25 Best Washington D.C. Breakfast & Weekend Brunch Spots

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Sizzling eggs, the aroma of bacon, and steaming hot, freshly brewed coffee - breakfast could arguably be the best meal of the day, and Washington, DC has a plethora of fantastic spots for such morning bites. Traditionally, Washington D.C. has always been more of a brunch than breakfast city, but options are on the increase with an array of city and suburban diners, breakfast sandwich haunts, and cute cafés with creative menus. Whether you are a coffee-and-croissant-on-the-go kind of breakfaster or prefer long, lazy brunches of eggs benedict smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels, and sparkling mimosas, Washington DC has a spot for you.

© Old Ebbitt Grill

Old Ebbitt Grill is an iconic tavern in downtown Washington that has been serving award-winning cuisine for more than 160 years. Established in 1856 and just steps from The White House and the city’s famous museums, the restaurant has always been a favorite haunt of celebrities, theater-goers, journalists, and political insiders, as well as Presidents Grant, Cleveland, Harding and Theodore Roosevelt. Set in a beautiful building with a Beaux-Arts façade, brass and beveled glass windows, cozy mahogany, and velvet booths and marble bars, the Victorian-style eatery serves upscale American saloon food with an emphasis on fresh and seasonal ingredients and accompanied by fine wines, artisan beers, and signature spirits. Four full service bars offer Clyde's Classic Cocktails, and an impressive selection of wines by the glass, all of which is served by friendly, professional wait staff in a convivial, relaxed atmosphere. Next read: cheap weekend getaways

675 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: 202-347-4800

© Wicked Waffle

Inspired by the 600-year-old European treat, Wicked Waffle is a popular chain that focuses on savory, sweet and made-to-order waffles with a wide variety of delicious toppings. Serving breakfast, lunch and early dinner, seven days a week, the casual eatery also serves a selection of waffles sandwiches, homemade soups, salads, sides, and specials such as a liege waffle studded with pearl sugar. Wicked Waffle offers catering services for special events, and has gluten-free waffles on the menu for diners with specific dietary requirements.

1712 I St NW, Washington, DC 20006, Phone: 202-944-2700

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The Brookland Grill is a casual neighborhood restaurant that is continuously packed with regulars, college students and hungry first-timers, whose reputation for serving delicious old-fashioned food in large portions is renowned. Established over 11 years ago, the family-friendly restaurant is a favorite breakfast spot with a menu of favorites such as breakfast plates of eggs, bacon, hash browns, tomatoes, home fries, and grits, stacks of syrupy pancakes, French toast, chicken and waffles, and Belgian waffles, and gourmet breakfast sandwiches and wraps. Beverages include fresh fruit juices, house-roasted coffee, and tea, and a range of soft drinks.

3528 12th St NE, Washington, DC 20017, Phone: 202-526-7419

© Farmers & Distillers

Farmers & Distillers is a restaurant, bar, and distillery run by the Founding Farmers team that offers a creative menu of globally-inspired fare and a variety of beverages mixed with house-made spirits. Owned and operated by restaurateurs, Mike Vucurevich and Dan Simons, whose aim is to transform the American dining experience by focusing on taking diners back to their roots when it comes to food, Farmers & Distillers serves made-from-scratch fare prepared using ingredients and produce sourced from the 47,000 farmers that make up the North Dakota Farmer’s Union. Signature dishes include Dan’s Mum’s Eggs and Soldiers with soft boiled eggs on brioche toast; Cacio E Pepe with scrambled eggs, pecorino cheese, roasted tomatoes, and cracked black pepper; Egg Foo Yong with broccolini, carrots, mushrooms and a hoisin ginger sauce; and Chef Joe’s Scramble with hash browns, potatoes, mortadella, and spinach.

