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San Diego's Essential Brunch Restaurants

Avocado toasts & bottomless mimosas abound

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Nothing says the weekend like a leisurely brunch with family or friends. While egg dishes might be menu stalwarts, there’s always room for pastries and house-made sweet treats alongside healthier fare. And, whether you start out with coffee or a pot of tea, there's nothing wrong with enjoying a Bloody Mary or several Champagne cocktails too.

Today, even some high profile restaurants known more for their evening fare are reinventing morning menus for a day or two each week. So, enjoy the weekend's saving grace at one of these essential San Diego brunch locales serving up perfectly poached eggs, smashed avocado toast, bottomless mimosas and more every Sunday - and some Saturdays too!

The Eater Brunch Heatmap will be updated monthly to highlight new menus that are generating serious buzz around town. See who made this month’s list below. If we've missed one of your favorites, let us know on the tip line.

- Please note map points are not ranked.

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TRUST Restaurant

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Since opening last spring TRUST Restaurant has fast become one of the city’s hottest gathering spots. This coming weekend people watch on the patio while digging into delicious brunch plates from chef Brad Wise and his team. Local favorites include the pancakes and fried chicken plate, spicy pork belly grilled cheese, and the ultimate sticky bun – a to die for cinnamon roll topped with cinnamon ice cream.

The Med

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Executive chef Alex Emery’s crowd-pleasing weekend brunch includes dishes like house-cured salmon, a brunch board loaded with pastries, cheeses and seasonal berries, local spiny lobster Benedict, and grilled flat iron steak & eggs. There are fruit flavored mimosas too, plus six decidedly different Bloody Marys – standouts include the Sriracha and soy sauce crafted Shanghai, to the namesake Lady V with its impressive crab claw and bacon garnish.

Craft & Commerce

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For next-level indulgence head to Craft & Commerce where brunch-y offerings from executive chef Ted Smith range from the goat cheese and orange marmalade topped grilled toast dubbed ‘The Orange Rides the Goat Toast’, to a good old country fried chicken and waffle plate, plus an over-the-top foie gras breakfast burrito filled with marinated skirt steak. Served every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oceana Coastal Kitchen

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Panoramic bay views and alfresco dining make Oceana’s Sunday Champagne brunch well worth the splurge. Feast on sushi, nigiri, and sashimi selections from the cold bar, in addition to fresh fruit and pastries, plus salads and antipasto. Plated options, like salmon and prime rib can also be ordered, plus breakfast favorites such as the Waffle Romanoff, a Belgian style waffle topped with Grand Marnier, strawberries, whipped cream, and maple syrup.

Hello Betty Fish House

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From sweet to savory and beyond, chef Jared Hills’ new brunch menu covers all the bases at this Oceanside favorite. Must tries include the piña colada fritters (coconut milk French toast made with pineapple, sweet cheese, and royal rum icing), a mesquite grilled Baja bagel with lox and roasted jalapeño cream cheese, and the chilaquiles scramble with salsa verde. For drinks think Bloody Marys, Marias, Micheladas and bottomless mimosas.

La Bonne Table

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Forget American-style staples and try “Frunch” instead at neighborhood bistro La Bonne Table. The menu is graced with Gallic favorites, including an authentic béchamel topped Croque Madame, salad with lardons and poached egg, a chive and chèvre omelet, plus lighter versions of dishes found during dinner service - think steak frites and duck confit. Served every Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Pi Bar

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At Liberty Public Market’s revamped quick-order concept, Pi Bar, you’ll find four hearty sandwiches and a freshly baked breakfast potpie on the breakfast menu. Selections range from the mortadella, hashbrown and scrambled egg ‘Whiskey Tango’ to the Japanese-inspired ‘Rising Sun’ sandwich filled with a crispy rice cake, kimchi, Japanese mayonnaise, cilantro and a golden-fried egg. There’s a new boozy breakfast weekend happy hour too, complete with a 32 oz. Bloody Mary, garnished with a chicken nugget.

Seasons Restaurant

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Residents and visitors alike can now add luxury resort Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara to their list of North County brunching destinations. Served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, enjoy items from the griddle, including hash brown waffles with a sunny side up egg and buttermilk pancakes with fruit, plus favorite egg dishes like a smashed avocado benedict and stacked huevos, in addition to sandwiches, sides and a breakfast pizza.

Ponsaty's

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Keep it classy with a brunch buffet at Master French Chef Patrick Ponsaty’s signature restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe. Dish highlights include herb crusted prime ribeye with a horseradish sauce; seawater poached King Crab Legs with French cocktail sauce, and a show-stopping egg Benedict Florentine. Priced at $49 per adult and $25 for kids, add on bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys for an extra $15.

Galaxy Taco

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There’s a tasty pazole verde with pork, blue and white corn hominy, radish and avocado; plus pork huarache (pulled pork flatbread) with fried eggs, roasted tomatillo salsa on the Sunday brunch menu at Trey Foshee’s modern Mexican mecca, Galaxy. Satisfy any sweet cravings with fresh cream, banana, lemon zest and Mexican chocolate dusted waffles while sipping on bottomless Mimosa and Micheladas.

Decoy Dockside

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Executive chef David Warner’s weekend brunch menu is filled with breakfast favorites “with a twist”, like lemon ricotta French toast and a Dockside eggs Benedict with sautéed jumbo crab and grilled asparagus. For lighter fare there’s an açai bowl, plus sides like yogurt and granola with fruit. Served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, enjoy with serene lakeside views at the casual downstairs bar or from the lodge-inspired upstairs dining room.

