Whether your idea of the perfect brunch is sharing a seafood platter and a mimosa kit, savoring a plate of eggs Benedict all for yourself, or going all in on a bottomless feast, there’s an option for every taste and appetite. Here are some of our current favorites.
Ruthie’s All-Day
Chef Matt Hill’s easygoing neighborhood “meat and three” continues to rack up the kudos, including the Best of Arlington “Best Brunch” award, by popular vote. Head there on weekends, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., for deviled eggs, hushpuppies with shrimp, and big breakfast plates piled high with apple pie pancakes or smoky brisket Benedict. Brunch sammies such as the PSB (pimento scramble with bacon and arugula) also don’t disappoint. Order a mimosa, Bloody Mary or Irish coffee while you’re at it. 3411 Fifth St. S., Arlington
Café Colline
You’ll feel transported to the sidewalks of Paris with every forkful at this charming French bistro, which our food critic called an “Arlington gem.” Chef Brendan L’Etoile’s a la carte brunch menu serves up Gallic favorites such as escargot, pain perdu (bruléed French toast with maple syrup) and moules frites. Make it boozy with a Kir Royale (crème de cassis, sparkling wine and lemon twist) or a breakfast martini (gin, lemon, cointreau and orange marmalade). Brunch is served on weekends, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. 4536 Langston Blvd., Arlington (Lee Heights Shops)
Nue
Put a Vietnamese spin on your midday feast at this supremely photogenic Little City restaurant, where brunch hours (weekends, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.) find enticements like snow crab fried rice, wild mushroom and tofu vermicelli rolls, green papaya “Caesar” salad with black sesame rice croutons, and Bò Né, a combo of beef ribeye tips, cage-free eggs, pâté toast and grape tomatoes. Seasonal cocktails with clever twists include a pisco sour with passionfruit and lemongrass, and a tequila quencher with caramelized pineapple, chili, ginger and a hit of savory fish sauce. 944 W. Broad St., Falls Church
Busboys & Poets
Named for legendary poet Langston Hughes who once worked as a busboy, Andy Shallal’s bookstore cafe has eight locations throughout the DMV, including a buzzy spot in Shirlington. Brunch specials, available 8 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, include a vegan hash and Mekhleme, an Iraqi dish with ground beef, onions, home fries and sunny side up eggs. The menu is also chock-full of omelets and other egg options, and griddle favorites like sweet potato pancakes. Pair your order with a Peace Paloma (tequila, lime and grapefruit with a kick of heat) for $6 during weekend brunch hours and federal holidays. 4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington (Shirlington)
Circa
For a leisurely midday meal with great people watching, visit this Best of Arlington winner for outdoor dining in the heart of Clarendon. Standouts on the weekend brunch menu include wagyu meatball sliders, short rib hash, and an egg white omelet with veggies and goat cheese. Flatbreads, sandwiches and salads round out the choices. The brunch menu is available weekends, 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. in Clarendon and 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the restaurant’s other NoVA location in Tysons. 3010 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon), and 1675 Silver Hill Drive, Tysons (The Boro)
Courthaus Social
Beer garden meets brunch at this casual tavern, where the brunch choices on weekends from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. include pork or chicken schnitzel with egg, a morning burger (two eggs any style, smashed fingerling potatoes and two sausages), house-made cinnamon rolls and build-your-own omelets. Want beer for breakfast? No one will judge. Bring the kiddos and your pups; there are special menus for them, too. 2300 Clarendon Blvd., Arlington (Courthouse)
Ellie Bird
Yuan and Carey Tang’s Little City hangout has racked up all kinds of accolades, including a 2024 RAMMY Award, a Best of Arlington nod for Best New Restaurant, and a spot on The New York Times’ Best Restaurants list. Its five-star service extends to brunch, when diners can feast on unlimited pancakes with the purchase of a main dish such as a croque madame, pineapple bun sliders with eggs and spam, or an omelet with kimchi fried rice. Treat yourself to craft cocktails such as the White Lotus 52 (vodka, kiwi, salted cucumber cordial and lime) or a caffeinated espresso martini. The kids menu, designed in consultation with the owners’ discerning little ones, includes choices like pancakes, chicken tenders and scrambled eggs. Brunch is served weekends, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. 125 Founders Ave., Falls Church
Ambar
