Some would say that brunch is just a meal. However, many others would deem it a lifestyle. After a late night of partying, who doesn’t crave a detailed recap of the night before over mimosas and an expensive plate of pancakes? For Angelenos, brunch is a ritual that is practiced every Saturday and Sunday—usually between the hours of 10am and 3pm. But not all brunchers are the same, at least not in LA. If you frequent the brunch scene here, you know that people-watching is an unavoidable activity. The eclectic groups of people that you'll find at brunch around town are just so… LA. So raise your $15 bellini, because here is a toast to the seven people you’ll most definitely run into at brunch in Los Angeles.
1. The boho girls and hipster guys: These girls brunch at trendy WeHo restaurants like Gracias Madre and Estrella. They wear floral rompers and velvet fringy kimonos, bug-eyed hippie-inspired Quay sunglasses, high-waisted boyfriend jeans and are seen with a group of guys wearing wide brim hats. For some reason, they leave their sunglasses on through the entire brunch. It’s unclear if it’s because they’re hungover from the night before, or if they’re trying to maintain their image while dining for two hours.
2. The party brunch people: Ready to spend tons of money on bottles of champagne, these guys and girls are regulars at champagne brunches like Bagatelle and No Jealousy. Dressed to the nines, girls are wont to wear bodycon dresses, heels and dramatic makeup while their male counterparts tend to don button-ups, suit jackets and their most expensive gaudy watches. Nothing else matters but continuously ordering more bottles of Dom Perignon and Veuve Clicquot so that the servers can bring it out with sparklers attached. This is all happening at 3pm on a Sunday, by the way.
3. The Instagram socialites: These ones love to brunch at places like Toca Madera and the Ivy. Both spots are known for being trendy and for their frequent celebrity clientele. The Instagram socialites aim to maintain their social media status by continuously brunching at the trendiest spots because, well, it’s just the thing to do. Most of the time, the Instagram socialites roll in groups of six or seven, are model-esque looking and they’re usually all smizing in their group photos.
4. Foodies: Of course, people go to brunch because they want to eat. But most foodies also have a foodie Instagram account. These people are the ones who are standing above the table for 15 minutes trying to get the best aerial shot of the food and drinks on their table to achieve the most Instagram-worthy picture that will be sure to get a ton of likes. No one eats until the best photo of the eggs Benedict, challah French toast and the four perfectly placed glasses of Bloody Marias on the table is captured.
5. The exercisers in chic athleisure: Wearing the trendiest workout clothes, these ones just left their spin or Pilates class. They’ve already won because they woke up early enough to work out and still made it to brunch by 11 am. But that detox workout just enables them to retox. All the alcohol they sweated out that morning makes them very deserving of a healthy dish of avocado toast and an innocent glass of rose.
6. The rich kids of Beverly Hills (and no, not the show): Their go-to brunch spot? Fred’s at Barney’s New York or the Polo Lounge. Money is no object, and dining at either of these places is just another ordinary day in the life of a typical rich 20-something in LA. They’re draped in designer clothing from head to toe, and probably have plans to swing by Rodeo Drive afterward for some retail therapy.
7. The rooftop poolside brunchers: What Angeleno doesn’t love a good view of the Hollywood Hills? These brunchers flock to places like the Roof on Wilshire or the Rooftop Grill at Montage Beverly Hills. Usually holding a mimosa in one hand and the other in the air, they’re constantly snapping pictures because the view is always better from the top.