Brunch: It's everyone's favorite weekend activity. Few things beat a languorous mid-day meal, belaboring whether you'll order a Bloody Mary or a Mimosa, eggs benedict or huevos rancheros. Then, depending on the season, savoring the victory of your choices patio-side in the sun, or cozied up indoors by a fireplace.
Sometimes it seems brunch is an American pastime, given how enthusiastic we are about it. But it turns out the world feels the same way, and great brunches can be had in restaurants anywhere from Barcelona to Shanghai, Phuket to Portland, Oregon. What makes this global availability so fun is the range of foods you can try if you commit to making brunch part of your globe-trotting experiences.
In addition to creative variations on the classics, you may see cured fish or zucchini blossom quesadillas pop up on the menu. If it’s a dim sum brunch you’re having, dumplings will play a starring role; while at Tokyo's Tsukiji fish market, the focus is on sushi—and addictive chirashi bowls. That huevos rancheros you crave? You might try huevos con chipirones, a style made with firefly squid available in Barcelona.
Of course, there's no need to mess with perfection, and some spots on our list made the cut because they do the standards in their original form—and they do it well. You'll not want for suggestions for a proper Eggs Benedict, generous lox platter, or perfectly flaky croissants. Finally, no brunch would be complete without the right drink to accompany your food, and these spots do it all, from freshly pressed juices to innovative, zippy martinis.
We've factored in ambience, keeping an eye out for a sunny rooftop space, killer views, a convivial vibe, or expert design. Add these places to your list and get ready — brunch never tasted so good.
Portland: Tasty N Alder
If you've spent time in PDX, you know that sometimes those "Portlandia" skits ring true — namely when it comes to the ridiculously competitive brunch scene. At the top of the game is Tasty N Alder, John Gorham's downtown restaurant. Highlights on their eclectic, internationally inspired menu include Korean fried chicken served under a fried egg, or the Spanish patatas bravas with eggs over easy. Also of note are the many creative iterations of the bloody Mary, like the Dim Summore made with vodka, tomato, hoisin, lime, Sriracha, and ginger.
San Francisco: Plow
The menu at this Portrero Hill restaurant might not sound wildly innovative, but brunch isn't about fancy tweezer food anyways. It’s about the classics — pancakes, potatoes, and eggs, done right. And that's where Plow excels. Order up The Plow breakfast and you can have it all: two eggs, your choice of house made pork sausage patties, Nueske's bacon, or chicken apple sausage, plus lemon ricotta pancakes and a side of the swoon-worthy, crackly skinned potatoes. Craft beer, local wine, and mimosas are also on offer — this is San Francisco, after all.
Mexico City: Eno
This combo of gourmet shop and neighborhood hangout is the work of famed chef Enrique Olvera, who dishes out choices like organic yogurt with honey, French toast with house-made jelly, and zucchini blossom quesadillas (plus excellent third wave coffee) at Eno's three locations. Don't forget to buy an oatmeal cookie or a concha — you know, for the road.
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