Brunch San Diego: By Neighborhoods
Brunch is more than a time to gossip about what Karen was wearing the other day. Personally, I feel pampered when I sit down for some brunch. Brunch in San Diego is a popular weekend activity and there are many great brunch spots in each neighborhood.
Depending on the neighborhood, you’ll find different things but let me breakdown San Diego’s best brunch places in each. And if you are in La Jolla, check out our Best Brunch in La Jolla post.
IMPORTANT: Due to COVID, some of the places below might only offer take out, have very limited seating or other restrictions. Please check with the individual restaurant directly to find out about the details. We try to keep this list as updated as possible.
Brunch in Downtown San Diego
Luca, at The Guild Hotel
500 West Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
Make Your Reservations Here
$$$ | Hotel Restaurant
The creative-contemporary design of Luca delights the eyes as it puts you in awe. Your palate is captivated by the friendly flavor of the Mediterranean food with the finesse of California’s local seasonal ingredients. It’s a prime spot to relax for brunch and chat with your friends. Here you will feel like a posh member of high society in the most fun way.
Tags: vegetarian-friendly, innovative menu, pescatarian-friendly, breakfast date, luxury, fine dining
Open For: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Richard Walker’s Pancake House San Diego
520 Front St (at Market St), San Diego, CA 92101
Order Your Breakfast or Brunch Online Here
$$ | Casual Eatery
This fine establishment is so upfront about their intentions that you just can’t help but find it wholesome. The Walker family has been synonymous with family dining since 1948 and they have yet to disappoint their guests.
People shower praise over their delicious menu that’s available from early morning to late afternoon. Even their vegan food is being praised. You may experience a line but it is worth it! You’ll definitely get a big scrumptious portion no matter what you order.
Tags: comfort food, vegan-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, excellent service
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Queenstown Public House
1557 Columbia St (at W Cedar St), San Diego, CA
Make Your Reservation Now
$$ | New Zealand Restaurant
Photo Provided by Queenstown
I walk past this restaurant every week on my way to the office and the vibe is just so cozy and cute. Their brunch is served every Saturday & Sunday and let me tell you, the menu is so mouthwatering.
There are a lot of options that will fit whatever brunch feel you’re going for. Their New Zealand cuisine brings an interesting flair to the table and will most definitely shake-up your San Diego Sunday brunch experience.
Tags: great atmosphere, excellent service, dog-friendly, outdoor seating, vegetarian-friendly, vegan alternatives, fresh, comfort food
Open For: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Meze
345 Sixth Avenue, East Village, San Diego, California, 92101
Plan A Special Night Here
$$$ | Greek Fusion
Open until the wee hours, Meze happily provides amazing Greek flavors to some classic breakfast and brunch plates. Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday until 2 PM. The menu is very straightforward and easy to comprehend. There’s complicated on it but the flavors are spectacular.
While simple, Meze does not disappoint when bringing the Greek flavors. The restaurant is run by two brothers who wanted to create the perfect spot to hang out while eating food from home with a California twist. Go give it a shot.
Tags: international food, vegetarian-friendly, comfort food, night out, fun with friends
Open For: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
GARAGE Kitchen & Bar
655 Fourth Ave, San Diego, CA 92101
Start Making Brunch Plans Here
$$ | Eclectic Restaurant
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again! I absolutely love the local and sustainable products used in restaurants. GARAGE provides that kind of product. They only serve grass-fed Angus, Niman Ranch meat, free-range chicken, and locally sourced produce.
Their brunch menu is served between 9 AM and 3 PM. As an added bonus, they serve bottomless mimosas Monday through Thursday during their brunch hours. You have so many cool innovative brunch options, including cereal shots! It’s an overall interesting experience you should try out.
Tags: innovative menu, vegan-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free options, excellent cocktails
Open for: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Brunch by the Beach
Little Lion Cafe
1424 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, San Diego, CA 92107
Check Out Their Here
$ | Belgian Restaurant
This quaint casual dining spot is perfect for a brunch with friends or a special someone. The Belgian influence makes for a lovely change of pace as well as some delicious food. Their brunch menu isn’t complicated at all. You’ll find something to satisfy whatever brunch craving you might have from healthy to class brunch items.
What intrigues the most are the baked eggs they have served in a cast iron pan with baguettes. But, delicious food is just something to expect from a family-owned and operated restaurant that helped shape the San Diego food culture.
Tags: excellent service, vegetarian-friendly, vegan alternatives, gluten-free options, healthy options
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Waterbar
4325 Ocean Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109
Set Up Your Reservation Here
$$$ | Seafood | Hangout Spot | Weekend Brunch
Waterbar’s roots are all about the free-spirited nature, fresh cuisine, and friendly culture that is very unique the SoCal region. The chefs have a thoughtful eye on their ingredients, only using fresh locally sourced products to feed their fresh visitors.
