This list is devoted to sharing the best breakfast and brunch restaurants in Chicago that are open beyond just weekends. Finding weekend brunch is easy. Finding a restaurant that serves breakfast or brunch on weekday gets tricky. Inclusion in this list doesn’t mean that these spots are open daily, many close one day a week – it’s always best to double check the hours before going somewhere.
In general, these restaurants fall into three categories: restaurants inside hotels, diners, and restaurants that focus on morning meals. Chicago is a city filled with coffee shops and doughnut shops where you can get a grab and go breakfast. We included sit down restaurants on this list of the best breakfast and brunch restaurants in Chicago.
Last updated: March 2022
The Best Breakfast and Brunch Restaurants in Chicago:
Table of Contents
We have organized this list of best breakfast and brunch restaurants in Chicago by neighborhood.
Andersonville:
m.henry
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Bakery, Vegetarian/Vegan
A bakery and byob cafe that serves breakfast and lunch daily (they are not open for dinner). The menu balances sweet and savory and offers dishes like rustic peasant quiche, a Latina omeletta, a fried egg sandwich, Japanese style soufflé hot cakes, lemon-raspberry French toast, and crepes. Starting at 11 am, sandwiches, bowls, and salads are available. Separate vegetarian/vegan and gluten-free menus are available.
Svea
Swedish, Scandinavian, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
This brunch spot is known for serving Swedish pancakes and a Viking Breakfast (Swedish pancakes, two eggs, fried potatoes, Swedish sausage, and toast). The menu also has egg dishes, omelets, and smorgasar (open face sandwiches). Svea does not serve dinner.
Kopi Cafe
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Vegetarian/Vegan
“A travelers cafe”, Kopi Cafe is a casual bohemian cafe serving a large breakfast menu all day plus sandwiches. The focus is vegetarian, vegan, and seafood cuisine. Kopi Cafe is open from 10 am until 7 pm daily, with the exception of Monday nights when a live music series goes from 8 pm until 10 pm.
Pauline’s
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A kitschy diner serving comfort food breakfasts like pancakes, omelets, corned beef hash, biscuits and gravy, and banana bread French toast plus sandwiches and burgers. Pauline’s is open from 7 am until 3 pm daily.
Avondale:
Cafe Tola #2
Mexican, Latin American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Cafe Tola is a colorful lunch counter known for their empanadas but the menu also includes tacos, tortas, and burritos. The food at Cafe Tola is consistently great, which might be the reason why the restaurant has four locations in Chicago.
La Nonna
Argentinian, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A rustic Argentinian bakery and restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily (the exception is that they close at 4 pm on Sundays). The menu includes egg dishes, empanadas, sandwiches, and burgers.
Taqueria Mazamitla
Mexican, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A family-owned casual affordable taco joint serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner daily. The menu has tacos, sopes, burritos, and larger Mexican platters like enchiladas, flautas, and chile rellenos. Taqueria Mazamitla is known for the carne asada which is served in tacos and as a platter.
Bucktown:
Cafe Robey
Breakfast/Brunch
A bright sunny cafe on the street level of The Robey Hotel that has it own entrance so it doesn’t feel like it is attached to a hotel. The menu focuses mostly on breakfast classics like shrimp and grits, French toast, biscuits and gravy, and eggs benedict but there are a couple sandwiches too. Brunch is served daily from 7 am – 3 pm.
Gold Coast:
3 Arts Club Café
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Within Restoration Hardware’s Chicago flagship store, you will find an elegant sunlight courtyard with a glass ceiling and exposed brick walls. The brunch and lunch menu focuses on lunch fare like salads, sandwiches, and a burger, but it does include has avocado toast and the most delightfully creamy scrambled eggs.
Nico Osteria
Italian, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Nico Osteria serves breakfast/brunch, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. The breakfast menu has a mix of pastries and egg dishes like a classic American breakfast, a roasted short rib breakfast sandwich, and steak and eggs.
Somerset
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Somerset is located in the Viceroy Hotel but it doesn’t feel like a hotel restaurant. The restaurant serves breakfast/brunch, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. The menu is inspired by country club culture and includes an omelet, French toast, a breakfast sandwich, and pastries.
The Brasserie
French, Breakfast/Brunch
Formerly called Margeaux Brasserie, this stunning restaurant is located within the Waldorf Astoria. Breakfast/brunch, lunch, and dinner are served daily. As of March 2022, the restaurant is serving several egg dishes, waffles, pancakes, and lighter meals like oatmeal, chia seed pudding, and a Greek yogurt parfait at breakfast.
