15 Must-Try St. Louis Brunches
Brunch: the story of two mealtimes that met, fell in love and created something beautiful.
If you love breakfast, brunch is for you. Prefer lunch? Brunch is for you, too. St. Louis has no shortage of great brunches (here are our previous picks for the best brunches in the city), but our list of go-to spots continues to get bigger every day. From yogurt bowls and croissants to breakfast pizza and ramen, these 15 spots show that St. Louis is seriously upping its brunch game.
Did we miss your favorite brunch spot? Let us know in the comments.
(Editor's note: This was updated to reflect that Death in the Afternoon closed and The Preston is no longer serving brunch.)
If you’re looking for a spot with great ambiance and the perfect croque madame, Brasserie is the place for you. In addition to stellar food from Gerard Craft's team, the restaurant's patio is great for dining al fresco and enjoying the bustling Central West End activities. True to its name, the brunch items from Brasserie are based around French cuisine. To that end, dishes like the eggs Benedict and the French toast are made with classic brioche. And if you’re looking for something unique, try the grapefruit brûlée or the violet cocktail. A new éclair du jour is offered each week at Brasserie, so you always have something special and sweet to look forward to. Brunch is served here Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
Chef Moxey’s favorite: The roasted chicken quiche.
Previously known as The Restaurant at the Cheshire, Boundary got a new name and a new menu in early 2016. The new(ish) restaurant takes its name from its location on Clayton Road, straddling the boundary between the city and county lines of St. Louis. The inside of the restaurant was renovated and now has a fun modern, but very unique vibe. And if you sit at the raw bar, expect to be surprised by its daily changing décor. Each brunch here should start off with a plate of beignets. And if that doesn't satisfy your sweet tooth, you’ll want to try the brioche French toast or the homemade yogurt bowl with granola and seasonal fruit. For those looking for something heartier, the bacon egg and avocado sandwich or the eggs royale are always great choices. Brunch is served here Saturdays from 11:30am to 3pm and Sundays from 10am to 3pm.
Chef Hale’s favorite: the house sausage tartiflette.
Boundary, 7036 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, Missouri, 314.932.7818, boundary-stl.com
This summer, Reeds American Table made the jump on the brunch bandwagon – and we're lucky that they did. The restaurant can be found in bustling Maplewood, nestled between storefronts. The best seats in the house are those in the front window, perfect for enjoying the sunshine without having to deal with that relentless summer heat. If you’re looking to start off with a cocktail, the Paloma and the brunch punch are favorites. Dishes change seasonally, but you can always count on a delicious meal here. Great options on the summer menu include the blackberry cream cheese croissant, poached eggs and the marvelous yogurt bowl loaded with granola, puffed grains, blueberries and honey. Brunch is served here Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
Chef Daughaday’s favorite: the chorizo and potato.
Reeds American Table, 7322 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri, 314.899.9821, reedsamericantable.com
In Downtown St. Louis, Hiro Asian Kitchen just might be offering the most creative brunch in town. As soon as you sit down, order yourself a boozy ice pop cocktail featuring a strawberry or mango ice pop inside a glass of champagne. For a savory treat, opt for a plate of the Korean fried chicken wings, Hiro slinger (a twist on the St. Louis staple with bulgogi beef, spicy cheesy tater tots, Chipotle mayo and an over-easy egg) or breakfast ramen. If you'd rather have dessert for brunch, try out the creative waffles, like the green tea waffle loaded with vanilla bean ice cream, seasonal fruits and coconut crème fraîche syrup. Brunch is served here Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 3pm.
Chef Lee’s favorite: The s’mores waffles.
Hiro Asian Kitchen, 1405 Washington Ave., Downtown, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.241.4476, hiroasiankitchen.com
As its name suggests, Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria has a reputation for amazing pizza and pasta. What diners might not know, however, is that the Rock Hill restaurant's weekend brunch menu is equally scrumptious. Start off on the right foot with a loaded Bloody Mary, cucumber mojito or a specialty mimosa. All the food here bears a heavy Italian influence – even the toast arrives loaded with porchetta. Must-have dishes include the polenta biscuits, wood oven eggs and zucchini carpaccio. We wouldn't blame you for sticking to pizza, though – the porchetta and egg pizza in particular is a great way to start the day. Be sure to grab a seat on the patio to check out Katie's homegrown ingredients in the nearby garden. Brunch is served here Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
Chef Collier's favorite: The fig French toast.
