Philadelphia is the "City of Love" in the springtime! Whether you are a bit of a bohemian or of more traditional tastes, you'll have no trouble finding the perfect place to have brunch in Philadelphia!
SABRINA’S CAFÉ 910 Christian St, Philadelphia, PA 19147 (215) 574-1599
Hours: Mon-Sat, 8am-10pm, Sun, 8am-4pm
It might be easier to get into Wharton than into this insanely popular Bella Vista brunch spot on a Sunday. Manage to snag a prime al fresco perch among the Bella Vista yuppies and shih-tzu puppies on the rickety patio furniture, and the friendly tattooed waitresses will bring Fluffy a bowl of water and you a steaming mug of La Colombe. The cups don’t match, the tables wobble, and the multiple rooms feel like a cruel fun house when nursing a Saturday night hangover, but it’s all part of Sabrina’s quirky charm. Stick to the inspired blackboard specials; the ever-changing stuffed French toast—dressed with amaretto-laced peaches one day and vanilla-honeysuckle syrup another—is highly addictive.
Avg Cost: $20
LACROIX AT THE RITTENHOUSE 210 W Rittenhouse Sq, Philadelphia, PA 19103 (215) 790-2533
Hours: Brunch, Sunday, 11am-2:30pm
Perched atop Rittenhouse Square like an elegant tree house, this serene gold-and-green aerie (and one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Philadelphia) is the place to see and be seen for blowout Sunday brunch. Lacroix’s namesake, Jean-Marie Lacroix, has retired, leaving 34-year-old avant-garde gastronomist Matthew Levin at the wheel. Even the most polished Rittenhouse Hotel guest could lose their composure faced with Levin’s insane spread: Windy Point oysters, scallop-and-nori mousseline, lobster-and-cauliflower parfait, deviled quail eggs, ginger-spiked Vietnamese boar. For dessert, there’s a chocolate fountain and a liquid nitrogen bar where Levin dabbles in molecular gastronomy with coconut curry foam and citrus gelée.
Avg Cost: Brunch is $52
PARADISO 1627 E Passyunk Ave,Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 271-2066
Hours: Sat, Sun, 11am-2:30pm
Named after Tony Shaloub and Stanley Tucci’s ill-fated bistro in Big Night, this polenta-yellow haven cocooned in burgundy velvet drapes and candlelight is ideal for a big night out. But on Saturday and Sunday mornings, chef/owner Lynn Rinaldi trades in rabbit cacciatore for ricotta crepes with brown-butter honey. The downtown intelligentsia and scruffed neighborhood arrivistes unwind side-by-side at the granite bar with $3 four-alarm Bloodies and sparkling Mimosas. Traditional brunch entrées get an Italian flourish: eggs benedict on foccacia are layered with prosciutto, frittatas studded with roasted red peppers and Asiago. Don’t miss the biscuits, buttery mountains served with sticky strawberry jam preserved in-house.
Avg Cost: $25
HONEY’S SIT ‘N’ EAT 800 N 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19123 (215) 925-1150
Hours: Tues-Fri, 7am-3pm, Sat-Sun, 8am-3pm
Among the hipster crush and gastropub scene of gritty-glam Northern Liberties, Southern-Jewish (yes, that’s correct) cuisine seems as incongruous as your Aunt Sylvia wandering in Standard Tap for a pint of Yards. But it works: The best of the Southern kitchen, the best of the Jewish kitchen, with none of the NASCAR or bar mitzvah party songs. Think crisp veggie latkes with cinnamon-laced applesauce, sausage crafted with red pepper and brown sugar, stuffed challah French toast, buttery biscuit and cornbread, chicken-fried steak, pastrami sandwiches, and farm-fresh eggs from Amish country. The orange juice is fresh squeezed, and the industrial barnyard atmosphere—steel ceiling beams, barstools recycled from Old City’s Snow White diner—evokes NoLibs’s DIY ethos.
Avg Cost: $15
JONES 700 Chestnut St,Philadelphia (215) 223-5663
Hours; Sat, Sun, 10:30am-3pm
Stephen! Stephen! Stephen! Starr, that is. With the sunken dining room, flagstone walls, and throwback fireplace, brunch at the restaurant impresario’s 7th & Chestnut comfort foodery feels like eating with the Brady Bunch. Nab one of the fuzzy Elmo-red swivel chairs and ogle the hipsters swilling ‘70s-inspired cocktails like the Betty Crocker (vanilla vodka and crème de cacao) at the bar. Make no mistake, though; Alice never made brunch like this. BMW pancakes are fluffy buttermilk Frisbees studded with caramelized bananas, maple syrup, and toasted walnuts. The turkey burger is topped with Boursin and alfalfa sprouts, and the ATL gives a classic stack a vegetarian twist with avocado instead of bacon.
