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Orlando’s 21 Essential Brunches

Must-try brunch bastions in the City Beautiful

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It’s hard to swing a champagne flute on a weekend morning without hitting a brunch joint in this town. Here in Brunchlandia, devotees of the mid-morning repast take their search as seriously as the restaurants they frequent take their spreads. From independent, chef-run stalwarts to tourist sector go-tos, here are the 21 essential brunch spots in Orlando.

Editor’s Note: The latest CDC guidance for vaccinated diners during the COVID-19 outbreak is here; dining out still carries risks for unvaccinated diners and workers. Please be aware of changing local rules, and check individual restaurant websites for any additional restrictions such as mask requirements. Find a local vaccination site here.

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1921 Mount Dora

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Even without Norman Van Aken’s affiliation, remnants of 1921’s previous administration can be found on the brunch menu which continues to highlight the bounty of Florida. The duck prosciutto tartine, bacon-wrapped meatloaf sandwich, and a cream of king trumpet mushroom soup with caramelized buttermilk and mushroom-onion marmalade prove preferential among Mount Dora’s gourmands. Specially concocted brunch cocktails, like the Lillet aperitif with Italian rosè and strawberry, offer a bracing alternative to Bloody Marys and mimosas. Served Friday (yes Friday!) to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Luke's Kitchen and Bar

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This Maitland boîte has been absolutely killing it since Jason Campbell took over as Luke’s executive chef, and weekend brunch is no exception. The restaurant solidified its morning time rep by offering a vast array of seasonal offerings as well as standbys like egg souffle with Key West pink shrimp, and pierogis in a caramelized onion broth with melted provolone and short rib. Mimosas, bellinis, sangrias, spritzes, and Bloody Marys flow, while an expansion of the outdoor area to include a retractable awning as well as a games area cements the brunch experience here as one of the very best in the city. Offered Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Briarpatch Restaurant

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Be prepared to wait – just as others have on weekends over the past 40-plus years – for a table at Park Avenue’s Briarpatch, be it inside the pleasant dining room or outside on the bustling sidewalk. The uber-popular breakfast haunt gets downright nutso on weekends as patrons clamor for plates of griddled goodies and eggy sustenance. The breakfast carnitas and pear pancakes get a lot of play, as does the prosecco peach bellini, but everyone seems to miss their ice cream which is no longer served.

Bulla Gastrobar

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The Winter Park gastrobar is causing a bit of a bulla (stir that is) over its Spanish-inflected brunch options like the garbanzo frito with chorizo and poached egg, and a montadito of smoked salmon, cream cheese and truffle honey. Hazelnut waffles always please the sweeter of tooth. Order a la carte or opt for the $28 three-course prix fixe menu. Bottomless sangrias and mimosas can be had for $18 more. Available Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hamilton's Kitchen

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Brunch isn’t for weekends only, not at this Alfond Inn looker where locals and out-of-towners converge inside HK’s breezy digs for a daily brunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. House-baked breads prove too irresistible, while dishes like the powerhouse oatmeal with coconut milk and chai spice, as well as the blackened grouper sandwich with house mojo mayo, goes beyond the standard fare. On weekends, bottomless mimosas and a build-your-own bloody mary bar keeps things fluid.

The Ravenous Pig

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No surprise one of the city’s best restaurants would serve one of the city’s best brunches every weekend from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pastry lovers come for the sweet biscuits and hand pies, while traditionalists dig into lobster frittatas, fried chicken banh mis, and French toast served with apple, walnut streusel and apple cider caramel. The “gatherer salad” (get it with rock shrimp when available) proves popular with locavores and waist watchers alike. Get a fill of $5 Brunch Punch (while it lasts) and enjoy it all on the newly built beer garden.

Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen and Bar

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The figurative splash this Winter Park seafood house makes with its dedicated clientele now extends to the brunchtime hours where early risers revel in such dishes as wild-caught Mayport, Florida shrimp and grits and blue crab and sweet potato hash. BOGO brunch cocktails keep the gathered slaked as do other such morning potables as Bloody Marys, mimosas, sangrias, and tequila sunrises. Offered weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Osprey

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The Baldwin Park stalwart has always been a draw for late-morning risers, but the introduction of disco, jazz, and live folk music to its brunch proceedings only enhances executive chef Michael Cooper’s mid-morning meals. Meals like polenta cake with lump crab, asparagus, tomato jam, and smoked hollandaise and “crispy fried steak” served with cream country gravy can be found on the menu. For less weighty fare, Panacea oysters and shakshuka do the trick. Offered Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santiago's Bodega

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The all-you-can-eat, tapas-style brunch is what packs them into this Ivanhoe Village hotspot every weekend from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., though the offerings are decidedly less Spanish leaning than its regular menu. Still, the fare can be as eclectic as the clientele with everything from snow crab and peel-and-eat shrimp to biscuits and gravy and croissant French toast. The bottomless brunch runs $49.95 and includes your choice of mimosa or sangria.

The Hammered Lamb

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It’s always been a great place to get your slosh on, but this laid-back Ivanhoe Village joint has garnered a rep for its brunch which runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sure it’s got 15 different mimosas and one of the best Bloody Mary bars in the city that can be customized with 75 different items, but dishes like pork belly avocado toast, Nashville hot chicken ‘n’ waffles, and a vegan breakfast sandwich served on a warm pretzel bun provide some solid solids to go with a liquid brunch.

Reyes Mezcaleria

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Stellar Mex dishes from Michoacan chef Wendy Lopez and a bevy of mid-morning cocktails (including micheladas, mimosas, sangrias and Bloody Marys) bestow Reyes with the title of King of Brunch in the North Quarter. The open-faced chicken tinga mollete is legit, but the chorizo brioche and tres leches French toast are attention grabbers as well. Pay heed to the pastry cart. Offered Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Peter's Kitchen China Bistro

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The weekend dim sum service at this Hong Kong-style eatery sees carts stacked with bamboo and metal steamer baskets rolling out foods covering seemingly every taste and texture combination. Just some of the delights: pork and shrimp siu mai dumplings, chicken feet with black bean sauce, pan-fried turnip cakes, steamed egg custard buns and beef cheong fun. Offered Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A cartless dim sum service is offered weekdays during lunch service.

Se7en Bites Bake Shop

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The fact Se7en Bites serves comforting breakfast and lunch fare all day (well, until 3 p.m. anyway) plays right into its brunch game, which offers more of the same Southern-inspired comfort fare for which the Milk District eatery has become renowned. Its flaky (and filling) biscuit sandwiches are out the ying-yang (ham, bacon, sausage and veggie), sure, but the “Minnie Pearl” comprising two pearl sugar waffles hugging buttermilk fried chicken with hot honey, over medium egg, vanilla bean butter syrup, and a side of cheddar chive grits is a formula for dying happy.

Maxine's on Shine

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The city’s most boho of boîtes pairs its Southern-leaning brunch menu with dishes like fried chicken biscuit bowl, stout braised brisket omelet, seafood creole served over polenta, with plenty of live music and entertainment to keep the mood cheery and undeniably quirky. A visit from proprietors Kirt and Maxine Earhart is as likely as a refill (or two) of the mason jar mimosa. The “Rejuicination Brunch” is offered Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Häos on Church

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Brunch with a bit of burlesque lends distinction to Häos on Church’s “Tiara Brunch” Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Chef Michael Magonigle’s menu fuses Latin, Southern, and Hawaiian flavors revealed in such dishes as panko-crusted fried pickles, a “90 Miles” benny with pulled pork and ham or a blackened mahi-mahi fish sandwich. Even more revealing: the titillating entertainment provided by BLUELaLa featuring VarieTEASE.

AC Sky Bar

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While the fare may not be quite as elevated as its 18th floor setting, the AC Sky Bar inside the AC Hotel downtown is one of the most buzzed-about venues for Sunday brunch. Towering glass windows lend the space some big-city swagger, while the crème brûlée French toast (fashioned from croissants) and crispy chicken and churros offer spins on trad brunch standards. Bottomless mimosas run $18.

