The Absolute Best Brunch Spots in Atlanta

From classic breakfast at Ria’s Bluebird to Middle Eastern-inspired brunch at Delbar, these are the best brunches in Atlanta.

Brunch in Atlanta is more than just a quick bite between breakfast and lunch—it’s an experience. When you visit one of the city’s top brunch destinations, you have the opportunity to dine on Southern favorites like shrimp and grits, the satisfyingly savory biscuits and gravy, and so much more. You may even be privy to some live music as you sip on that second pomegranate mimosa.

While brunching in The A, you can nosh on classic breakfast bites at Ria’s Bluebird or take flight with a Middle Eastern-inspired brunch menu at Delbar. Whether you like sweet or savory, mimosas or Bloody Marys, brunch in Atlanta provides something for everyone. If you’re feeling hungry, the incredible Atlanta restaurants ahead are among the best picks for a satisfying brunch.

Two Urban Licks

Old Fourth Ward
$$$$

The Atlanta BeltLine provides plenty of eateries, but Two Urban Licks takes the cake (or more appropriately, pancakes) when it comes to brunch. Whether you’re in the mood for Lemon Ricotta Pancakes or Chicken Chiliquiles, a visit to Two Urban Licks isn’t complete without their illustrious Salmon Chips as a starter. The perfect app, the Salmon Chips are carefully topped with smoked salmon, chipotle cream cheese, capers, and red onions. Two Urban Licks is also situated directly on the BeltLine, allowing you to get in some people watching as you indulge in a Bloody Mary or two.

Available for Reservations

Delbar

Inman Park
$$$$

If you’ve had your fill of shrimp and grits and stuffed French toast, it may be time for a brunch destination with international flair. Known for its flavorful Middle Eastern cuisine, Inman Park favorite, Delbar recently launched its brunch menu. On the brunch menu, hungry patrons will find Turkish-style breakfast platters to share, house-baked sweets and savory treats, and brunch cocktails. Our recommendation? Start off with the Masabacha Hummus and work your way up to the Delbar Breakfast Platter (it feeds four!).

Available for Reservations
Ria's Bluebird
Ria's Bluebird | -Van Le/Flickr

Ria's Bluebird

Cabbagetown
$$$$

This Memorial Drive brunch staple is your go-to destination for pancakes that have been flipped to perfection and fluffy omelets that are packed with all your favorites. Inside of Ria’s Bluebird, you’ll find a small but cozy space filled with charming artwork. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so be prepared to wait for a bit on weekends. But we promise the wait is well worth it for one of the city’s best brunches.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

During Soul Brunch at Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar, guests are privy to an extensive selection of colorful brunch offerings, including Bussin’ Cornmuffins, Fried Oystas, and the Afta Church Plate (a praise-worthy plate loaded with jam up wingz, macaroni ‘n cheese, and greenz). While Virgil’s has plenty of tasty dishes to help fill your belly, don’t forget about their breakfast cocktails. In addition to mimosas, Virgil’s serves up signature brunch sips, including Da Fishermen’s Sangria and Moscow Mimosa.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Ms. Iceys Kitchen & Bar
Ms. Icey's Kitchen & Bar | Photo by Madelyn Boykin

If you’ve longed for just the smallest bite of Ms. Iceys’ famous skillet cornbread, you’re in luck. After being on hiatus for several months, the contemporary Caribbean restaurant has re-opened, and they’ve even introduced a handful of new menu items. Among the new additions are steamed fish wrapped in a banana leaf (served with fresh veggies) and sweet potato fritters that might just give the skillet cornbread a run for its money.

Available for Reservations

Nowhere nails breakfast quite as well as the South, so if you’re looking for a mouth-watering Southern take on the most important meal of the day, then Atlanta Breakfast Club is probably for you. Open every day from 6:30 am to 3 pm, the ABC is your perfect destination for an early morning eat as well as an afternoon brunch. Although you won’t find any mimosas on the menus, the Atlanta Breakfast Club’s food and coffee definitely make up for it, so if you’re more concerned with eating than day drinking, go ahead and give it a visit.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

This College Park restaurant is the culinary creation of Chef Crystal Smith, Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter Ne-Yo, and Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta veteran Karlie Redd. As you’ve probably guessed by now, its specialty is a bonafide brunch classic: chicken and waffles. Johnny’s also offers other enticing menu items (including shrimp & grits and red velvet waffles) in addition to a full bar. Plus, unlike other restaurants that have a strict time limit on brunch, most of Johnny’s Chicken & Waffles’ menu is available all-day.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Punch Bowl Social

The Battery
$$$$

As previously stated, brunch in Atlanta is an experience, so if you’re interested in taking your brunch outing to the next level, then head over to The Battery and visit Punch Bowl Social. From 11am to 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays, Punch Bowl Social invites Atlantans to enjoy brunch and a myriad of activities like bowling, billiards, and virtual reality games. Where else can experience a brunch that includes pancake burgers, apple pie mimosas, and bowling?