Hyde Park:
Plein Air Cafe
French, Breakfast, Lunch
Located right next to the Chicago landmark Robey House, the Plein Air Cafe is a French-inspired cafe serving pastries and breakfast daily until noon, plus salads, sandwiches, baguettes, tartness, and bowls after 11 am. Plein Air Cafe closes at 8 pm on weekdays and at 6 pm on weekends.
Roux Diner
American, Southern, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Roux Diner is an upscale southern style diner inspired by New Orleans that serves breakfast all day and beignets to-go. The breakfast menu has country ham with grits, biscuits and gravy, a fried green tomato tartine, and biscuit hash while the all day supper menu has chicken and waffles, chicken fried steak, and fried catfish.
Medici on 57th
American, Pizza, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Medici has been in Hyde Park for 60 years. The bakery sells breads, pastries, cookies, and pies while the restaurant serves a mix of American standards like chili, roast beef on rye, Italian subs, burgers, Italian pasta dishes, and both thin curst and pan pizzas. Breakfast sandwiches are available on weekdays and a full brunch menu is served on weekends.
Valois Restaurants
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A cash-only cafeteria style restaurant serving American comfort food that is a favorite of President Obama, who is known to order the steak and eggs. The menu also includes omelettes, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, lunch sandwiches, salads, and wraps. Valois is open from 6 am until 3 pm daily and does not serve dinner.
Lakeview:
Ann Sather
Breakfast, Swedish, American
The giant cinnamon rolls that accompany breakfast here are iconic. The menu here focuses on egg dishes and Swedish pancakes. Ann Sather has two Lakeview locations, one just off the Belmont train stop and another in Boystown. Both are open from 7 am until 3 pm every day.
Southport Grocery
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Kid-friendly
An iconic Chicago cafe that is one of the very best breakfast and brunch restaurants in Chicago. The menu includes items like cupcake pancakes, bread pudding pancakes, and a grown up pop tart. From scratch baked goods are available too. Southport Grocery is open from 8 am to 3pm daily and is not open for dinner.
Mortar and Pestle
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Global
A brunch restaurant with a globally inspired menu with items like foie gras and eggs, breakfast fried rice, shrimp and grits, and chicken chorizo hash. Mortar and Pestle is open from 9 am to 3 pm Friday through Monday and does not serve dinner. It is walk-in only.
Lincoln Park:
Nookies Too
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Kid-friendly
A diner serving a large menu of breakfast and lunch classics. Nookies does not serve dinner. Nookie’s has another location in Old Town.
Lincoln Square:
Baker Miller
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
This restaurant and bakery in Lincoln Square serves breakfast, brunch, and lunch (not dinner). The menu includes breakfast tacos, biscuit sandwiches, bagel sandwiches, salads, and sandwiches plus pastries, pies, and breads.
Cafe Selmarie
American, Breakfast, Lunch
An American bakery and cafe in Lincoln Square that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The kitchen menu has European influences and includes spinach lasagna, chicken schnitzel, and a burger. The bakery serves croissants, cinnamon buns, eclairs, brownies, torts, cakes, and pies.
Logan Square:
Lula Cafe
American, Breakfast, Lunch, Vegetarian
A favorite restaurant in Logan Square among locals and the chef community, Lula Cafe has been serving farm to table cuisine for over twenty years. The restaurant takes pride in serving adventurous food for vegetarians plus meat and fish from sustainable sources. In addition to dinner, Lula Cafe serves breakfast and lunch. In 2022, Lula Cafe received a James Beard Award nomination.
Longman & Eagle
American, Breakfast/Brunch
A restaurant and inn with six guest rooms on the second floor, Longman & Eagle pays homage to the time when bars, inns, and pubs were community centers. Brunch is served daily (starting at 11 am on weekdays and 9 am on weekends). The cuisine is modern and inventive – the current brunch menu includes roasted mushrooms on toast with cumin goat cheese and a poached egg with herb salad and house cured salmon on a crispy potato pancake with herbed schmear and roe.
90 Miles Cuban Cafe
Cuban, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A family-owned Cuban restaurant with a large patio serving up empanadas, sandwiches, and traditional entrees like ropa vieja, bistec de palomilla, and lechon.
The Loop:
Cindy’s
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
This restaurant on the rooftop of the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel has an open air terrace and some of the best views of Grant Park, Millennium Park, and Lake Michigan. The menu features comfort food served family-style like chilaquiles, buttermilk pancake, and avocado toast. This is the best breakfast and brunch restaurant in Chicago for groups.