The Aardvark

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Sure, scores of places offer weekend brunch, but Monday brunch? It’s what differentiates this neighborhood gem from all the others – the Monday-only drink specials, as well as the $15 bottomless mimosas, help too. Chef Hugh Holland cranks out a focused selection of comfort dishes with such Southern-tinged specials as biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles ,and a breakfast dog topped with scrambled eggs and cheddar. Offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

American Social Orlando

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This relatively new player in the brunch game made believers out of skeptics in South Florida and is doing the same to diners in Dr. Phillips. They come for AmSo’s brunch bites (doughnut holes), social shareables (Buffalo chicken fries), and substantial alci-soaking fare like Key West shrimp cakes and country-fried bone-in pork chops. A raw bar features East Coast oysters while the boisterous bar bar sees clusters of mirth-filled merrymakers fueled by frozés, bloody marys, sangrias, and $15 bottomless bubbly. Offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Café Tu Tu Tango

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Always festive and boisterous, this I-Drive mainstay bolstered its rep with an affordable, and family friendly, brunch to match its artsy roots. The bottomless brunch option features a taco bar and sweet and savory waffle station for the palindromic price of $26.62, though diners are free to choose from a host of a la carte tapas items from $6-$12. Add the bottomless Bloody Mary and mimosa bar for $18 more. Offered Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Hampton Social

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Can a restaurant that plays up Hamptons style exist without a douchey vibe? Indeed it can, and this whitewashed hotspot at Pointe Orlando seems built for brunch (and Instagram poses). On weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., gussied up tourists and locals alike soak up their frosé bellinis and “Montauk” mules with an impressive selection of mid-morning repasts like smoked eggplant with a vibrant medley of veg and grains, “Grandma Swan’s” pancakes or meaty lobster rolls. Doughnut drops are the way to end.

Canvas Restaurant & Market

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This Lake Nona stunner draws raves for its spectacular views, and an encouraging word or two for its classic brunch fare like the lobster benedict, chilaquiles, bacon hash skillet, and Meyer lemon pancakes. Bottomless mimosas are fine and well, but do give the seasonal cocktail menu a glance before dropping the extra $20 (the passion fruit caipirinha goes great with everything). Available Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

1921 Mount Dora

Even without Norman Van Aken’s affiliation, remnants of 1921’s previous administration can be found on the brunch menu which continues to highlight the bounty of Florida. The duck prosciutto tartine, bacon-wrapped meatloaf sandwich, and a cream of king trumpet mushroom soup with caramelized buttermilk and mushroom-onion marmalade prove preferential among Mount Dora’s gourmands. Specially concocted brunch cocktails, like the Lillet aperitif with Italian rosè and strawberry, offer a bracing alternative to Bloody Marys and mimosas. Served Friday (yes Friday!) to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Luke's Kitchen and Bar

This Maitland boîte has been absolutely killing it since Jason Campbell took over as Luke’s executive chef, and weekend brunch is no exception. The restaurant solidified its morning time rep by offering a vast array of seasonal offerings as well as standbys like egg souffle with Key West pink shrimp, and pierogis in a caramelized onion broth with melted provolone and short rib. Mimosas, bellinis, sangrias, spritzes, and Bloody Marys flow, while an expansion of the outdoor area to include a retractable awning as well as a games area cements the brunch experience here as one of the very best in the city. Offered Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Briarpatch Restaurant

Be prepared to wait – just as others have on weekends over the past 40-plus years – for a table at Park Avenue’s Briarpatch, be it inside the pleasant dining room or outside on the bustling sidewalk. The uber-popular breakfast haunt gets downright nutso on weekends as patrons clamor for plates of griddled goodies and eggy sustenance. The breakfast carnitas and pear pancakes get a lot of play, as does the prosecco peach bellini, but everyone seems to miss their ice cream which is no longer served.