Dunedin North Park

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Dunedin North Park’s comfort food-focused weekend brunch menu features a béchamel bread pudding croque madame, a Dutch baked pancake with fried chicken, and a traditional “Kiwi Breakfast” consisting of scrambled eggs, English baked beans, sausage, roasted tomato and potatoes. Refresh yourself with signature mimosas, sangria, Champagne and beer cocktails, soju-based Bloody Marys, porch sun tea and hand-shaken lemonade. Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

TRUST Restaurant

Since opening last spring TRUST Restaurant has fast become one of the city’s hottest gathering spots. This coming weekend people watch on the patio while digging into delicious brunch plates from chef Brad Wise and his team. Local favorites include the pancakes and fried chicken plate, spicy pork belly grilled cheese, and the ultimate sticky bun – a to die for cinnamon roll topped with cinnamon ice cream.

The Med

Executive chef Alex Emery’s crowd-pleasing weekend brunch includes dishes like house-cured salmon, a brunch board loaded with pastries, cheeses and seasonal berries, local spiny lobster Benedict, and grilled flat iron steak & eggs. There are fruit flavored mimosas too, plus six decidedly different Bloody Marys – standouts include the Sriracha and soy sauce crafted Shanghai, to the namesake Lady V with its impressive crab claw and bacon garnish.

Craft & Commerce

For next-level indulgence head to Craft & Commerce where brunch-y offerings from executive chef Ted Smith range from the goat cheese and orange marmalade topped grilled toast dubbed ‘The Orange Rides the Goat Toast’, to a good old country fried chicken and waffle plate, plus an over-the-top foie gras breakfast burrito filled with marinated skirt steak. Served every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oceana Coastal Kitchen

Panoramic bay views and alfresco dining make Oceana’s Sunday Champagne brunch well worth the splurge. Feast on sushi, nigiri, and sashimi selections from the cold bar, in addition to fresh fruit and pastries, plus salads and antipasto. Plated options, like salmon and prime rib can also be ordered, plus breakfast favorites such as the Waffle Romanoff, a Belgian style waffle topped with Grand Marnier, strawberries, whipped cream, and maple syrup.

Hello Betty Fish House

From sweet to savory and beyond, chef Jared Hills’ new brunch menu covers all the bases at this Oceanside favorite. Must tries include the piña colada fritters (coconut milk French toast made with pineapple, sweet cheese, and royal rum icing), a mesquite grilled Baja bagel with lox and roasted jalapeño cream cheese, and the chilaquiles scramble with salsa verde. For drinks think Bloody Marys, Marias, Micheladas and bottomless mimosas.

La Bonne Table

Forget American-style staples and try “Frunch” instead at neighborhood bistro La Bonne Table. The menu is graced with Gallic favorites, including an authentic béchamel topped Croque Madame, salad with lardons and poached egg, a chive and chèvre omelet, plus lighter versions of dishes found during dinner service - think steak frites and duck confit. Served every Sunday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Pi Bar

At Liberty Public Market’s revamped quick-order concept, Pi Bar, you’ll find four hearty sandwiches and a freshly baked breakfast potpie on the breakfast menu. Selections range from the mortadella, hashbrown and scrambled egg ‘Whiskey Tango’ to the Japanese-inspired ‘Rising Sun’ sandwich filled with a crispy rice cake, kimchi, Japanese mayonnaise, cilantro and a golden-fried egg. There’s a new boozy breakfast weekend happy hour too, complete with a 32 oz. Bloody Mary, garnished with a chicken nugget.

Seasons Restaurant

Residents and visitors alike can now add luxury resort Four Seasons Residence Club Aviara to their list of North County brunching destinations. Served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday, enjoy items from the griddle, including hash brown waffles with a sunny side up egg and buttermilk pancakes with fruit, plus favorite egg dishes like a smashed avocado benedict and stacked huevos, in addition to sandwiches, sides and a breakfast pizza.

Ponsaty's

Keep it classy with a brunch buffet at Master French Chef Patrick Ponsaty’s signature restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe. Dish highlights include herb crusted prime ribeye with a horseradish sauce; seawater poached King Crab Legs with French cocktail sauce, and a show-stopping egg Benedict Florentine. Priced at $49 per adult and $25 for kids, add on bottomless mimosas or Bloody Marys for an extra $15.

Galaxy Taco

There’s a tasty pazole verde with pork, blue and white corn hominy, radish and avocado; plus pork huarache (pulled pork flatbread) with fried eggs, roasted tomatillo salsa on the Sunday brunch menu at Trey Foshee’s modern Mexican mecca, Galaxy. Satisfy any sweet cravings with fresh cream, banana, lemon zest and Mexican chocolate dusted waffles while sipping on bottomless Mimosa and Micheladas.

Decoy Dockside

Executive chef David Warner’s weekend brunch menu is filled with breakfast favorites “with a twist”, like lemon ricotta French toast and a Dockside eggs Benedict with sautéed jumbo crab and grilled asparagus. For lighter fare there’s an açai bowl, plus sides like yogurt and granola with fruit. Served from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, enjoy with serene lakeside views at the casual downstairs bar or from the lodge-inspired upstairs dining room.

Dunedin North Park

Dunedin North Park’s comfort food-focused weekend brunch menu features a béchamel bread pudding croque madame, a Dutch baked pancake with fried chicken, and a traditional “Kiwi Breakfast” consisting of scrambled eggs, English baked beans, sausage, roasted tomato and potatoes. Refresh yourself with signature mimosas, sangria, Champagne and beer cocktails, soju-based Bloody Marys, porch sun tea and hand-shaken lemonade. Every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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