Brunch is great, but brunch outdoors? Now we’re talking. In a city like Los Angeles that is much more fun during the day (IMO), outdoor brunch ranks pretty high on the list of fun things to do on a weekend. Plus, who doesn’t love brunch? Eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns, freshly baked pastries, and bread — I’m here for all of it. Brunch in LA is also just a fun meal to enjoy with friends (bloody mary, anyone?) and a great way to kick off your weekend.
The best brunch spots in LA mean panoramic skyline (or ocean) views, breakfast dishes that highlight the abundance of gorgeous California produce, and lots of vitamin D! I like a restaurant that has good food and a good vibe on the weekends. Here are my favorite westside spots with outdoor seating for the perfect weekend brunch in LA.
Ospero
West Hollywood
Any restaurant with Wolfgang Puck’s name on it is sure to be an excellent choice and Ospero is no different. The casual cafe is located inside The Pendry, the ultra-hip new hotel in West Hollywood. Where the breakfast menu lacks creativity, it makes up for in quality and taste. Traditional breakfast dishes like eggs and sausage and pancakes pair nicely with the selection of housemade pastries. For fun people watching, sit on the front patio facing Sunset Blvd. or head to the other side of the building and enjoy views of the LA skyline and get a peek of the Pendry residences.
Vibe: Trendy
Good for: Small groups
What to order: Baked goods, Sunset breakfast, smoked salmon plate, fresh pressed juices
The Courtyard Kitchen
Santa Monica
The name says it all. The Courtyard Kitchen is a cute neighborhood restaurant off of Montana Avenue with cozy courtyard seating that looks like someone’s home. The menu here has everything your heart (and belly) could desire for breakfast. There is a nice mix of classic breakfast dishes and more California-inspired menu items like avocado toast, huevos rancheros, a California burrito, and a smoked salmon platter.
Vibe: Casual
Good for: Weekend brunch, parties of 2, couples
What to order: Shakshuka, acai bowl, garden omelet
The Rooftop by JG
Beverly Hills
Located at the luxurious Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, The Rooftop by JG give us a good reason to brunch in LA. The rooftop restaurant boasts panoramic views of the city and a chic rooftop dining area. The food is great here and you have a choice of more traditional brunch dishes like eggs benedict and avocado toast or heartier lunch items like the truffle cheeseburger if you’re really hungry. The Waldorf Astoria is one of my favorite hotels in LA so it’s always a treat to dine at The Rooftop by JG.
Vibe: Sophisticated, posh
Good for: Groups, couples
What to order: Eggs benedict with salmon, buttermilk pancakes, avocado toast with poached egg
Zinque
West Hollywood
I have to admit, I don’t love the food at Zinque. It’s not bad, it’s just that it’s not anything special. The food is simple and clean but the food isn’t what brings me back, it’s the vibe. (In all fairness, they have 7 locations and counting so they’re obviously doing something right.) Zinque, pronounced Zin-kae, reminds me of a charming French cafe in Paris. The West Hollywood location has a cute string-lit patio with a cozy fireplace, high-top wooden tables and it’s always buzzing. It’s just a fun vibe and a popular spot that locals love.
Vibe: Casual, locals
Good for: Dates, small groups
What to order: Le bowl, salmon toast, leek, and gruyere quiche, caprese sandwich
Republique
La Brea
Republique is one of my favorite brunch spots in LA. Why you ask? If I can create a menu with my favorite brunch dishes, it’s the menu at Republique. The smoked salmon benedict, french omelet, mushroom toast, shakshouka — I want it all. Definitely try the Vietnamese Latte, if you like your coffee a little sweet, it’s made with condensed milk. The food is consistently delicious and the pastries are out of this world. What more can you ask for on a lazy Sunday morning? Republique doesn’t take reservations so you will most likely have to wait in a line but it does move fast. Trust me, it’s worth it.
Vibe: Casual
Good for: Small groups, leisurely brunches
What to order: Shakshuka, smoked salmon benedict, mushroom toast, Vietnamese latte, and any of the pastries
The Rose Venice
Venice
Before COVID, I was at The Rose Venice a lot. I used to bring my laptop, set-up shop, and call it my office for the day along with the other digital nomads. Full disclosure: there are no outlets here so come fully charged. It’s a pretty big restaurant with both full-service and counter service. On the weekends, it gets busy so you may want to make a reservation. You can order at the counter, and then grab a seat on the front patio facing Rose Avenue or the back patio. The breakfast burrito is my go-to brunch order but you’ve been warned, it weighs as much as a dumbbell so bring your appetite.
Vibe: California casual
Good for: Small groups
What to order: Breakfast burrito, The Gold Standard
S.O.L.
West Hollywood
This cute, all-day neighborhood cafe which opened on the corner of Melrose Avenue and West Knoll Drive is where you can find me on most weekdays. It’s open from 7am-4pm everyday and the best time to visit is weekend brunch. Named after the electronic single, Strings of Life, S.O.L. is owned by the same guys behind E.P. & L.P. just around the corner. The Aussie owners know a thing or two about coffee and good vibes. The menu includes all-day breakfast items, salads, and sandwiches and it can be a fun, scene-y weekend brunch spot in LA.
