast Bites with maple syrup and powdered sugar. We recommend trying to score one of their coveted outdoor tables on a sunny day.
Brunch special: None.
Where: Causwells at 2346 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Dorian
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Aside from the fact the Dorian is one of the straight up prettiest places in SF, it also puts on a world-class seafood infused brunch. It has a bougie-boozy vibe and young hotshot crowd, so think chilled oysters (and caviar, fantastically), nitro cold brews and avocado toast—but also hearty breakfast burgers and chicken and waffles to round things out.
Brunch special:
- Champagne by the bottle (with choice of juices). The more bottles you buy, the cheaper they get: $40 for 1st bottle, $30 for 2nd, $25 for 3rd, $20 for 4th.
- All day Frose (vodka, rosé watermelon, lemon) $12
Where: The Dorian at 2001 Chestnut St, San Francisco, CA 94123
Outerlands
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Outerlands may be a trek for someone living in the heart of the city, but this Sunset joint is worth it. The handcrafted, soothingly designed space may present the expectation of a straightforward brunch menu, but this spot has anything but. The dutch pancake is a work of art on a plate, and the “eggs-in-jail” are a tasty concoction of eggs and bacon baked into a delicious hunk of housemade toast.
Brunch special: None.
Where: Outerlands at 4001 Judah St, San Francisco, CA 94122
Lapisara
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Fascinatingly, Lapisara is a classic American brunch by day, and Thai restaurant by night. The chic space is sophisticated enough to take your parents for a nice meal (without breaking the bank), and the chipotle hollandaise and pulled pork Benedict is unforgettable.
Brunch special:
- Daily offerings.
- Bottomless Mimosas $20 per person.
Where: Lapisara at 698 Post St. Nob Hill
Dottie's True Blue Cafe
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With its move recently from its Tenderloin location to a bustling area in the Mission district, the legendary Dottie’s became even more of a crowd pleaser than it already was (seriously, there’s a gift shop). The homey, no-frills spot serves up breakfast classics in hefty portions, and its housemade cornbread and signature chipotle pepper jelly have been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Still, we recommend going for their famous pancakes most of all.
Brunch special: Daily specials (up on a blackboard when you come in).
Where: Dottie’s at 28 6th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
MyMy Coffee Shop
MyMy Coffee Shop is a locally loved Nob Hill gem serving some of the best upscale diner food imaginable. Think souffle and lemon ricotta pancakes, corned beef hash, and crab and shrimp cake benedict...Plus as the name suggests: great lattes and coffee. All served inside the colorful cafe or on their outdoor sun-drenched and dog friendly patio.
Brunch special: None.
Where: MyMy at 1500 California St, San Francisco, CA 94109
The Grove
The Grove is a woodsy delight. It welcomes patrons in with homey sofas and mismatched chairs, and walls filled with eclectic, western decor. You order your food up front, from a menu filled with healthy, simple stuff—mostly favoring breakfast sandwich variations. But the challenge is then not to impulse buy one of the tantalizing breakfast cakes in the display glass at the counter (or do).
Brunch special: Breakfast is available all day.
Where: The Grove at 2016 Fillmore St, San Francisco, CA 94115
El Techo
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El Techo is perhaps the most popular rooftop bar and restaurant in the city—and for good measure. The spot gets wind protection just right with glass walls and heat lamps, and can even add a retractable cover when the weather is unexpectedly too much. Their brunch is just as excellent as their interior design—it was named one of the one of the 100 best brunch restaurants in America by OpenTable. Come feast on bunuelos, huevos rancheros, and pitchers of margaritas to see for yourself. And, perhaps best of all, the always packed El Techo accepts reservations only for brunch.
Brunch special: None.
Where: El Techo at 2516 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110
Sunday Champagne Buffet at Cliff House
The most decadent of options—you owe it to yourself to try the Sunday Champagne Brunch Buffet at the historic Cliff House restaurant at least once. You’ll be seated in the Terrace Room, with unparalleled views of Seal Rocks, Ocean Beach and the Pacific Ocean, and treated to free-flowing champagne and a wide selection of seasonal fresh brunch items (think steak with mushrooms, seafood delights, and chocolate dipped strawberries—just to get you started).
Brunch special: Buffet is $65/person for adults and $32.50/person for children under 12.Two hour seatings are at 10:00 am, 12:00 Noon, and 2:00 pm (Sundays Only).
Where: Cliff House at 1090 Point Lobos Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121