More Maps

The Hottest Restaurants in San Diego, December 2022

15 Kid-Friendly Restaurants in San Diego That Also Appeal to Adults

20 Essential San Diego Breakfast Spots

More in San Diego See more maps

Plates of food on a table. — A brunch feast at Wolfie’s.

16 San Diego Brunch Spots to Try Right Now

Weekends are made for brunching

by Darlene Horn and Candice Woo Updated Aug 16, 2022, 9:02am PDT

View as Map

A brunch feast at Wolfie’s.

| James Tran

by Darlene Horn and Candice Woo Updated Aug 16, 2022, 9:02am PDT

Brunch is a staple of American dining culture and a particularly popular phenomenon in San Diego. Whether you’re hunting for smashed avocado toast with bottomless Bloody Marys or creative egg dishes, these 18 spots around town will make choosing where to brunch an easy decision with tasty food, strong coffee, and maybe a few cocktails.

Health experts consider dining out to be a high-risk activity for the unvaccinated; it may pose a risk for the vaccinated, especially in areas with substantial COVID transmission.

Note: map points are listed geographically.

Read More

Communal

Already a favorite daytime hangout in North Park and South Park, the newer Oceanside outpost of the cafe has a spacious back patio on which to enjoy its all-day breakfast menu, which ranges from a salted maple sausage sandwich to Turkish eggs and a large selection of sweet and savory toasts.

Open in Google Maps

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Creme brulee toast topped with berries. — Creme brulee toast.

Also featured in:

Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters

The La Jolla Shores newcomer recently launched weekend brunch, available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., that includes seafood and snacks from its standard menu as well as fresh brunch offerings ranging from cinnamon rolls and lemon ricotta pancakes to house-baked English muffins. Its wood-fired meats are featured in brunch mains like a California burrito upgraded with prime rib and a pork loin-based eggs Benedict.

Open in Google Maps

2259 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A bar with an undersea mural behind it.

Also featured in:

Medina

Moroccan-infused weekend brunches start at noon at this El Cajon restaurant. Order the Medina breakfast skillet, North African-style shakshouka, or chef/owner Alia Jaziri’s chilaquiles with housemade merguez sausage. For cocktails, try the Casablanca with preserved lemon-ginger-honey simple syrup, white wine, and hard apple cider.

Open in Google Maps

2850 El Cajon Blvd #4, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Chilaquiles in a cast iron pan.

Also featured in:

Where to Eat Middle Eastern Food in San Diego

Verbena Kitchen

With its popular Sunday brunch now extended to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., there are now two weekly opportunities to order decadent plates like bistro steak and eggs, French toast with whipped Nutella, and its luscious cinnamon roll (available in limited quantities).

Open in Google Maps

3043 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

A plate of deviled eggs. — Deviled eggs.

Common Stock

Paired with a lineup of boozy brunch libations, the restaurant is a great first morning option in the Hillcrest area. Avocado toast, hot chicken and waffles, chilaquiles and a breakfast burrito packed with beef machaca and cheesy eggs complements the entire range of cocktails including a mimosa kit.

3805 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Breakfast & Bubbles

Touting its all-day champagne breakfast, this restaurant is open seven days a week and offers an extensive bubbly selection sold by the glass or bottle, as well as beer, Bloody Marys, and more. As for food, choose from a variety of egg dishes, pancakes, and waffles, plus an impressive tower of sweetness packed with a chef selection of Italian pastries.

Open in Google Maps

425 Robinson Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

A dish with waffles, another with eggs, another with pancakes.

Trust

Brunch is insanely popular at Trust so reservations are highly recommended. Order up smoked salmon toast, braised bacon grilled cheese and don’t forget the restaurant’s ultimate sticky bun with rotating flavors every week.

Open in Google Maps

3752 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

Dining room at Trust.

Also featured in:

Cesarina

Weekend brunches at Point Loma’s Italian charmer begin at 10 a.m. and the restaurant has lots of al fresco dining on the premises. Breakfast skillets, Benedicts, bowls, French toast, and waffles grace the menu including a few vegan options.

