Weekends are meant to be brunched on! Time spent with family and friends over stacks of blueberry pancakes or the perfect eggs Benedict should be cherished—in the Raleigh area, it is. We get asked about brunch spots all the time, so we've put together this list of some of the area's favorite places to convene for muffins and mimosas. Cheers!
Note: Reservations are always recommended, though a few on this list may be walk-in only.
The oysters are fresh, the beignets are pillowy and the hushpuppies are to die for. At chef Sunny Gerhart's St. Roch, you’ll get as close as you can to a New Orleans dining experience without leaving town, complete with Big Easy-inspired cocktails, wine and beer (mimosas and bloody Mary's included, of course). An indulgent brunch at St. Roch—grits, biscuits, hotcakes, fried oysters and so much more—is among the top dining experiences in the City of Oaks.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11am-4pm
Undoubtedly one of Raleigh's most aesthetic restaurants, this French bistro has the food to match (satisfying both your taste buds and your Tik Tok feed). Crepes, French toast, quiche du jour, panier a pattissirie (assorted pastries) and more dot the menu, and plenty of shopping and other activities await just steps away within Raleigh's North Hills shopping district.
Hours: Sunday, 9:30am-3pm
If there was an award for "cutest little restaurant that does everything well and makes you wish you lived around the corner," well, then that award would go to Hummingbird. Turns out that chef Collen Speaks' intimate date night dinner spot—opened in 2017 at Dock1053—is a killer brunch hang, too, offering an array of fare from shakshuka to shrimp and grits to softshell crab and so much more (all paired with your choice of boozy brunch cocktails).
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2:30pm
One of the splashiest restaurant openings of 2023 in the Raleigh area, this Mediterranean small-plates restaurant was created and named in celebration of motherly hospitality. Nestled within Raleigh's lively Smoky Holly district, Madre's brunch menu is full of elevated Southern favorites, but there's no doubt that the hot honey chicken and donut steals the show.
Hours: Sunday, 11am-3pm
Opened in 1930, Mecca is Raleigh's oldest restaurant, serving up comforting diner-style meals for more than 90 years now just a couple blocks from the North Carolina State Capitol. Open for breakfast and lunch seven days a week, regulars pile into booths and cozy up at the downstairs bar to scarf down plates of pancakes, grits, biscuits and gravy plus other Southern favorites.
Hours: Breakfast items served every day until mid-afternoon; open 8am-3pm on Saturday and 8am-6pm on Sunday
Opened in the heart of downtown Raleigh at the beginning of 2024, the Flavor Hills concept—wildly popular at the original location in Jacksonville, N.C.—is where modern cuisine meets Southern charm and soulful classics. Po'boy sandwiches, catfish + grits, chicken and waffles and more dot the menu, not to mention a large array of mimosas and other brunch cocktail offerings. Brunch at Flavor Hills is the best time of week to see and be seen, so dress to impress (and bring your appetite).
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm
This neighborhood gathering spot—next to Raleigh City Farm off Person St. in downtown Raleigh—packs a serious punch of good food and good drinks (all housed within a great space). For enjoying breakfast burgers to potato tacos and everything in between (plus a Michelada, please), both the indoor and outdoor seating areas at Standard are among the best spots in the city to enjoy a laid back meal with friends and fam.
Hours: Sunday, 11am-3pm
It's not unusual to see a line form before the doors open on weekends at this popular eatery by James Beard Award-winning chef Ashley Christensen. And it's impossible to go wrong here, but we can't not recommend getting a taste of the fried chicken that Beasley's is named for. At brunch time, spring for the chicken and waffles (drizzled in honey with real maple syrup on the side) or the hot chicken eggs Benedict—two poached eggs with Béarnaise sauce, creamed collard greens and buttermilk biscuits.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11am-3pm
Open since 1999 in Cary, La Farm Bakery has consistently wowed visitors and earned media recognition from all over the world. Under the guidance of master baker Lionel Vatinet, La Farm produces some of America's high-quality bread, pastries and other baked products on a daily basis. Open for brunch on Sundays, dig into the smoked salmon Benedict, crème brûlée French toast and more.
Hours: La Farm Bakery on N.W. Cary Pkwy. is open for breakfast Monday-Saturday beginning at 7am, and Sunday beginning at 8am.
