Best Brunch In Boston
As an avid Sunday brunch and everyday coffee enthusiast, I thought it would be fitting to re-vamp an old series of mine featuring my favorite cafés and restaurants in Boston. This time…brunch edition.
Below are eight different options featuring some of the best brunch food I’ve had in my four years of living in Boston. Ranging from small shops to established bakeries, there’s a little bit of everything.
I hope you’re not too hungry reading this…enjoy, and let me know where I should try next.
I stumbled across Petit Robert and I was running errands in the South End a few weeks ago and was immediately stopped in my tracks. A French restaurant…in Boston…that I haven’t tried yet?! I was so excited.
Zach and I had a dinner reservation for a little pre-valentines night out and ending up returning on Sunday to celebrate our valentine’s brunch. It was just that good! Before we arrived, we received a call saying that one of their greenhouses had opened up and we could reserve it. We instantly took it and were treated to an outdoor and safe dining experience, with a personal heater to keep us warm outside. It was so beautiful and a unique experience to be eating inside a greenhouse, nestled in the South End of Boston. And, perhaps the best part for two college students; there was no additional cost! This is absolutely shocking as most restaurants offering an option like this will easily charge upwards of $170 to rent and reserve the space. So thank you, Petit Robert!
We split the viennoiserie basket and both ordered hot lattes; mine with a cinnamon stick for added flavor. We both agreed that the pain au chocolate was the best we ever had, as it arrived still toasty and the chocolate was perfectly melty inside. Next, I ordered the sautéed spinach eggs benedict and Zach had the quiche du jour! Everything was so delicious and after only two meals here, it’s now one of my Boston favorites. And it’s also a great place to practice your french!
Located right by the Boston Common and DTX, this little spot is packed with brunch options. My friend Jackie and I visited for the first time in between classes in March 2020 (just before COVID struck hard in Boston) and were delighted by the customer service and overall experience at Café Bonjour. Not only were there tons of options for dairy-free and vegan needs, but the staff was so friendly and outgoing. We chatted with the owner and learned all about the history of the building. It was great to connect with a business owner one on one and make another personal connection in the city.
When trying out a new place, Jackie and I tend to order two things and then go ‘splitsies’ on them in order to have a little bit of both. We got our coffee orders and decided on the classic egg and cheese with plant-based sausage and the signature blueberry bowl. A little sweet-n-savory, if you will. We were in heaven! It was the perfect weekday brunch fix.
Sonsie has been a brunch favorite of mine since my freshman year of college. I remember the first time Zach and I went here, we trudged through the snow for our 10 am reservation…but it was so worth it. Located on Newbury St, it’s the perfect place to stop after you’ve walked and shopped the street. My personal favorite part is the French café styled seating at the front of the restaurant that allows you to people watch and soak in the sunshine.
Because we go together fairly frequently, we’ve gotten to try lots of things off the menu; but shown above are our favorites. I used to get the Nutella stuffed french toast, but I believe they have now substituted it with banana fosters french toast which I can imagine is equally as tasty! I’ve also tried the avocado toast which was sublime and one of their seasonal salad options which was refreshing and zingy. Zach usually leans on the more savory side of brunch but his go-to is the quiche. He’s also ordered the breakfast sandwich and egg dish and loved it! The potatoes are especially tasty. However, no matter what we order we keep coming back for the food and atmosphere Sonsie has.
I had been longing to try Gaslight for a while and finally booked a reservation to celebrate my first Sunday brunch in Boston as a 21-year old! I went with my friends Claire and Abby and we had a great time all around.
Claire and I both ordered a vanilla vodka-infused espresso drink (which by the way, was very strong!) and Abby got a mimosa to start off. I decided on the spinach and feta omelet, Claire got an avo-toast and Abby got her favorite; eggs Benedict! I think that was one of the best omelets I’ve had and the feta was just so creamy.
Sadly, Gaslight has now closed permanently due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s planned that another restaurant, Brasserie, will be taking its place and opening in the Spring of 2021. If it is anything like its predecessor it will be the perfect brunch spot and I look forward to trying it!
Another midweek brunch icon is South End Buttery. Jackie and I ventured out to treat ourselves before class one morning and left feeling happier than ever to begin our workday. We also had the pleasure of a little furry friend waiting for his owner outside the window that gave us plenty of entertainment while we ate. That’s just the nature of the South End I think, and why it’s my favorite Boston neighborhood. It just seems like happy moments just magically occur there.
We got our coffee orders and both decided on an avo-toast moment. The combination of the radish, pumpkin seeds, and avocado was divine. It was the perfect ratio of bread to avocado…I know it sounds silly, but these things actually matter if you want that ‘perfect’ bite. Though we only got the avocado toast, we were drooling over the pastries and breakfast sandwiches that were being prepared in front of us as we ate. We are certainly coming back for more!
Another post-21st birthday celebration, my friend Olivia took me here to celebrate. We had both heard so much about their unique New Orleans-inspired menu and couldn’t wait to try it for ourselves. As soon as we sat down we were amazed at the interior. It felt somewhere in between haunted gothic and elegantly modern…and we loved it.
We also did a little ‘splitsie’ action and ordered the iconic beignets, the buttermilk fried chicken thighs, and the baked brie to share. When I tell you that absolutely everything was memorable and had so many flavor combinations, I truly mean it. I've never thought of pairing watermelon with chicken and honey-butter but it was to die for. We ate every last bit of that brunch feast and certainly had powdered sugar on our lips to prove it.
Jackie and I are both big time oatmeal lovers. So when we found this little café specializing in oatmeal…we knew we had to try it. Located in Davis Square in Cambridge, it was the best pre-thrifting stop. Quick and easy, but certainly not lacking in taste or quality. I chose to try the banana pb bowl and Jackie opted for the nuts over berries. Of course, we tried each other’s and I can easily say they were good in their own ways and proved the point that oatmeal is not boring! We both want to go back and try some more unique options, like their savory sriracha oatmeal with a fried egg on top!
I saved this one for last on purpose ;) If you’re from the Boston area, I know what you’re probably thinking…duh, everyone loves Tatte. But maybe, just maybe, it’s because it actually is that good.
This is everyone in Boston's go-to for a brunch fix, lunch fix, or just plain old coffee fix. My favorite latte ever is made here, and I’ve yet to find one in Boston that even compares. The ‘house latte’ is infused with honey halva and cardamom and it’s the reason I now use that spice in my homebrew as well. It is truly addicting. Some personal pastry favorites include the apple croissant and chocolate rose.
For brunch food, I usually tend to go with an egg option as they are always cooked to sunny-side up perfection. I’ve also tried the french toast and it was unlike any other with their fresh-baked challah bread. If you’re dining with a friend, or on a date, I’d recommend the Shakshuka as it’s slightly larger and very filling! But honestly, I think everything on their menu is worth trying. And there are so many locations now it makes finding one so easy!
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed - happy brunching, xoxo.