Photograph by Andrea Bricco
The original fusion cuisine, brunch had this city sliding fried eggs onto steaks and pairing chicken with waffles long before we ever thought to shove Korean beef into a tortilla. The prized weekend ritual is also a celebration of leisure. It’s an occasion designed for us laid-back Angelenos who have no qualms about snoozing through the first half of the day and rewards such loafing with powdered sugar and endless flutes of champagne. Want a Cobb salad at 9 a.m.? Syrup-drenched brioche at 3? Vodka with all of it? No problem. Where breakfast is all about efficiency and anticipation of the day ahead and dinner can be an overstuffed grand finale, the L.A. brunch exists entirely in the moment and encourages you to linger there as long as you please. In that relaxed spirit, we offer our guide to the city’s finest brunching destinations, where the only rule is deliciousness.
Brunch Finder
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So You’re Feeling… Fancy
Some occasions are so special, they’re worth celebrating before noon
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So You’re Feeling… Homey
The food’s extraordinary, but the neighborhood vibe is yoga-pants appropriate
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So You’re Feeling… Global
Because the rest of the world likes to linger over their weekend meals, too
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So You’re Feeling… Boozy
When the party starts early (or maybe it never stopped)
Brunch Essentials
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Going Bottomless: The Big Business of Brunch Boozing
One mimosa, two mimosas, three mimosas, four
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Big Ben: Four Eggs Benedicts We Love
Runny yolk meets crispy muffin: it’s wise to dress in layers
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Bloody Mary, Quite Contrary
Is it a drink or a meal? The city’s most outrageous Bloody Marys
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What a Hunk: Our Four Favorite French Toasts in L.A.
Egg-soaked, browned, and drenched in syrup—bread has never had it so good
Recipes: Brunch In Bed
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Matinee Idyll: Patric Kuh’s Relaxed Brunch Affair
Fussy dinner parties be damned. Some of life’s most memorable affairs look better in the light of day
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Loving Spoonful: How To Get Your Menudo Fix
Menudo, the classic Mexican tripe stew, is a slow-cooked Sunday tradition for many, including Bar Amá’s Josef Centeno
Plus
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Joel Stein: Why I Hate Brunch
Los Angeles magazine’s Intolerable Foodie columnist thinks “brunch is breakfast for functioning alcoholics”
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Dave Gardetta On The Hangover: Why Did I Do That?
You may not remember last night, but your body does. Ease your hangover with the original meal-as-medicine
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L.A.’s Top Six Brunch Cocktails
What to drink while reading the September brunch issue
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More Homey Brunches We Love
Seven spots we just couldn’t squeeze in to our September issue
