By Erin Kain By Erin Kain | February 3, 2025 | Food & Drink, Feature, Guides,
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but we think brunch is even better. Here are our top 10 favorite brunch spots in San Francisco.
Michelin-starred chef Mourad Lahlou is behind the rustic menu at this Richmond district resto. The weekend brunch menu is relatively small, but resplendent with Moroccan-California cuisine—think shakshuka with chickpeas, pickled beans and jalapeno lebni; Beghrir pancakes with honey butter, citrus honey and bee pollen; and grilled prawns with red charmoula and polenta. 5800 Geary Blvd., 415.682.4196
Eastern Mediterranean eatery Dalida’s decadent weekend brunch is not to be missed. For-the-table plates, from fresh oysters with Presidio blossom mignonette to blintzes with apple compote, Calvados ricotta filling and cardamom cream, are perfect for sharing, while main entrees run the gamut from Turkish eggs and braised horta greens to crispy poached eggs with pita and chickpea tagine. 101 Montgomery St., Ste. 100, 415.237.1999
Nestled in the heart of NoPa, dedicated brunchery Early to Rise serves up from-scratch breakfasts inspired by the warmth of Southern hospitality. Nosh on small-batch donuts, lox sandwiches with capers and chive schmear, grits with poached shrimp and crispy bacon bits, bananas foster pancakes and persimmon French toast. 1801 McAllister St., 415.796.3360
Dine among film screenings, vintage film posters and thousands of vinyls at Foreign Cinema. Weekend brunch offerings range from savory (sirloin beef tartare with truffled horseradish sauce, Dungeness crab frittatas) to sweet (fruit pop tarts with tangelo marmalade, warm cinnamon rolls with citrus-scented cream cheese frosting) and everything in between. 2534 Mission St., 415.648.7600
Panoramic Bay Views are coupled with inventive vegetable-forward dishes at this aptly named resto. The ever-changing menu, headed by lauded executive chef Katie Reicher, celebrates organic, seasonal produce. Sample items span apricot ginger bites, smoked cheddar biscuits, black bean chili, grilled cabbage shawarma, pumpkin katsu sandwiches and more. Fort Mason Center, 2 Marina Blvd., 415.771.6222
Dim sum for brunch is a San Francisco staple. Palette Tea House sits pretty in the heart of Ghirardelli Square and boasts some of the best Cantonese cuisine in the whole city. The ambitious menu highlights classic dumplings delicately stuffed with ha gow shrimp, lobster and butter sauce, chicken and mushroom siu mai, and Peking pork and chives. 900 N. Point St., 415.347.8888
This Potrero Hill hot spot takes a minimalist, no-fuss approach to everyone’s favorite brunch fare. Annie’s almond flour pancakes soothe the soul with butter and pure maple syrup, while the bone-in pork chop and eggs is a hearty feast. Other offerings include a delicious fried egg sandwich with sharp cheddar and aioli and a ginger molasses cake with orange creme anglaise. 1299 18th St., 415.821.7569
THE PALM COURT AT RH SAN FRANCISCO
Tucked inside RH San Francisco in the historic Bethlehem Steel Building, The Palm Court at RH San Francisco is a delicious exercise in excess. Opulence abounds with pearlescent Calacatta gold marble, cascading fountains, glimmering chandeliers and more. The quality of the food matches the decked-out decor, from lobster rolls dripping with caviar and whole grilled branzino to decadent Swedish pancakes and prosciutto boards. 590 20th St., 415.865.0407
Wayfare Tavern’s historic building and early-1900s aesthetic extends to its beloved cuisine—authentic American fare best washed down with the bar’s Victorian era-inspired cocktails. Each weekend brunch is a bountiful celebration featuring stacks of brioche French toast topped with cider-glazed apples, fried chicken and waffles with chorizo red eye gravy and Skuna Bay salmon with red and gold beets. 558 Sacramento St., 415.772.9060
Zazie has been a Cole Valley neighborhood staple since 1992, serving up plates of perfectly cooked eggs, stacks of fluffy pancakes and more. The mimosa menu is most impressive, with over 10 flavor combinations to sip, including Maya (mango juice, chamoy, salted Tajin rim), La Fleur (wild hibiscus flower in rose syrup) and the signature La Metro (fortified wine, sparkling lemonade, lavender simple syrup). 941 Cole St., 415.564.5332
Photography by: SAYMOM LEAO/GETTY IMAGES
