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A plate of fried white turnip cakes with a black sauce sits on a wooden table with wooden steamer baskets in the background.
Thick and creamy pan-fried turnip cakes from Winsor Dim Sum Cafe in Chinatown.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

13 Top-Notch Brunches Around Boston

Stacks of pancakes, endless dim sum, wood-fired pizzas, and more

by Eater Staff Updated
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Thick and creamy pan-fried turnip cakes from Winsor Dim Sum Cafe in Chinatown.
| Erika Adams/Eater Boston
by Eater Staff Updated

With a wide-open weekend and endless hours to linger over eggs Benedict, syrup-laden French toast, piping hot coffee, and boozy beverages, nothing suits the day better than brunch.

Boston readily embraces the weekend ritual with breakfast pizzas, baklava pancakes, and an endless parade of dim sum. Here’s a sampling of excellent Boston-area brunch options, a mix of neighborhood mainstays and some newer spots worth exploring.

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The Neighborhood Restaurant

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Classic breakfast options and huge portions abound at this aptly named neighborhood restaurant in Somerville’s Union Square. Eggs, French toast, home fries, pancakes, omelets, and more are all on the menu at the family-run restaurant that has been around since 1983. The Borges family’s Portuguese roots show up in some of the dishes. A must-have is the Cream of Wheat, which also comes as one of the appetizer choices with any breakfast selection. Venture onto the handwritten specials page of the menu for huge, flavor-packed pancakes, French toast, and more. Breakfast starts at 7 a.m. daily.

25 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 623-9710
(617) 623-9710
A white bowl of Cream of Wheat sits on a dark background, topped with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.
Cream of Wheat at Neighborhood in Somerville.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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Monument Restaurant & Tavern

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Soaring ceilings; handsome, rustic wood; and brick walls make for a relaxing backdrop to one of the most loved brunches in Charlestown. Saucy birria breakfast tacos, fluffy lemon and poppyseed pancakes, and breakfast pizza are all on offer alongside buckets of prosecco, cinnamon toast brunch cocktails with cereal milk, and more. Brunch runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

251 Main St, Boston, MA 02129
(617) 337-5191
(617) 337-5191

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Brewer's Fork

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Popular Charlestown pizzeria Brewer’s Fork has a little bit of everything for brunch, served on Saturday and Sunday: oysters, charcuterie, an ever-changing wood-fired frittata, a variety of pizzas, and more. Brunch runs on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

7 Moulton St, Charlestown, MA 02129
(617) 337-5703
(617) 337-5703
Overhead view of a pizza in a takeout pizza box topped with fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and a meaty jam.
A takeout pizza from Brewer’s Fork (the Bacon Jammy: bacon jam, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil).
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston.

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Brookline Lunch

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The name is a bit of a misnomer; Brookline Lunch serves breakfast and brunch all day in Cambridge (on Brookline Street, to be fair; and sure, there’s lunch too). Under the current ownership for over 30 years but dating all the way back to 1937, this old-timey spot has become especially popular in recent years for its pancakes, especially the baklava pancakes, which were originally meant to be a special but jumped to the regular menu. The rest of the breakfast menu is full of eggs: omelets, Benedicts, and such. Open six days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.

9 Brookline St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354-2983
(617) 354-2983

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North Street Grille

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Diners love this North End brunch destination for its over-the-top pancakes, among other options (think Nutella French toast sticks, chicken and waffle sliders, lobster Benedict, and more.) Even martinis come with a brunch theme: blueberry muffin martinis, maple waffle martinis, and more. Open hours are Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

229 North St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 720-2010
(617) 720-2010

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Cafe Luna

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This Cambridge restaurant is known for its weekend brunch, offering a large menu that includes a variety of cinnamon swirl French toast options, numerous fancy omelets, pancakes (try the lemon ricotta or Oreo), eggs Benedict, and more. An abbreviated selection is available for weekday breakfast, too. Weekend brunch gets started at 9 a.m.

612 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-3400
(617) 576-3400

Branch Line

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This Watertown standby, known for its rotisserie chicken (and killer beer list and bocce on the patio), serves a weekend brunch full of favorites: the restaurant’s essential sugar snap pea salad, half and whole rotisserie chickens, breakfast sandwiches, and more. Grab a pint of ice cream or sorbet, too. Brunch runs Saturdays and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Find similar offerings at sibling spot Shy Bird in Kendall Square or South Boston.)

321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 420-1900
(617) 420-1900
Rotisserie chicken on a plate in a pool of sauce.
Rotisserie chicken at Branch Line.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

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Lulu's Allston

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Available seven days a week until 3 p.m., Lulu’s brunch menu features a lot of booze, draft cold brew, and hearty food options like breakfast totchos, a “meaty masterpiece” omelet, short rib mac and cheese, “white trash hash,” a variety of Benedicts, burgers, and more. Brunch starts at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends.

