Where to find the best brunch in Charlotte

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ruby Sunshine (@rubysunshinebrunch)

Ruby's brunch-time appeal includes influences from New Orleans and morning eats from various regions throughout the South, such as fried green tomatoes topped with remoulade and bacon onion jam, fried chicken with tasso cream sauce and eggs, peaches and cream pancakes, and crawfish and grit cakes. Live large with bottomless pots of chicory coffee, Big Easy mimosas or Peychaud’s Aperitivo spritz to activate the ultimate weekend vibes. This lively all-day brunch spot does not take reservations but usually has an online waitlist that guests can check before arriving.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Dunhill Hotel (@dunhillhotel)

The jalapeño-smoked gouda potato cake stacked with ‘nduja gravy, goat feta and scallions alone is worth the visit to this Uptown gem. Located inside the Dunhill Hotel, this Queen City staple honors farm-to-table cooking with refined, approachable dishes. From the chicken biscuit with piquillo cream cheese and blueberry jam to the classic breakfast of eggs, bacon, and grits, expect to find incredible food that matches up to the excellent service for a truly first-rate experience.

The menu of cornmeal pancakes, buttermilk fried chicken, crispy bacon, eggs prepared all kinds of ways and mimosa flights make this a meal worth standing in line for, not to mention the killer playlists. There’s no need to choose between breakfast or brunch at this ParkTowne Village spot because both are served here every day of the week. Go savory with the short rib hash or the brunch burger, both of which are topped with an egg cooked your way, or play up to your sweet side of life with the ricotta stuffed French toast.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by littleSpoon Eatery (@littlespooneatery)

This Myers Park locale is an eclectic California-hipster-meets-city-mouse kind of scene with a penchant for an ever-changing menu, a hip-hop and R&B soundtrack and a super chill vibe. The cuisine is difficult to pin down but the interesting mix of healthy and indulgent items can be best described as seasonal new American with an international twist. Many of the menu items switch just as often as the wind changes direction, but a few things remain the same: the thick-cut slabs of bacon with crisped edges, sweet cinnamon toast brûlée, trendy avocado toast and steaming bowl (yes, bowl!) of coffee you’ll need to grip with both hands to savor.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Suffolk Punch (@suffolkpunchclt)

At this coffee bar and brewpub mash-up, brunch is served seven days a week. Biscuits, breakfast tacos and sandwiches rule on weekdays while shrimp and grits, huevos rancheros and breakfast nachos smothered in peppermill sausage gravy reign supreme on weekends. Add direct access from the Light Rail to the flowing pints of beer and Bloody Marys and you’ve got yourself a party.

Named after a railroad term for the connector between train cars, this restaurant pays homage to the South End’s past as a rail station and present as a stop on the Light Rail. Brunch here is a mix of Southern favorites (shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles, deviled eggs) and new American dishes (General Tso’s cauliflower, jalapeño bacon, chopped kale salad with candied pecans). Don’t miss the DIY mimosa bar with choices of OJ, cranberry juice, peach nectar and several bubbly options to mix.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by milkbread (@milkbreadallday)

Sure, there are avocado toasts, crispy chicken biscuits and grain bowls here, but the glazed doughnuts are enough to make the lines worth the wait. Based on the famous milk bread rolls that developed a cult following at their original Davidson restaurant, Kindred, the doughnuts here are yeasty, fluffy and double-glazed with a cinnamon-laced, caramel-like sugar.

The fried chicken here is legendary with its crisp, crunchy exterior and juicy interior, which you’ll find atop eggs Benedict, inside burritos and sandwiched between doughy biscuits during brunch service Be adventurous and try the breakfast sundae made with layers of maple bacon, scrambled eggs, grits, a hash brown casserole and sausage gravy.

Known for his restaurant the Market Place in Asheville, chef William Dissen takes a flavorful approach to Southern classics and loads them up—think bacon fat beignets with powdered sugar and seasonal jam, jalapeño biscuits and gravy and Billy D’s signature chicken sandwich. The massive creation is topped with celery seed slaw, bread and butter pickles and white bbq sauce and served on a benne-seed potato bun. Skip the mimosas and Bloody Marys and go straight for the Wake Up Call: espresso liquor, cardamom, vanilla vodka, creme de cacao and oat milk.

Located in Uptown, this classic French brasserie is an Instagram-worthy space with high ceilings, elegant decor and an open kitchen. Bravo TV’s Top Chef alum and part-owner Jamie Lynch curated the menu and describes it as “refined and timeless with a modern sensibility.” Think crepes filled with berries, Nutella or roasted chicken with Comté cheese, croque monsieurs and varied selections of items from la pâtisserie​ and boulangerie​.

Get brunch (or breakfast, lunch and dinner) 24 hours a day at this classic 1950s railroad-car-style diner. It’s not uncommon for lines of hungry patrons to wrap around the block in anticipation of the good eats inside. With a full bar and daily specials in addition to the regular menu, there is literally something for everyone. Be prepared to dig into southern classics like shrimp and grits and biscuit sandwiches as well as steak and eggs, burgers, and seafood platters. Pro tip: get the coconut French toast.

Weekday and weekend brunch both draw crowds to this popular Milltown-inspired spot in NoDa. Lard and butter-laced biscuits, macaroni and cheese topped with chicken skins and a tight cocktail program put Haberdish at the top of everyone’s list. Don’t miss Uncle Carman’s hot quail on Sundays: Nashville hot sauce-tossed quail atop two slices of white bread with pickled red onions and bread-and-butter pickles.

The small yet significant menu features Tex-Mex staples like migas with chorizo and refried beans, chilaquiles divorciados, and tamales and eggs, all served with fresh flour or corn tortillas upon request. The enormous double and triple-stacked pancakes that extend beyond the plate are the real sleeper hit on the menu. Stay hydrated with a selection of aguas frescas, margaritas and Bloody Marys.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Stoke (@stokecharlotte)

You don’t have to be a guest of the Marriott City Center to experience the contemporary elegance and swanky design of Stoke. Once you’ve ogled the stunning open kitchen, start with something sweet such as stone-ground oatmeal or a yogurt parfait before moving onto savory items like the wagyu burger with onion-bacon jam and bleu cheese. Whatever your order, make sure it includes the marvel they’ve dubbed garbage fries—topped with pimento cheese, beef gravy and scallions.

This former house of worship, which sits on the corner of Fifth and Church Street, is now a full-service restaurant that serves brunch Friday through Sunday. From the sweet souffle pancakes to the Holy $h!t breakfast (fried chicken, eggs, bacon, house-made donuts, biscuits, jam, choice of a mimosa or Bloody Mary) and the okonomiyaki cabbage pancake, the menu is a harmonious union of classic, Southern and Asian influences.