Whether you crave a sweet start to your morning with the city’s best waffles or you’re on the hunt for the biggest brunch ever, I’ve scoured the best brunch restaurants in Austin, from downtown to the Eastside and neighborhoods beyond, to bring you my picks of the city’s best brunch spots.
This is your weekend morning guide to eating and drinking at the best brunches in Austin.
Ultimate Guide to Best Brunches in Austin
Table of Contents
Josephine House
Sister restaurant to Austin fine dining institution Jeffrey’s, Josephine House is the ideal spot for a sophisticated and stylish brunch with freshly made pastries, coffees, and great plates featuring locally sourced produce.
What to Order: Kouign amann, brisket hash, Josephine House burger
Gourdough’s Public House
Full-on donut-infused entrees, funk-laced starch, local brews, specialty cocktails, and plenty of booze is everything that you’re going get at Gourdough’s Public House. Salty, savory, or sweet, the Public House celebrates the delightful taste of sin.
What to Order: Dirty Plucker, Ron Burgandy, bloody mary
SEE ALSO: Best Happy Hours in Austin
Lucy’s Fried Chicken
For those who consider “brunch” a verb, take heed because now on Sundays, Lucy’s is offering a stick-to-your-bones, Austin-inspired brunch menu developed by James Holmes, Lucy’s Burnet chef Angela Lunardi and Lucy’s South chef Cy Buchheister. We’re talking grilled oysters with caviar, fried deviled eggs, fried chicken with fried waffles, corn beef hash, chili cheese fries (massive) and sweet tea pie. Yes, I ate it all in one sitting.
What to Order: Grilled oysters with caviar, fried chicken with fried waffles, chili cheese fries
Mulberry Austin
Uniquely, cozy atmosphere with small plates, charcuterie boards (with Easy Tiger bread), and a wide selection of red, white, sparkling, and dessert wines by the glass, with over 100 options to choose from by the bottle.
What to Order: Charcuterie board, corned beef hash, and wine
laV Austin
For those looking for an upscale Sunday brunch, try laV for heaven-light brioche doughnuts (just check out that dessert table above!) and $12 bottles of rosé.
What to Order: Brioche doughnuts, macarons, and buckwheat crepes.
Hillside Farmacy
One of my favorites on East Austin for a relaxing Sunday brunch for two. The yogurt parfait and boozy grapefruit punch were the perfect light brunch treat. Next time going to get chicken fried steak and eggs.
What to Order: Yogurt parfait, grapefruit punch, mac & cheese with a side of bacon
The Hightower
Chef-driven cuisine with an affordable menu and boozy cocktails. Enjoyed the classic grit waffles with blackberries and unique dishes like the fried chickpeas and fried smelt with jalapeño puree.
What to Order: Grit waffles, fried chickpeas, ceviche, and frozen caipirinha.
Max’s Wine Dive
Max’s fried chicken and waffles is just so hard to beat – the chicken is super juicy and crispy!
What to Order: Fried chicken & waffles with bubbles
Apothecary Cafe
Looking for a brunch to take the girls? Apothecary Cafe’s European-inspired brunch is sure to please! I loved the light grapefruit salad, quail and waffles, and the do-it-yourself micheladas.
What to Order: Grapefruit salad (to share), quail and waffles, and do it-yourself micheladas.
Moonshine Patio Bar & Grill
For those who can eat, a lot – Moonshine Grill is what you need. The all-can-care-to-eat brunch on Sundays features king ranch casserole, breakfast sausages, eggs in every way you can imagine, bagels, biscruits, chicken tenders, waffles, cinnamon rolls and more for only $16.95 (alcoholic drinks not included). No reservations and there can be a long wait.
What to Order: All-you-can-eat brunch
Banger’s
For the meat lovers, Banger’s was meant for you. Beef tongue hash covered with two fried eggs, side of creamy grits, bacon steak, spicy sausage, country ham. The Banger’s Benny has raised pork belly on toasted English muffin with poached egg and smothered with hollandaise sauce. Did I mention Banger’s has over 100 brews on tap and the manmosa?
What to Order: Kitchen Sink, Banger’s Benny, and manmosa
Clark’s Oyster Bar
There’s something about Clark’s that always put me to a great mood. Whether it’s the whimsical interior, breezy front patio, great service or simply the top notch food, it’s one of my favorite spots in Austin for weekend brunch. Pro tip: Skip the raw oysters and order their specialities like the Lobster & Farm Eggs en Cocotte.
What to Order: Lobster & Farm Eggs en Cocotte, Pan Roasted Wagyu Beef Hamburger
Mettle
Bright and airy space in vibrant east Austin that’s perfect for Sunday brunch. Chef Andrew Francisco and Chef Carson bring refined food with a touch of whimsy, international influences like fried chicken & ice cream and a frozen grapefruit sorbet in an edible candied grapefruit.
What to Order: Fried chicken & ice cream, frozen grapefruit sorbet, and beef ribs.
Odd Duck
Odd Duck launches it’s inaugural brunch with not only small shared plates (common in Odd Duck’s dinner menu), but also full-sized plates like fatty duck liver, tater tot hash and soft shell crab. Come with friends, order a couple of cocktails and relax on the patio!
What to Order: Soft shell crab
Contigo
Picnic tables, sparkling lights, and large cedar elms makes a meal at Contigo Austin feel like an escape from the city. Known for serving high quality, reasonably priced tavern-style dishes in an easygoing, casual atmosphere, Contigo tops the list of best places to dine alfresco in Austin.
What to Order: Beef tongue hash (I always order this every single time), and the parfait is really good too.
TRACE
To make the very most of the architect-planned “natural air conditioning” that comes off of Lady Bird and sweeps across the restaurant’s lush outdoor patio, TRACE is encouraging its Saturday brunch guests to stay and enjoy the outdoors. Following its popular weekend brunch (which includes a complimentary bloody mary or mimosa with brunch entrée, which are only $3 thereafter), you can spend a leisurely weekend brunch with specials and music on the patio.
What to Order: Chicken Fried Lockhart Quail and Waffles and TRACE Butcher Burger
Little Barrel and Brown
Located on South Congress, Little Barrel and Brown serves up a spectacular brunch of New American favorites like fried chicken and waffles, LB&B Breakfast (2 eggs, hash browns, country gravy, toast, choice of home made breakfast sausage or niman ranch bacon) with ingredients from local organic farms. Make your brunch boozy with one of their handcrafted cocktails!
What to Order: Burger with marrownaise, and the steak and eggs.
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