421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134
(617) 787-1117
(617) 787-1117
Poached eggs, hollandaise, and braised short ribs served over a pile of tater tots.
“White trash hash” at Lulu’s Allston.
Katie Chudy/Eater Boston

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Stillwater

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Stillwater’s Sarah Wade was previously known for her comfort food-laden brunches as chef at Lulu’s Allston (see above). With her own restaurant, she carries on the tradition with dishes like tater tots smothered with pulled pork, poached eggs, chile oil, and hollandaise; brunch sandwiches on Texas toast; and fluffy stacks of pancakes. Brunch starts at 11 a.m. on the weekends.

120 Kingston St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 936-3079
(617) 936-3079
A white bowl full of empanadas topped with fluffy scrambled eggs sits on a restaurant bar. There’s a pink cocktail beside the dish.
Empanadas rancheros at Stillwater.
Stillwater

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Winsor Dim Sum Café

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Get an early head start or prepare to wait for a seat at Winsor, a tiny Chinatown hot spot known for its excellent dim sum. Don’t miss the turnip cakes, spareribs with black bean sauce, and preserved egg and pork congee, all on the $5.69 dim sum menu. Service starts at 10 a.m. daily. Cash only. (If you prefer your dim sum whizzing by in carts while you’re seated in a banquet hall, nearby Empire Garden and Hei La Moon are great options.)

10 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 338-1688
(617) 338-1688
Three dark wooden steamer baskets filled with buns and dumplings plus plates and bowls of other food are arranged on a wooden table.
A spread of dim sum, including the turnip cakes and spareribs, at Winsor.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

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Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen

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Buckle in for an all-you-can-eat weekend brunch feast at Southern comfort food favorite Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen. Unlimited quantities of eggs, fried catfish cheddar grits, French toast, and waffles await for $25.95 per person (for adults), $22.95 (for seniors), or $19.95 (for kids ages 6 to 12). It’s only available on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-1100
(617) 536-1100

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Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

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With both weekday brunch and weekend brunch, this South Boston cafe’s menus are jam-packed with sweet and savory options. From the griddle, the fruity pebble pancakes — which have become somewhat of a signature dish for the restaurant — are doused in a cereal milk anglaise, and there is brioche French toast topped with berries and cream. There are plenty of options leaning in the lunch direction as well, from entree-sized salads to wood-fired pizzas. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends, and goes until 3 p.m.

425 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 765-8636
(617) 765-8636
Thick French toast topped with strawberries, blackberries, bananas, and powdered sugar
French toast at Lincoln in South Boston.
Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

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The Broadway

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Keep an eye out for the Broadway’s ever-changing doughnut specials, like this boozy s’mores doughnut. Also on the brunch menu: blueberry pancakes, French toast sticks, wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and more, not to mention mimosa towers and a nitro espresso martini on draft. Brunch runs Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

726 E Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 307-6480
(617) 307-6480

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The Neighborhood Restaurant

25 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143

Classic breakfast options and huge portions abound at this aptly named neighborhood restaurant in Somerville’s Union Square. Eggs, French toast, home fries, pancakes, omelets, and more are all on the menu at the family-run restaurant that has been around since 1983. The Borges family’s Portuguese roots show up in some of the dishes. A must-have is the Cream of Wheat, which also comes as one of the appetizer choices with any breakfast selection. Venture onto the handwritten specials page of the menu for huge, flavor-packed pancakes, French toast, and more. Breakfast starts at 7 a.m. daily.

25 Bow St, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 623-9710
(617) 623-9710
A white bowl of Cream of Wheat sits on a dark background, topped with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.
Cream of Wheat at Neighborhood in Somerville.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Monument Restaurant & Tavern

251 Main St, Boston, MA 02129

Soaring ceilings; handsome, rustic wood; and brick walls make for a relaxing backdrop to one of the most loved brunches in Charlestown. Saucy birria breakfast tacos, fluffy lemon and poppyseed pancakes, and breakfast pizza are all on offer alongside buckets of prosecco, cinnamon toast brunch cocktails with cereal milk, and more. Brunch runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

251 Main St, Boston, MA 02129
(617) 337-5191
(617) 337-5191

Brewer's Fork

7 Moulton St, Charlestown, MA 02129

Popular Charlestown pizzeria Brewer’s Fork has a little bit of everything for brunch, served on Saturday and Sunday: oysters, charcuterie, an ever-changing wood-fired frittata, a variety of pizzas, and more. Brunch runs on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

7 Moulton St, Charlestown, MA 02129
(617) 337-5703
(617) 337-5703
Overhead view of a pizza in a takeout pizza box topped with fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and a meaty jam.
A takeout pizza from Brewer’s Fork (the Bacon Jammy: bacon jam, cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil).
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston.

Brookline Lunch

9 Brookline St, Cambridge, MA 02139

The name is a bit of a misnomer; Brookline Lunch serves breakfast and brunch all day in Cambridge (on Brookline Street, to be fair; and sure, there’s lunch too). Under the current ownership for over 30 years but dating all the way back to 1937, this old-timey spot has become especially popular in recent years for its pancakes, especially the baklava pancakes, which were originally meant to be a special but jumped to the regular menu. The rest of the breakfast menu is full of eggs: omelets, Benedicts, and such. Open six days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.