600 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, Phone: 202-464-3001

© Belga Café

Belga Café is a charming Belgian-inspired bistro that serves an array of authentic European fare such as mussels and frites, along with an extensive list of Belgian ales. The bistro is a favorite haunt for Sunday brunch, which features a menu of classic and creative dishes such as oven-grilled mussels on the half-shell with garlic butter, Belgian onion soup with Gruyère cheese and croutons, and Chesapeake Smokehouse salmon with pickled cucumber, dill crème Fraiche, and baby crêpes. Hearty entrées include Flemish beef stew with Leffe Brown sauce, Belgian frites, mayonnaise, and an endive salad, grilled West African sea bass with melted spinach, mushrooms, and lemon mosto oil, and Belgian steak tartare with fried onions, cornichons, capers, fried quail eggs, and Belgian frites.

514 8th St SE, Washington, DC 20003, Phone: 202-544-0100

© Bistro Bis

Located in the elegant Kimpton George Hotel on Capitol Hill, Bistro Bis is an upscale bistro that draws the Capitol crowd who gather to enjoy classic French fare in stylish surroundings. Boasting opulent cherry wood décor, a beautiful zinc bar, and soft patterned tile flooring, the tiered dining area is warm and intimate with a sophisticated ambiance. The bistro serves a seasonal menu with a focus on modern interpretations of traditional French bistro fare, with dishes such as Beef Bourguignon, Endive Salade, classic Steak Frites, Salade Frisée, Steak Tartare, and a variety of fresh seafood plates. The cuisine is accompanied by a creative, thoughtful wine list, and an extensive selection of signature classic French cocktails.

15 E St NW, Washington, DC 20001, Phone: 202-661-2700

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© Blue Duck Tavern

The Blue Duck Tavern is an award-winning Michelin-star restaurant in the heart of Georgetown that serves creative American cuisine handcrafted from the region’s freshest, seasonal ingredients. The casually-chic West End tavern-style eatery boasts a warm and welcoming ambiance with wooden tables and accents of dark oak and blue burlap and offers a seasonal menu of simple, rustic food with an artisan approach. The dramatic open kitchen allows diners to watch the expert chefs at work as they produce an array of mouthwatering cuisine from the wood-burning Molteni oven, and the cuisine is accompanied by a selection of exceptional wines from the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling cellar. Guests can dine in the rustic-modern dining space or on the outdoor garden terrace in the warmer summer months, and a secluded Chef’s Table is available for private dinner parties and food and wine events.

1201 24th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20037, Phone: 202-419-6755

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© Busboys and Poets

Busboys and Poets is a community gathering place that was founded in 2005 by Iraqi-American artist, activist, and restaurateur, Anas ‘Andy’ Shallal. Embraced the surrounding progressive community, especially activists opposed to the Iraq War, Busboys and Poets is now located in six distinctive neighborhoods in the Washington Metropolitan area and is a popular community resource for artists, activists, dreamers, thinkers, and writers. The café is open all day and serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, and brunch, along with decadent desserts, a kid’s menu and a special menu for catering and events.

2021 14th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009, Phone: 202-387-7638

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© Café Deluxe

Café Deluxe is a friendly chain with several locations around the city that offers hearty breakfast, lunch and weekend brunches. The breakfast and brunch menu features starters of beignets fried and rolled in cinnamon sugar and nutmeg and served with honey butter and Greek yogurt with housemade granola, mixed berries, and honey. Hearty entrées range from blueberry pancakes served with scrambled eggs, and Applewood smoked bacon, toasted bagels and lox and spinach, feta and tomato omelets to ham and cheese croissants, steak and eggs served with house potatoes, and the Bistro Classic of cornflake-encrusted French toast with turkey sausage, scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes.

3228 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20016, Phone: 202-686-2233

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© Commissary DC

Commissary D.C. is a casual neighborhood café, coffeehouse, lounge, and bar in Logan Circle that serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, as well as a variety of snacks, house-made smoothies, and a selection of decadent desserts. The café boasts indoor and outdoor patio seating with comfortable armchairs and offers a diverse inexpensive menu that includes all-day breakfast, gourmet sandwiches, freshly prepared salads, wood-fired pizzas, and more. The large bar and cozy lounge area have plush seating with high-speed Internet access where guests can enjoy a meal or a cocktail during the daily happy hour.

