Brunching Bliss by Tiffany Tse

ALL THE HOTTEST SPOTS IN TOWN FOR A BETTER-THAN-BASIC BRUNCH.

Serious brunchers know that the midday meal that’s not quite breakfast and not quite lunch is more than just an excuse to drink bottomless mimosas. It’s a weekend ritual, a social affair, and, in the case of the extraordinary spots we’ve curated here, a culinary adventure. Here are 10 brunch destinations that are worth setting your alarms for.

| Baltaire |

This swanky steakhouse in Brentwood offers an epic Sunday DJ brunch. For $85 per person, you can feast on a prixfixe spread for the table with shareable starters like Mediterranean mezze, warm zucchini bread, and a colossal cinnamon bun as well as your choice of an entrée (we recommend the prime filet and eggs if you’re really hungry). Chances are you won’t be able to resist a few special add-ons: caviar, a build-yourown-seafood tower, and a boozy masterpiece from the roaming Bloody Mary cart, featuring Baltaire’s secret house-made mix, hot sauce, and an impressive display of jumbo shrimp and cured meat and olive skewers.

| Restaurant at the Georgian |

Ever since the Georgian in Santa Monica underwent a chic restoration last spring, the landmark Art Deco hotel has been drawing crowds, and naturally, so has its oceanview terrace restaurant. The globally inspired brunch menu takes its cues from all over the world. Dishes include Belgian Liège waffles, Tijuana Caesar salad, and rich Bolognese pasta, but the real star of the show is the caviar service. You can order up to 50 grams of lustrous, buttery, sustainably harvested caviar accompanied by sweet potato crisps and mascarpone scallion dip.

| Casaléna |

Gorgeous, European-inspired ambiance complements the culinary offerings at this San Fernando Valley restaurant in Woodland Hills. It boasts several majestic dining spaces, which include an open-air garden surrounded by lush foliage and lemon trees as well as a sunlit atrium with a fireplace that makes you feel like you’re dining in a beautifully appointed home. The Mediterranean menu strikes the perfect balance between approachability and sophistication, with light fare such as shakshuka and a smoked salmon plate and hearty dishes like pizzas and pastas.

Seasonal Sake

| Planta Cocina |

While plant-based dining is a familiar concept in town, Planta’s sleek, stylish interiors and stunning presentation elevate the experience. The Marina del Rey restaurant takes culinary inspiration from Pan-Latin cuisine, featuring blue corn waffles, breakfast burritos, and chilaquiles. You’ll also find several Planta signatures on the menu, like ahi watermelon nigiri, which bears an uncanny resemblance to its tuna-based counterpart, and 1,000-layer crispy potatoes topped with caviar. Wash it all down with endless cocktails for $25. Choose from Spicy Bloody Caesar, Passionfruit Ginger Mimosa, and Seasonal Sake Sangria.

Oysters

| Shirley Brasserie |

Many brunch spots stick to traditional offerings like pancakes and omelets, but Shirley Brasserie does them one better with a raw bar, duck confit, chicken liver mousse, and an entire pastry pedestal filled with all manner of sweets such as cruffins, compotes, fruit tarts, and financiers. To be clear, this French-Californian gem tucked inside the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel also offers the standard brunch fare you’d expect with just a little more flair, adorning avo toast with grilled shiitake mushrooms or serving challah French toast with bacon steak. As if brunch couldn’t get better, there’s also live music and St-Germain spritzes.

| Tiato Kitchen + Garden |

This charming garden oasis in Santa Monica offers a Friday brunch with a Vietnamese twist on breakfast classics. The menu includes Vietnamese French toast with five-spice whipped cream, mouthwatering ube (purple yam) hash, and an extraordinary cloud egg dish consisting of fluffy truffle Parmesan meringue crowned with a celeryand turmeric-infused golden yolk. Owner Catherine An teamed up with her mother, Helene, the legendary chef who introduced Vietnamese fusion cuisine to the U.S., to develop the Mama’s Classics section, where you’ll find pho, their take on steak and eggs, and her famous-in-L.A. garlic noodles.

| Boxwood Restaurant |

What’s better than brunch? Two words: bottomless brunch. For $110, the London West Hollywood’s hotel restaurant offers unlimited food and free-flowing drinks. If you’re a fan of savory dishes, this menu is for you (think: butterpoached lobster rolls, croque madames, and breakfast pizzas), although those with a penchant for sweets can satisfy their dessert cravings with mango cheesecake, doughnuts, and ice cream. Skipping cocktails? Indulge in all the food you want for just $82, but fair warning, the breakfast-inspired Old Fashioned with bacon-infused bourbon is a can’t-miss.

| Willie Mae’s |

Sometimes all you want for brunch is a no-frills place where you can roll up in sweats and recover from the previous night’s festivities. That’s where Willie Mae’s comes in. The James Beard Award–winning restaurant hailing from New Orleans slings some of L.A.’s best fried chicken—expertly seasoned, irresistibly juicy, and earth-shatteringly crunchy—in its only location outside of Louisiana. Don’t skimp on the Southern-style sides. The cornbread, candied yams, and slow-cooked butter beans are made to cure any hangover.

| Toca Madera |

For the ultimate Sunday Funday, head to this West Hollywood mainstay known for modern Mexican cuisine with a focus on bold flavors and organic ingredients. Weekend brunch turns into a full-on party with a DJ bumping beats as you dig into an eclectic mix of sweet and savory delights that include tres leches French toast and short rib barbacoa enchiladas. Don’t leave without trying one (or several) of the libations from a lineup of specialty drinks and cocktails, like a build-your-own mimosa, watermelon margarita, and Mayan mocha.

| Lemon Grove |

Nestled on the rooftop of the exclusive private members club the Aster, this restaurant, bar, and garden serves up seasonal California cuisine and picturesque Hollywood Hills views. The menu impresses vegan and gluten-free eaters (but has plenty of other options too), so gather your friends for decadent bananas Foster pancakes, vegan dragon fruit chia pudding, mini cinnamon rolls, and salmon Benedict. If it’s a boozy brunch, make a request to spike one of their artisanal house-made lemonades with your spirit of choice or customize a mimosa with prosecco or champagne.

Details

Baltaire: 11647 San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles, baltaire.comRestaurant at the Georgian Hotel: 1415 Ocean Ave. Santa Monica, thegeorgian.comCasaléna: 22160 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, casalena.la

Planta Cocina: 4625 Admiralty Way, Suite 104 Marina del Rey, plantarestaurants.com

Shirley Brasserie: 7000 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, shirleybrasserie.com

Tiato Kitchen + Garden: 2700 Colorado Ave. Santa Monica, tiato.com

Boxwood Restaurant at the London West Hollywood: 1020 North San Vicente Blvd., West Hollywood, the londonwesthollywood.com

Willie Mae’s: 324 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, williemaesrestaurant.com

Toca Madera: 8450 West 3rd St. Los Angeles, tocamadera.com

Lemon Grove: 1717 Vine St., Los Angeles, lemongrovela.com