Available for Reservations

Buttermilk Kitchen

Buckhead
$$$$

Who in Atlanta hasn’t driven around an insane amount of time to find parking online to wait an insane amount of time to get their hands on those delicious biscuits? Good news: You can order Suzanne Vizethann’s famous biscuits to-go. If you’re feeling really hungry, may we suggest the chicken biscuit? It’s a buttermilk biscuit topped with fried chicken breast, house-made pepper jelly, and pickles and it’s pretty much the best.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Canoe

Vinings
$$$$

If only every Sunday morning could begin on Canoe’s heated patio overlooking the river. Brunch here is legendary, and it’s not just the view. The pastry basket, brioche French toast, and the duck n’beef burger are all satisfying treats that will chase the blues away.

Available for Reservations

Murphy's

Virginia-Highland
$$$$

Murphy’s has been serving brunch to hungover Atlantans for more than 30 years. They didn’t take reservations for brunch before the pandemic, but they do now. They also offer brunch to-go, which means there’s no excuse not to get your fill of their malted waffle or breakfast croissant sandwich. Even better, you can get brunch on Saturday or Sunday. Outdoor seating is available in case you do want to dine in.

Available for Reservations

Muss & Turner's

Smyrna
$$$$

Muss & Turner’s is the place to go if you want brunch dishes that are capital-H-hearty. And at a time like this, who doesn’t want hearty? If anything, the menu names, like “chicky bisky” (chicken biscuit with sausage-poblano gravy) will make you chuckle. Don’t sleep on the breakfast burrito filled with scrambled eggs, bacon, roasted potatoes, pickled jalapeños, cheddar, red salsa, and lime cream.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Available for Reservations

Le Petit Marché

Kirkwood
$$$$

Among the menu highlights at this quaint eatery are the vanilla-rum battered French toast sandwich (excellent with Delia’s chicken sausage) and the Confit Chicken Biscuit. Also consider the grits stack topped with scrambled eggs, cheddar, and marinated shrimp—and the best-ever oatmeal studded with almond pralines and fresh fruit.

Petit Chou

Cabbagetown
$$$$

You can’t miss this darling locale—just look for the periwinkle blue building on Memorial Drive. The menu offers Southern-meets-French eats with standouts like the French toast crème brûlée combier, a heavenly dish of croissants soaked in heavy cream and spices that are griddled and topped off with vanilla bean whipped cream. For something on the more southern side, try the Cabbagetown breakfast bowl with grits, cheddar, choice of protein, and tomato concasse.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Sun in My Belly

Kirkwood
$$$$

The aptly named Sun In My Belly definitely makes you feel good on the inside. The Kirkwood charmer resides in a former hardware store, which adds to the overall appeal. Whether you dine in or take your brunch home with you, there are plenty of tempting options. The menu has been pared down for now but it has all the standbys like their quiche of the day, pimento cheese omelet filled with honey-glazed bacon, and French toast made with brioche and honey ricotta.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

West Egg Café

West Midtown
$$$$

Churro waffle. Need we say more? Crave-worthy dishes are West Egg’s speciality which is why people have stood outside for hours to get a table there. Now you can order your brunch to-go making the process even more easy and enjoyable. Other can’t-miss items on the menu include the banana bread French toast, pimento cheese and bacon omelet, and the sour cream pancakes.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Available for Reservations

The General Muir

Emory Point
$$$$

Few things are more satisfying than sinking your teeth into Avenue A, which is a bagel topped with cream cheese, smoked salmon, grapefruit, red onion, and avocado. If that’s not your jam, then maybe a pastrami sandwich on house-basked rye bread is. Either way, there’s something for everyone at this Southern deli mainstay.

Available for Reservations

Fellows Cafe

Roswell
$$$$

This cafe is charming as hell and totally worth the drive OTP (what else are you doing, anyway?). Located in a cottage, Fellows serves up homey vibes and delicious offerings like banana-peanut butter toast, ricotta hotcakes with seasonal compote, and sweet potato eggs Benedict. The cafe takes reservations on weekdays but it’s first come, first serve on weekends. You can order takeout any day of the week though.

Available for Reservations
Lia Picard is a contributor for Thrillist. 
Joshua Robinson is a contributor for Thrillist.
Danielle Harling is a contributor for Thrillist.