Find the best brunch in Los Angeles at these restaurants

Of course one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles would offer one of the best brunches. And thankfully République serves its wide-ranging, something-for-everyone menu well into the afternoon and every day, giving us ample opportunity for kimchi fried rice with poached eggs; ricotta toast with wildflower honey; a flawless French omelete; and daily quiche, not to mention exquisite tarts, cookies, loaf cakes and morning buns from one of L.A.’s most respected pastry chefs.

As you take it all in, don’t forget to take in the legacy of it all: Built in 1929, the building first served as Charlie Chaplin’s office, then the birthplace of L.A.’s beloved Campanile and after that shuttered, La Brea Bakery—so those Benedicts and croissants come with a side of history.

All Day Baby is the modern diner of our dreams: The pastries and pies in the case are inspired and fresh from the oven, the eggs are runny, the pancakes are fluffy, and while the team turns out classics to a T, they’re never afraid to get adventurous with them. (The shrimp and grits done as a seafood bolognese sauce? Perfection.) The breakfast burrito is the size of a small child, the biscuit sandwich comes slathered with strawberry jam for a crucial sweet-salty bite, and meats get a thorough cook in the on-site smoker, packing intense flavor into every morsel. Go ahead and get the negroni float or the sangria or the boozy coffee; you’ve got until 3pm to linger.

You might miss Gjusta if you don’t know what you’re looking for, though the usual line out the door might give you an idea you’re in the right place. The iconic Venice bakery operates out of a nondescript warehouse, but step inside and you’ll find a long, narrow corridor with glass cases of sweet and savory treats on the left, a working bakery behind it.

On the sweet side, slices of fruit are folded into sugar-glazed dough for a morning indulgence, but Gjusta serves as a sort of deli, too, where you can pick up cuts of meat and fish to go, and of course the all-day fare includes some serious breakfast and brunch treats like egg sandwiches on fresh English muffins.

Coffee, tea and a few other drinks are offered, but we recommend a refreshing sparkling limeade with mint, to be enjoyed on one of the benches or crates in the courtyard outside—sunshine and laid-back vibes guaranteed.

The Rose serves a bruncher’s brunch: Jason Neroni’s broad menu is packed with both exciting and accessible eats for anyone looking to dig the heck in, whether they’re in the mood for hearth-roasted brioche French toast, house-baked pastries, a raw bar, fresh-from-the-oven pizza, one of the city’s most addictive kale salads, handmade pasta, classic egg dishes or tartines and, of course, it’s all served alongside a full coffee bar. The California-inspired spot keeps Venice humming and full, and keeps tables turning—the large, sunny restaurant is almost always packed.

The idea behind Salt’s Cure is a noble one: Every meal is made from ingredients grown and raised in California, all of which are carefully butchered and crafted in-house. Black kale, mashed potatoes, grilled corn—you almost expect to see a farm truck parked out front. At the hearty-leaning brunch, an order of oatmeal griddle cakes with cinnamon molasses butter will make everything right in the world, while the biscuits with sausage gravy and eggs will make you feel fortified enough to work on a farm (but you won't have to).

Foxy’s wooden A-frame sets it apart, stylistically speaking, from most other retro diners in L.A.; the dark wooden planks, including a dropped “V” rafted along the center of the ceiling, keep the interior cozily dim. The menu is a gargantuan, multi-page affair, with a photo for almost every dish and cuisine that skews toward Mexican, especially when those dishes involve eggs. Locals know this, which is why the wait times can get lengthy for weekend brunch, so come early.

The Leaning Tower of Mexico is just what you want on a carbo-load day, with three corn tortillas layered with rice, black beans and two over-easy eggs all topped with ranchero sauce, avocado and cheese, while the barbacoa and eggs is a bit more straightforward and saucy. You can’t go wrong with anything here, classic diner or Mexican breakfast—just be sure to bring an appetite, whatever you pick.

We’re a little obsessed with Little Prince’s off-menu, wood-fired cinnamon rolls, but that’s not all Ari Taymor’s got up his sleeve during brunch service. On Sundays, fashionable crowds pile into the contemporary American restaurant for green chia pudding; Anson Mills grits topped with eggs, falling-apart brisket and salsa verde; avocado toast with curried tomato jam; and the salmon hash with seaweed hollandaise—each dish clearly a creation of Taymor’s, but distinct and surprising. Oh, and the patty melt is one of the best on the Westside.  

Just steps from the beach and with a cure-for-what-ails-you menu, brunching at Manhattan Beach Post has become a South Bay right of passage. On weekends diners dive into ricotta-stuffed French toast and Nashville-style hot chicken while slurping down bacon bloody Marys and mezcal sours. Even MB Post’s biscuits are practically legendary: These bacon-and-cheddar buttermilk beauties come served with a side of whipped maple butter for that perfect sweet-savory balance.

Homesick Texans, eat your heart out. L.A.’s favorite breakfast-taco destination has a couple outposts across the city so queso, tacos and migas aren’t ever too far out of reach (and they’re a lot nearer than the state of Texas, anyway). Fluffy scrambled eggs pile into fresh corn or flour tortillas with just about any filling your heart can imagine and the casual atmosphere encourages taking it easy, while frozen margaritas and palomas make for a too-easy slide from morning into afternoon if you’re into day-drinking.

The weekend scene at Huckleberry can be intense, so it’s worth stopping by during the week to give yourself ample time to peruse the daily specials in the pastry case and decide whether you want to pair your tartine with a fruit-studded porridge bowl or something a little more savory, like pesto-y green eggs and ham on an English muffin. If you’re in the mood for umami, it’s hard to go wrong with a breakfast sandwich that features the trinity of gruyere, aioli and Niman Ranch bacon. Better order a little of everything to be safe.

Fighting the brunch crowds at Blu Jam Café at any location—DTLA, Sherman Oaks, Hollywood, Tarzana, Woodland Hills and Brentwood—requires a special kind of patience, but that should clue you in: Blu Jam is a brunch to beat. Between the eggs Benedicts that make your shoulders slump with happiness and crunchy-coated French toast that’s hard to beat, it’s well worth the wait. Fantastic service adds a neighborhood feel to the local chain, which opened its Melrose location in 2006.

Catch made its way from New York City to a rooftop in West Hollywood, bringing fresh seafood and stunning views to well-dressed Angelenos. For brunch, the celebrity and sceney hot spot has a raw bar and a brunch menu that includes a gluten-free waffle tower, plus eggs Benedict, omelettes, a farro bowl, lobster rolls and other light and healthy-ish bites. The brunch menu also highlights its iced almond coffee, spicy bloody Marys. cold brew and green juice, for those who want to imbibe on the gorgeous rooftop patio.

This Culver City diner is the go-to spot for boozy brunching at its finest. Though the bottomless champagne special can’t quite make the jump to takeout, you can still take home a selection of draft craft beer available by the pint. An array of Benedicts and especially the two-sauced huevos divorciados are all worth a try, along with those so-fluffy pancakes with fruit, nuts or chocolate.