The best brunch in Atlanta

The gorgeously designed restaurant is a bit of a scene at night, but for brunch, it pleasantly buzzes. Forget the avocado toast here; it’s all about the avocado pita. The grilled pita is fluffy and warm, making it the perfect bed for cold smashed avocado, shaved veggies, and a poached egg. If you want something heavier, try the wild mushroom polenta with poached egg and bone marrow.

A morning at Bread & Butterfly will fill you with joie de vivre. The Inman Park eatery shines at brunch, especially if you can grab a seat on its Instagrammable glass-enclosed patio. Start with a classic cocktail like the French 75 (gin, lemon, sugar, sparkling wine) or a sidecar (cognac, Cointreau, lemon, sugar). If you’re feeling eggs, try them soft-scrambled with smoked trout and crème fraîche. Otherwise, the burger Americain with gruyère and caramelized onions is more than satisfying.

This upscale, inventive, and exceptionally friendly spot in the Cascade area is owned by Gocha Hawkins, the celebrity hairstylist. The attention to detail in dishes like fried jalapeno shrimp and grit cakes, Cajun-Creole lump crab fish and grit plate, and smoked salmon BLT shine through. The menu is vegan and pescatarian-friendly. Don’t skip out on dessert, especially fruit pies.

First of all, you must accept that there’s always an insane wait at Westside’s West Egg. The good news is that you can buy a delicious pastry and a cup of coffee from the to-go counter to be devoured while you wait. Assuming you’re not a vegetarian, you’ll want to order the short rib hash with poached eggs, mushrooms, caramelized onions, and skillet potatoes. They do have booze, but the latte specials are worth an order, too.

Don’t mind the line at the original Inman Park location of this stylish, vintage sign-bedecked, brick-walled joint. Folk Art has been serving up renowned brunches since 2013. Southern homestyle fare such as deep-fried cheddar jalapeno grit fritters and roasted pork and chilis over eggs and queso share menu space with staples like three-egg omelets and chicken and waffles. Don’t get overwhelmed by the massive menu — you can’t go wrong with any of the brunch faves here.

If the name Sun In My Belly doesn’t bring a smile to your face, then we can’t help you. The Kirkwood joint, set in a historic building, is beyond charming and reigns supreme when it comes to creative dishes. Parking is limited to a small lot and the street, so it’s a bit of a challenge finding a spot, but hang in there, and you’ll be rewarded. The challah French toast honeyed ricotta and seasonal fruit are not to be missed.

The quintessential Atlanta breakfast spot is set in an old house, a relaxing place to start the day… if you time it right. You may have to wait for brunch on the weekend, but it’ll be worth it if only for a taste of Suzanne Vizethann’s fluffy biscuits (best enjoyed with fried chicken and red pepper jelly). You might want to keep it local instead: if so, try the market scramble with that week’s produce, fresh eggs, and a side.

Ford Fry’s Decatur restaurant is one of the best-kept brunch secrets. They take reservations, but you likely won’t need them as it stays pretty laid back in the morning. The space shines during the day, with plenty of natural light and warm, neutral hues. Start with an espresso fizz (espresso, tonic, and an orange slice), and indulge in the melt-in-your-mouth ricotta fritters with jam and the breakfast pizza prepared in the wood-fired oven.

Highland Bakery has several locations throughout Atlanta, but none compare to the original spot in Old Fourth Ward. Parking is terrible, and there will be a wait, but this is a brunch worth the trouble. The menu is comprehensive and offers something that will satisfy any craving. Vegetarian? Get the tofu scramble. Need sugar? Order the sweet potato pancakes. Want a benny? They have six varieties. Don’t leave without grabbing a few goodies from the pastry case.

Home Grown may seem like a retro diner, but take a peek at the garden in the back, and you’ll start to think otherwise – it’s organic and packed with produce that they use in the kitchen. The best dish, though, has nothing to do with veggies; The comfy chicken biscuit is a ridiculously fluffy treat topped with fried chicken and sausage gravy. Even on weekdays, you can expect to wait for the Reynoldstown joint, but browsing the thrift shop in the back of the restaurant makes the time go by quickly.

Emory Point’s deli with a Southern twist gets swamped on the weekend for brunch. The space fills with sunlight, and the menu is loaded with deli favorites. Take the edge off with a cup of coffee roasted by Batdorf & Bronson and chow down on one of the open-faced bagel sandwiches like the Avenue D with cream cheese, lox, and roe. Whatever you do, don’t leave without a black-and-white cookie.

At Krog Street Market and a stone’s throw from the BeltLine, Superica’s the spot to go to if you love Mexican food. They don’t take reservations, so expect to wait (especially during patio season), but it’s worth it for a reasonably priced brunch in the Inman Park neighborhood. While Mexican dishes like chilaquiles and huevos rancheros are the stars of the show, don’t skimp on the hotcakes that are almost bigger than the plate they’re served on.

Murphy’s in Virginia-Highland has a pretty straightforward brunch menu that locals have flocked to for nearly 40 years. If the wait is a struggle (no reservations are taken), grab a cookie from the jar near the front of the restaurant—each one is just $1! Once seated, reward yourself with one of the classics, like the shrimp and cheddar grits with tomato pepper jam, andouille, and a sunny-side-up egg.