Where to brunch in Santa Monica: morning spots worth the queue.
Where to brunch in Santa Monica. The morning rooms worth the queue, and the kitchens still doing it right at noon.
Huckleberry has stacked its marble counter on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica since 2009, market-fruit pastries, quiche and all-day breakfast plates.
OrderMaple bacon biscuit and the green onion goat cheese quiche
TipWeekday mornings are calm; weekends the line snakes by 09:30, so order the green onion and goat cheese quiche early.
Breakfast by Salt's Cure griddles its famous oatmeal griddle cakes on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, a compact daytime spin-off of the original room.
OrderOatmeal griddle cakes with salted butter
TipGluten-free and vegan versions of the griddle cakes exist; the counter sells the mix to take home.
FIG at the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica cooks off weekly farmers market runs, wood-blistered pizzas and lemon ricotta pancakes on a garden terrace.
OrderLemon ricotta pancakes or the breakfast burrito
TipThe sun-trap garden terrace and the Potting Shed private room book out for weekend brunch; go on a weekday morning.
Calabra spreads Mediterranean-Californian plates across the Santa Monica Proper Hotel rooftop, a circular bar and garden terrace with Pacific views.
OrderChallah french toast at brunch, mezze and crudo at night
TipProper Hour runs 16:00-17:00 weekdays and 15:00-17:00 weekends; the poolside alcoves take groups up to twelve.
Fia fills a big garden dining room on Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica with coastal Italian cooking, burrata with prosciutto and figs, raw fish and steaks.
OrderBurrata with prosciutto and figs, then the Wellington steak
TipThe garden brunch with pastries and bottomless pours is the weekend play; book OpenTable for patio seats.
Cobi's cooks Southeast Asian food in a florid Main Street bungalow in Santa Monica, a Bib Gourmand room of curries, dumplings and wood-grilled plates.
OrderPork dumplings, nasi goreng and a wok-tossed curry
TipThe Michelin Bib Gourmand crowd books ahead on Resy; the weekend brunch sitting is the calmer way to get a table.
The Penthouse floats on the 18th floor of the Huntley Hotel in Santa Monica, white banquettes and coastline views from breakfast through late cocktails.
OrderWeekend brunch with the ocean panorama
TipHappy hour runs 16:00-18:00 on weekdays; sunset window tables go to whoever books earliest on OpenTable.
Farmshop pairs a Californian brunch room with an artisan market in the Brentwood Country Mart on 26th Street in Santa Monica, bakery counter from 07:00.
OrderCoddled eggs with brioche, then raid the market shelves
TipThe market side sells the bakery bread, cheese and prepared food to go when the brunch wait runs long.
Jyan Isaac Bread bakes deeply fermented sourdough on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, bagel sandwiches and brunch beside the Ghisallo pizza kitchen.
OrderA sourdough loaf and the tuna melt at lunch
TipLoaves sell down by early afternoon; weekend brunch adds duck confit hash and cereal milk french toast.
Layla Bagels hand-rolls sourdough bagels daily on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, open-face builds with seasonal fruit, honey and smoked salmon.
OrderPre-Jam open-face bagel with a drip coffee
TipThe Pre-Jam with seasonal fruit, cream cheese and honey is the signature; the everything loosies sell out first.
Milo & Olive runs its wood oven from dawn bakery to late pizzeria on Wilshire in Santa Monica, garlic knots, breads and pies from the Rustic Canyon family.
OrderGarlic knot, then the mushroom pizza
TipThe garlic knot with sea salt is non-negotiable; breakfast service turns into pizza service at 11:00 without pause.
Elephante stacks a coastal Italian kitchen onto a 2nd Street rooftop in Santa Monica, whipped eggplant, pizzas and pasta with the ocean over the rail.
OrderWhipped eggplant dip with flatbread, then a pizza as the sun drops
TipGo before sunset for the light and stay for the DJ; weekend mornings it runs ricotta pancakes from 09:00.
Dogtown Coffee brews organic micro-roasted coffee in the old Zephyr surf shop on Main Street in Santa Monica, breakfast burritos for the dawn patrol.
OrderThe Morning Bowl breakfast burrito and a cold brew
TipThe building birthed the Z-Boys skate team; get the breakfast burrito before the surf crowd clears the batch.
1 Pico is the oceanfront dining room at Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica, coastal Californian cooking with Southern Italian leanings above the sand.
OrderWhatever the seasonal coastal tasting plates are, with a Route 66 centennial cocktail
TipAsk for a window table at sunset; the Coast cafe downstairs covers the casual all-day beach service instead.
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