12 Fantastic Restaurants For Brunch in D.C.

The pitch: Soulful French cooking and wine flights galore

Sitting down at a French country table with friends is many people’s idea of a convivial start to the weekend, and Amelie is about the closest thing you’ll get in Logan Circle. There are zero duds on the menu here – steak frites with eggs, crêpes Suzette, and their croque madame is prepared with Virginia ham and Amish cheddar. There’s a bottomless drinks option, while wine flights are available for the truly committed.

The pitch: Pure indulgence and a touch of scene

Keith McNally’s blockbuster hotspot is everything we expected from the NYC import and more, and we’re happy to report that the restaurant’s brunch is about as buzzy and memorable as we’d hoped. While there’s an abundance of scene to take in, the menu has more than enough to keep you distracted – the kitchen’s take on a French dip is plenty indulgent, and the restaurant’s famed burgers are available at brunch, too. For the truly chic, an omelette with chives and Gruyere cheese with a glass of wine is about as stylish as it gets.

The pitch: Brunch classics get an Italian glow-up

Undoubtedly, you will crush on all the best Italian brunch items at L’Ardente, which range from sweet items like the tiramisu toast — an Italian-inspired French toast with coffee-infused maple syrup — to savory dishes such as the Benedict with pillowy poached eggs served on house focaccia, smothered with truffled leek fonduta and hollandaise. Pizzas and pastas are also available, if you prefer the lunch side of brunch fare. Pro tip: Order the Caprese Bloody Mary for the ultimate Italian version of the classic drink. It comes festooned with a caprese skewer and a balsamic salt rim.

The pitch: Mid-Atlantic, with a touch of California crunch

This charming bistro, sister restaurant to Nina May, hosts a two-course brunch that kicks off with a classic brunch cocktail — such as a mimosa or bloody Mary — then offers your choice of a brunch pastry or yogurt with fruit and granola, and concludes with an entrée. This brunch is for relaxing, indulging, and imbibing.

The pitch: The United Nations, but make it brunch

The best part of brunch at Chloe is the variety. Because the venue features global brunch small plates, you can sample a host of dishes, including scrambled eggs with wild mushrooms, scallion biscuits, churros, spiced French toast, crispy fingerling potatoes, banana bread, and warm honey toast.

The pitch: Soulful Spanish classics and a convivial atmosphere

An oak and charcoal grill forms the heart of Rubén García’s upscale Spanish restaurant, but contrary to the chef’s high-end credentials (ElBulli, Minibar), much of the menu here focuses on familiar fare taken up several notches. Sitting down for a late brunch at this downtown hotspot is a convivial and chic affair, and alongside oysters, bubbles, and excellent Spanish cooking (the flavors of that open hearth allowing each ingredient to shine), there’s a strong list of vermouths, Spanish wines and cocktails, whether you want to start early or keep the party going.

The pitch: Indian chiles and curry heat (and pancakes)

While you may not think of Indian food when you are considering where to brunch, the brunch fare at Bindaas is so tasty it will become your go-to spot after you check it out. Recommendations include Amritsari chicken and waffles; a Bombay toastie; and coconut jaggery pancakes crowned with berries and whipped cream. Pro tip: Don’t miss the Bloody Maharani, Bindaas’ twist on the classic brunch drink.

The pitch: Afghan and brunch is the mashup you never knew you needed

Michelin-starred Lapis has a relaxed vibe, a series of tasty brunch cocktails (including the Afghan 75 with Cognac, homemade cardamom syrup, lemon, and Champagne), and a host of tempting dishes. Indulge in the karayee, featuring eggs served over sautéed tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and hot peppers; the Kabul frittata, where eggs are baked with leeks, cilantro, and potatoes; or the brunch bolani, a pan-seared crispy Afghan ­bread topped with pumpkin and a sunny-side up egg. Those with a sweet tooth should order the Lapis pancakes, rosewater-cardamom pancakes. Pro tip: A $37 brunch prix fixe is there for when you want to go big.

The pitch: La Dolce Vita in a light-filled dining room

The brunch at this Georgetown newcomer is a relaxed, casually fabulous affair, with a lineup of baked treats and antipasti to start (don’t miss the bombolini), followed by sprawling spread of Nancy Silverton’s signature pizza and pastas. There is, of course, classic brunch fare, that includes a Tuscan-adjacent take on steak and eggs with chicory, bacon and Pecorino, and an excellent roast chicken salad. The light-filled solarium is an ideal place to enjoy it, but really, there isn’t a bad table in the house.

The pitch: There’s a reason they call it French toast

Brunch has lately become a newfangled favorite in Paris, and Primrose channels that energy perfectly. There is, of course, French toast, with thick slabs of brioche, maple syrup, and fruit, and a croque monsieur or madame. But also biscuits and gravy; pork hash; and a smash burger. That last is also lately a fave of Parisians, which is to say that Primrose has interpreted le brunch français with complete fidelity.