Open in Google Maps

4161 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Matteo

Buona Forchetta’s non-profit restaurant serves up morning meals every day of the week. Head to South Park for a variety of toasts, eggs Benedicts, hot cakes, burritos, sandwiches, and a breakfast combo with all the classics. Save room for a pastry to enjoy later.

Open in Google Maps

3015 Juniper St, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Fork cutting into an egg Benedict.

Also featured in:

58 San Diego Eateries Adding Takeout and Delivery Options

Wolfie's Carousel Bar

Little Italy’s whimsical carousel bar and restaurant is now doing brunch, mixing French bistro fare with classic breakfast dishes like crab Benedict, avocado toast, fresh beignets, and wagyu steak and eggs alongside a croque madame and bruleed French toast. Pair brunch plates with a sparking Belle Fille, a concoction that includes vodka, Lillet, cucumber, and prosecco.

Open in Google Maps

2401 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Beignets and other desserts on plates. — Brunch desserts.

Also featured in:

Where to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in San Diego

Pali Wine Co.

The Santa Barbara-based winery’s Little Italy tasting room has a rooftop patio that’s the perfect perch for a weekend brunch menu that features dishes like street corn frittata, a “bennie bowl” with house-smoked salmon, and cast iron-cooked cornbread served with crispy pork belly, mole rojo, and a poached egg.

2130 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Also featured in:

Kettner Exchange

Sunday brunch has returned to the Little Italy hotspot where prime brunching can be had on the rooftop patio or in one of its reserved cabanas. Pulling popular items from sister spot Waverly, including the Japanese-influenced breakfast rice bowl and “Pig Mac” bao, the brunch menu features cocktails like the Razzle with mezcal, Fernet Branca, ginger, lemon, and raspberry and the Thin Mint-inspired Scout’s Honor, a mix of Cacao Run and Creme de Menthe with crushed cookie bits.

Open in Google Maps

2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Pancakes with a side of syrup.

Also featured in:

Charles + Dinorah at The Pearl Hotel

Recently updated after a pandemic hiatus, brunch returns to Point Loma on Saturday, August 20 with a new menu that includes classics like chilaquiles, steak and eggs, and French toast as well as specials that include breakfast fried rice with Chinese sausage, salmon crudo cured in housemade Bloody Mary mix and a tofu twist on egg Benedict. The restaurant, which is known for its cocktails, also has a list of “liquid brunch” options.

Open in Google Maps

1410 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106

Visit Website

A pool and hotel bar.

Also featured in:

The Hottest Cocktail Bars in San Diego, October 2022

Morning Glory

This dedicated brunch spot from nightlife specialists CH Projects has been given Bib Gourmand designation from the Michelin Guide for its menu made up of eye-catching global dishes like breakfast carbonara and khachapuri as well as accomplished cocktails spiked Thai iced tea and a boozy Orange Julius.

Open in Google Maps

550 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Pink velvet booths at Morning Glory sit under a large chandelier shaped like a pink flower.

Also featured in:

Coco Maya

This breezy rooftop spot now opens at 10 a.m. (closed Tuesdays) and offers a daily brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Its menu, which draws from cuisines of Latin America and the Caribbean, includes chilaquiles and Cuban steak and eggs along with Jamaican-inspired oxtail soup with oat flour dumplings and a range of bokits, or Caribbean sandwiches, filled with everything from fish to breakfast fixings. Brunch cocktails include mimosas, margaritas, and Maya Coffee, a mix of tequila, cinnamon cold brew, vanilla agave, and salted caramel mascarpone foam.

Open in Google Maps

1660 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

A rooftop bar with tables and umbrellas.

Garibaldi

All the menus at the Italian-inspired restaurant have been recently revamped, including its brunch menu which is now offered on Saturday and Sunday. There’s an Italian brunch torte layered with meat, cheese, and vegetables and a seafood omelet as well as sweet dishes like cassata Siciliana, a traditional Sicilian cake, and castagnaccio pancakes made with chestnuts. Bottomless prosecco or Aperol Spritz service is $29.

