10 Best Brunch Restaurants in San Antonio

By Sara Branstetter | September 26, 2022

Brunch may just be the best meal there ever was because when it comes to brunch, rules are: there are no rules. It’s one of the simple joys in life, which is why we’re directing you to some of the all-time best brunch spots in San Antonio.

Here’s why brunch is so great: if you want breakfast, you can have breakfast. If you want lunch, you can have lunch. If you want a cocktail at 10 am, you can do just that. The sky’s the limit!

And that’s since brunch is a choice, not an obligation to meet the needs of our bodies. We don’t eat it first thing in the morning to break our overnight fast, we don’t eat it in the middle of the day to recharge, and we don’t eat it at night to beef up our caloric reserves. We eat it because it delights us. We brunch here in San Antonio because it’s just sheer fun (that’s right, we used “brunch” as a verb – rules are: there are no rules).

Brunch Togetherness

More than that though, we don’t eat brunch alone.

People may eat by themselves during normal meals either out of preference or requirement, but they don’t brunch by themselves. That’s because brunch isn’t just a meal, it’s a communal activity; we eat it with loved ones and friends. We gather together and savor our bacon, our donuts, or our sandwiches and simply enjoy ourselves. We brunch, with good food and good company, not to satisfy our bodies, but to meet the needs of our hearts.

Brunch in San Antonio

When you are looking for a place to brunch in San Antonio, you are not without choices. From breakfast tacos to pancakes, from soups to salads, there is a little something out there for everyone. Whether you are a lazy Sunday brunch-goer or a midweek business brunch-goer, we have got you covered.

Below is a list of tried and true San Antonio brunch options (although there are many, many more!) found in and around the city. So, work up an appetite, grab some friends, and go feed your hearts.

10 Best Brunch Places In San Antonio

Nola Brunch and Beignets

To put it plainly, Nola is something special. Chef Peter Sypesteyn, New Orleans born and bred, has brought the delightful tastes of the Big Easy to the San Antonio brunch scene and the results are spectacular. Located in charming Tobin Hill, just north of downtown SA, Nola offers both indoor and outdoor dining. The outdoor shaded patio is pet friendly so it’s a great place to come relax with your favorite furry friend while enjoying delicious New Orleans cuisine with a bit of Texas flavor thrown in.

When we say enjoy, we mean enjoy. The food here is amazing. The beignets are certainly the star of the show and a must-have on any visit. You can choose from classic beignets, lemon curd, or whatever alluring seasonal filling the chef has come up with. If you can’t choose, order the mixed beignets to sample them all!

For something on the savory side, try the Cajun Boudin Chilaquiles. It’s a little New Orleans, a little San Antonio, and a whole lot of perfect.

Parking is on residential side streets so plan to get here early unless you are willing to do a little walking.

WEBSITE | 720 E Mistletoe, San Antonio, TX 78212

Cullum’s Attaboy

Just around the corner from Nola and inside the building Nola formerly occupied is newcomer, Cullum’s Attaboy. Bearing the same name as its popular food trailer, Cullum’s Attaboy took the plunge and moved to a brick and mortar in March of 2022. The brunch menu at Cullum’s is largely a tribute to great meals from San Antonio restaurants that have long since closed, so you can expect some oldies, but goodies from longtime resident and chef, Chris Cullum.

While the menu itself is small, the food delivers a big time on flavor. Start with the 1915 Spudnut Donut, and then move on to the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich (it may not sound special, but trust us, it's all in the ingredients). If you are feeling a little thirsty, pair it with a mimosa served Cullum’s way – a glass of champagne with just a spritz of orange juice.

*Bonus: For a little more southern variety, head next door to Cullum’s older sister restaurant, Cullum’s Attagirl, on Saturday or Sunday for weekend brunch specialties which include chicken and waffles and funnel cake. Hey, it’s brunch, anything goes!

WEBSITE | 111 Kings Ct, San Antonio, TX 78212

Full Belly

Full Belly may not look like much from the outside, but it’s what’s on the inside that matters at this Stone Oak eatery. Full Belly has been serving up its seasonal American cuisine to enthusiastic guests since early 2020. And with a second location set to open in Olmos Park this fall, Full Belly is a San Antonio brunch restaurant that’s going strong.