Katie’s Pizza & Pasta Osteria, 9568 Manchester Road, Rock Hill, Missouri, 314.942.6555, katiespizzaandpasta.com
Perched atop the eighth floor of the Four Seasons Hotel in Downtown St. Louis, Cielo (pronounced chee-éh-loh) is a perfect example of a relaxed but sophisticated brunch atmosphere. From the delicious assortment of necessities like pancakes and eggs Benedict to creative cocktails, Cielo is a top spot for brunch in the city. The menu items at Cielo have a unique and mostly Italian twist, including Sicilian pancakes, lobster ravioli and risotto. Besides the stellar food and drink, the rooftop patio boasts an incredible view of Downtown St. Louis. Brunch is served here Saturday & Sunday from 6:30am to 2:30pm.
Chef Colucci's favorite: the French toast with fresh fruit and Nutella.
Cielo, Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, 999 N. Second St., Laclede's Landing, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.881.5800, cielostlouis.com
Brunching and shopping are morning essentials for Central West-enders, and Scape American Bistro is in the mix of it all. The restaurant has a beautifully designed interior as well as a picturesque back patio, so either one will make for a great backdrop during your Sunday brunching. Be sure to check out the Bloody Mary bar, conveniently located right next to the front door. Each table is served a stuffed beignet as an amuse bouche to start off the meal, with the beignet fillings changing seasonally. The brunch menu offers a dash of southwestern flair – look for chilaquiles and breakfast chorizo chicken burritos. More traditional dishes include the biscuits and gravy and the croque madame. Brunch is served here Sundays from 10am to 2:30pm.
Chef Diamond’s favorite: the duck hash.
Scape American Bistro, 48 Maryland Plaza, Central West End, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.361.7227, scapestl.com
With a handful of successful restaurants and a James Beard Award under his belt, it's no surprise that two of Gerard Craft's restaurants wound up on this list. Pastaria is known for its Italian fare served at lunch and dinner; now, Craft and his team have pushed even further and created a spectacular brunch menu. Signature items include a buttermilk farro waffle with whipped butter and candied pecans, breakfast pizza with pork belly and fontina and bucatini rigati a la carbonara. Not into pizza for breakfast? Opt for brunch staples like a granola parfait or donuts. Brunch is served here Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
Chef Shelton’s favorite: The semolina biscuit and nduja gravy.
Pastaria, 7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, Missouri, 314.862.6603, pastariastl.com
Tree House is located on a wonderfully diverse strip of eateries on South Grand. Specializing in vegetarian and vegan cuisine, the restaurant offers an amazing brunch menu that caters to specific diets, but offers such creative food that even the most carnivorous of people will leave satisfied. Specialties include vegan donuts of the week, pancakes and truly incredible biscuits and gravy. And for those who need a little pick-me-up in the morning, Tree House offers unique cocktails like the Cucumber Aperol Spritz, the Italian Hound and a Kim Chi Bloody Mary. Brunch is served here Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 3pm.
Chef Tran's favorite: The Desayuno Latino.
Tree House Restaurant, 2177 S. Grand Blvd., South Grand Dining District, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.696.2100, treehousestl.com
What better way to begin your Sunday morning than enjoying the exhibits at the Missouri History Museum followed by a champagne brunch upstairs at Bixby’s? The restaurant offers an extensive menu filled with hot dishes, salads and plenty of desserts. Or, order something a la carte like Belgian waffles, omelets made to order, seasonal quiche and more. Now through Labor Day, Bixby's is offering $7 bottomless mimosas, Bloody Marys and sangria. We'll drink to that. Brunch is served here Sundays from 10am to 3pm.
Chef Friedhoff’s favorite: the Benedict of the day.
