Beasley’s
If Ashley Christensen is wrong—we don’t wanna be right. The two-time Beard-winning “Darling of Raleigh” puts brunch on notice with this delish recently expanded den of fried chicken + seasonal Southern sides. Keep it classic with biscuits and gravy or go ham with red bean rancheros… and always a side of grits. Plus chicken, obv. After all, birds of a feather cluck together.

Our pick: Hot chicken eggs Benedict over buttermilk biscuits (pro tip: don’t fear the (Carolina) reaper sauce—but if you do, try it on the side) + Lively Brunch rum coffee number. Sat. & Sun., @beasleys_raleigh

Photo by Lauren Vied Allen

Hummingbird
Forget “Bumble”—the only buzz we need in cuffing season (and all seasons) is Hummingbird. Find us chained to this year-round Dock 1053 porch—aka chef/owner Coleen Speaks’ always-buzzing masterpiece—for the alfresco brunch affair always worth swiping right for a la staples like banana bread French toast, steak and eggs, and seasonal quiche; adventurous ops like brunch pizza, smoked oysters and huevos rancheros; and Nola riffs on classics like the Peacemaker Po’boy.

Our pick: Chicken & waffle (buttermilk brined for two days (!) and served with maple and hot honey herb butter) + gin & jam. Sat. & Sun., @hummingbirdral

Photo by Jamie Robbins, courtesy of Hummingbird

Cucciolo Terrazza
Italian for breakfast? Say less. Treat yo’self to the likes of spicy rigatoni and pesto campanelle before noon (you only live once, after all)—or stick to the (elevated) basics, including eggs Benedict, steak and eggs, and brioche French toast that’ll send you into the best kind of food coma. … While the stunning surrounds will make you think you jet setted to NYC. While you’re living out your best life, you may as well grab a seat at the bar—and tell the bartender to keep the cocktails coming.

Our pick: The Monte Cristo sando is everything you want at brunch: savory, sweet, creamy and oh-so-delightful. Sat. & Sun., @cuccioloraleigh

Photo courtesy of Cucciolo Terrazza

Whiskey Kitchen
Whiskey business, meet brunch business—because a midday grub + bevs sesh on the weekend is always a serious(ly joyous) affair. Nothing but green flags fly at this open-air oasis where the indoor-outdoor vibe—and 365 patio (umbrellas! heaters!)—provides the perf perch to while the day away. Pro tip: Swap the Sunday scaries for a Mimosa Party. Then keep the party going with hearty selects like biscuits and gravy and the Nash Square breakfast sando, or kick off your healthy weekday eating via the chorizo frittata or veggie bowl.

Our pick: For the sweet tooth, we guarantee you’ll leave no crumbs from the pull-apart monkey bread—and the Irish coffee is an obvious pairing. Sat. & Sun., @whiskey.kitchen

Photo courtesy of Whiskey Kitchen

Madre
Your mother could never offer the immaculate vibe this hip Smoky Hollow outpost delivers come Sunday (sorry not sorry). Grab your squad and settle in within the ’Grammable museumworthy dining room, or opt for a sunny seat outside on the newly upgraded patio (think greenery, string lights and umbrellas). The more pals the merrier, as you’re gonna wanna try alllll the dishes—the burger is a fan-fave, and the salmon lox is brunch goals—and split that Mimosarita pitcher, obv. Liquid brunch, anyone?

Our pick: The hot honey Calabrian chicken and Tepuy Donut is the pairing you never knew you needed but won’t be able to get enough of. … And keep the Mimosaritas coming. Sun., @madreraleigh

Photo by Paul Mehaffey, courtesy of Madre

Coquette
Crepes or it didn’t happen. If you’re looking for “Americans in Paris,” look no further than this très chic French institution. Raleighites can’t get enough of the cult-classic quiche and transportive brunch fare—from crepes (natch) to croissant French toast to brie biscuits (!) to eggs Benny—best savored wafting in the summer sun and breeze under the agape floor-to-ceiling windows, or truly alfresco on the patio. It’s giving Emily in Paris—in Raleigh.

Our pick: No matter the time of day, the French onion soup is always worth slurping up + Champs—because France. Sun., @coquetteraleigh 

Photo courtesy of Coquette

Relish Craft Kitchen & Bourbon Bar/The Kitchen Table
Roll the dice on two excellent brunch ops at these sister restos boasting Southern classics with a modern twist. For the OG fam-friendly lived-in homey atmosphere, ~relish~ in dishes like country-fried steak and eggs, French toast bread pudding, and the ’Mater Biscuit. Or, for brunch sandos, biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, and the like in hip digs, get your crew on board for The Kitchen Table. Feeling spicy? It doubles as Raleigh’s first board game bar—loser buys a round of mimosas?

Our pick: Both Relish’s and The Kitchen Table’s spicy-sweet chicken biscuits’ll leave you saying Bojangles who? Sat. & Sun., @relishraleigh, @kitchentableraleigh

Photo by Kierra Angell courtesy of The Kitchen Table

Wye Hill
This patio lives rent-free in our head. And it serves up supreme skyline vibes year-round within the uberpopular Boylan Bridge brewery and restaurant. Soak up the views while drinking up bloodys and mimosas—and chowing down on superior ops like sweet potato hash, shrimp and grits, and the Wye Hill breakfast sando—or for that one friend who leans more lunch than breakfast, the Morning Glory Burger. 

Our pick: That shakshuka will forever have our heart—and stomach. Sat. & Sun., @wyehill

Photo by courtesy of Wye Hill

Irregardless
This ain’t your garden variety Sunday spread. If you wrote off Irregardless as strictly vegetarian—well, fake news. Hands down one of the top services in town, this OG “real food” Raleigh institution is dishing a brunch worth writing home about. From “eggs and bowls” like shrimp and grits and brisket hash to waffles and pancakes to “sandwiches and such” (hey, lox brioche, avo toast—and, yes, a vegan burrito), this super-fresh Raleigh mainstay is living up to its “real good” MO. 

Our pick: Crab Benny + cold brew martini. Sat. & Sun., @irregardlessnc

Photo by courtesy of Irregardless