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Published January 2, 2024

The Best Places for Brunch in Chicago

The weekend is here and pancakes are calling. 🥞🥓

by Chicago Bucket List

 

We love a good night out as much as the next person, but brunch might top our list when it comes to daytime outings. Who doesn't love catching up over eggs, pastries, and mimosas? Thankfully, there are dozens of delicious brunch spots in Chicago that fit a variety of occasions. Showing up in sweats to guzzle coffee and breakfast burgers after a night out? We know a spot. Meeting up with out-of-town guests for a meal before a few museum tours? Sunday Brunch it is. Ordering bottomless Bloody Marys at 10 AM? More power to you.

From trendy spots with fresh-pressed juices and smoothies to laid-back cafes perfect for people-watching, we rounded up the best places for brunch in Chicago.


31 of Chicago's Best Brunch Spots

Longman & Eagle

Logan Square

Longman & Eagle is as delicious as it is historic. The Logan Square spot pays homage to Chicago’s rich, historic bar scene. While the food is part of the appeal, Longman & Eagle offers a tried and true boozy brunch with an emphasis on the boozy.

Location: 2657 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL
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Venteaux Brasserie

River North

This modern French restaurant is designed to emulate French Brasseries both in cuisine and aesthetics. The classic, art deco vibe sets the mood and also nods to the restaurant’s home in the iconic Carbide & Carbon building. From the seafood tower and modern French onion soup to the croissant egg sandwich and duck and waffles, Venteaux Brasserie brings the tradition to the 21st century.

Location: 224 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL
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3 Arts Club

Gold Coast

Diners come to Chicago’s 3 Arts Club for the vibes and stay for the food. Located on the first level of a Restoration Hardware furniture store in the Gold Coast neighborhood, this spot is a main attraction on its own or a pitstop after a long day of browsing end tables and armchairs. Catch up over a coffee and fresh pastry, or stay for a power lunch of their shaved salad and a glass of white.

Location: 1300 N Dearborn Pkwy Chicago, IL
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Land and Lake Kitchen

Chicago Riverwalk

Located on the ground floor of the LondonHouse Hotel, stepping into Land and Lake Kitchen is like stumbling upon a hidden gem. The restaurant offers brunch classics with elevated elements without feeling intimidating. We’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss the breakfast mac and cheese, which comes with a biscuit and is what dreams are made of.

Location: 81 N Upper Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL
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Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co.

Streeterville

We’re neutral here at Bucketlisters, which is why we’re wholeheartedly endorsing a New York-style pizza joint in Chicago. That said, the restaurant offers more than just ‘za in the brunching hours. Choose from the classic omelet or pancakes, or dive into a pile of carbs with the zeppoles or decadent breakfast pizza.

Location: 465 N McClurg Ct, Chicago, IL
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Batter & Berries

Lincoln Park

Batter & Berries offers a range of breakfast and lunch foods. But the star of the show? The flavored French toast options. Choose from Lemon, Strawberry, Blueberry, and Caramel, or if you can't choose, try a little bit over everything via their French toast flight.

Location:  2748 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
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Avli on the Park

New East Side

This parkside spot in the New East Side offers a classic brunch menu with a Greek twist. Menu highlights include sandwiches featuring house-cured salmon and turkey and French toast made with Tsoureki, a Greek sweetbread. Great food and nature views make for a pretty good combo as far as we’re concerned.

Location: 180 N Field Blvd, Chicago, IL
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Pleasant House Pub

Pilsen

Run by a husband and wife team, Pleasant House Pub began as a small bakery specializing in Royal Pies and has since expanded to include a full bar and cafe. Their weekend brunch is from 10 am to 2 pm, and you’ll find English breakfast pies and other specialties like the Royal English Breakfast. Don’t skip on the cocktails either—the Beermosa is a twist on the classic, and The Fresh Red is the perfect spring aperitif.

Where: 2119 South Halstead Street, Chicago, IL
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Farm Bar

Lakeview, Ravenswood

Farm Bar focuses on offering affordable, approachable Midwestern fare based on locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. With fresh produce sourced from their farm in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, you can be sure you’re getting a true farm-to-table experience. Treat yourself to a Farmer’s Breakfast or Wisconsin Pimento Sandwich, and wash it all down with a Cider Sangria.