Brunch is a big affair at this Balkan restaurant known for its all-you-can eat feasts. For those with decision paralysis, the full Ambar Experience ($42.99 per person) brings unlimited small plates with the caveat that everyone at the table must participate. Sample breakfast-y bites like cinnamon sweet truffle sourdough and savory options such as eggs Benedict with beef prosciutto or sliders stuffed with grilled pork neck and melted cheese. Bonus: beverages such as mixed berry mimosas and the house Aperitivo are just 99 cents each. Worried about food allergies? Consult the Brunch Allergy Menu for a rundown of ingredients by dish. The brunch menu is served on weekends, 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. 2901 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
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Freddie’s Beach Bar & Restaurant
The mood is ever-festive at Freddie Lutz’s Crystal City cantina and that includes weekend brunch, served 11 a.m.-3 p.m., when you can dig into Belgian waffles, pancakes, and eggs in omelet, scrambled or ranchero form. Sip a glass of bubbly or a mimosa (orange or pineapple) for $2 apiece, or go savory with a house Bloody Mary made with Freddie’s signature spice mix for $5.50. Bring the kids for Tara Hoot’s Family Fun Storytime Brunch on the first Saturday of every month at noon. 555 23rd St. S., Arlington (Crystal City)
Harvey’s
Chef-owner Thomas Harvey likes to change things up seasonally, so it’s always wise to check the menu for his latest brunch offerings. Fancy yourself tucking into a breakfast sandwich platter with hash browns and fruit, shrimp and grits, or a croque monsieur on sourdough with Mornay sauce. Also currently worth a taste: a Bánh-Sai sandwich stuffed with crispy pork belly, gochujang cucumbers, pickled carrots and scallions on a sub roll. Brunch is served weekends, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 513 W. Broad St., Falls Church
The Liberty Tavern
Feeling famished? Head to this neighborhood go-to on weekends from 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., and go big with the unlimited brunch spread ($35 per adult; $14 for kids under 12; free for kiddos 3 and younger) with fan favorites like avocado everything toast, spicy chicken & biscuits, cheddar cheese grits and an applewood smoked bacon pizza. Unlimited cocktails priced at a quarter each include spiked apple cider, screwdrivers and mango mimosas. Patrons with petite-size appetites, meanwhile, can enjoy enjoy a la carte dishes ranging from spicy eggs in purgatory to juicy smash burgers, or 3195 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Lyon Hall
This Clarendon brasserie and sister restaurant to The Liberty Tavern also gets in on the brunch action weekends from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nosh on Greek yogurt and fresh berries with house-made granola, oysters on the half shell, eggs with filet mignon or a French dip on a pretzel roll. Ask for the Mimosa Kit, which comes with a bottle of sparkling dry wine and your choice of juice, and play mixologist. Kiddos will find plenty to love, too, with favs such as French toast or steak and eggs. 3100 N. Washington Blvd., Arlington (Clarendon)
Neutral Ground Bar + Kitchen
Give your weekend a tune-up with the Sunday Jazz Brunch, served 10 a.m.-3 p.m., at chef David Guas’ newest hometown gathering place in McLean. Enjoy live music by Les Quatre Boulevardiers while savoring a plate of pillowy beignets (you know them from sister cafe Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery) or an Alligator Pear Brunch Toastie (seeded honey whole grain bread, avocado, oven-cured cherry tomatoes, Vidalia onion, baby arugula and toasted sunflower seeds topped with a lemon-chili vinaigrette). The Challah French toast with vanilla pastry cream and caramelized apples takes that classic brunch staple up a level. Add some pop to your meal with a seasonal sparkler—fruit juice with a splash of prosecco. 6641 Old Dominion Drive, McLean
The Salt Line
Who says happy hours are only for weekdays? This seafood-centric restaurant in Ballston offers a Happy Brunch on weekends, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Reel in deals on beer ($5-$7) and wine ($10) that you can pair with a platter of oysters, smoked salmon Benedict or a classic New England lobster roll. Alternately, order an entire meal in a glass with The Perfect Storm—a double Bloody Mary garnished with a lobster claw, cocktail shrimp, dressed oyster and fried coddie. 4040 Wilson Blvd., Arlington (Ballston)
SER
Javier Candon’s beloved Spanish eatery never disappoints. Find midday elegance in Magret de Pato (duck breast in a soy-honey marinade with mushroom risotto); croquetas filled with béchamel, chicken, beef or ham; a charcuterie board with a glass of bubbly; or a seafood platter stacked with oysters, shrimp and lump crab cocktail. The paellas are also popular for sharing. Don’t sleep on specialty cocktails such as the Stigma (cava, Aperol and hibiscus lemon clove syrup) or the Conference Room (Caravedo pisco, Licor 43, passion fruit, ginger honey, orange zest and egg white). 1110 N. Glebe Road, Arlington (Ballston)