The menu largely focuses on innovative takes on American breakfast and lunch standards and includes an extensive cocktail list that ranges from traditional mimosas and bloody marys to a number of house specialty drinks. A few menu standouts include the Melty Cheesy Thang, Pecan Pie French Toast, and the Barbacoa Breakfast Poutine.

Full Belly offers standard inside dining, or al fresco dining on their covered patio. Wherever you choose to eat, we promise, as their name suggests, you won’t leave hungry.

WEBSITE | 427 N Loop 1604 W Acc Rd Suite 202, San Antonio, TX 78232

La Panadería

This is San Antonio, and we must have our conchas! Enter, La Panadería. Open since 2014 and now with three locations across the city, La Panadería expertly delivers on Mexican bread culture to the greater San Antonio area.

Owners and brothers, José and David Cáceres got their start selling their mother’s fresh bread on the streets of Mexico City. After taking over her business and running a successful baking operation in Mexico for years, they moved to San Antonio to share their talents and delicious brunch food on the US side of the border - and we do mean delicious.

The menu, as you might expect, is bread-heavy and includes a wide selection of pan dulces (sweet bread and pastries), breakfast sandwiches, and tortas. But you can also get soups, salads, and desserts.

Try ordering a vanilla or chocolate concha and pair it with their traditional Mexican hot chocolate. If you’re not feeling something sweet, order one of their specialty tortas (we like the Hawaiana or Mexican Cubana) or build your own with your choice of one of their scratch-made bread – the sourdough, in particular, is divine. Ultimately, if you are in San Antonio and need a Mexican pastry hit for your brunch, this one’s for you.

WEBSITE | 301 E Houston St, San Antonio, TX 78205

Guenther House

At the Guenther House, located in the picturesque King William District, you don’t just get brunch, you get a piece of Texas history. The building which now houses a restaurant, gift shop, and museum, was originally a family home and mill that dates back to 1859. It is among the oldest homes in the King William neighborhood and is stunning.

Guests to the Guenther House can wander the lovely gardens, enjoy the view of the San Antonio river, or stroll through the museum which houses antiques from the life of the Guenther House. Once inside the restaurant, guests can take in the beautiful stained glass and beveled glass while they dine on some of the best brunch food in Alamo city.

We recommend trying the Strawberry Sweet Cream Waffles or the Champagne Chicken Enchiladas. Once you’ve finished, head over to the store to buy the sweet cream cake mix and champagne-flavored chicken gravy mix, because you’re going to want to eat them again. And soon.

WEBSITE | 205 E Guenther St, San Antonio, TX 78204

Box Street All Day

10 Best Restaurants Near The Alamo: Local Favorites

If brunch vibes are just as important to you as brunch food, Box Street All Day may be the place for you. Popular San Antonio food truck and catering company, Box Street Social, put down roots in Hemisfair Park in early 2022 and began offering a brunch all-day menu (hence the new name) that has quickly become a favorite of locals and tourists alike. And with sweeping views of the park and the Tower of the Americas, the location is prime for those who love a leisurely outdoor brunch.

But it’s not just the outside that is worth enjoying. Box Street goes the extra mile in its design concept to tie both the indoor and outdoor spaces together in what can only be described as “pretty in pink.” From the rose gold utensils to the pink striped umbrellas that shade the outdoor patio, Box Street has managed to strike a great balance between all the brunch feels and quality brunch foods.

For a highlight of their breakfast, try the Box Street Brekky. Or if you have a sweet tooth, give the Milk Bread French Toast or specialty donuts a go. Whatever you order, pair it with the visually exquisite and delightfully refreshing Hibiscus Sparkler – it’s pink, just like everything else at Box Street. And clearly, pink works.

WEBSITE | 623 Hemisfair Blvd Ste 108, San Antonio, TX 78205

Magnolia Pancake Haus

The Magnolia Pancake House Brunch in San Antonio

If your brunch hankering involves pancakes, then drop what you’re doing, and head straight to the Magnolia Pancake Haus. Their doors originally opened in 2000 and within 6 years they had outgrown their space and moved to a larger facility to accommodate the throngs of pancake lovers streaming in for a short stack. Today, they have three locations and are a San Antonio brunch fixture.

Previously featured on a 2012 episode of Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives with Guy Fieri, what sets the Magnolia Pancake Haus apart is their attention to quality. From the food you eat to the service you receive, everything is top-notch, and it is the reason they have received several awards and recognitions over the years (including being voted San Antonio's best breakfast) that line the inside of their building.

