Brunch is a serious business in Chicago.
Ask anyone for recommendations, and they'll already have a list locked and loaded. That's what makes narrowing down our favorite brunch spots so hard. We think it's nearly impossible, but we've never gone wrong with these classics.
Photo via CafeRobey.com
1616 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Wicker Park
We love a bottomless mimosa deal, and Cafe Robey runs one every single day. On the ground floor of The Robey at the six corners, $30 gets us 90 minutes of unlimited mimosas alongside breakfast sammies, biscuits and gravy, duck hash and buttermilk pancakes. Our favorite part? Brunch goes all day, seven days a week, so we don't have to save our favorite meal for the weekend.
Photo via Instagram/Dove's Luncheonette
1545 N. Damen Ave. - Wicker Park
Dove's has established itself as a fixture in Wicker Park, and our brunches are better for it. We go for the Southern-inspired Mexican cooking and breakfast margaritas, and we never skip the chicken fried chicken. They've got dinner Thursday through Saturday, too, in case we want to flip the script.
Photo via Facebook/Uncommon Ground
3800 N. Clark St. - Lakeview
We've never met a brunch dish we didn't love at Uncommon Ground, which is celebrating 35 years this year. Savory faves like biscuits and gravy and chilaquiles get as much menu real estate as the pancakes and French toast. The Lakeview location is also home to the on-site Greenstar organic brewery. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, and the restaurant is open daily.
photo via facebook/batterandberries
2748 N. Lincoln Ave. - Lincoln Park
We couldn't call this a proper brunch guide without Batter & Berries, let's be real. We come back for the signature French toast flight and the sweet potato waffle stuffed with fried chicken. Everything's made from scratch down to the hash browns and sausage, so we've made peace with the wait.
Photo via Little Goat Diner
3325 N. Southport Ave. - Lakeview
Would we expect anything less than Stephanie Izard's best in the brunch game? Since moving from the West Loop, Little Goat has settled into the Southport Corridor with a big all-day breakfast menu and enough coffee to get us to whatever level of fullness we're going for. Reservations are available, and walk-ins are welcome.
Photo via Facebook/Flo Cafe
1434 W. Chicago Ave. - West Town
We're still waiting on someone to name another restaurant with Fruity Pebble French toast. Flo has been doing Southwestern flair in West Town since 1999, and we think weekend brunch is when the kitchen really shows off. Saturdays and Sundays only, and they're closed Mondays.
PHOTO via Lula Cafe
2537 N. Kedzie Blvd. - Logan Square
We won't let anyone talk about brunch in Logan Square without mentioning Lula Cafe. Bread pudding, French toast and a mimosa on the patio overlooking the square is our idea of a good start to the weekend. Closed Tuesdays.
Photo via Sheffield's Beer Garden
3258 N. Sheffield Ave. - Lakeview
Between the BBQ Benedict, Irish chilaquiles and banana bread French toast, we think Sheffield's puts other Wrigleyville brunch spots to shame. The kitchen opens at 11 a.m. on weekends, and we'll take that beer garden over just about anything in August.
Photo via Facebook/Chicago's Chicken & Waffles
3947 S. King Dr.
- Grand Boulevard
We think breakfast food does the best job of bringing together savory and sweet, and no dish does it more justly than chicken and waffles. When that's what we're craving on a Sunday morning, there's only one place we go. This South Side gem serves from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, with plenty of other Southern comfort food to boot.
Photo via TheBongoRoom.com
1470 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Wicker Park
We've been coming to the Bongo Room since it opened in 1993, and the Wicker Park original is still cranking out the decadent stuff, including Chocolate Tower French Toast and a deconstructed lobster roll Benedict. The kitchen closes at 2 p.m., so this isn't our sleep-until-noon option.
Photo via Facebook/Angelina's Ristorante
3561 N. Broadway St. - Lakeview
When we need brunch near Northalsted, we head to Angelina's weekend brunch. Omelets, French toast, a croissant sandwich, and bagels and lox are joined by bottomless mimosas on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. That old-world dining room has been taking care of us since 1988.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / UNCLE MIKE'S PLACE
1700 W. Grand Ave. - West Town
We'd argue everything on Uncle Mike's menu counts as brunch. This West Town staple serves Filipino breakfasts with two eggs and garlic rice, plus free soup and tea that we look forward to as much as the entree. Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily, and it fills up fast.
Photo via Facebook/M.henry
5707 N. Clark St. - Andersonville
m.henry's all-day breakfast doesn't stray far from tradition. It's very egg-centric with a few quiches and pastries to round things out. But what this restaurant does, we think it does really well. Open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., closed Mondays, first come, first served.