Bulla Gastrobar

The Winter Park gastrobar is causing a bit of a bulla (stir that is) over its Spanish-inflected brunch options like the garbanzo frito with chorizo and poached egg, and a montadito of smoked salmon, cream cheese and truffle honey. Hazelnut waffles always please the sweeter of tooth. Order a la carte or opt for the $28 three-course prix fixe menu. Bottomless sangrias and mimosas can be had for $18 more. Available Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hamilton's Kitchen

Brunch isn’t for weekends only, not at this Alfond Inn looker where locals and out-of-towners converge inside HK’s breezy digs for a daily brunch from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. House-baked breads prove too irresistible, while dishes like the powerhouse oatmeal with coconut milk and chai spice, as well as the blackened grouper sandwich with house mojo mayo, goes beyond the standard fare. On weekends, bottomless mimosas and a build-your-own bloody mary bar keeps things fluid.

The Ravenous Pig

No surprise one of the city’s best restaurants would serve one of the city’s best brunches every weekend from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pastry lovers come for the sweet biscuits and hand pies, while traditionalists dig into lobster frittatas, fried chicken banh mis, and French toast served with apple, walnut streusel and apple cider caramel. The “gatherer salad” (get it with rock shrimp when available) proves popular with locavores and waist watchers alike. Get a fill of $5 Brunch Punch (while it lasts) and enjoy it all on the newly built beer garden.

Reel Fish Coastal Kitchen and Bar

The figurative splash this Winter Park seafood house makes with its dedicated clientele now extends to the brunchtime hours where early risers revel in such dishes as wild-caught Mayport, Florida shrimp and grits and blue crab and sweet potato hash. BOGO brunch cocktails keep the gathered slaked as do other such morning potables as Bloody Marys, mimosas, sangrias, and tequila sunrises. Offered weekends from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Osprey

The Baldwin Park stalwart has always been a draw for late-morning risers, but the introduction of disco, jazz, and live folk music to its brunch proceedings only enhances executive chef Michael Cooper’s mid-morning meals. Meals like polenta cake with lump crab, asparagus, tomato jam, and smoked hollandaise and “crispy fried steak” served with cream country gravy can be found on the menu. For less weighty fare, Panacea oysters and shakshuka do the trick. Offered Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Santiago's Bodega

The all-you-can-eat, tapas-style brunch is what packs them into this Ivanhoe Village hotspot every weekend from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., though the offerings are decidedly less Spanish leaning than its regular menu. Still, the fare can be as eclectic as the clientele with everything from snow crab and peel-and-eat shrimp to biscuits and gravy and croissant French toast. The bottomless brunch runs $49.95 and includes your choice of mimosa or sangria.

The Hammered Lamb

It’s always been a great place to get your slosh on, but this laid-back Ivanhoe Village joint has garnered a rep for its brunch which runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sure it’s got 15 different mimosas and one of the best Bloody Mary bars in the city that can be customized with 75 different items, but dishes like pork belly avocado toast, Nashville hot chicken ‘n’ waffles, and a vegan breakfast sandwich served on a warm pretzel bun provide some solid solids to go with a liquid brunch.

Reyes Mezcaleria

Stellar Mex dishes from Michoacan chef Wendy Lopez and a bevy of mid-morning cocktails (including micheladas, mimosas, sangrias and Bloody Marys) bestow Reyes with the title of King of Brunch in the North Quarter. The open-faced chicken tinga mollete is legit, but the chorizo brioche and tres leches French toast are attention grabbers as well. Pay heed to the pastry cart. Offered Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Peter's Kitchen China Bistro

The weekend dim sum service at this Hong Kong-style eatery sees carts stacked with bamboo and metal steamer baskets rolling out foods covering seemingly every taste and texture combination. Just some of the delights: pork and shrimp siu mai dumplings, chicken feet with black bean sauce, pan-fried turnip cakes, steamed egg custard buns and beef cheong fun. Offered Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A cartless dim sum service is offered weekdays during lunch service.