Across from downtown Raleigh's Nash Square, Parkside's brunch menu has lots of Southern staples, including a chicken and waffle sandwich that tastes as good as it sounds. Elsewhere, they've got you covered with everything from their braised boneless short rib Benedict to a massive pancake plate and a bananas foster French toast that's sure to hit the spot. With a spacious dining room and casual ambiance, Parkside works especially well for bigger group outings.
Hours: Saturday, 10am-3pm; Sunday, 9am-3pm
They don’t call it “Big” Ed’s for nothing! This City Market gem is beloved for its ginormous hotcakes, loaded country breakfasts and some of the best biscuits you’ll find in a city full of great ones. On the weekends, you’ll find the joint just as crowded with guests as it is with its plethora of antique decorations covering the walls, floor and ceiling. But no matter the wait, it’s worth it.
Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 8am-2pm
Good views, great brews and incredible food—unsurprisingly a successful recipe for Wye Hill, where a large patio provides one of the Raleigh area's best skyline views and the kitchen team delivers seriously good salads, shareable small plates and sandwich options at brunch time (we're proponents of the sweet potato hash paired with a bloody Mary, but it's tough to go wrong).
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm
Raleigh-native chef Sean Fowler serves traditional Southern foods with influences drawn from all over the world. The menu changes daily due to the commitment to using only the freshest ingredients, including brunch! Try items like the Mandolin Omelet Du Jour, Smoked Sunburst Trout Florentine and more. Consider making a reservation, because this hotspot has been named among the 50 best Southern restaurants in America by OpenTable!
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10:30am-2:30pm
A true farm-to-table restaurant that has been a staple in the Raleigh restaurant scene for nearly 50 years, Irregardless Cafe is one of the City of Oaks' can't-miss dining spots, in particular for foodies looking for vegan options or that have dietary restrictions. From a seasonal garden frittata (GF) to chicken and waffles (GF + vegan) and a super savory lox brioche sandwich, the brunch menu is a true crowd pleaser.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2:30pm
Plates Neighborhood Kitchen
Plates' menu is rooted in Southern cuisine, with a hint of international flavors and techniques taken from the owners' travels to France, Tuscany, Hong Kong, Thailand, Germany and beyond. Dinner dishes include crispy Brussels sprouts, three-cheese and truffle tortellini and oven-roasted grouper, while weekend brunch feature rotating favorites from chef David Mitchell that include huevos rancheros, sweet potato hash bowls and the signature N.C. crab cake Benedict.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-3pm; also open Tuesday through Friday, 8am-2:30pm
For nearly three decades now The Shiny Diner has served up all-day breakfast off Buck Jones Rd. on the western edge of Raleigh, offering comfort food for all in a true retro setting. In true diner form, the menu is big, the service is fast and the customers are mostly regulars. Building on success, owners Michelle and James Park opened Peak City Diner in Apex in 2023, and have plans to open another diner offering in downtown Raleigh late in 2024.
Hours: Breakfast/brunch served daily beginning at 7am through dinner time
At Relish—an undeniable favorite among City of Oaks locals—a menu of modernized and refreshed Southern classic dishes feels right at home in Raleigh. Rich comfort foods—fried chicken and gravy on a classic English muffin, tater tot beef nachos served with fried green tomatoes—are the name of the game, and the breakfast doughnut holes are a true treat meant for sharing and/or taking home to savor later.
Hours: Saturday, 9am-2pm; Sunday, 9am-3pm
You'll find Southern-inspired, refined comfort food at Peck & Plume, the restaurant at The Mayton in Cary, one of the area's most unique hotels. The atmosphere is relaxed with a touch of elegance—both the hotel and restaurant space are truly gorgeous. The menu offers plenty of gluten-free options like eggs with local Andouille red-eye sausage gravy. The shrimp and grits with an egg or the caramelized apple and toasted pecan pancakes—paired with a cocktail—all make for a great, leisurely brunch. Don’t forget to order a pitcher of peach Bellini or pineapple mule for the table!
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2:30pm (open for breakfast daily until 10am)
NOFO @ the Pig is a combination café, food market and gift shop that is visually vibrant, quirky and unique. Perfect for an afternoon date, take a seat and enjoy brunch followed by some shopping. Take a seat and enjoy an award-winning meal like a sausage, apple and cheddar omelette or a fried green tomato Benedict.
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 10am-2pm
Header photo of St. Roch Fine Oysters + Bar by FOOD SEEN, courtesy of JNK Public Relations