Venteux
The Loop
French, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A brasserie, cafe, and oyster bar are located with in the Pendry Hotel on Michigan Avenue. The cafe has 40 foot tall windows overlooking Michigan Avenue. The sun filled space is stunningly decorated with sage green palm murals, marble tables, and plush velvet sofas. The menu has lighter breakfast and lunch options including eggs, salads, and sandwiches.
Cafecito
Cuban, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Vegetarian/Vegan
This casual and affordable Cuban sandwich shop has two locations in The Loop (7 N Wells and 26 East Ida B Wells Drive). The menu features over two dozen pressed sandwiches plus several vegan specialities. In the mornings a full breakfast menu is offered.
Old Town:
Kanela Breakfast Club
Brunch/Breakfast, Lunch, Healthy
This popular brunch spot has several locations in Chicago. The menu has a perfect mix of breakfast and lunch, sweet and savory, and healthy and indulgent menu items.
La Fournette
Breakfast, Lunch, French
An authentic French bakery that serves quiches, sandwiches, salads, crepes, and soups. La Fournette also sells bread, pastries, and desserts.
Pilsen:
Los Comales
Mexican, Breakfast, Lunch
Los Comales serves authentic Mexican tacos, tortas, tostadas, and burritos plus a small breakfast menu in the mornings. It’s open from 8 am until 1 am daily. Lunchtime specials are just $11.50 and include your choice of three tacos, three quesadillas, two tostadas, a torta, or a burrito with rice, beans, and a drink.
La Esperanza
Mexican, Breakfast, Lunch, Vegan/Vegetarian, Kid-friendly
A traditional and affordable Mexican restaurant known for their mole. The menu is huge and even has an entire plant-based section offering plant-based meats. La Esperanza serves breakfast and lunch Wednesday through Monday.
River North:
Edie’s All Day Cafe
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
An all day cafe & bar in the former 3 Greens Market/Cocello/Dillman’s space. Edie’s has coffee, pastries, cold pressed juice, and smoothies, plus a lunch/dinner menu featuring snacks, salads, sandwiches, and flatbread pizza. It’s a great place for a casual coffee, happy hour with friends, or co-working.
Beatrix
Healthy, American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A relaxed restaurant serving American fare with plenty of healthy options. If you want something more indulgent, check out the pastry counter. Beatrix also has locations in Streeterville and West Loop. The River North and Streeterville locations are close to each other and this can cause confusion.
Rogers Park:
Susie’s Noon Hour Grill
Korean, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A cash-only Korean restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch. This restaurant is run by Susie, a local legend and one woman show who takes orders and prepares the food. Customers rave about the breakfast in particular. The menu includes items like omelets with bulgogi and kimchi, Korean pancakes, ramen, and bulgogi bibimbap.
Sol Cafe
Breakfast/Brunch
A plant filled coffee shop and diner serving breakfast and brunch from 8 am until 2 pm daily. The menu has several breakfast sandwiches, avocado toast, and large meals like biscuits and gravy.
Charmers Food & Floral Cafe
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Charmers serves breakfast and lunch daily, and closes at 5 pm. The breakfast menu has pastries, bagels, and egg dishes while the lunch menu has a variety of soups and sandwiches.
Honeybear Cafe
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Kid-friendly
A diner serving breakfast and lunch (not dinner) every day from 8 am until 2:30 pm. A large breakfast menu offers scrambles, skillets, pancakes, benedicts, waffles, French toast, and several indulgent types of pancakes. The lunch menu has burgers, salads, and sandwiches. Kids eat free with the purchase of an adult meal.
Smack Dab Bakery
Bakery, Vegetarian, Vegan
A bakery serving breakfast pastries, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, and lunch sandwiches and burritos. Vegan and vegetarian sandwiches are available. Smack Dab is open from 8 am until 2 pm from Tuesday to Sunday. The restaurant does not serve dinner.
South Loop:
Grant Park Bistro
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Located just across from the south end of Grant Park, this bistro serves casual American fare like burgers, sandwiches, steak, and pork chops. The restaurant is open all day and serves three meals a day every day. The breakfast menu is inspired by the Midwest.
Shang Noodle & Asian Small Plates
Chinese, Japanese, Asian, Breakfast, Lunch
Located within the Hilton Homewood Suites, Shang Noodle serves three meals a day and is known for their noodles which are freshly prepared in house. The breakfast menu has a mix of dim sum, continental breakfast, egg dishes, and pastries.
Eleven City Diner
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Kid-friendly
Breakfast is served all day at this diner, and the menu has all the classic egg dishes and omelettes, plus pancakes, waffles, and French toast. Eleven City Diner also serves sandwiches piled high with deli meat.