Se7en Bites Bake Shop

The fact Se7en Bites serves comforting breakfast and lunch fare all day (well, until 3 p.m. anyway) plays right into its brunch game, which offers more of the same Southern-inspired comfort fare for which the Milk District eatery has become renowned. Its flaky (and filling) biscuit sandwiches are out the ying-yang (ham, bacon, sausage and veggie), sure, but the “Minnie Pearl” comprising two pearl sugar waffles hugging buttermilk fried chicken with hot honey, over medium egg, vanilla bean butter syrup, and a side of cheddar chive grits is a formula for dying happy.

Maxine's on Shine

The city’s most boho of boîtes pairs its Southern-leaning brunch menu with dishes like fried chicken biscuit bowl, stout braised brisket omelet, seafood creole served over polenta, with plenty of live music and entertainment to keep the mood cheery and undeniably quirky. A visit from proprietors Kirt and Maxine Earhart is as likely as a refill (or two) of the mason jar mimosa. The “Rejuicination Brunch” is offered Friday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Häos on Church

Brunch with a bit of burlesque lends distinction to Häos on Church’s “Tiara Brunch” Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Chef Michael Magonigle’s menu fuses Latin, Southern, and Hawaiian flavors revealed in such dishes as panko-crusted fried pickles, a “90 Miles” benny with pulled pork and ham or a blackened mahi-mahi fish sandwich. Even more revealing: the titillating entertainment provided by BLUELaLa featuring VarieTEASE.

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AC Sky Bar

While the fare may not be quite as elevated as its 18th floor setting, the AC Sky Bar inside the AC Hotel downtown is one of the most buzzed-about venues for Sunday brunch. Towering glass windows lend the space some big-city swagger, while the crème brûlée French toast (fashioned from croissants) and crispy chicken and churros offer spins on trad brunch standards. Bottomless mimosas run $18.

The Aardvark

Sure, scores of places offer weekend brunch, but Monday brunch? It’s what differentiates this neighborhood gem from all the others – the Monday-only drink specials, as well as the $15 bottomless mimosas, help too. Chef Hugh Holland cranks out a focused selection of comfort dishes with such Southern-tinged specials as biscuits and gravy, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles ,and a breakfast dog topped with scrambled eggs and cheddar. Offered from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  

American Social Orlando

This relatively new player in the brunch game made believers out of skeptics in South Florida and is doing the same to diners in Dr. Phillips. They come for AmSo’s brunch bites (doughnut holes), social shareables (Buffalo chicken fries), and substantial alci-soaking fare like Key West shrimp cakes and country-fried bone-in pork chops. A raw bar features East Coast oysters while the boisterous bar bar sees clusters of mirth-filled merrymakers fueled by frozés, bloody marys, sangrias, and $15 bottomless bubbly. Offered from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Café Tu Tu Tango

Always festive and boisterous, this I-Drive mainstay bolstered its rep with an affordable, and family friendly, brunch to match its artsy roots. The bottomless brunch option features a taco bar and sweet and savory waffle station for the palindromic price of $26.62, though diners are free to choose from a host of a la carte tapas items from $6-$12. Add the bottomless Bloody Mary and mimosa bar for $18 more. Offered Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Hampton Social

Can a restaurant that plays up Hamptons style exist without a douchey vibe? Indeed it can, and this whitewashed hotspot at Pointe Orlando seems built for brunch (and Instagram poses). On weekends from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., gussied up tourists and locals alike soak up their frosé bellinis and “Montauk” mules with an impressive selection of mid-morning repasts like smoked eggplant with a vibrant medley of veg and grains, “Grandma Swan’s” pancakes or meaty lobster rolls. Doughnut drops are the way to end.

Canvas Restaurant & Market

This Lake Nona stunner draws raves for its spectacular views, and an encouraging word or two for its classic brunch fare like the lobster benedict, chilaquiles, bacon hash skillet, and Meyer lemon pancakes. Bottomless mimosas are fine and well, but do give the seasonal cocktail menu a glance before dropping the extra $20 (the passion fruit caipirinha goes great with everything). Available Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Related Maps