Boston Brunch: 5 Restaurants To Try

Breakfast may be the most important meal of the day, but brunch is the best. Fortunately, Boston has a killer brunch scene that has a little something for everyone. Whether you’re looking for a restaurant that will satisfy all of your family members, or a brunch spot that offers Instagram-worthy dishes for your friends, Boston has it all.

For the sake of this blog, I branched out from trying my typical banana pancakes with chocolate chips so that I could accurately write about the variety of options in Boston. It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it. Keep scrolling to see some of my recommendations, and then let me know of some of your favorite brunch spots in Boston in the comment section below.

Somewhere to go for the “gram”

I will be the first to admit that I can’t not take a picture of a beautiful meal. There are some dishes that just beg to be photographed! My friends are the same way, so a meal typically turns into a photo shoot. One of my favorite places to go to with my girlfriends is Sonsie on Newbury St. Not only is the food highly instagrammable, but the ambiance of the restaurant evokes the feeling of dining in France. A couple of brunch dishes that are winners in my eyes are the quiche and the eggs Benedict. Pro-tip: Try Sonsie in the summer when Newbury St. is closed to cars. You can sit outside, soak up the beautiful weather, and savor a great meal.

Homemade quiche, country ham, cheese, spinach, and home fries (front) and eggs Benedict, Canadian bacon, hollandaise, and home fries (back).

Take advantage of “Open Newbury Street” in the summer when cars are prohibited from driving down the street.

Somewhere to take your friends

A fun place to go to with your friends is Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant in Southie, which was named as having the “Best Brunch” in Boston in 2018 by Boston Magazine. They serve dishes I have never seen anywhere else, and they regularly add new options to their menu based on feedback they get from their “Brunch Test Kitchen.” Below is one of my favorite brunch dishes that I have ever had: s’mores pancakes. These pancakes literally tasted like summer in my mouth. If you and your friends want to try some of Lincoln’s unique dishes, make sure you reserve a table ahead of time because it can get crowded.

S’mores pancakes at Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant.

Somewhere to take your family

Gaslight in the South End is a great place to take your family. The French brasserie has savory and sweet brunch options; the staff is so patient and they won’t judge you if you don’t know how to pronounce niçoise (which apparently is not pronounced nick-oy); and the atmosphere is cozy and classy. Going there makes me want to buy a beret and striped shirt. I recommend the Croque-Madame or the Crepes a la Banane—both are 10/10.

Somewhere to get a boozy brunch

If you’re looking to day drink or you’re looking for a little morning boost, I recommend Burro Bar in Brookline. Not only do they serve incredible brunch dishes—peep the smoked salmon Benedict below—but their brunch cocktails deserve an award. My friend went with a classic mimosa, and I ordered “hair of the dog,” which is made with almond horchata cold brew, RumChata, and espresso liqueur. These are truly the best brunch drinks I’ve had in Boston.

Smoked salmon Benedict (front), a classic mimosa (back left), and “hair of the dog” (back right).

Somewhere to get work done

Sometimes Starbucks is a little too chaotic … small coffee shop's seats fill fast … and unless you're waking up at 5 a.m. to beat the crowds, Caffè Nero is a no-go. So when you're looking for a spot that can double as a temporary office, PAUL is your place. PAUL is a French pâtisserie that is located on Washington St. in Boston. I'm sensing a French trend ... Anyways, PAUL is quiet, comfortable, and again, transports me to France. This is a great place to grab a croissant or a Croque-Monsieur and just work through the morning or afternoon.

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