The Best Places To Grab Brunch In Chicago Right Now

Whether you need an instant mood boost, are searching for a group activity, or are looking to cure a hangover from the night before, brunch is the solution to all problems. Luckily, Chicago has an abundance of superior morning eats and brunch in Chicago.

Our team has carefully selected each brunch spot on this list. Our editors and the Secret Chicago team depend on personal experiences, recommendations, editorial reviews, customer feedback, and thorough research to bring you the most delicious brunch in Chicago. This list is regularly updated as we discover new openings and revisit established favorites.

Little Goat Diner

With Stephanie Izard, the first female chef to win Bravo’s Top Chef, at the helm, you can bet your bottom dollar the Little Goat Diner will serve a Chicago brunch to please the pickiest of people. A menu dedicated to brunching and serving spectacular dishes all day makes this an ever-reliable brunch spot that always exceeds expectations.

The retro midcentury-modern diner is casual and cozy, so you can brunch away in comfort and choose from an array of delectable brunch options, both traditional and worldly.

📍Address: 3325 N Southport Ave, Chicago

BLVD Steakhouse

BLVD’s glamorous outdoor dining room evokes an enchanting secret garden adorned with lush greenery, luxe upholstery, and romantic string lighting. Guests can now enjoy steakhouse favorites alongside new dishes like a King Crab Benedict, TK Chopped Salad, and Maine Lobster Roll in the restaurant’s all-season covered Atrium. While devouring the delectable brunch options, you can sip brunch-forward cocktails, Champagne, and rosé.

📍Address: 817 W Lake St., Chicago, IL 60607

LAUREL

Jazz brunch on the LAUREL patio is a weekend must-do. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., brunch-goers can enjoy live performances as the perfect backdrop for dishes such as Shakshuka & Scallion Labneh or the unique Egg & Merguez sandwich.

📍Address: 20 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611

Lula Cafe

The dining room and patio at Lula Cafe provide an incredible brunch setup with a long-established brunch menu that can be enjoyed while overlooking the square.

Consistently identified as one of Chicago’s best brunch spots, Lula Cafe cannot be overemphasized. You can’t go wrong with Lula Cafe, another neighborhood staple that uses locally sourced ingredients and offers a range of vegan and gluten-free options.

📍Address: 2537 N Kedzie Avenue, Chicago

Honeybear Cafe

A down-to-earth, family-owned restaurant in the Rogers Park neighborhood. Almost everything is homemade at Honeybear Cafe, and as a scratch kitchen, as much as possible, it is sourced locally. If you’re looking for somewhere to feel wholesome and healthy while tucking into some delicious tacos, french toast, or a vegan tofu scrambler, Honeybear is that place.

P.S. If you’re prepared to let your discipline slide just a little, the Banana Crunch Cakes, “filled with granola and fresh bananas topped with cinnamon butter, pecans, more fresh bananas, & whipped cream,” is our pick.

📍Address: 7036 N Clark St, Chicago

Wake ‘N Bacon

If an Instagrammable brunch is just as important for you as a tasty, nourishing brunch, you’ll be more than satisfied with both at the family-friendly Wake ‘N Bacon in Lakeview.

Wake ‘N Bacon boasts both an astounding chic setup with an abundance of floral decorations having from the ceiling and a menu of distinct flavors from Latin America, Asia, and America.

The Chicago brunch menu offers burritos, Hawaiian bread options, bagels, pancakes, chia puddings – you name it. Spiced Maple Chicken ‘n Waffles are our favorite if you have a sweet tooth.

📍Address: 420 W Belmont Avenue, Chicago

Summer House Santa Monica

With all the fantastic Chicago diners in Windy City, sometimes changing it up is nice. Lincoln Park’s Summer House Santa Monica will transport you to sunny California with its bright and breezy dining room.

If you’re looking for an instant mood boost, this is it. This beautiful restaurant has coastal touches, hanging plants, and a glass retractable roof comprises a stunning setting channeling West Coast charm. You certainly won’t be disappointed when you’re enjoying one of their brilliant brunch options.

📍Address: 1954 North Halsted Street, Chicago

The Publican

While The Publican is chiefly a seafood and pork restaurant offering hand-selected and sustainably raised fish, the rustic Fulton Market spot also offers a charming brunch with various meat and vegetarian options.

📍Address: 837 West Fulton Market, Chicago

Maple & Ash

If you’re in search of an upscale, boozy brunch in Chicago, look no further than in the Gold Coast. With a menu crafted by two Michelin-star chefs, Danny Grant, Maple & Ash is an innovative take on the trackLink link_url=”https://secretchicago.com/best-steakhouses-chicago/”] traditional steakhouse.[/trackLink]

Add in a wine list named “one of the most outstanding in the world” by Wine Spectator. Maple & Ash does not fall short of recognition. The lavish establishment is decorated with chandeliers and spacious velvet booths, offering guests the chance to brunch in style.

