Bostonians brunch hard. Here, weekend mornings are best served with bloody marys, brioche French toast drenched in Vermont maple syrup, and eggs 8,000 ways. For anyone wanting to savor their Sunday (or Saturday!) morning in this city, follow this guide to seven top brunches, and we guarantee you'll dig into a great meal.
Bar Boulud
What: Cozy up in a velvet banquette to sweets (crepes or French madeleines) or savories (Boulud's iconic charcuterie or a Harissa lamb burger). Tupelo Hill Farm eggs are served with smoked salmon or braised short-rib hash, and desserts break anyone's daily calorie limit. On Sunday, crooner Andrew Smith works through jazz classics in an unassuming way. Read: the music won’t overpower your meal; it’s there if you want it.
When: Saturday and Sunday, noon-3 pm
Where: 776 Boylston St., Boston, MA, 617.535.8800
The Elephant Walk
What: This South End eatery gives chef-owner Nadsa de Montiero free range to play with her food. Indeed, at his Cambodian-French restaurant, she puts a multicultural spin on the weekend’s most important meal. Start with DIY spring rolls, then move on to cage-free egg dishes. Even the bloody mary has a Cambodian twist, made with chilies, lime and tuk trey (spicy Cambodian sauce).
When: Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 am-4 pm
Where: 1415 Washington St., Boston, MA, 617.247.1500
Henrietta’s Table
What: Consider this legendary all-you-can-eat buffet your Sunday food-fest. No one leaves hungry after diving into the raw bar, carved meats, waffles, made-to-order omelets, cheeses, pates, terrines, and smoked fishes. Eeny meeny miny mo your way through several hot entrees (or sample them all) and a giant spread of desserts. Henrietta's also holds a brunch on Saturday, but it's of the three-course variety.
When: Saturday and Sunday (buffet), noon-3 pm
Where: 1 Bennett St., Cambridge, MA, 617.661.5005
Toro
What: Minimal design—a chalkboard menu, brick walls and communal tables—allows the food at Ken Oringer’s longstanding Barcelona-style tapas restaurant to shine. The spot serves up shared plates including curry goat and potato empanadas, hamburguesas, or La Especialidad de la Casa otherwise known as grilled corn. Order brunch entrees like salchicha y huevos (fried eggs with maple-habanero sausage) or pressed egg and chorizo spiced coppa sandwich.
When: Sunday, 10:30 am-2:30 pm
Where: 1704 Washington St., Boston, MA, 617.536.4300
Puritan & Company
What: On Sunday, this Inman Square eatery transforms its communal dining table into a grab bag of a la carte baked goodness, from banana-nut bread to smoked mushroom pinwheels. Diners also dive into favorites like sourdough griddlecakes, Muscovy duck hash with farm eggs, or a hearty sirloin steak and eggs.
When: Sunday, 10:30 am to 2 pm
Where: 1166 Cambridge St., Cambridge, MA, 617.615.6195
Back Bay Harry’s
What: Grab a meal with a side of pop culture at Back Bay Harry's monthly themed brunches. During the three-course affair, Harry's dims the lights and gets clubby with music by divas like Madonna or Beyoncé or screens TV episodes of series like The Golden Girls. Sip on champagne as you order namesake dishes like Like A Prayer Scrambled Eggs, Bey Day Pancakes or Shady Pines, Ma! Duck Chili Quesadillas. Don’t forget the photo booth for this brush with fame.
When: Sunday, 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
Where: 142 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 617.424.6711