Charlotte’s Best Brunch Spots
Charlotte’s Best Brunch Spots
Start your day just right at these Queen City brunch spots.
Whether you’re looking for Southern brunch specialties, the perfect patio for mimosa sipping or health-conscious breakfast options, the Queen City will fill you right up. Check out these Charlotte restaurants to get your fill on brunch favorites.
300 East – Photo by Kate Magee Photography
300 East
Neighborhood: Dilworth
300 East is a Charlotte institution serving its take on traditional breakfast with favorites like chicken and biscuits, breakfast tacos, breakfast pizza, eggs Benedict and more.
Claim to Fame: Vanilla Custard Filled French Toast
Alchemy
Neighborhood: South End
While the plates are a work of art in themselves at Alchemy, you’ll also be greeted by Gallery C3 as you enter the building, so get ready for an art-centric experience. Chef Ken Aponte creates health- and seasonal-focused cuisine that highlights plant-forward dishes as well as meat options, and the brunch menu is no exception. In addition to the carefully-curated brunch menu, you can also enjoy an intentional creation of cocktails and mocktails during your meal.
Claim to Fame: Lion’s Mane & Waffle
The Artisan’s Palate
Neighborhood: NoDa
From the mind of chef/owner Christa Csoka (a graduate of the French Culinary Institute), The Artisan’s Palate is a mix of restaurant, bar, art gallery and community gathering space all in one with a rustic yet refined menu featuring small plates that evoke all of your senses — and are meant for sharing. Pro-tip: Keep an eye out for their monthly drag brunches for a meal and a show.
Claim to Fame: Frittatas
The Asbury
Neighborhood: Uptown
Located inside The Dunhill Hotel, The Asbury serves up classic Southern flavors with a modern and rustic flair. Executive chef Mike Long and pastry chef Jamie Turner are committed to using local seasonal ingredients grown by small, family farms in the region, which influence their uniquely Carolinian dishes on the menu, like banana pudding pancakes, warm banana walnut bread, fried chicken biscuits, deviled eggs and the fan-favorite buttermilk sticky biscuits.
Claim to Fame: Sticky Biscuits
Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen
Neighborhood: NoDa
Boudreaux’s Louisiana Kitchen serves brunch with Louisiana flair, like the shrimp Creole waffle and foghorn benny. Try a Cajun favorite and save room for a Cajun Mary drink, too.
Claim to Fame: Shrimp Creole Waffle and Cajun Mary
Bulla Gastrobar
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Inspired by authentic tapas restaurants in Spain, Bulla Gastrobar is a casual yet energetic eatery created to stir your senses through quality Spanish-influenced gastronomic creations. Order from the full brunch menu or try the three-course brunch prix fixe menu.
Claim to Fame: Brunch Paella
Café Monte
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Café Monte has mastered the art of the Parisian breakfast. Offerings range from escargot baked in puff pastries to golden crepes, eggs Benedict and quiche.
Claim to Fame: Lobster & Crab Crepes
Caswell Station
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
This casual neighborhood eatery serves up classic elevated bar food and creative shareable plates as well as some lighter options for those who want to keep it healthy. Sit on the patio and catch the game on the big screens or enjoy live entertainment.
Claim to Fame: Bacon Avocado Sandwich
Church + Union – Photography by Kate Magee
Church + Union
Neighborhood: Uptown
Featuring innovative New American cuisine from Top Chef alum and chef/partner Jamie Lynch along with executive chef Sherief Shawky, Church + Union serves up a swanky atmosphere with casual yet refined menu to match.
Claim to Fame: Shrimp & Grits and Mimosa Flight
The Crunkleton
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
While cocktails and spirits are the star of the show at The Crunkleton, the team’s culinary prowess is also evident in the high-quality cuisine available on the menu. From classics like shrimp and grits, French toast, and biscuits and gravy, the brunch menu is full of flavors to satisfy any craving, but be sure not to sleep on the brunch beverage menu.
Claim to Fame: Charlotte Hot Brown (and Beignets as a starter)
The Degenerate
Neighborhood: NoDa
Industrial, airy aesthetics and sophisticated sports bar describe the vibe when you walk into The Degenerate. With both American and globally inspired cuisine, you’ll have a hard time choosing what to get from the mouthwatering menu options. Be sure to try a brunch cocktail, too.
Claim to Fame: Blintzes
Easy Like Sunday
Neighborhood: Montford
Easy Like Sunday is a brunch-inspired restaurant that is a dream come to life for husband-wife team Anna and Sean Maccuish. The ricotta-stuffed French toast and fried chicken sandwich (named one of the best in Charlotte by Charlotte magazine) are must-try dishes.
Claim to Fame: Ricotta-Stuffed French Toast
Eddie’s Place
Neighborhood: Cotswold
Since 1997, Eddie’s Place has been a beloved neighborhood restaurant and bar offering a warm and welcoming environment with approachable and reasonably-priced comfort food. The restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but the breakfast menu is available all day.