📍Address: 8 West Maple Street, Chicago

Lou Mitchell’s

While age doesn’t always guarantee quality, it is difficult to ignore one of Chicago’s oldest restaurants, Lou Mitchell’s. The restaurant will have been serving up brunches to Chicagoans for 100 years in mid-2023.

The family diner was started by ‘Uncle Lou in 1923, specializing in brunch and lunch dishes before being handed down to his son Lou Mitchell.

The website boasts that “we’ve poured enough cups of our signature coffee to fill the Chicago River, and our delicious pancakes could fill Wrigley Field.” With various pancakes, waffles, and omelets, there are plenty of options, and this old-school dining experience is sure to exceed expectations.

📍Address: 565 West Jackson Boulevard, Chicago

Batter & Berries

Founded in 2012, Batter & Berries combines a diverse menu with an upbeat atmosphere; almost everything is sourced locally, making it essential for a Sunday brunch in Chicago.

While the website talks of handmade sausages from locally sourced poultry, freshly shredded potatoes daily, 100% Pure Maple Syrup, and collaborations with local artisans, talk to any fan of Batter & Berries, and you’ll likely hear about their phenomenal French toast.

Coming in four different flavors, strawberry, blueberry, lemon, and caramel, the French toast is a must-try for brunch fanatics, but for the real deal, the French Toast Flight offers a taste of all four.

With its bright floral surroundings, hearty brunch, and fantastic service, Batter & Berries is unsurprisingly one of the most popular Chicago brunch options in the whole city.

📍Address: 2748 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago

Chicago Diner

Ask any vegetarian or vegan in the city about their top restaurant choices, and Chicago Diner will likely be one of their first names. The famed diner often makes it into lists of the best vegan restaurants in Chicago, and rightly so.

While its motto boasts that The Chicago Diner has been “Meat free since ’83,” its reputation is such that The Chicago Diner is loved by meat-eaters and non-meat-eaters all over the city and is thus a popular seasoned Chicago brunch spot.

A large menu offers anything ranging from pancakes to black bean veggie burgers, but it’s what they can do with seitan and tofu that will blow your mind and your taste buds.

📍Address: 3411 N Halsted Street, Chicago
📍Address: 2333 N Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago

Pick Me Up Cafe

View this post on Instagram

Pick Me Up Cafe is another restaurant offering a fantastic array of vegan and vegetarian fare. However, unlike the Chicago Diner, Pick Me Up Cafe has just as many meat options. Any group can find a variety of dishes to satisfy all needs.

Whether it’s a Vegan Tofu Scram, Bacon Benedict, or Huevos Rancheros Deluxe, the brunch options at Pick Me Up Cafe are sensational.

📍Address: 4882 N Clark St, Chicago

The Bongo Room

The Bongo Room is a beloved brunch spot in Chicago. This casual café offers an exceptional brunch in a relaxed atmosphere. Many patrons often choose meat or meat-free burritos and croissant sandwiches. You won’t want to miss the decadent Lobster Benedict, which has garnered a loyal fanbase.

📍Address: 1470 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Beatrix

You’ll struggle to find a more reliable brunch spot than Beatrix. With multiple locations around the city, the friendly chain of cozy cafés offers fresh-squeezed juices and an outstanding brunch menu.

The popular all-day eatery focuses on healthy and affordable options, from light & fluffy lemon pancakes to steak, chimichurri & eggs. You can guarantee Beatrix has something for everybody. Finding a convenient meeting place with a small collection of well-located coffeehouses and restaurants shouldn’t be hard.

📍Address: 519 N Clark Street (River North)
📍Address: 834 W. Fulton Market (Fulton Market)
📍Address: 671 N. St. Clair Street (Streeterville)

Daley’s

View this post on Instagram

In South Side’s Woodlawn neighborhood, you’ll find Chicago’s oldest restaurant and one of the city’s best brunch spots. Having served Chicago for over a century, the family-owned restaurant relocated across the street in 2019. Daley’s was first opened in 1892 by an Irish immigrant named John Daley (unrelated to political figures). The fabled restaurant has now become a city landmark. And it knows a thing about how Chicagoans like to start the day.

📍Address: 6257 S. Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago

Tweet

Born in 2003 as the sister restaurant to Big Chicks, Tweet is nestled within a vintage art deco building. It serves a wide range of classic and non-traditional dishes in a comfortable but unique setting.

Almost everything on the menu is under $15, including delicious dishes like Eggs Florentine, Portabella Benedict, and Avocado Toast Platter. There are spectacular drinks in the form of sangrias, mimosas, craft beers, iced coffees, and iced teas. Oh, and not to mention, the service is superb.

📍Address: 5024 N Sheridan Road, Chicago

Miru