Brunch is served Saturday & Sunday from 9 AM to 2 PM. On their brunch menu is a plethora of seafood creations as well as those classic brunch favorites with their own interesting twist. If you’re the type that likes to watch the waves while you munch on a fresh meal, then I suggest you check this place out.
Tags: excellent view, friendly service, great cocktails, pescatarian-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, vegan-friendly, gluten-free options
Open for: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Late Night
Crushed
967 Garnet Ave, San Diego, CA 92109
Take a Look At Their Story Here
$$ | Brunch Favorite | Global Food
Crushed has developed quite a global following on social media with their gorgeously presented brunch and lunch items. They pride themselves on having good quality food provided in an environment where their guests can relax and enjoy wine, beer on draft, and unique mimosas.
People absolutely rave about how great the food is and their stellar service. The employees are so friendly which just tops off the whole experience.
Tags: cozy, comfort food, vegetarian-friendly, vegan-friendly, gluten-free options, innovative menu, daily brunch
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Coronado Brunch
Little Frenchies
1166 Orange Ave., Coronado, CA 92118
Make Your Reservations Here
$$ | French Restaurant
French cuisine has been the root of many other styles and has inspired many recipes and techniques. This delectable spot creates some delicious menu items with French and Californian twists. This is a restaurant to go to when you want a good French-style omelet or just dine in a cafe setting and sip on some local wine.
Tags: outdoor seating, vegetarian-friendly, pescatarian-friendly, fresh, fine casual dining
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Peohe’s
1201 1st St, Coronado, CA 92118
Reserve Your Spot Here
$$$ | Island-Inspired Restaurant | Sunday Brunch
This unique ocean view restaurant is such a treat that it was featured on Rachel Ray’s Tasty Travels show with some of their most popular dishes. Now you can get their dinner any day but their brunch is only on Sundays from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Their brunch menu is short but it covers everyone’s taste and cravings in an elegant fashion. It’s definitely a spot where you can have a classic Sunday brunch.
Tags: pescatarian-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, vegan-friendly, fine dining, great view, good cocktails
Open for: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Brunch in San Diego: Hillcrest
Snooze
3940 5th Ave (between Washington & University Ave), San Diego, CA
Review Their Menu Here
$$ | Breakfast Restaurant
Snooze is a neat restaurant in the bustle of Hillcrest, my personal favorite neighborhood in San Diego. They want nothing more than to provide a welcoming atmosphere and innovative tasty dishes. Each recipe and ingredient goes through a few serious questions before it’s considered Snooze-Approved.
Everything is cruelty-free, crave-able, respectful toward humans & animals, and everything comes from companies that they can believe in. It’s a pleasant and respectable restaurant that serves innovative food for every diet and craving.
Tags: great cocktails, excellent service, vegan-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, innovative menu
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Breakfast Bitch
3825 Fifth Ave, San Diego, CA 92103
Look Over Their Menu Here
$$ | Breakfast Restaurant | New Favorite
This interesting brunch spot has collected a following all over social media. They are not only serving up delicious twists on early meal classics but they are spreading love and support throughout their community.
Hillcrest is already a very loving supportive neighborhood but Breakfast Bitch really shows they care through the food they serve, the service they give, and the influence they have. They even have merch so you can feel like a breakfast bitch whenever you want.
Tags: vegan-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, great service, innovative menu, excellent drinks
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Great Maple
1451 Washington St, San Diego, CA 92103
Reserve Your Spot Here
$$ | American Restaurant | Neighborhood Gem
With a swanky 1950’s vibe, Great Maple continuously serves up elevated American dishes, mouthwatering pies, and rad cocktails. They’ve made it a mission to take American classic comfort foods and turn them into something elevated and modern without losing the comfort.
To create these crave-worthy dishes, they use fresh, sustainable, seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. While serving up knock-out dishes is important, they value making guests smile with unexpected plating, amazing flavors, and many personal touches. It’s a spot to eat what you crave while feeling the love put into it.
Tags: farm-to-table, outdoor seating, BYO wine, accessible, vegan-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free options, healthy options, comfort food
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Refill
3752 Park Blvd #104, San Diego, CA 92103
Browse the Menu Here
$ | Cafe | Hidden Gem
This chic cafe has a primary focus on serving great quality coffee and as an avid coffee drinker, this pleases me. While their primary objective is to create coffee masterpieces, they also have a large variety of menu items perfect for anyone. Ingredients are fresh, coffee is roasted and brewed to perfection, and the atmosphere remains relaxed.
The prices are also incredibly reasonable for such good quality products which is another big plus! It’s ideal for a solo brunch or a brunch date if you’re trying to keep things low-key.
