Salt Lake City has many up-and-coming venues catering for the most popular meal of the weekend: brunch. With its burgeoning urban development coupled with enduring natural beauty, Salt Lake City is an ideal location in which to enjoy a classic eggs and coffee repast. We discover 10 of the best places in the famous Utah city to enjoy brunch.
Les Madeleine’s – or Les Mad’s as it is known to the locals – provides an opportunity to enjoy fresh, high-quality and fun dishes with innovative twists. Guests are often pleasantly surprised with plates that fuse Asian-inspired flavors with classic American techniques and European influences. A perfect example of this is the cardamom lemonade, perfect alongside a flaky croissant, or perhaps try the Asian noodle salad topped off with a French button cookie. All in all, a diner looking for a high-quality, carefully crafted brunch need look no further.
This all-American restaurant promises great food and convenient proximity to one of the best places to enjoy Utah’s favorite pastime: skiing. Situated at the mouth of Big Cottonwood Canyon, Porcupine Pub & Grille offers access to four world-class ski resorts within a 15 minute drive. Fuel your day with country fried steak or the ‘Big Ol’ Pile of Breakfast’ before heading up the mountain for an idyllic day on the slopes. If you hit the powder really early, stop by on your way back down the mountain for a ‘Big Cottonwood Burger’ and a refreshing local microbrew.
This neighborhood eatery serves up a hearty dose of charm alongside farm-fresh fare. The Avenues Bistro on Third is tucked away among the historic homes in the lower avenues, surrounding by verdant foliage. The menu showcases in-season produce, much of which is grown in the garden plot behind the restaurant. Fresh eggs are also gathered daily from the on-site chicken coop, creating the most beautiful omelettes and poached egg dishes. The menu is focused on healthy eating and even offers a variety of options to satisfy any diner suffering from food allergy or intolerance. Whether vegan, vegetarian or craving bacon, one cannot go wrong at Avenues Bistro.
You won’t find many tourists frequenting this unsung brunch hero. Eggs in the City is nearly completely hidden in the Sugarhouse neighborhood. Due to their reputation for dependably excellent food and service, there may be a wait for a table – but the food more than makes up for it. The chefs keep breakfast from becoming a predictable affair by reinventing classics: enjoy Mexican-inspired breakfast nachos and a Monte Carlo benedict.
Eva serves delicious food in a cozy atmosphere in the heart of downtown Salt Lake. The restaurant is located within walking distance of high-end fashion stores and world-class museums. All of the bread used in the dishes on the menu is sourced from Eva’s bakery, a boulangerie just a block down the street, where customers can also purchase freshly-baked pastries and artisan breads.
Gourmandise serves sweet treats such as the peach, strawberry mille feuille, and baba au rum to eager customers in Salt Lake. Enjoy a delicious morsel with a fresh espresso, or go for something a little heartier and settle in for a late brunch or lunch. A quiche du jour is offered every morning, with combinations such as roasted asparagus, brie bacon, and classic Lorraine.
Peruse the shelves of the adjacent Golden Braid Bookstore before bringing your new purchase with you to enjoy a relaxing brunch at Oasis Cafe. If the weather is right, the outdoor dining area is the perfect place to sit and enjoy the day against the backdrop of stunning Salt Lake. Classic coffee cake is enhanced with a smooth pastry glaze and French toast is made extra special by using delicious cranberry walnut bread. Oasis indulges the weekend desire for a slower, more enjoyable dining experience, with a menu that’s simple yet refreshing, to be enjoyed in their carefully honed quirky atmosphere.
The Park Cafe is a firm local favorite. Park Cafe stands directly across the street from Liberty Park, just as it has for the past 30 years. After breakfast, visit Tracy Aviary, or rent paddle boats on the idyllic pond, both located just a few steps away. The menu showcases home-cooking at its best – enjoy heaped omelettes, blueberry pancakes and biscuits with gravy to feel satisfied and refreshed in equal measure.
A Pig and a Jelly Jar serves fresh comfort food, including flavorsome sausages. The strawberry coconut jam is a particular local favorite. Offering faithful patrons and social media followers exclusive offers, it is no wonder that A Pig and a Jelly Jar has won over the hearts of Salt Lake City residents.
The scenery from the outdoor patio of Ruth’s Diner is awe-inspiring: restaurant-goers are shaded by giant trees and towering canyon slopes to really offer a taste of authentic Utah. If you visit Ruth’s during the winter, sit inside the remodelled trolley car and enjoy snow-covered mountain vistas. The diner is located a few miles outside of the city, in Emigration Canyon, and is one of the oldest in the state. Ruth’s has continued to thrive by serving classic, comfort food dishes such as baked macaroni and cheese and the salmon BLT. Their ‘Mile-High’ biscuit is evocative of home-cooking and baking, offering a flavor of the Salt Lake heritage.
