Top 10 Brunch Spots in Houston
A booze-loving city, Houston fondly incorporates this affection into its brunch. A theme of classic cocktails with a wide-ranging menu dominates the Houston brunch scene. You could start off your weekend with a morning run… But in this heat? With a mint mimosa on the horizon? Our first brunch spot says it best.
Better Luck Tomorrow
An under-the-radar Heights staple, Better Luck Tomorrow (or “BLT” if you’re a regular) is one of those rare spots where its drinks match the quality of its food. Whether you’re craving a tomatillo Bloody Mary or the best Irish coffee in Houston, the Hangover Hashbrowns are sure to go well with whatever you’re drinking. Or the famous Spaghetti Sandwich. Or the fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Or really, whatever you order.
Tiny Boxwoods Houston
If you want to feel like Meryl Streep in a Nancy Meyers movie, this place is for you. Tiny Boxwoods is located in River Oaks next to a nursery, so you can stroll among the flowers while sipping your morning mojito. It offers healthy to not-so-healthy options, so you can decide if the granola and yogurt or migas is right for you. Known for its fluffy chocolate chip cookies, be sure to order one for the road!
State of Grace
Famous for its oysters and cocktails, State of Grace is inspired by Southern, American, Latin, Gulf Coast, German and Asian cuisine. Crawfish Benedict, kimchi and eggs, and beignets are just a few items that will satisfy any customer. The restaurant says it best: “All hail delicious food and drink!”
Field & Tides
“Field” for the local meats and greens, and “Tides” for its local, primarily Gulf seafood, Field & Tides has a Saturday and Sunday brunch that will delight any farm-to-table foodie. With a variety of oysters and classic entrees like biscuits and gravy, this restaurant is a staple of Houston.
Backstreet Cafe
With a seasonal American menu and outdoor patio, Backstreet Cafe is a cozy spot for an intimate brunch with your favorite people. A lengthy brunch menu with options ranging from bucatini with spicy crab to duck spring rolls, Backstreet Cafe has been feeding Houston for 35 years. It’s located in a house built in the 1930s, so the charm doesn’t stop at the food.
Alice Blue
Formerly known as Shade, Alice Blue is a truly Instagram-worthy spot. With a classic cocktail list and a European decorating and cooking style, this restaurant serves brunch with options like brioche French toast and pozole. Located in the historic Heights on 19th street, you can wander to local boutiques after brunch for a truly perfect Sunday.
Golden Bagels
When you first take a bite of the salmon sandwich at Golden Bagels, you may believe you were magically transported to the Lower East Side if you close your eyes. Recently opened on White Oak Drive in the Heights, Golden Bagels brings New York-style bagels to the Gulf. Curing its local fish in-house, this spot provides lox and Nova you can’t find anywhere else in Houston. A bialy with lox spread? In Texas? BRB, canceling that flight to NYC.
Hay Merchant
Started by the Houston-famous Chris Shepherd, Hay Merchant is the kind of place where everything on the menu is exceptional. A haven for craft beer and the home of the best burger in Houston, this restaurant gives brunch some heart. It offers traditional bar food like chicken wings, and also a Korean fried chicken bowl that could rival any spot in the city.
Ritual
In a word: mimosas. With choices of blackberry, grapefruit, orange, blood orange, kiwi strawberry and mint, you can personalize your mimosa to kick off your weekend. The simple yet elegant menu has put Ritual on the map as a true expression of Texan cuisine.
Snooze, an A.M. Eatery
Sure to be on any list for a good Houston brunch, Snooze understands morning food like no other. It also contributes 1% of all sales back to the local community, so that French toast can serve you and someone else. You may want to check out the menu before you arrive, because, boy, is it extensive. Let’s just say there’s a section called “the art of hollandaise.” What can it say? When you know brunch, you know brunch.