The Absolute Best Brunch in Boston Right Now, from Pizza Bagels to Belgian Waffles
From classics to hot debuts, the Boston brunch scene is in a class of its own.
Brunch isn’t just a meal—it’s an event. And in Boston, there are more than enough spots to enjoy a weekend of indulging. From laid-back diners where you can nurse a hangover to top-notch restaurants offering their spin on French-American cuisine, there’s something for everyone’s taste buds, whether that’s salty, sweet or expensive. So keep reading to catch up on the best restaurants for brunch in Boston and where you should set your sights on next.
Financial District
This is brunch appointment dining at its finest. Sticking to its family-style Italian, Grana’s brunch menu features hearty small and large plates that will leave you satisfied. We’re talking starters from Crab Avocado Toast and Tiramisu Overnight Oats to mains like the Manicotti Crêpe and Egg White Frittata. You can also opt to get the family style three course brunch menu for $72 per person, which includes coffee or tea. And for those craving mimosas, they offer bottomless.
Beacon Hill
The Paramount will always be there, but sometimes you want your Beacon Hill brunch to be a bit more upscale. Located on the first floor of the historic Beacon Hill Hotel, which reopened in 2023 after undergoing extensive renovations, enjoy the locally-sourced ingredients and fresh meats and seafood that make up the menu, which includes Lobster Benedict, Eggs Purgatorio, Chocolate Stuffed French Toast, Steak and Eggs, and more where that came from.
Central Square
If you enjoy brunch sans meat, this is the place for you. This diner-esque joint hybrid vegan bakery offers coffee-shop food without a single carnivorous ingredient, with options like seasoned tempeh, Buffalo and Cajun Spiced Cauli, housemade fried seitan, sweet potato black bean burgers, and more. Even the pastries are egg- and milk-free, which makes that second slice of Boston cream pie feel almost virtuous.
Inman Square
Brunch on Sunday and… Monday? We’re down, especially when they do a White Russian with chocolate milk. It’s a smorgasbord of low-fi deliciousness: the Pizza Bagel, the House-made Pop Tart, the Good Ol’ Breakfast Sandy. And that's before you even attack the Fried Chicken & Buttermilk Waffles with hot pepper syrup. In other words, there are plenty of reasons to WFH at the start of the week.
Union Square
The quaint Union Square cafe and restaurant has woven equality into its ethos: fair wages for all of its employees and a gratuity-free pay structure. The dining joys begin in the morning with a Saturday/Sunday brunch menu that includes Salmon Scrambled Eggs, Pasta Pomodoro, a Roasted Mushroom and Gruyère Omelette, and Eggs Carolina, pulled pork, over-easy egg, sweet dijon, and provolone together on a brioche bun. But don’t overlook the smaller dishes: an epic meal could be made of the Breakfast Tacos, Caramelized Grapefruit, and Juliet’s spin on the Kir Royale cocktail.
Back Bay
For a classic Francophile brunch spread, look no further than Bistro du Midi. Moules Frites, Croque Monsieurs, and other traditional picks make up the bulk of the menu, but other must-trys include the Prosciutto Benedict with a lemon-chive hollandaise sauce and Duck Confit “Foieffles” (aka Belgian waffles) served with duck confit and corn purée. You might want to spring for a champagne cocktail, but on the other hand, the bouillabaisse Bloody Mary with seared prawn is a worthy order.
Lower Mills
Bowery understands that your brunch conundrum isn’t about sweet vs. savory, but rather breakfast vs. lunch—which is why they’ve divided the menu accordingly. Breakfast choices include Strawberry Shortcake Pancakes, Figgy Hammie Sammie, and an aptly named Hangover Bowl with corned beef hash, chipotle aioli, over easy eggs, home fries and Texas toast. On the lunchtime side of things, there’s Crab Rangoon Dip, multiple burgers, and even nachos—a guaranteed enticement for that brunch cynic in your life. If the weather is even halfway decent, patio time is mandatory—there’s no better spot to savor one of the bar’s hangover-slaying boozy iced coffees.
Jamaica Plain
Another restaurant on our list to incorporate gratuity fees along with benefit fees to ensure fair wages, Brassica Kitchen + Cafe is an overall feel-good neighborhood joint. With dishes like the popular B.K. Chicken & Waffles and Caico e Poppy Bagel, you’ll be back in no time. And if there’s room, the restaurant, which operates as a café by day, makes some pretty unbelievably fluffy donuts.
Seaport
Gyros and Champagne Tray service? Committee is a singular treat during the daylight hours. You can (and should) start with smaller Greek plates for the table: Trio of Dips, Spanakopita, and Burrata. But then it’s time to spread your wings with platters of Bougatsa Pancakes, Tsoureki Toast and Shakshouka. Beyond the champagne trays available, choose from a variety of craft cocktails made to serve four to six people, including the Mariachi Static and Lawyers in Love.
Back Bay
Krasi, which means wine in Greek, offers more than just wine, but you won’t want to skip out on trying if you’re craving something bubbly. For $30, you and your friends can split a carafe for the table. You’re also going to want to split the Patates and order the Greek French Toast (Tsoureki) or Lalagites, fried olive oil pancakes with mint, Kalathaki cheese, thyme honey, cinnamon, walnuts.
Harvard Square
This farm-to-table brunch on the garden terrace still delights with seasonal pleasures like Crab Melt Benedict plus Pull Apart Brioche, The Harvest Burger, Steak & Eggs, and Fried Chicken & Cornbread. If you’re feeling particularly indulgent, a cheese plate and the Harvest Bloody Mary make excellent additions.
Back Bay
A multicultural Parisian bistro brought to you by a wife-and-husband team born and raised in France—and they do brunch? Sign us up. Favorites like the Croques Madam and Omelette are ready to be devoured, and things from there only get more exciting. Go for the Yassa Chicken Sandwich, Duck Eggs Benedict with caraway hollandaise, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, and Nutella Crêpes. We absolutely recommend starting with selections from the Viennoiseries & Cakes with croissants galore, and if the Truffle Fries happen to make it to your table, so be it.
South Boston
Yes, Lincoln serves brunch on both Saturday and Sunday, but what makes this place special is that it offers some manner of brunch every day of the week. Monday through Thursday, satisfy your hankering with the Egg BLTC or the Fruity Pebble Pancakes. And on the weekends, choose from Blueberry Cake Donuts, Thick Sliced French Toast, and a whole array of breakfast pizzas.
South End
This is the spot to overindulge on both drinks and a Dim Sum Brunch. Taiwanese Cool Dan Dan Noodles, crispy Japanese Shishito Home Fries, and Tea-Smoked Pork Spare Ribs are all worth loading up on—and of course, the famous Mama Chang’s Pork + Chive Dumplings are practically required on every table. Bonus: The dim sum menu is served Thursday through Sundays, so midday dim sum to kick off the weekend is very much on the docket.
South Bay
Seafood Newburg may not be the most popular brunch dish, but The Pearl has created a singular sensation with its version that’s served atop savory cheese grits. The Crab Cake Benedict is the other star here; then again, there’s the Caramel Crunch French Toast, so we’re torn. All of the restaurant’s small plates and salads are also available, which means the famous Charbroiled Oysters and Lobster Rolls are still yours for the taking. And once you’ve had your classic Bloody Marys and Mimosas, move onto the Sweet Tea Mojito.