Atlanta knows how to brunch, but we’re highlighting the spots below for being especially upscale—whether it’s thanks to caviar service, live jazz, or a refined French influence on the menu. These are the places where white tablecloths, artful pastries, and carefully crafted cocktails elevate the weekend ritual beyond the usual eggs and mimosas.
Mostly concentrated in Buckhead and the northern pockets of the metro, with a few Midtown outliers, these are our top picks for the places that’ll impress your parents, celebrate a special occasion, or simply turn a leisurely Saturday or Sunday morning into something a little more elegant.
Brasserie Margot
Served Saturdays and Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., the à la carte brunch at the Four Seasons’ beloved French restaurant is delightfully transportive. Chef Christophe Truchet reimagines every staple through a Parisian lens, pairing waffles with duck confit and elevating the crêpes with truffles. And if you like your French toast flambéed with Grand Marnier, don’t miss the roving éclair cart that serves house-made pastries tableside. 75 14th St. NE, Atlanta, brasseriemargot.com
THE CHASTAIN
A Michelin Green Star restaurant, every dish at THE CHASTAIN is seasonally driven by what’s growing in the onsite garden. For brunch, sample pimento cheese grits, famously fluffy pancakes, or eggs benedict–a staple since the restaurant’s opening–sourced from local farm partners. After dining surrounded by lush Chastain Park, grab a few pastries to go from the onsite cafe. And get excited: seasonal strawberry pancakes are soon returning to the menu. 4320 Powers Ferry Rd. NW, Atlanta, thechastainatl.com
Le Bon Nosh
Counter service suits those just popping in for the famed pastries, but a full-service weekend reservation from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the move if you want to linger in the light-filled dining room of this Buckhead mainstay. Beyond a few power bowls, a vanilla-cream-topped Belgian waffle, and an excellent French toast, most of the menu skews savory with protein-forward sandwiches, duck confit fried rice, and huevos rancheros. 65 Irby Ave. NW, Ste. 103, Atlanta, lebonnosh.com
Canoe
Sunday brunch is a big deal at one of Atlanta’s most picturesque restaurants. Served from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the spread starts with irresistible fresh-baked pastries (we love the Georgia sticky buns) and light appetizers like a classic Caesar salad. From there, the mains channel the playful, wild-game spirit of Canoe’s evening menu—think oak-roasted Springer Mountain chicken and a hearty duck-and-beef burger. Of course, it all unfolds against sweeping views of the Chattahoochee River. 4199 Paces Ferry Rd. SE, Atlanta, canoeatl.com
Ray’s on the River
People like to pit Canoe and Ray’s against each other, but besides both being white-tablecloth restaurants right on the banks of the Chattahoochee, their brunches offer entirely different experiences. On Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ray’s serves up a seafood-heavy menu where standout starters include ahi tuna tartare and jumbo lump crab cakes; for mains, stay on theme with a poached lobster benedict or opt for more classic bananas foster French toast. 6700 Powers Ferry Rd. NW, Sandy Springs, raysontheriver.com
Carmel
Weekends at coastal-inspired Carmel blend traditional brunch with tastes of the sea. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., find steak and eggs or challah French toast in good company alongside a lump crab-laden avocado toast and smoked salmon-topped latke. And having a caviar-topped French omelette won’t feel out of place in the restaurant’s toney Buckhead Village surroundings. 3009 Bolling Way NE, Ste. G130, Atlanta, carmelatl.com
Nobu
The $80 Sunday buffet at this luxe Japanese chain presents unlimited sushi, salads, and fresh-baked pastries. While the lychee martini or the sake Bloody Mary are solid starters for a boozier brunch, those searching for an alcohol-free option can pair their picks with whole-leaf, hand-crafted Ikaati teas. 3520 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, noburestaurants.com/atlanta
Delbar
This Michelin-recommended Middle Eastern restaurant is both one of our favorite places to bring out-of-towners and a best restaurant in Buckhead. There, and at other locations in Inman Park and Alpharetta, the brunch menu echoes owner Fares Kargar’s youth with comforting dishes drawn from family recipes. Hours vary by location, but bring friends to split the signature breakfast platter or take a sujuk-and-burnt-honey flatbread for yourself. Multiple locations, delbaratl.com
C. Ellet’s
The baseball sirloin might be the main draw at this steakhouse overlooking Truist Park, but brunch enthusiasts are also sure to appreciate the chance to snack on Southern fried chicken and sweet sticky buns while listening to a live jazz duo every Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 2605 Circle 75 Pkwy., Ste. 400, Atlanta, c-ellets.com
Le Bilboquet
Le Bilboquet serves French specialties and three ways to take caviar service at its Sunday brunch until 2:45 p.m. Opt to sit outside if possible; its open-air dining area is a de facto central courtyard in the heart of Buckhead Village, and the rattan chairs and floral arrangements will instantly transport you to the sidewalk of a Paris cafe. 3027 Bolling Way NE, Atlanta, lebilboquetatlanta.com
The Southern Gentleman
True to its name, the Southern Gentleman offers perhaps the most classically Southern brunch on this list, with deviled eggs, fried green tomatoes, and shrimp and grits to choose from. Enjoy from an upper-level location overlooking Buckhead Village, and don’t forget to peruse its robust whiskey program. 3035 Peachtree Rd. NE, Ste. A208, Atlanta, thesoutherngentlemanatl.com
Tiny Lou’s
Hit the iconic Hotel Clermont from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekends for Southern classics with French flair. No one will bat an eye if you order the chicken and waffles and tartine flambé in one breath. After, head upstairs to the bar caravan in the lobby, or have your cocktail on the rooftop overlooking Ponce City Market. 789 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE, Atlanta, tinylous.com
Bistro Niko
Bistro Niko serves brunch on Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. You can’t go wrong with either, since live music begins at noon on both days. When the weather’s warm, it’s easy to pretend you’re in France while enjoying tuna nicoise salad or duck confit under the red awning-covered patio. 3344 Peachtree Rd. NE, Atlanta, bistroniko.com