1443 P St NW, Washington, DC 20005, Phone: 202-299-0018

© Fare Well

Fare Well is a veggie-forward diner-style bakery, bar, and bistro that focuses on vegetarian or less meat-focused-fare. Owned by Doron Petersan of Sticky Fingers fame, Fare Well is named for the old phrase of ‘Fare thee well,’ which means ‘to take care of yourself and take care of everybody around you. ’ And Petersan does just this with a delicious all-day breakfast of bistro fare that includes homemade quiches, frittatas, baklava, freshly baked bread, pies, and cookies, along with heartier plates of pasta, calzones, pizzas, and empanadas. Beverages range from steaming house-roasted coffee and tea, fresh fruit juices and a range of soft drinks to casual wines, craft beers, and handcrafted cocktails.

406 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002, Phone: 202-367-9600

© Farmers Fishers Bakers

Located on the banks of the Potomac River, in Georgetown’s lively Washington Harbour area, Farmers Fishers Bakers is a farmer-owned eco-chic restaurant with spectacular river views that serves farm-to-table American fare, fresh sushi and signature cocktails in an unpretentious, relaxed setting. The urban farmhouse serves a seasonal menu of made-from-scratch fare using locally sourced ingredients and products with a focus on environmental sustainability. Farmers Fishers Bakers are open for lunch, dinner, and an ever-popular weekend brunch, which features a variety of tables laden with different fare from Butchers and Carver’s Tables heaving with meats, to aGardener’s Table packed with salads and vegetables, and a Dessert Table boasting sweet treats.

3000 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007, Phone: 202-298-8783

© Florida Avenue Grill

Established in 1944 by the Wilson family with room for only two counter stools, the Florida Avenue Grill has grown into one of the city’s go-to places for breakfast to enjoy large portions of down-home Southern classics. Hailed as the oldest soul food restaurant in the world, the Florida Avenue Grill has withstood the test of time to continue serving the community heaty fare and beverages in a friendly, inviting atmosphere. The breakfast menu is packed with traditional classics such as three-egg omelets with a variety of fillings, hot buttermilk biscuits and gravy, homemade corn muffins, thick-cut French toast, and stacks of syrupy pancakes. Signature dishes include fish and grits, which includes fried catfish, croaker or salmon cakes, served with two eggs, grits, biscuits or corn muffins, and toast, along with hot coffee or tea.

1100 Florida Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20009, Phone: 202-265-1586

© Founding Farmers DC

Founding Farmers DC is a farm-to-table restaurant that focuses on market-driven comfort cuisine prepared using sustainable, locally sourced ingredients. The co-op-owned American eatery is named for the Founding Fathers, who were devoted farmers played an essential role in the American agricultural tradition before they became trailblazers for the country. The rustic chic restaurant serves breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner, seven days a week with menus featuring classic dishes such as chicken and waffles, egg benedicts, hashes, and scrambles, buttermilk pancakes, French toast, along with light bites like berry yogurt and granola, beignets, and peanut butter banana toast.

1924 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20006, Phone: 202-822-8783

© Le Diplomate

Le Diplomate is a bustling brasserie in Washington, D.C.’s resurgent 14th Street corridor that serves classic French fare and drinks in a convivial atmosphere. The charming diner pays homage French café culture and harnesses the artful spirit of a Parisian brasserie with a beautiful zinc bar, tiled floors and outdoor sidewalk seating where guests can savor a variety of Gallic classics such as steak frites and escargots, onion soup gratinée, cassoulet, and bouillabaisse. Freshly baked bread and pastries are served warm from the oven every day, and the delicious cuisine is accompanied by a thoughtfully curated wine list and specialty cocktail program.