Photo via Facebook/The Publican
837 W. Fulton Market - Fulton Market
We love the way the Publican brings a sense of delicacy to farmhouse fare, and we think brunch here is especially charming. There's plenty of pork, plus a pastry program that justifies the trip on its own. Our vegetarian friends have never left hungry either. Weekend brunch runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Photo via Tripadvisor / Macarthur's restaurant
5412 W. Madison St. - South Austin
We've been counting on this West Side soul food institution for nearly 30 years. Doors open at 11 a.m. daily, and it's the hearty stuff that keeps us coming back week after week: smothered pork chops, baked turkey legs, catfish. And we're never turning down the mac and cheese.
Photo via Facebook/Tweet
5020 N. Sheridan Rd. - Uptown
We've tried to find a less-than-delicious dish on Tweet's massive menu and determined such a dish does not exist. This cozy Uptown spot next door to Big Chicks has something for all of us, from huevos rancheros to bagels and lox to vegan-friendly faves. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the last table seated at 2:30 p.m.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK / LIPS CHICAGO
2229 S. Michigan Ave. - South Loop
We'd call the Dragalicious Gospel Brunch one of the most iconic drag brunches in the city, with all the fun elements of church brought right to our table and all-you-can-drink cocktails included. We catch some of Chicago's most exceptional performers while we chow down. There are two Gospel Brunch seatings every Sunday, plus a Saturday brunch show.
PHOTO VIA FACEBOOK/STAY CAFE
2043 N. Milwaukee Ave. - Logan Square
Next to Concord Music Hall, Stay Cafe serves a fire breakfast and brunch menu daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. We're there for the bottomless mimosas, the Bananas Foster French toast and a plant-filled dining room that works just as well for a solo work session as it does for a group.
PHOTO VIA: FACEBOOK/BEARD & BELLY
6157 N. Broadway - Edgewater
We go to this Edgewater gem for slow-cooked, tavern-style brunch: the award-winning grilled cheese, the burgers, and the fruit and cream pies from sister spot Honeypie Bakeshop that we always order one more slice of than we mean to. The bar, the patio and the walk-up bakery counter don't hurt. Weekend brunch runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
PHOTO VIA: FACEBOOK/TRE KRONOR
3258 W. Foster Ave. - North Park
Owners and chefs Patty and Larry put their Scandinavian roots into everything here, and we've never been disappointed. We order the Swedish pancakes with lingonberries, the orange vanilla French toast and the potato sausage, and we fight over the quiche. Closed Mondays, with hours that vary by day from Tuesday through Sunday.
PHOTO VIA: FACEBOOK/AMERIKAS RESTAURANT
734 Lake St. - Oak Park
Amerikas brings Latin American and American influences together into what we'd call the most reliable brunch west of the city. We're ordering the steak chilaquiles, the quesabirria and the churros, and we appreciate that the bottomless mimosas come with guava and pomegranate options. Brunch runs daily, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
PHOTO VIA: FACEBOOK/CESAR'S KILLER MARGARITAS
2924 N. Broadway - Lakeview
We've been coming to this family-owned Lakeview fixture since it landed on Broadway in 2001. More than 50 handmade menu items, a dozen margarita flavors and traditional handmade desserts — and we'll take that rooftop deck any warm afternoon.
Photo via Pilsen Yards
1163 W. 18th St. - Pilsen
When we want brunch that turns into an afternoon, we take the patio here. Weekend brunch runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. with chilaquiles, ceviche and guacamole worth ordering, and the covered patio with fans makes it one of our better August calls. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Photo via dellrooster.com
1825 W. Chicago Ave. - West Town
Dell' Rooster is our West Town go-to for a decadent Latin American brunch menu, served Wednesday through Sunday. We take our pick of savory dishes like papas con chorizo and the short rib skillet, or give in to the dulce de leche pancakes.
Photo via fora
311 N. Morgan St. - Fulton Market
Tucked into Fulton Market's Emily Hotel, Fora is where executive chef Marcello Florio's Italian roots meet a global lens. Weekend brunch runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. with its own dedicated menu and bottomless mimosas, and we'd put that patio near the top of the neighborhood.
Photo via FSR MAGAZINE
1118 N. State St. - Gold Coast
Somerset has leaned all the way into the Mediterranean, and we think brunch at the Viceroy is better for it. Chef Verlord Laguatan's menu runs on warm spices, bright herbs and stone-fired breads, with harissa, za'atar, pistachio and dukkah alongside the pastries and eggs. Brunch is served daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Updated AUGUST 2026
Know of a fire brunch place we need to try? Let us know!