Where: Lakeview: 1300 W Wellington Ave / Ravenswood: 1970 West Montrose
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Lula Cafe

Logan Square

A leader in the Organic, farm-to-table movement, Lula Cafe is staffed by self-taught chefs who have a love of food and the Logan Square neighborhood. The menu is comprised of brunch staples with sophisticated twists inspired by traditional French cuisine. One decidedly un-French thing about their menu is that they accommodate food preferences and meat-free diets.

Location: 2537 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL
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Tzuco

River North

Celebrating something special? Consider brunch at Tzuco. The fine dining spot crafts authentic Mexican cuisine with high-quality ingredients and a keen eye for detail. As classy as this spot may be, it’s not too buttoned-up for going in on guac or house-made pastries for the table.

Location: 720 N State Street, Chicago, IL
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Summer House

Lincoln Park

So many brunch places focus on breakfast foods, leaving lunch as an afterthought. Not Summer House. This California-inspired Lincoln Park Restaurant features brunch standards like egg sandwiches and pancakes, naturally. But regulars know cocktails, salads, and sandwiches are the main attractions.

Location: 1954 N Halsted Street, Chicago, IL
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Roux Diner

Hyde Park

Roux Diner is a little bit of the Big Easy in the Windy City. Located next to the University of Chicago, this spot attracts locals, college students, and visiting parents alike — for good reason. Roux Diner has a large, open patio with trendy decor and food inspired by Louisiana. There’s just something about beignets, strong coffee, and breakfast served around the clock that really gives it that diner feel.

Location: 1055 E 55th St, Chicago, IL
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Pilsen Yards

Pilsen

If you’re looking to chow down and get up out of your seat and boogie, head to Pilsen yards. The open-air patio is one of the best in Chicago, and the brunch is one of the most electric. Come for the vibes, stay for the gastropub fare with a Latin American twist.

Location: 1163 West 18th Street, Chicago, IL
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Etta

River North

Etta is all about the carbs. This River North spot is from the team behind Maple & Ash and focuses on affordable comfort food. Whether you go with pizza for breakfast or breakfast for breakfast, don’t skip on a round of mimosas and house-made pastries for the table.

Location: 700 N Clark Street, Chicago, IL
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Evette’s

Lincoln Park

Evette’s Lincoln Park specializes in Lebanese-Mexican fusion while paying homage to Chicago by sourcing food from local midwest farms. Shawarma, hash brown sandwiches, and feta fries for breakfast? Don’t mind if we do!

Location: 350 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL
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Wake ‘n Bacon

Lakeview

At Wake ‘N Bacon, the phone eats first…if you can control yourself for that long. The spacious spot serves Asian-Mexican fusion with a vast menu that captures the breakfast and lunch parts of brunch. Menu highlights include flights of house-cured bacon, Halo Halo chia pudding, peach crumble crepes, and a Chicken Adobo Dip sandwich.

Location:420 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL
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Hampton Social

River North

Stay and rosé all day at the Hampton Social in River North. This restaurant feels like sitting on a patio in the sun, even on the cloudiest of days. With light bites, plates to share, lively music, and a party vibe, you’ll seamlessly transition from brunch to the party and back again.

Location: 353 W. Hubbard St, Chicago, IL
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Cafe Robey

Wicker Park/Bucktown

Beloved by locals, Cafe Robey does brunch on the daily…and they do it really well. The Wicker Park spot offers classics like veggie omelets and chilaquiles for the uninitiated and unique plates for the adventurous, including duck hash and breakfast salad.

Location: 1600 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL
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Blue Door Kitchen

Gold Coast

Blue Door Kitchen is committed to serving up sustainability. Located in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, this restaurant, nestled inside a cottage, changes its menu with the seasons and sources food from Midwestern farms with a focus on climate responsibility. The menu is precise, fresh, and easily enjoyed in the cozy dining room, picturesque garden, or tented patio.

Location: 52 W Elm St, Chicago, IL
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Segnatore

Humboldt Park

Classic Italian food with an emphasis on Midwest hospitality makes Segnatore a local mainstay. It also helps that the food is second to none. With a brunch menu that features foie gras-topped hashbrowns, spicy nduja, and scotch eggs, it’s easy to see why this restaurant has earned its reputation.

