12 Best Places for Brunch in San Diego
The meal between breakfast and lunch is often a combination of the two. The thought of stacked plates of pancakes drizzled in syrup and topped with fruit, and yummy eggs benedict lathered in Hollandaise sauce is enough to make anyone hungry. Whatever food you seek for your mid-morning treat, I have the best place for brunch in San Diego for you. Whether you’re dining while chilling at a beachfront restaurant, sipping a mimosa on a rooftop deck or finding a hip place downtown with cozy sofas and gorgeous décor, check out my favorite places for the best brunch San Diego.
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1. Toasted Gastrobrunch – Oceanside
Instagram favorite, Toasted Gastrobrunch is so popular that you have to join a waitlist. With an expansive brunch menu covering everything from pancakes, French toast, Tex-Mex, and all things egg-related, there’s plenty to satisfy a mid-morning craving. You can accompany your dishes with a bellini, or bloody Mary, and the great news is, they serve their brunch menu every day!
Where: 339 N. Cleveland Street, Oceanside, CA 92054
Brunch Served: Monday-Sunday, 8am until 4pm
2. Morning Glory – Little Italy
They confess they are bad at making websites look great, but their breakfasts are a work of art. Morning Glory is one of those brunch spots that you want to hang out in all day. It attracts a hip millennial crowd, with decor a mix of flamingo pink velvet cushions, beaded lighting, hanging plants and bedazzling fabrics. Coffee is uniquely served in glass goblets and there’s even a vending machine serving champers. Don’t leave without trying the ‘Classic Benny’ with queso potatoes and the ‘Millennial Tears’ avocado toast. They also do great vegan granola bowls.
Where: 550 West Date Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Brunch Served: Weekdays 8-3pm/Weekends 8-4pm
3. Shorehouse Kitchen – La Jolla Shores
This trendy beachside restaurant in La Jolla offers a great start to the day. The open-plan coffee shop style eatery has a plethora of dishes to order. I love the Monterey or Wild Mushroom and Organic Spinach Omelets and their Classic Benedicts, plus, they can all be served with a refreshing mimosa or bellini!
Where: 2236 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037
Brunch Served: Monday-Thursday 7.30am – 2.30pm/ Friday-Sunday until 3.30pm
→ If you’re looking for a food tour of the Gaslamp District, check out this tour on GetYourGuide, rated 4.5 out of 5 stars.
4. Piacere Mio – South Park
Piacere Mio translates to “my pleasure” in Italian, and it certainly is a pleasure sitting down to Sunday brunch here. The charming restaurant on Fern Street is super hip with a distinctly Italian vibe. Set in a room adorned with exposed brick walls and atmospheric lighting, it’s the perfect place to meet with friends for a late morning feast. The patio is heated and perfect for alfresco dining on cooler days. I recommend ordering the eggs benedict with a creamy cappuccino on the side.
Where: 1947 Fern Street, San Diego, SA 92102
Brunch Served: Sundays only – 9.30am – 12 noon
5. Queenstown Public House – Little Italy
Located inside a wooden ranch style house with an outdoor patio in Little Italy, there’s no place more charming for the best brunch San Diego. The restaurants’ New Zealand inspired brunch menus include delights such as the Queenstreet Farmer, Steak Croissant Benedict, and Quinoa Breakfast Burrito. On weekends, when there’s no return to the office required, pair your dishes with a mimosa or two. As an added bonus, their outdoor space is dog-friendly too!
Where: 1557 Columbia Street, San Diego, CA 92101
Brunch Served: Served until 2pm – 7 days a week
6. Cesarina – Point Loma
In my opinion, the best place for brunch in San Diego is Cesarina. The interior décor of this enchanting Italian trattoria is stunning, often gracing the pages of glossy magazines. Wall shelves are filled with jars of fruit in a kaleidoscope of colors, and outdoors, beneath a pergola with twinkling lights, you can enjoy brunch on warmer days. The menu at Cesarina is Italian/Mediterranean themed. I recommend the waffles and bruschettone with Italian prosciutto and avocado. Don’t forget to book ahead though, as this place gets super busy.