1601 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, Phone: 202-332-3333

© Le Pain Quotidien

Located in the PNC building in the heart of Washington’s downtown business district, Le Pain Quotidien is a French-inspired chain with locations around the city that serves specialty coffees and light meals in a casual, relaxed setting. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows with beautiful city views, a handcrafted wooden bar and reclaimed iron-gate and exquisitely stained glass windows, the 17th Street store boasts a lovely rustic charm with a menu to match. Dishes are prepared with the freshest, locally sourced ingredients, including the sweetest jams and preserves and fresh fruits and vegetables, and served with simplicity and style. Breakfasters can tuck into freshly baked bread, pastries, and pies, along with a variety of egg dishes, pancakes, and French toast, with house-roasted coffee and specialty coffee drinks.

800 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20006, Phone: 202-688-0341

© Lincoln's Waffle Shop

Lincoln's Waffle Shop is a longtime Penn Quarter fixture that serves early breakfast, lunch. Located across the street from Ford's Theatre, the short-order diner offers a menu of classics like the regular egg-and-pancake fare, country fried steaks, omelets, and several vegetarian options, along with frisbee-sized crispy fried chicken and waffles, and eggy French toast topped with bacon and drowning in maple syrup. Other delectable dishes on the breakfast menu include salmon cakes, blueberry pancakes, corn beef hash, eggs and toast, country fried steak, and omelets with grits. The comfortable, family-friendly restaurant is open for breakfast, and lunch, seven days a week.

504 10th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20004, Phone: 202-638-4009

© Open City

Part of the Tryst Group of restaurants, Open City, is a coffeehouse, diner, and bar that serves an excellent breakfast in a relaxed, laid-back setting on Calvert Street. Boasting a friendly, neighborhood vibe, Open City welcomes both locals and visitors who come to enjoy a communal ambiance while dining on delicious fare. The breakfast menu features favorites such as plain, blueberry, or chocolate chip buttermilk pancakes, Peaches -N- Cream Waffles with sweetened whipped cream, stuffed French toast with citrus cream cheese filling and blueberry sauce, fried chicken, and waffles with bacon bourbon syrup, and fried chicken biscuits and gravy served with an egg done in any style. Vegetarians can tuck into parfaits of yogurt, berries, banana, and house-made granola or tofu scramble with black beans, corn, and roasted tomatoes.

2331 Calvert Street NW Washington, DC 20008, Phone: 202-332-2331

© Seasons

Set within the elegant Four Seasons hotel in Georgetown, Seasons is a beautifully appointed New American restaurant that serves a power breakfast and one of the most expensive brunches in the city. The stylishly designed restaurant features crisp white linens and gleaming silverware and diners can tuck into unlimited amounts custom-made omelets, poached shrimp, bagels and lox, braised short ribs and pork chops, oysters and Asian noodles, French toast sticks, cured meats, and mimosas. The restaurant also has a seasonally changing menu with farm-focused fare for those who prefer a la carte selections and a raw bar.

2800 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC 20007, Phone: 202-342-0444

© Slim's Diner

Located in the historic Murrell building in Washington D.C.'s close-knit Petworth neighborhood Slim’s Diner is a family restaurant and diner owned by restaurateur Paul Ruppert that offers hearty breakfast and lunch options and boozy milkshakes in a retro, laid-back vibe. Named for James “Slim” Crawford, a carpenter whose handiwork Paul Ruppert admires, the throwback establishment is a favorite breakfast spot with favorites on the menu like buttermilk pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, tofu scrambles, and a variety of omelets with different fillings. Daily specials include Slim’s Breakfast of cheesy scrambled eggs, bacon, hash browns, and silver dollar pancakes, and the Petworth Special of two eggs over easy, sausage, hash browns, and biscuits and gravy.