Claim to Fame: Country Fried Breakfast
Eight + Sand Kitchen
Neighborhood: South End
Eight + Sand Kitchen is a made-from-scratch bakery and kitchen serving brunch daily. With its location right on the light rail line, the name “Eight + Sand” came from a term once used to bid well wishes to train crews (in reference the highest power setting on a locomotive and the sand applicator used to help the wheels grip the rail).
Claim to Fame: Egg Sandwich
Jumbo Cap’N Crunch Pancakes – Photography by Jamey Price
Fahrenheit
Neighborhood: Uptown
Enjoy a view of the Charlotte skyline from the stellar rooftop patio of Fahrenheit. Start your day with a childhood favorite by ordering their jumbo Cap’N Crunch pancakes, inspired by the classic cereal, with a vanilla milk reduction.
Claim to Fame: Jumbo Cap’N Crunch Pancakes
Famous Toastery
Neighborhood: Dilworth, Uptown, University City, Steele Creek, Matthews, Ballantyne, Concord, Huntersville, Belmont, Indian Land, Tega Cay
Childhood best friends Brian Burchill and Robert Maynard opened the first Toastery in Huntersville in 2005 and were able to turn their breakfast-all-day idea into a successful franchise along the East Coast. While the menu also features lunch options like burgers, sandwiches, wraps and salads, the breakfast and brunch options are the headliners here.
Claim to Fame: Stuffed French Toast and Ultimate Bloody Mary
Fern, Flavors from the Garden
Neighborhood: Dilworth
Vegetarians (and those who love them) will delight in the offerings at Fern, Flavors from the Garden, which mixes up creative cocktails alongside their signature vegetarian fare. Trust us, you won’t even miss the bacon.
Claim to Fame: Breakfast Burrito
Haberdish – Photo by Jamey Price
Haberdish
Neighborhood: NoDa
Homemade cinnamon rolls and chicken and waffles are among the fan-favorite dishes served at this mill town Southern kitchen in NoDa. Haberdish’s indulgent floral cocktails and spirit-free concoctions are undoubtedly the best reward for getting out of bed.
Claim to Fame: Nashville Hot Chicken (start with the Homemade Cinnamon Roll) and Blonde Bloody Mary
Haymaker
Neighborhood: Uptown
With roots in the Appalachian Mountains, Chef William Dissen is committed to Southern-grown heirloom ingredients, preservation and sustainability in each dish and cocktail he and his team create at Haymaker.
Claim to Fame: NC Shrimp A La Plancha
Heist Brewery – Photography by Jamey Price
Heist Brewery
Neighborhood: NoDa
Charlotte’s first brewpub, Heist Brewery has been serving brunch favorites since 2012. Known for wood-fired specialties, be sure to try the flatbread of the day. Other popular dishes include the brunch burger, chicken and waffle sandwich, and the brunch junkie French toast.
Claim to Fame: Brunch Junkie French Toast and Mimosa Carafe
La Belle Helene
Neighborhood: Uptown
This refined French brasserie is cooking up classics with a modern twist in Uptown led by Top Chef alumni Jamie Lynch and culinary director Sherief Shawky. The beautiful, crisp European-inspired design beckons you to come for a taste of French culture and cuisine.
Claim to Fame: Croque Madame
Legion Brewing SouthPark
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Whether you crave a go-to classic, breakfast pizza or brunch bowl, Legion Brewing SouthPark has you covered. The original location in Plaza Midwood serves its own unique brunch menu, giving options for beer and brunch all around the city. Try a beermosa for a fun brewery twist on a brunch beverage classic.
Claim to Fame: Pimento Cheese and Potato Breakfast Pierogis
Leroy Fox
Neighborhood: Cotswold, South End
Leroy Fox Kitchen & Cocktail is a perfect place to snack on fried chicken or an omelet hot off the grill. Settle in on the cozy patio at their locations in South End and Cotswold.
Claim to Fame: Chicken & Waffles
Lincoln Street Kitchen + Cocktails
Neighborhood: South End
Wife-husband team Alyson and Dan Davis designed Lincoln Street Kitchen + Cocktails to be all things local with small plates inspired by local farmers and regions’ bounty. With a midcentury, rustic design and an innovative cocktail program led by well-known mixologist Amanda Britton, you can’t go wrong heading to Lincoln Street for a meal and drink.
Claim to Fame: Avocado Toast (get the Deviled Eggs as a starter)
Link & Pin
Neighborhood: South End, Huntersville, South Charlotte
With a name inspired by South End’s railway history, Link & Pin is the destination for those who love a high-end boozy brunch. Order the personal mimosa tray that comes with your choice of bubbly and all the trimmings and then round out your spread with avocado toast, shrimp & grits or the build-your-own three-egg omelet.
Claim to Fame: Chicken & Waffles and Mimosa Tray
Little Mama’s Italian
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Just when you thought they couldn’t top their mozzarella bar, Little Mama’s now features an expansive brunch menu only available on weekends. Make sure you bring your appetite and sample dishes like the spinach and prosciutto quiche, the crab cake Benedict or the giant cinnamon roll.