When it comes to what to eat, ordering pancakes is a no-brainer. These are, quite simply, some of the best pancakes in San Antonio. If you like simple and straightforward, go with the Old World Buttermilk pancakes. However, if you’re feeling fancy, try the Apple Cinnamon pancakes or Bananas Foster pancakes, but be warned, they are likely to make you go weak at the knees.

We also recommend one of the “haus” favorites, corned beef hash, which took years to perfect, and which left Guy Fieri so speechless all he could do was hug the chef. In our minds, any brunch food that makes you want to hug someone is brunch food worth having.

WEBSITE | 2070 N Loop 1604, San Antonio, TX 78232

Comfort Café

Nestled off of 410 at the scenic Los Patios complex in northeast San Antonio, Comfort Café does so much more than brunch (though they do brunch exceptionally well, as evidenced by being voted the #1 brunch spot in the USA by Yelp in 2021). As a division of SerenityStar, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides a sober living environment for families recovering from addictions, Comfort Café provides jobs and financial support for the ongoing mission of the organization. Guests to Comfort Café are encouraged to pay what they can and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the program.

Comfort Cafe's menu has a number of breakfast dishes, as well as lunch offerings including salads, sandwiches, and pasta. For savory offerings, try one of their Scrambler specials or one of their creative takes on eggs benedict. If sweets are calling your name, we have three words for you - stuffed French toast. Portions are huge so come hungry and take home your leftovers to enjoy later.

Comfort Café is only open on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8am - 4pm and waits can get really long, but you can hop on the waitlist ahead of time on Yelp and plan your arrival accordingly. Payment is by cash or checks only and there is an ATM on site.

WEBSITE | 2015 NE Interstate 410 Loop, San Antonio, TX 78217

The Hayden

It’s a New York City diner, it’s a Jewish deli, it’s a San Antonio eatery – it’s all of those things and it does them very well. Recently featured on an episode of Food Paradise on the Cooking Channel, The Hayden, located in Alamo Heights just around the corner from the zoo, has found its stride in comfort food for all different palettes and preferences.

Those who have visited an NYC Jewish deli will likely recognize a number of their menu offerings including bagels and lox, latkes, and a number of traditional (and some not so traditional) deli-style sandwiches. But they have stepped outside the box with a few offerings including our favorite, the Chicken Biscuit – a matzo crusted, crispy fried chicken breast, pimento cheese, pickled onion, and jalapeño jam, all on a cheddar biscuit. There’s only one thing we can say about food like that - Mazel tov!

*Honorable mention: SA is also home to another fantastic NYC diner, Max & Louie’s. If you happen to be on the north central side of town, stop in and take a look at their enormous menu. There is only one word to adequately describe their food and that is BIG. So come hungry and plan to bring a to-go box, or two, home with you.

WEBSITE | 4025 Broadway, San Antonio, TX 78209

Ida Claire

You say biscuits, we say, yes, please! At southern style eatery, Ida Claire, guests are encouraged to slow it down, relax on the patio underneath the pleasant tree cover, sip on a cocktail, and enjoy a San Antonio brunch on Saturdays and Sundays the way people do in the deep south – with good friends and even better biscuits.

Adjacent to the Alamo Quarry Market, Ida Claire offers a sizeable mashup of southern menu favorites including Nashville-style hot chicken, catfish po’boys, fried green tomatoes, and shrimp and grits. Basically, if you can eat it in the south, you can eat it at Ida Claire. No brunch here is complete without a shareable plate of Ida’s heavenly biscuits covered in bacon gravy, house jam, or honey butter. Then again, you may not want to share, and we support that.

WEBSITE | 7300 Jones Maltsberger Rd, San Antonio, TX 78209

A Few More San Antonio Brunch Options

We would be remiss not to mention three of the absolute best San Antonio restaurants here - Supper, Maverick Texas Brasserie, and Brasserie Mon Chou Chou - all of which happen to have superb brunch menus. You can’t go wrong with any of these options, that is unless you simply don’t go at all.

Finally, if Tex-Mex is what your heart is craving, San Antonio has a little something for you on nearly every street corner. Go check out Tacos N Salsa and sample their heart-stopping tortillas and freshly made salsas. Make a visit to Garcia's Mexican Food for a brisket taco that will change your life. Or stop into Pete's Tako House for some huevos rancheros. For more great breakfast taco and Tex-Mex recommendations, head here. Happy brunching, San Antonio!