Vibe: Trendy
Good for: Casual breakfast meetings, quick breakfast or lunch
What to order: Breakfast burrito, veggie burrito, SOLOX bagel, coconut chia pudding, SOL chop salad
Gjusta
Venice
Gjelina’s sister restaurant, Gjusta, is a more casual, market cafe just a few blocks away from the beach. It’s best known for the farm-to-table menu that celebrates California’s fresh produce. Is the food tasty? Yes. Is it way overpriced? You bet. It is Venice, after all. It’s also worth noting that Gjusta is surrounded by tent city (which has sadly become the norm in Venice) but, no trip to Venice is complete without brunch at Gjusta. You can always count on having a delicious brunch with a side of LA people-watching.
Vibe: Hipster crowd
Good for: Casual brunch, picnic food
What to order: The grain bowl, build your own lox sandwich, Mediterranean breakfast
Elephante
Santa Monica
Elephante is a rooftop hotspot that feels like a bohemian beach house in the heart of downtown Santa Monica. With Mykonos vibes, plenty of outdoor lounge seating, and ocean views Elephante is a great choice for large groups or birthday celebrations. The brunch menu leans Italian with plenty of vegetarian options, and lighter brunch fare like avocado toast, smoked salmon mezze, and a chia bowl but you’ll also find carb-heavy pastas and pizzas to cure your morning hangover. Reservations are required (and hard to come by) and you’ll want to request a table on the balcony or near the fireplace so you can get a close-up of the ocean. Elephante is definitely a vibe-y spot for Sunday brunch in LA.
Vibe: Trendy, boho chic
Good for: Groups, dates, birthday celebrations
What to order: Green eggs, whipped eggplant, smoked salmon mezze, burrata salad
Croft Alley
West Hollywood
The name says it all. Croft Alley is a small eatery tucked away in an alley with a few tables in the front alley and cozy, back courtyard. It’s a small, casual neighborhood cafe perfect for a quick breakfast bite and the food is really good. It’s located just behind the famed Alfred Coffee on Melrose Place so you can grab your coffee (and Insta photo) on your way out.
Vibe: Casual
Good for: Quick bite
What to order: French scramble, truffle & eggs, waffles
Milo + Olive
Santa Monica
Milo + Olive is an all-day farm-to-table restaurant that is known for small plates, baked goods, and wood-fired pizzas. The first thing your eyes will turn to when you walk inside Milo + Olive is the delectable pastry case. You cannot leave without trying at least one baked good — whether it’s the freshly baked bread, croissants, or the garlic knot, everything here is insanely good. Outdoor seating at Milo + Olive is limited to the sidewalk and it’s on a first-come, first-serve basis but I personally like to sit at the counter here and watch the open kitchen.
Vibe: Casual
Good for: Bakery, small groups, families
What to order: Warm 3 grain bowl, farmers market quiche
Gjelina
Venice
If there’s one restaurant that I always recommend to out-of-towners it’s Gjelina. In my opinion, Gjelina represents Los Angeles in so many ways and it’s one of the best brunch spots in LA. It’s located on Abbot Kinney, the hip street in Venice where all the cool kids hang, reservations are hard to come by, and the menu is one big love letter to vegetables. It was one of the first trailblazers of the farm-to-table movement here in Los Angeles making local produce the center of the menu. The menu is always rotating but the food is consistently good. (Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the service.) Gjelina is my happy place in LA and there’s a reason why locals and tourists flock to this place.
Vibe: Hipster, trendy
Good for: Dates, small groups
What to order: Moroccan baked eggs, Crispy egg and braised escarole, Smoked salmon plate, and the Lemon buckwheat ricotta pancakes
The Eveleigh
West Hollywood
The Eveleigh is a West Hollywood staple. The rustic chic hot spot has managed to stay in business on the bustling Sunset Strip. Choose from classic breakfast dishes like the soft scramble with lox, or an avocado toast, or move on to lunch for heartier dishes like pizza, pasta, and crispy chicken tenders. The garden-like indoor seating feels like it’s outdoors because of the massive open-air ceiling and lush foliage. The seating on the front patio is just as desirable and decorated with dreamy vines wrapped around a wooden pergola. The Eveleigh is always a good choice.
Vibe: Trendy
Good for: Groups, dates
What to order: Soft scramble
Superba Food + Bread
Venice
You know that any restaurant that has the word bread in its name will probably be a good brunch spot. It’s no surprise the menu here is centered around bread with a variety of classic and unique toast dishes like avocado toast and kale toast. They have a range of sandwiches and raw seafood dishes if that’s what you’re craving on a Sunday morning. And rest assured, there are plenty of sweet and savory dishes on the menu too. Superba Food + Bread is mostly a brunch spot which means expect a long line on the weekends but it will be well worth the wait.
Vibe: Casual, hipster
Good for: Groups
What to order: Grain bowl, croissant french toast, cheesy egg toast
Margot
Culver City
It’s a shame LA doesn’t have more restaurants with outdoor spaces like Margot. The expansive outdoor patio located on the rooftop of PLATFORM LA is equipped with heaters and lounge seating great for large parties. The Spanish-inspired brunch menu is a bit limited, although there is a vegan menu available, but let’s be honest, you’re here for the rooftop views and vibe.
Vibe: Casual
Good for: Views, groups
What to order: Potatoes bravas, yellowtail crudo, black truffle soft scramble
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