Classic American saloon brunch$20-40Sat-Sun 08:30-15:00Reservation required
Old Ebbitt Grill brunch in Washington DC is the city's oldest saloon's weekend brunch service, with Chesapeake Eggs Benedict, oyster Happy Hour preserves and a power-table federal-worker crowd.
Order: The Chesapeake Eggs Benedict with crab cake substituted for ham.
Tip: Sunday brunch at 10:00 fills quick; the Old Bar takes walk-ins and runs the full menu.
French brasserie brunch$25-50Sat-Sun 09:30-15:00Reservation required (OpenTable)
Le Diplomate brunch in Washington DC is Stephen Starr's 14th Street brasserie's weekend service, the city's most-booked brunch reservation since 2013, with the croque madame as the headliner.
Order: The croque madame with a glass of Sancerre is the editorial brunch order.
Tip: Book the patio at 11:00 for the warm-weather window; the bar takes walk-ins on weekday brunch.
American farm-to-table brunch$18-30Sat-Sun 08:00-14:00Reservation required
Founding Farmers brunch in Washington DC is the Pennsylvania Avenue farmer-owned cooperative's weekend brunch, the city's best-known boozy brunch in the federal-zone with a deep cocktail program.
Order: The fried chicken and waffles with apple butter is the most-ordered brunch dish.
Tip: Reservations book out a week ahead; the bar takes walk-ins, and the BYOMimosa carafe is the brunch deal.
Cambodian breakfast$15-25Sat-Sun 10:00-15:00Walk-in friendly
Maketto brunch in Washington DC is the H Street NE Cambodian breakfast service, an Erik Bruner-Yang dining room with bai sach chrouk grilled pork on rice and num pang sandwiches.
Order: The Cambodian breakfast plate with bai sach chrouk pork and rice.
Tip: The courtyard bar runs walk-in brunch; the dining room takes Sunday reservations.
Mediterranean brunch$25-50Sun 11:00-14:00Reservation required (Tock)
Tail Up Goat brunch in Washington DC is the Adams Morgan Mediterranean Michelin-star room's Sunday brunch, with house-baked breads, shakshuka and a lamb-shoulder hash for the table.
Order: The shakshuka and the house-baked focaccia plate.
Tip: Reservations open 4 weeks out via Tock; the lamb-shoulder hash is family-style and feeds three.
American diner brunch$15-25Mon-Sun 07:30-15:00Reservation friendly (OpenTable)
Ted's Bulletin brunch in Washington DC is the 14th Street art-deco American diner's all-day brunch, with the in-house adult pop-tart line and the all-day breakfast menu as the signature.
Order: The homemade strawberry pop-tart and the milkshake; the all-day breakfast headliner.
Tip: The weekday brunch is the easier reservation; the Sunday morning slot fills by 09:30.