Avg. Cost: $20
RIM CAFÉ 1172 S 9th St,Philadelphia 215-465-3515
Hours; Please check with restaurant they are in the process of changing hours.
Philly joins the jet set resorts of Cannes and Nice as host to this bohemian café bringing the leisurely lifestyle of the French Riviera to the foot of the Italian Market. There are no yachts anchored outside, no palm trees swaying in a Mediterranean breeze, and the closest beach is still an hour away, but Rim Café with its Nice-Matin newspapers, Cote d’Azur photos lining the walls, and artsy patrons savoring buttery jambon croissants, Nicoise salads, rosewater-and-cinnamon-infused tea, and lava-thick French-style drinking chocolate lend an air of European leisure that makes you feel a million miles away.
Avg. Cost: $15
THE POP SHOP 729 Haddon Ave,Collingswood, NJ (856) 869-0111
Kids rule at The Pop Shop, a bubblegum-colored homage to the soda jerks of the 1950s. Situated on Collingswood’s postcard-pretty main street, it’s not unusual to see a line out the door at this breakfast-all-day spot, rug rats of all ages with mommies and daddies en tow for the Green Eggs & Jam, cotton candy sodas, and Saturday morning pajama parties. Fortunately, for grown-ups, there are five kinds of eggs benedict, wildly luscious burgers, and Bettys (read: pancakes) laced with espresso for a much-needed second jolt of caffeine. And the 1953 Seeburg jukebox does wonders to drown out the sugar-high screams of the brattier patrons.
Hours: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Breakfast all day.
Everybody who knows go to Melrose. So says this 71-year-old diner’s jingle, and it’s true. Any given Sunday, you might find yourself crammed into one of the half-moon booth across from a city councilman, Sopranos extra, or neighborhood hermit chatting up his MP-1 (‘Rose code for lusciously crispy chicken cutlet). In recent years, 24/7 Melrose joined into 21st century with a sunny revamp, free refills on coffee, and Micros computers, but it still feels like a time warp when then veteran waitresses call you hon. Cakes and cookies are baked on premises (try the buttercream cake, apple pie with vanilla sauce, crumbly butter cookies), and the cream chipped beef is the best guilty pleasure on the planet.
Avg Cost pp: $10
LONDON GRILL 2301 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130 (215) 978-4545
Hours: Brunch (Sun) 11:30 am-2 pm; (Daily) 11:30 am-2 am Philadelphia's historic Fairmount section is home to London Grill, where owners Michael and Terry McNally serve up their delightful delicacies! The restaurant is close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the scenic walks along the beautiful Schuylkill River. The London is known for its culinary creativity. As their restaurant's name suggests, Michael and Terry are deft at serving up traditional English dishes such as fish and chips. But these food artists also take their inspiration from Italian and even Asian recipes as well. That's why diners will often see someone eating crisp spring rolls filled with tender ginger duck sitting next to another person eating a hearty arugula, mozzarella, and prosciutto pizza. Brunch features include the traditional to the exotic, such as the Middle Eastern Sampler of hummus, falafel, baba ghanoush, olives, and grilled pita.
Estimate cost per person for brunch= $11-$18 Estimated cost per person for dinner=$26-$31
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day- Open, Easter- Open, Thanksgiving - Closed, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Closed, New Year's Eve - Open
ROSELENA'S CAFE 1623 Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215) 755-9697 Hours: Brunch (Sun) 11 am -3 pm; Daily (Sun - Thu) 11 am -11 pm (Fri - Sat) 11 am - 12:30 am RoseLena's has been described as one of South Philadelphia's "jewels." This restaurant is perfect for outdoor springtime dining. Sidewalk tables allow you to soak in the ambiance of a South Philadelphia Italian neighborhood, while beautiful Art Nouveau style awaits you inside. Those in the know whisper of RoseLena's heavenly knack for brewing some of the most delicious coffee in the city. You can sip to your heart's content on espresso that will make you feel like you're in Venice, all the while sampling brunch classics kissed with an Italian American flavor.
Estimated cost per person for brunch=$11-$18 Estimated cost per person for dinner=$21-$32
Holiday Schedule: New Year's Day-Closed, Valentine's Day- Open, Easter- Open, Thanksgiving - Closed, Christmas Eve - Open, Christmas Day - Closed, New Year's Eve - Open
The Top List of Best Brunches - Philadelphia, PA