Bixby's, 5700 Lindell Blvd., Forest Park, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.361.7313, bixbys-mohistory.com
Café Madeleine has some pretty sweet digs: the Piper Palm House in Tower Grove Park. The building is the oldest standing conservatory west of the Mississippi River and is a beautiful venue for weddings, special events and even Sunday brunch. The brunch buffet at Café Madeleine begins with all types of salads, from fresh veggies to chicken salad to an antipasto offering. Chafing dishes are filled with biscuits and gravy, pastas and other hot entrees. Be sure to visit the omelet station for a custom-made omelet. No brunch buffet is complete without the dessert table, though, and Cafe Madeleine's offers an assortment of delectable treats. Brunch is served here Sundays from 10am to 2pm.
Chef Ziegenfuss’ favorite: the seasonally changing salads.
Café Madeleine, 4256 Magnolia Ave., Tower Grove, St. Louis, Missouri. 314.575.5658, cafemadeleinestl.com
Vin de Set takes its name from the phonetic spelling of the French number “vingt dix-sept,” or 2017. The restaurant occupies the 3rd floor of the restored Centennial Malt House at 2017 Chouteau Avenue and includes a large rooftop patio with a great view of the city. Vin de Set takes on French classics but makes them a bit more approachable with an American twist. The brunch buffet here consists of staples such as French toast, stuffed crepes and seasonal fruit from owners Paul and Wendy Hamiltons' nearby garden. Additional items change weekly and seasonally. If you’re looking for a fun way to kick off your day, the Bloody Mary bar is loaded with options to help you create the perfect cocktail. Brunch is served here Sundays from 10am to 1pm.
Chef Buettner's favorite: The seasonal stuffed crepes.
Vin de Set, 2017 Chouteau Ave., Lafayette Square, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.241.8989, vindeset.com
Brand-new to the brunch scene in Crestwood is the fast-casual spot Yolklore. Open every day of the week for breakfast, Yolklore also dabbles in the art of brunch on the weekends. The restaurant specializes in creating breakfast classics with a fun twist. Some of the items that make this place special are the Nest Egg (a buttery biscuit crust topped with Cheddar, bacon, eggs, pickled red onion and preserved lemon) as well as fun sandwiches like the Mary B.E.A.R. and Billy the Kid. Looking for something a little sweet? Be sure to try the seasonal crème puff or even have cake for breakfast. If you’re feeling super lazy on the weekend or just rushing to get to work on time during the week, simply roll through Yolklore's drive-thru. Brunch is served here Saturdays and Sundays from 7am to 3pm.
Chef Bogacki’s favorite: the Johnny Ham Hands.
Yolklore, 8958 Watson Road, Crestwood, Missouri, 314.270.8538, yolklore.com
Gerard Craft's Sardella, which opened in the former home of Niche in 2016, delivers "a wink to Italy" at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the Clayton restaurant's brunch is no exception. Playful Italian-inspired dishes from executive chef Nick Blue include Cinnamon Toast Crunch-coated Nutella risotto balls served with whipped cream cheese; cacio e pepe eggs with arugula, fennel salad; and eggs Amatriciana served in a mini cast-iron skillet with spicy guanciale, cheese and tomato sauce with toast. Fans of Sardella's weekday breakfast will find the breakfast BLT, as well as a salmon Benedict with creamy dill hollandaise and ricotta pancakes.
Chef Blue’s favorite: Nutella risotto balls
Sardella, 7734 Forsyth Blvd., Clayton, Missouri, 314.773.7755, nichestlgroup.com
On Cherokee Street, Vista Ramen serves a decidedly different kind of brunch on Sundays from 10am to 2pm. You won't find any waffles or eggs Benedict, but if it's sweet potato biscuits, glazed brioche donuts or matcha pancakes you're after, you're in luck. The ramen shop is known for its creative spins on the traditional noodle dish as well as other Japanese-inspired small plates, and brunch follows suit with dishes like okonomiyaki (a savory Japanese pancake) with corned beef, white kimchi, sunny egg, thousand island and yakitori sauce; matcha pancakes with condensed milk, lychee, mint and peanut; and grits with shiro dashi, poached eggs, bacon, furikake and chili oil.
Chef Bork's favorite: Grits
Vista Ramen, 2609 Cherokee St., Cherokee Business District, St. Louis, Missouri, 314.797.8250, vistaramen.com