Open in Google Maps

901 Bayfront Ct Suite 1, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

A table to two in front of an undersea mural.

Also featured in:

© 2022 Vox Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

Link copied to the clipboard.

Communal

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

Already a favorite daytime hangout in North Park and South Park, the newer Oceanside outpost of the cafe has a spacious back patio on which to enjoy its all-day breakfast menu, which ranges from a salted maple sausage sandwich to Turkish eggs and a large selection of sweet and savory toasts.

Open in Google Maps

602 S Tremont St Suite 100, Oceanside, CA 92054

Visit Website

Creme brulee toast topped with berries. — Creme brulee toast.

Sandpiper Wood Fired Grill & Oysters

2259 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

The La Jolla Shores newcomer recently launched weekend brunch, available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., that includes seafood and snacks from its standard menu as well as fresh brunch offerings ranging from cinnamon rolls and lemon ricotta pancakes to house-baked English muffins. Its wood-fired meats are featured in brunch mains like a California burrito upgraded with prime rib and a pork loin-based eggs Benedict.

Open in Google Maps

2259 Avenida De La Playa, La Jolla, CA 92037

Visit Website

A bar with an undersea mural behind it.

Medina

2850 El Cajon Blvd #4, San Diego, CA 92104

Moroccan-infused weekend brunches start at noon at this El Cajon restaurant. Order the Medina breakfast skillet, North African-style shakshouka, or chef/owner Alia Jaziri’s chilaquiles with housemade merguez sausage. For cocktails, try the Casablanca with preserved lemon-ginger-honey simple syrup, white wine, and hard apple cider.

Open in Google Maps

2850 El Cajon Blvd #4, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Chilaquiles in a cast iron pan.

Verbena Kitchen

3043 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

With its popular Sunday brunch now extended to Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., there are now two weekly opportunities to order decadent plates like bistro steak and eggs, French toast with whipped Nutella, and its luscious cinnamon roll (available in limited quantities).

Open in Google Maps

3043 University Ave, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

A plate of deviled eggs. — Deviled eggs.

Common Stock

3805 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Paired with a lineup of boozy brunch libations, the restaurant is a great first morning option in the Hillcrest area. Avocado toast, hot chicken and waffles, chilaquiles and a breakfast burrito packed with beef machaca and cheesy eggs complements the entire range of cocktails including a mimosa kit.

3805 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

Breakfast & Bubbles

425 Robinson Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Touting its all-day champagne breakfast, this restaurant is open seven days a week and offers an extensive bubbly selection sold by the glass or bottle, as well as beer, Bloody Marys, and more. As for food, choose from a variety of egg dishes, pancakes, and waffles, plus an impressive tower of sweetness packed with a chef selection of Italian pastries.

Open in Google Maps

425 Robinson Ave, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

A dish with waffles, another with eggs, another with pancakes.

Trust

3752 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103

Brunch is insanely popular at Trust so reservations are highly recommended. Order up smoked salmon toast, braised bacon grilled cheese and don’t forget the restaurant’s ultimate sticky bun with rotating flavors every week.

Open in Google Maps

3752 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92103

Visit Website

Dining room at Trust.

Cesarina

4161 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107

Weekend brunches at Point Loma’s Italian charmer begin at 10 a.m. and the restaurant has lots of al fresco dining on the premises. Breakfast skillets, Benedicts, bowls, French toast, and waffles grace the menu including a few vegan options.

Open in Google Maps

4161 Voltaire St, San Diego, CA 92107

Visit Website

Matteo

3015 Juniper St, San Diego, CA 92104

Buona Forchetta’s non-profit restaurant serves up morning meals every day of the week. Head to South Park for a variety of toasts, eggs Benedicts, hot cakes, burritos, sandwiches, and a breakfast combo with all the classics. Save room for a pastry to enjoy later.