Tags: coffee, outdoor/patio seating, good employees, good value, great location, vegetarian-friendly, vegan-friendly, gluten-free options, healthy options, dog-friendly
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
North Park Spots
Madison on Park
4622 Park Blvd, San Diego, CA 92116
Plan Your Next Weekend Brunch Here
$$ | Meditteranean | Weekend Brunch
Chef Tony Gutierrez has busted his butt doing the thing that he loves and it has led him to Madison on Park, a Meditteranean restaurant that serves up interesting yet delicious plates of food for the masses to enjoy. On the brunch menu, you’ll find twisted classics and new innovations.
They all sound so delicious that you may not even know what to order! No worries, the knowledgeable servers are there to help. Hang out at this sleek modern spot the next time you have a chance. But make a reservation first.
Tags: great cocktails, gluten-free options, outdoor seating, BYO wine, vegetarian-friendly, awesome service
Open for: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
Mystic Mocha
2105 Mission Avenue, University Heights, San Diego, California, 92116
Look at the Menu Here
$$ | Coffee Shop | Mexican Food
The name kind of sets up your expectations of the shop vibes. It’s a cozy funky coffeehouse that serves up groovy coffee drinks and excellent Mexican breakfast food. Among the menu of Mexican breakfast delights, there are a few unconventional items that are sure to intrigue you.
If you’re not one for long brunch or breakfast lines then I suggest trying Mystic Mocha out. And there’s no need to leave your pooches at home because there are seats and menus with their names on it.
Tags: coffee, vegetarian-friendly, dog-friendly, outdoor seating, cozy, comfort food
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Atypical Waffle Company
3519 30th Street, North Park, San Diego, California, 92104
Browse the Menu Here
$ | Brunch Restaurant | Sweet & Savory | Hidden Gem
As the name states, this spot ONLY serves waffles. These waffles can have any type of toppings on it but their specialty is proudly Belgian waffles. Despite being a waffle only establishment, they are incredibly flexible if you have dietary restrictions of any kind.
They have a very casual atmosphere, like a backyard, and the servers are incredibly friendly & helpful. It is quite literally in a backyard (back alley) of North Park. Not a whole lot of people can find it but once you do, it is so worth it.
Tags: dog-friendly, vegan-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free options, outdoor seating, great value, excellent service
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Brunch Places In La Mesa
Terra American Bistro
7091 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA 92115
Make Your Reservation Now
$$ | Farm-To-Table
This is one of my favorite types of restaurants. Their focus is to not only provide delicious food but for that food to be fresh, sustainable, and locally sourced. Anything that they can make in-house, they do. Even seasonal fruit-infused liquor.
I really admire their focus and the fact that they can still dish out delicious eats. Come down to Earth and humble yourself by eating some of these delicious breakfast and brunch classics with a very fresh take.
Tags: early risers, farm-to-table, cozy, great drink options, pescatarian-friendly, good service, gluten-free options, vegan-friendly
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, Dinner
The Lunchbox Cafe & Deli
8751 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942
Order Your Food Early Here
$ | Cafe | Hole in the Wall | Hidden Gem
Photo Provided by Lunchbox Cafe & Deli
Lunchbox is a down-to-earth humble little shop that prides itself on providing excellent service and food. If it doesn’t then they have no problem fixing the issue.
The owner is passionate about their restaurant and their bakery as well (also in the area). They’ve even been awarded the best breakfast in La Mesa which is awesome. If you’re in the area, I suggest stopping by. If you intend to go then you should head over early since parking in this area is very hectic.
Tags: great service, cozy, vegan-friendly, vegetarian-friendly, responsive owners, early rising eaters
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Sheldon’s Service Station
8401 La Mesa Blvd, La Mesa, CA 91942
Browse Their Site Here
$$ | Cafe
Dedicated to the first service gas station in La Mesa, Sheldon’s services up a straightforward yet innovative menu filled with fresh ingredients and interesting flavors. Not only do they provide a family-friendly environment for all to enjoy, but they also have live music, special events, and even unique dinners. Sheldon’s is all about love for their community and giving back to all the people that enjoy their food and coffee. Stop by for a wholesome visit, it’s very worth it.
Tags: innovative, dog-friendly, fun with friends, strong coffee, vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free options, healthy options, daily specials
Open for: Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch
Brunch is a very hyped up meal. Many think that you need to spend a lot to have a nice brunch but that isn’t the case. There are plenty of places for brunch in San Diego where you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg to feel like the royalty you know you are.
Best Brunch in San Diego Neighborhoods was written and edited by Hedge Metreyeon. For more San Diego Explorer posts, check out our homepage. For more of their articles visit here. Follow them on social media here.
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