12 Best Places For Brunch In San Francisco
San Francisco’s brunch scene is a foodie paradise where creative chefs blend California’s fresh ingredients with global flavors. From cozy neighborhood cafés to upscale restaurants with bay views, the city offers something for every brunch enthusiast.
Whether you’re craving fluffy pancakes, savory egg dishes, or innovative fusion cuisine, these 12 spots will satisfy your weekend cravings and show you why brunch in SF is an experience worth getting out of bed for.
1. Plow
Morning sunshine streams through the windows at this Potrero Hill gem, illuminating plates of their famous lemon ricotta pancakes. The place is small but mighty in flavor and consistently draws crowds.
You can’t go wrong with “The Plow” – their signature breakfast plate combining eggs, bacon, lemon ricotta pancakes, and crispy potatoes. Their locally-sourced ingredients and attention to detail elevate simple breakfast classics to extraordinary heights.
2. Foreign Cinema
Brunch and a movie? Yes, please! This Mission District icon projects classic films on the wall while you dine in a stunning converted theater space.
The famous organic pop tarts change flavors seasonally and are nothing like the packaged versions you grew up with. I recommend the champagne oysters and the Persian breakfast with spiced lamb. The indoor-outdoor space with string lights creates an atmosphere that’s both festive and relaxing.
3. Tartine Manufactory
The morning bread aroma alone is worth the visit to this industrial-chic bakery and restaurant in the Mission. Sunlight pours through massive windows, illuminating the bustling open kitchen.
My go-to order is their coddled eggs with trout roe and fresh herbs, paired with their famous country bread. The pastry case is a wonderland of morning treats – don’t leave without trying a morning bun or frangipane-filled croissant.
4. Zazie
Hidden in Cole Valley, this charming French bistro serves up the most heavenly buttermilk pancakes you’ll ever taste. The outdoor garden patio creates a magical setting for morning dining.
I love their eggs Benedict variations and the legendary gingerbread pancakes that locals line up for. What makes Zazie special? They operate with a no-tipping policy since they provide healthcare and retirement benefits to all employees.
5. Mama’s on Washington Square
Family-owned since 1964, this North Beach institution serves breakfast classics that have stood the test of time. The line often stretches around the block, but locals know it’s worth the wait.
Their Monte Cristo sandwich is legendary – perfectly crisp on the outside, warm and gooey inside. The French toast made from their house-baked bread will ruin all other French toast for you forever. Cash only and no reservations, but the homey atmosphere makes you feel like part of the family.
6. Brenda’s French Soul Food
Southern comfort meets San Francisco style at this Tenderloin hotspot. The New Orleans-inspired menu brings Creole heat to foggy mornings in the city.
The beignet flight is non-negotiable – you get plain, chocolate, apple, and my favorite, crawfish-filled savory ones. Their shrimp and grits are creamy perfection, and the hangtown fry (an oyster and bacon omelet) is a California classic with a Brenda’s twist.
7. Nopa
Housed in a former bank, this two-story restaurant with soaring ceilings pioneered farm-to-table dining in the neighborhood that shares its name. Weekend brunch here feels like a celebration.
The custard French toast is caramelized to perfection and served with seasonal fruit. Their wood-fired oven turns out incredible dishes like baked eggs with spicy chickpeas. Cocktails are craft masterpieces – the Bloody Mary features house-pickled vegetables and just the right kick.
8. Outerlands
Driftwood walls and foggy views create the perfect cozy atmosphere at this Outer Sunset favorite. Just blocks from Ocean Beach, it’s the ideal post-surf refueling spot.
The Dutch pancake arrives in a cast iron skillet, puffed up like a cloud and topped with seasonal fruit. Their famous thick-cut levain toast is perfect for sopping up egg yolks. Warm up with their ginger-lemongrass hot toddy – especially welcome on those misty Sunset mornings.
9. Dottie’s True Blue Café
Follow your nose to this tiny Tenderloin treasure where everything is made from scratch daily. The chalkboard menu changes regularly, but always features creative twists on breakfast classics.
Their jalapeño-cornbread with homemade blackberry jam is the perfect sweet-spicy combo. I dream about their whiskey-fennel sausage scramble with gruyère cheese. The vintage decor and open kitchen make you feel like you’ve stepped into someone’s home rather than a restaurant.
10. Chambers Eat + Drink
Poolside brunch? In San Francisco? Absolutely! This hidden gem in the Phoenix Hotel offers a Palm Springs vibe in the heart of the Tenderloin, with a record-lined wall that music lovers adore.
The brioche French toast with bourbon maple syrup and candied bacon is decadent in all the right ways. Their chilaquiles with house-made tortilla chips and sunny-side-up eggs are the perfect hangover cure. Grab a seat by the pool and pretend you’re on vacation.
11. Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen
Traditional Jewish deli fare gets a California twist at this Mission District favorite. The modern space buzzes with energy as platters of comfort food parade from the kitchen.
Their pastrami and eggs will transport you straight to the Lower East Side, while the chocolate babka French toast offers a sweet indulgence. Don’t miss their house-made bagels with schmear – they’re boiled and baked fresh daily for that perfect chewy-crisp texture.
12. Stacks
Sometimes you just need a classic American breakfast, and Stacks delivers with generous portions in a bright, family-friendly atmosphere. Their Hayes Valley location is perfect for pre-shopping fuel.
The pancake selection is impressive – from banana-walnut to chocolate chip. My personal favorite is the Swedish oatmeal pancakes topped with lingonberries. Their benedicts come in countless variations, each with perfectly poached eggs and house-made hollandaise sauce.