4200 9th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20011, Phone: 202-783-0699

© Soho Tea & Coffee

Soho Tea & Coffee is a friendly neighborhood coffee shop that offers an inviting refuge for the community to gather for companionship, conversation, and great coffee. Filled with the warm, enticing aromas of freshly brewed and roasted coffee, the café serves an array of coffees and specialty coffee drinks, loose leaf teas, and other beverages, along with a menu of light fare in an arty and creative environment. The breakfast menu is served all day and features omelets with a combination of spinach, turkey, ham, cheese, onion, tomato, and sweet peppers, croissants with ham, egg and cheese, breakfast wraps and bagels, and toast and eggs. Sweet treats include a variety of freshly baked cakes, pies, and pastries, ice cream, floats, and espresso shakes.

2150 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037, USA, 2150 P St NW, Washington, DC 20037

© Ted's Bulletin

Ted’s Bulletin is a local chain with several locations around the city and suburbs that serves hearty breakfast and lunch menus, packed with classic comfort dishes for a traditional, just-like-home experience. Start the day with farm-fresh eggs with strips of crispy bacon, golden hash browns, thick-cut French toast, stacks of fluffy pancakes or warm, flaky pop tarts made with homemade dough and filled with a variety of sweet fillings. Ted’s Bulletin is renowned for their adult milkshakes which are available in delectable flavors such as Irish Caramel Coffee Irish Cream, Mocha Kahlúa, Grasshopper Kahlúa and crème de menthe, Nutty Professor Hazelnut liqueur, and Toasted Coconut Coconut Rum.

1818 14th St NW, Washington, D.C. 20009, Phone: 202-265-8337

© the DINER

The Diner is a retro-style eatery on 18th Street that serves creative comfort food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, along with homemade desserts and milkshakes, and an extensive list of libations from the full-service bar. Brunch delights include starters of Fried Chicken Biscuits with cheddar, bacon, and honey butter or French Toast Sticks with a side of citrus whipped cream. Main dishes include blueberry, banana-nut, or chocolate chip pancakes, biscuits and gravy with Italian sausage gravy, and scallions, or migas featuring scrambled eggs, Tex-Mex corn, chorizo sausage, salsa, guacamole and sour cream, served on fried corn tortilla chips. Beverages include fresh fruit juices, house-roasted coffee, and tea, and arrange of sodas.

2453 18th St NW, Washington, DC 20009, Phone: 202-232-8800

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Despite its name, the Market Lunch is an Eastern Market mainstay renowned for its fantastic breakfasts with delicious options like blueberry buckwheat pancakes and ‘The Brick’ breakfast sandwich. The cafeteria-style, no frills, D.C. dive in Capitol Hill has been dishing out hearty breakfast and lunch comfort food to locals and visitors alike since 1978 with a menu of classic and creative dishes such as Blueberry Buckwheat Pancakes with real maple syrup, Crab Cake Benedict with Potatoes, and Shrimp and Grits with sautéed tomatoes and Bacon. Also popular is French Toast with Whipped Cream and Fresh Fruit, and Fresh Local Rockfish with Eggs and Grits.

225 7th St SE, Washington, D.C. 20003, Phone: 202-547-8444

© Tony's Breakfast

Tony’s Breakfast is a family-owned and operated eatery that serves hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners in a casual, laid-back setting. Open seven days a week and located in a landmark building in the heart of H Street where it has stood for more than 20 years, Tony’s Breakfast is an excellent spot to grab heaving plates of eggs, bacon, hash browns, and grits, or griddle specials like stacks of pancakes, Belgian waffles, French toast, or multi-egg omelets with various fillings. Early morning cravings include English muffins topped with eggs, avocado, spinach, and cheddar, or Tony's Fat Boy: Big Breakfast Box filled with two eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes and golden fries. Beverages include fresh fruit juices, house-roasted coffee, and tea, and arrange of sodas.

1387 H St NE, Washington, DC 20002, Phone: 202-397-7750