9 Brookline St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 354-2983
(617) 354-2983

North Street Grille

229 North St, Boston, MA 02113

Diners love this North End brunch destination for its over-the-top pancakes, among other options (think Nutella French toast sticks, chicken and waffle sliders, lobster Benedict, and more.) Even martinis come with a brunch theme: blueberry muffin martinis, maple waffle martinis, and more. Open hours are Thursday through Sunday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

229 North St, Boston, MA 02113
(617) 720-2010
(617) 720-2010

Cafe Luna

612 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139

This Cambridge restaurant is known for its weekend brunch, offering a large menu that includes a variety of cinnamon swirl French toast options, numerous fancy omelets, pancakes (try the lemon ricotta or Oreo), eggs Benedict, and more. An abbreviated selection is available for weekday breakfast, too. Weekend brunch gets started at 9 a.m.

612 Main St, Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-3400
(617) 576-3400

Branch Line

321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472

This Watertown standby, known for its rotisserie chicken (and killer beer list and bocce on the patio), serves a weekend brunch full of favorites: the restaurant’s essential sugar snap pea salad, half and whole rotisserie chickens, breakfast sandwiches, and more. Grab a pint of ice cream or sorbet, too. Brunch runs Saturdays and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Find similar offerings at sibling spot Shy Bird in Kendall Square or South Boston.)

321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472
(617) 420-1900
(617) 420-1900
Rotisserie chicken on a plate in a pool of sauce.
Rotisserie chicken at Branch Line.
Rachel Leah Blumenthal/Eater Boston

Lulu's Allston

421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134

Available seven days a week until 3 p.m., Lulu’s brunch menu features a lot of booze, draft cold brew, and hearty food options like breakfast totchos, a “meaty masterpiece” omelet, short rib mac and cheese, “white trash hash,” a variety of Benedicts, burgers, and more. Brunch starts at 11:30 a.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends.

421 Cambridge St, Allston, MA 02134
(617) 787-1117
(617) 787-1117
Poached eggs, hollandaise, and braised short ribs served over a pile of tater tots.
“White trash hash” at Lulu’s Allston.
Katie Chudy/Eater Boston

Stillwater

120 Kingston St, Boston, MA 02111

Stillwater’s Sarah Wade was previously known for her comfort food-laden brunches as chef at Lulu’s Allston (see above). With her own restaurant, she carries on the tradition with dishes like tater tots smothered with pulled pork, poached eggs, chile oil, and hollandaise; brunch sandwiches on Texas toast; and fluffy stacks of pancakes. Brunch starts at 11 a.m. on the weekends.

120 Kingston St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 936-3079
(617) 936-3079
A white bowl full of empanadas topped with fluffy scrambled eggs sits on a restaurant bar. There’s a pink cocktail beside the dish.
Empanadas rancheros at Stillwater.
Stillwater

Winsor Dim Sum Café

10 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111

Get an early head start or prepare to wait for a seat at Winsor, a tiny Chinatown hot spot known for its excellent dim sum. Don’t miss the turnip cakes, spareribs with black bean sauce, and preserved egg and pork congee, all on the $5.69 dim sum menu. Service starts at 10 a.m. daily. Cash only. (If you prefer your dim sum whizzing by in carts while you’re seated in a banquet hall, nearby Empire Garden and Hei La Moon are great options.)

10 Tyler St, Boston, MA 02111
(617) 338-1688
(617) 338-1688
Three dark wooden steamer baskets filled with buns and dumplings plus plates and bowls of other food are arranged on a wooden table.
A spread of dim sum, including the turnip cakes and spareribs, at Winsor.
Erika Adams/Eater Boston

Darryl's Corner Bar & Kitchen

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118

Buckle in for an all-you-can-eat weekend brunch feast at Southern comfort food favorite Darryl’s Corner Bar & Kitchen. Unlimited quantities of eggs, fried catfish cheddar grits, French toast, and waffles await for $25.95 per person (for adults), $22.95 (for seniors), or $19.95 (for kids ages 6 to 12). It’s only available on Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

604 Columbus Ave, Boston, MA 02118
(617) 536-1100
(617) 536-1100

Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

425 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

With both weekday brunch and weekend brunch, this South Boston cafe’s menus are jam-packed with sweet and savory options. From the griddle, the fruity pebble pancakes — which have become somewhat of a signature dish for the restaurant — are doused in a cereal milk anglaise, and there is brioche French toast topped with berries and cream. There are plenty of options leaning in the lunch direction as well, from entree-sized salads to wood-fired pizzas. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m. on weekends, and goes until 3 p.m.

425 W Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 765-8636
(617) 765-8636
Thick French toast topped with strawberries, blackberries, bananas, and powdered sugar
French toast at Lincoln in South Boston.
Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

The Broadway

726 E Broadway, Boston, MA 02127

Keep an eye out for the Broadway’s ever-changing doughnut specials, like this boozy s’mores doughnut. Also on the brunch menu: blueberry pancakes, French toast sticks, wood-fired pizzas, burgers, and more, not to mention mimosa towers and a nitro espresso martini on draft. Brunch runs Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

726 E Broadway, Boston, MA 02127
(617) 307-6480
(617) 307-6480

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