Claim to Fame: Crab Cake Benedict
Little Spoon – Photo by Kate Magee Photography
littleSpoon
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Visit littleSpoon for something fresh and different. Get your caffeine fix with a cup of coffee as big as a bowl (you’ll need two hands to drink it), and order something new off of the mouthwatering seasonally-inspired rotating menu.
Claim to Fame: Breakfast Tacos
Mimosa Grill
Neighborhood: Uptown
Mimosa Grill’s traditional brunch menu offers a spin on Southern tradition. Entrees range from simple breakfast plates and a la carte items to build your own to specialties like the Mimosa omelet, chicken and waffles), steak and eggs and thewalnut crusted French toast.
Claim to Fame: Southern Fried Chicken Biscuit and Mimosa Carafe
Napa on Providence
Neighborhood: Myers Park
Napa on Providence offers wines on tap, wines by the glass and house-made cocktails through which you can vicariously visit the California countryside — without leaving Myers Park. Vineyard-inspired decor and made-from-scratch dishes using fresh, local ingredients make all of the difference here.
Claim to Fame: Braised Short Rib Benedict and Mimosa Special
Oh My Soul – Photography by Jamey Price
Oh My Soul
Neighborhood: NoDa
With its original location in South Africa, Oh My Soul is NoDa’s first vegan restaurant. This uplifting and colorful spot invites all to try something new from the vegan, plant-based and cruelty-free menu. Get a taste of South Africa with the Howzit Bru, a South African lekker brekkie roll filled with vegan breakfast staples, grilled onions and hashbrowns, or try the vegan version of French toast or pancakes.
Claim to Fame: Vicken Waffle Sandwich
Ruby Sunshine
Neighborhood: South End
This Big Easy-inspired Southern breakfast and brunch spot is from the owners of the popular Ruby Slipper Cafe in New Orleans. Experience the flavors of Nola at Ruby Sunshine with dishes like the Cochon beignets, bayou shrimp Benedict and the bananas foster style French toast.
Claim to Fame: Chicken St. Charles and Bloody Mary (with bacon-infused vodka)
Snooze an A.M. Eatery
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood, South End
This Denver-based concept offers creative twists on the most important meal of the day. Thoughtfully prepared dishes with responsibly sourced ingredients make up the breakfast-only menu with all of the classics plus much more.
Claim to Fame: The Pancake Flight
The Stanley
Neighborhood: Elizabeth
Owned and operated by the James Beard Award-nominated chef Paul Verica, the farm-to-table destination has earned a cult following for its secret-recipe doughnuts, baked fresh daily and known to sell out fast. Expect delicious seasonal, locally sourced ingredients in the other forward-thinking brunch items at The Stanley.
Claim to Fame: Doughnuts
The Suffolk Punch
Neighborhood: LoSo
Equal parts culinary café, coffee bar, taphouse and brewery, The Suffolk Punch has it all. Feast on locally sourced, scratch-made dishes like deviled eggs, NC shrimp and the TSP breakfast bowl. The restaurant also serves a basic breakfast menu Monday through Friday beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Claim to Fame: Chicken & Donuts
Superica
Neighborhood: South End, South Charlotte
Take a proverbial trip to the Wild Wild West at Superica Charlotte. Try each of the nonalcoholic Aguas Frescas or a refreshing sangria to go with your Tex Mex-inspired brunch dishes like huevos rancheros or tamales & eggs.
Claim to Fame: Huevos Rancheros
Tupelo Honey
Neighborhood: Uptown
A made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuit from Tupelo Honey is a must whether you stop in for brunch or dinner. The good news is you can order these anytime you’d like. Other brunch favorites include Southern-inspired dishes like fried chicken and biscuits, pecan pie pancakes, French toast and eggs Benedict.
Claim to Fame: Sriracha Honey Fried Chicken & Waffles
VANA’s Cinnamon Bun – Photo by Jamey Price
VANA
Neighborhood: South End
VANA (meaning “wooded area of the forest” in Sanskrit) is a rustic-style, chef-driven restaurant from the owners of Bardo. With a focus on local and fresh, the menu offers beautifully crafted dishes that celebrate the flavors of nature.
Claim to Fame: Breakfast Flatbread
Whiskey Warehouse
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Whiskey Warehouse is a neighborhood pub with a whiskey-focused cocktail program. Its rooftop bar offers fresh air and skyline views, the perfect spot to enjoy chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, or omelets from the brunch menu.
Claim to Fame: Hangover Helper and Bloody Mary Bar
Zada Jane’s Corner Café
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Since 2008, this Plaza Midwood favorite has been serving up creative culinary creations for breakfast and lunch that match the hip, eclectic vibe of the neighborhood.
Claim to Fame: Bunny Rancheros
Originally from the Philadelphia area but a southerner most of her life, Kristen has called Charlotte home since 2012. She previously served on the CRVA communications team and has a strong passion for sharing stories about the people and places of Charlotte. When she’s not out experiencing her favorite Charlotte locales, you can find her hanging out with her husband, son and two dachshunds.