Open in Google Maps

3015 Juniper St, San Diego, CA 92104

Visit Website

Fork cutting into an egg Benedict.

Wolfie's Carousel Bar

2401 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Little Italy’s whimsical carousel bar and restaurant is now doing brunch, mixing French bistro fare with classic breakfast dishes like crab Benedict, avocado toast, fresh beignets, and wagyu steak and eggs alongside a croque madame and bruleed French toast. Pair brunch plates with a sparking Belle Fille, a concoction that includes vodka, Lillet, cucumber, and prosecco.

Open in Google Maps

2401 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Beignets and other desserts on plates. — Brunch desserts.

Pali Wine Co.

2130 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

The Santa Barbara-based winery’s Little Italy tasting room has a rooftop patio that’s the perfect perch for a weekend brunch menu that features dishes like street corn frittata, a “bennie bowl” with house-smoked salmon, and cast iron-cooked cornbread served with crispy pork belly, mole rojo, and a poached egg.

2130 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Kettner Exchange

2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Sunday brunch has returned to the Little Italy hotspot where prime brunching can be had on the rooftop patio or in one of its reserved cabanas. Pulling popular items from sister spot Waverly, including the Japanese-influenced breakfast rice bowl and “Pig Mac” bao, the brunch menu features cocktails like the Razzle with mezcal, Fernet Branca, ginger, lemon, and raspberry and the Thin Mint-inspired Scout’s Honor, a mix of Cacao Run and Creme de Menthe with crushed cookie bits.

Open in Google Maps

2001 Kettner Blvd, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Pancakes with a side of syrup.

Charles + Dinorah at The Pearl Hotel

1410 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106

Recently updated after a pandemic hiatus, brunch returns to Point Loma on Saturday, August 20 with a new menu that includes classics like chilaquiles, steak and eggs, and French toast as well as specials that include breakfast fried rice with Chinese sausage, salmon crudo cured in housemade Bloody Mary mix and a tofu twist on egg Benedict. The restaurant, which is known for its cocktails, also has a list of “liquid brunch” options.

Open in Google Maps

1410 Rosecrans St, San Diego, CA 92106

Visit Website

A pool and hotel bar.

Morning Glory

550 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101

This dedicated brunch spot from nightlife specialists CH Projects has been given Bib Gourmand designation from the Michelin Guide for its menu made up of eye-catching global dishes like breakfast carbonara and khachapuri as well as accomplished cocktails spiked Thai iced tea and a boozy Orange Julius.

Open in Google Maps

550 W Date St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

Pink velvet booths at Morning Glory sit under a large chandelier shaped like a pink flower.

Coco Maya

1660 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

This breezy rooftop spot now opens at 10 a.m. (closed Tuesdays) and offers a daily brunch from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Its menu, which draws from cuisines of Latin America and the Caribbean, includes chilaquiles and Cuban steak and eggs along with Jamaican-inspired oxtail soup with oat flour dumplings and a range of bokits, or Caribbean sandwiches, filled with everything from fish to breakfast fixings. Brunch cocktails include mimosas, margaritas, and Maya Coffee, a mix of tequila, cinnamon cold brew, vanilla agave, and salted caramel mascarpone foam.

Open in Google Maps

1660 India St, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

A rooftop bar with tables and umbrellas.

Related Maps

Garibaldi

901 Bayfront Ct Suite 1, San Diego, CA 92101

All the menus at the Italian-inspired restaurant have been recently revamped, including its brunch menu which is now offered on Saturday and Sunday. There’s an Italian brunch torte layered with meat, cheese, and vegetables and a seafood omelet as well as sweet dishes like cassata Siciliana, a traditional Sicilian cake, and castagnaccio pancakes made with chestnuts. Bottomless prosecco or Aperol Spritz service is $29.

Open in Google Maps

901 Bayfront Ct Suite 1, San Diego, CA 92101

Visit Website

A table to two in front of an undersea mural.

Related Maps