Little Branch Cafe
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Located near Museum Campus and Soldier Field, Little Branch Cafe serves breakfast and lunch daily, they are not open for dinner. The menu has omelets, burgers salads, and paninis.
The Spoke & Bird
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
This cafe is open from 7 am until 7pm on weekdays and from 7 am until 5 pm on weekends. Breakfasts like overnight oats, biscuits & gravy, and French toast are served all day. The menu also has soups, salads, and sandwiches. Burger night is on Friday night.
White Palace Grill
Diner, American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A diner open 24 hours a day and 365 days a year that was featured on Diners, Drive Ins & Drives. Comfort food is the theme of the menu with items like biscuits & gravy, chicken & waffles, burgers, meat loaf, and Philly cheese steaks on the menu. A large breakfast menu is served all day too.
Streeterville:
Beatrix
American, Healthy, Lunch, Breakfast/Brunch
Find the full description under River North.
Kanela Breakfast Club
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Healthy
Find the full description under Old Town.
Egg Harbor Cafe
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Kid-friendly
This suburban favorite has its only Chicago location in the heart of Streeterville. Egg Harbor Cafe has a large menu with Benedicts, pancakes, French toasts, and omelettes plus lunch fare like soups, salads, and sandwiches. They offer full gluten-free menus and kids menus too.
Lyfe Kitchen
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Healthy, Vegetarian/Vegan
A health focused restaurant serving a breakfast menu and an all day menu every day. The menus include several smoothies, salads, bowls, sandwiches, flatbreads, and snacks. A variety of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options are available.
Lirica
Latin-inspired, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A restaurant within the Sable Hotel that serves a menu of Mexican, Iberian, and South American inspired cuisine raining from tacos to skirt steak and jump shrimp. Lirica opens at 7 am daily, is open all day, and serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
West Loop:
Good Ambler
Pastries
Good Ambler is a bakery serving elegant breakfast pastries and desserts in addition to a small menu of savory quiches and sandwiches.
Publican Quality Meats
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
PQM is a market, butcher, bakery, and cafe and casual sibling to The Publican. You can buy charcuterie, gourmet cheeses, deli meats, sausage, steaks, pork, and poultry. Or you can get sandwiches, salads, other meals to eat at the cafe or to take home. PQM is open from 10 am to 6 pm daily.
Little Goat Diner
American, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Stephanie Izard’s diner serves up three meals a day – and breakfast is served all day. The menu has indulgent options with global inspirations like an Indian flatbread breakfast burrito, Korean chicken tacos, and a burger topped with kimchi, bacon, and a sunny side up egg. You can also find more traditional diner fare like biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and a reuben. Desserts come from sugargoat sweets next door.
Beatrix
American, Healthy, Pastries, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch, Kid-friendly
Find the full description under River North.
Cira
Mediterranean, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Located within the Hoxton hotel, Cira has a small plate menu highlighting fresh coastal ingredients. The All Day menu has a nice mix of snacks, dips, salads, small plates, pastas, and large plates. The restaurant is open seven days a week for breakfast/brunch, lunch, and dinner.
West Town & Ukrainian Village:
Kasama
Filipino, Asian, Fine Dining, Bakery, Breakfast, Lunch
This restaurant owned by a husband and wife team of chefs is a bakery by day and a fine dining restaurant at night. Kasama’s pastries are creative and elegant. The croissants have flavors like black truffle with Delice de Bourgogne, honey, and pearl sugar. The breakfast sandwiches are so in demand that a line forms down the block to get them. At night a fine dining Filipino tasting menu is served. Kasama is a semi-finalist for the James Beard Best New Restaurant category.
Wicker Park:
Dove’s Luncheonette
Mexican, Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
A Tex-Mex diner with a menu that includes items like masa pancakes, fried chicken, pozole rojo, and burnt ends hash. The seats of this diner don’t move, and seating is limited, so it’s best to go as a two-some. Currently, Dove’s focuses on breakfast/brunch and lunch but are open on Mondays for dinner.
Kanela Breakfast Club
Breakfast/Brunch, Lunch
Find the full description under Old Town.
Bongo Room
Breakfast/Brunch
While Bongo Room serves both sweet and savory breakfast foods, the pancakes are perhaps the most memorable with options like White Chocolate and Caramel Pretzel Pancakes and Pumpkin Chai Pancakes. Bongo Room serves breakfast and lunch Monday and Friday. On weekends they serve breakfast and brunch. (The restaurant is closed Tuesday – Thursday). The Bongo Room seems to be on every list of best breakfast and brunch restaurants in Chicago – and it is that good.