Location: 1001 N California Ave, Chicago, IL
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Adalina

Gold Coast

A good weekend starts or ends with brunch the Italian way at Adalina. The restaurant has a rotating brunch menu, usually featuring unique dishes like fried chicken and ricotta French toast with maple agrodolce. The bistro offers a sophisticated dining experience, but one with good portions that will leave you plenty full.

Location: 912 N State St, Chicago, IL
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Olio e Piu

River North

Old World Italy meets Chicago’s lively River North neighborhood at Olio e Piu. Known for its traditional Italian fare, this authentic trattoria serves up an impressive brunch spread with dishes like zucchini frittata, a selection of focaccia paninis, and fresh handmade pasta.

Where: 445 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL
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Taquizo

Wicker Park

If you’re a tacos-for-breakfast person, don’t miss Taquizo. Brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 am until 3 pm, and you can get bottomless Bloody Marys and classic Mimosas for $17 (mango, peach, and guava mimosas are an extra $5). Everything on the menu is delicious from the Prok Belly Skillet to the Smoked-Grilled Octopus and their margarita selection shouldn’t be overlooked either. We recommend coming with friends so you can sample a bit of everything.

Where: 1835 W North Ave, Chicago, IL
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Honeybear Cafe

Rogers Park

This spot has been a Rogers Park tradition for over five decades and serves up some of the best brunch and breakfast platters around. The homey ambiance and indulgent comfort food are available seven days a week, and you’ll want to come back to try more of the menu—think Churro French Toast, Cajun Shrimp and Grits, and Biscuits and Chorizo Gravy. Bonus: It’s BYOB!

Where: 7036 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
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Little Goat Diner

Lakeview

No Chicago brunch roundup would be complete without mention of Little Goat Diner. Chef Stephanie Izard of Girl and the Goat brings her creative flavors to dishes like Bull’s Eye French Toast + Fried Chicken (with bbq maple syrup), Fat Elvis Pancakes with peanut butter, banana, and bacon maple syrup, and much more.

Where: 3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago, IL
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Pompette

Ukrainian Village

Pomette is an all-day cafe and wine bar with both weekend and weekday brunch menus. You’ll find elevated dishes like Crab Croquettes and Smoked Salmon Tartine, along with brunch cocktails, fresh baked goods, coffee, and tea.

Where: 1960 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL
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Kasama

Ukrainian Village

Kasama is a bakery and modern Filipino restaurant in the East Ukrainian Village. Open Wednesday through Sundays, this spot has earned itself a Michelin Star, and it’s no surprise. Try the Filipino Breakfast with fried egg, garlic rice, and your choice of longanisa sausage or tocino, and finish things off with a Danish or croissant from the bakery.

Where: 1001 N. Winchester Ave., Chicago, IL
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River North Bistro

River North

A classic American eatery with an unlimited mimosa brunch? We’re in. River North Bistro offers brunch every day with an hour and a half of unlimited mimosas for $22 with the purchase of an entree. From scrambles and Benedicts to granola and buttermilk pancakes, there’s something for everyone.

Where: 660 N. State St., Chicago, IL
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Dove’s Luncheonette

Wicker Park

This vibrant Wicker Park diner is known for its Southern-inspired Mexican dishes, mezcals, cocktails, and vinyl records. Fill up on your choice of flavorful dishes—al pastor deviled eggs, masa pancakes, and burnt ends hash, to name a few—but whatever you do, make sure to try a Back to Life Cocktail, loaded with shrimp, mussels, crab, avocado, cilantro, and tomato-habanero salsa.

Where: 1545 N Damen Ave., Chicago, IL
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Frances' Brunchery


Lincoln Park

The Brunchery has been a popular brunch spot before brunch was even a thing. The dishes are a sort of cross between upscale dining and comfort food recipes passed down from generations. And they’re as much a feast for your eyes as your stomach. The expansive menu includes a French toast flight, triple-decker sandwiches, omelets and skillets, and lots of tasty boozy drinks.

Where: 2552 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
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EXPLORE MORE:
Chicago's Best Cafes
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The Ultimate Guide to Chicago's Best Sports Bars

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