Where: 4161 Voltaire Street, San Diego, CA
Brunch Served: Weekends 10am – 3pm
→For a curated food tour of Little Italy in San Diego click here, rated 4.9 out of 5 stars.
7. Café Madeline – North Park and South Park
Francophiles will love visiting Café Madeline, a restaurant and café inspired by the sidewalk cafes of France. With Toulouse-Lautrec style murals and a chic Art Nouveau style, you’ll feel like you’re dining in Paris. There are two locations for the best brunch San Diego in North and South Park, both of which have unique appeal. Pop in to sample their Andouille frittata, Madeleine Benedicte, or satisfy your sweet tooth with a fruit or chocolate infused French crepe.
Where: 2850 El Cajon Blvd, North Park, San Diego 92104 or 2248 30th St, South Park CA 92104
Brunch Served: Mon-Thurs 7am-3pm/Fri-Sun until 4pm
8. Brunch Like Madi – Adams Avenue, San Diego
The sister restaurant of Insta-favorite and aesthetically pleasing Madison on Park, Brunch Like Madi focuses only on one thing – brunch! The décor is a mix of bold and neutral shades with booth-style seating inside, and there’s also an outdoor patio deck. The pancakes are made from a 70-year-old recipe, the Mediterranean Breakfast is mouthwateringly good, and the G.O.A.T. Points – a rustic bread with Sonoma goat cheese and apricot habanero jam is a must-try. Visit with friends and pair your order with a pitcher of mimosa to share!
Where: 3737 Adams Avenue, San Diego, CA
Brunch Served: 8am -2pm daily
9. Breakfast Republic – Liberty Station (and Other Locations)
Breakfast Republic has many locations throughout San Diego, but I love the restaurant in Liberty Station. With industrial style lighting, bright yellow seating with monochrome patterned cushions, and a bar with white tiled walls, it’s the perfect blend of cool and quirky. I recommend trying their shrimp and ricotta frittata, or their special, Tres Leches Vegan Pancake topped with fresh strawberries and pistachio brittle.
Where: 2865 Sims Road, Ste 106, San Diego, CA 92106
Brunch Served: 7am-3pm daily
→ Want brunch on a boat? Check out this tour by GetYourGuide, offering free-flowing bubbly with amazing coastal views.
10. Mister A’s – Banker’s Hill
Located on the rooftop of the Manchester Building in Banker’s Hill, this recently renovated space offers 180-degree views across Downtown San Diego. Incorporating an expanded bar, rooftop patio and classic décor with sparkling chandeliers, it’s an ideal spot for an upscale brunch with family and friends (note: there’s a business casual dress code). Pop in on Saturday mornings for a themed Jazz Brunch with live music, or at any other time, enjoy everything from sharing plates of European style pastries to jumbo shrimp cocktail and Croque Madame sandwiches. It’s the best place for brunch in San Diego for a celebratory occasion.
Where: 12th Floor, 2550 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Brunch Served: Saturday Jazz Brunch 10am-1pm/Sunday Brunch 10am-1.30pm
11. Provisional Kitchen, Café & Mercantile – Gaslamp Quarter
This place has an amazing ambience. It’s part restaurant- part marketplace with communal dining spaces, a coffee espresso bar, and a shop selling jewelry and ceramics set in a greenhouse! The whimsical space has an elegant hotel lobby vibe with high ceilings and elegant placements. For weekend special occasions, try their Brunch Tasting Menu, a five-course food extravaganza for the whole table. At any other time, create your own omelet, or opt for the churro French toast, it’s deliciously decadent and a perfect treat.
Where: 425 5th Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Brunch Served: 7am- 2pm daily.
12. Parakeet Café – La Jolla (and other locations)
The brunch plates here are as pretty as a picture and healthy too! Using only organic, whole-foods and ethically sourced produce, you never have to feel guilty when ordering food at Parakeet Café. The story of how the café started is inspirational, and you know the food they serve is created with care and attention. For something different, try the Activated Charcoal Belgian Waffle with date coconut cream, fruit, and homemade Nutella, or their delicious Breakfast Burrito.
Where: 927 Silverado St, La Jolla, CA 92037
Brunch Served: 6am-7pm daily
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