Looking for a morning meal in DC? You need to try bottomless brunch. Bottomless and brunch are two words that go together like peanut butter and jelly or milk and cookies. But what is it exactly? It’s a breakfast-lunch combo during which you get a certain number of courses and unlimited alcohol for a set price at a restaurant. Some restaurants (usually ones where you pay a bit more) offer both unlimited drinks and food!
There are an astounding number of bottomless brunch spots in DC, so to help you in your search for where to dine with friends or family this weekend, we’ve rounded up the 7 best bottomless brunches in Washington DC. We’ll help you out with recommendations including where to get the best boozy drinks, best value, and best outdoor brunch spots.
Boqueria
Boqueria is the perfect higher-end bottomless brunch spot if you love Spanish food and are looking for a menu with a little bit of flare compared to a traditional brunch. Brunch tapas on the menu include classics like patatas bravas and flash fried shishito peppers, as well as unique dishes like soldaditos de pollo (essentially potato chip crusted chicken tenders with honey mustard sauce). This NYC imported restaurant has a lively atmosphere and all the warmth you would expect from a Spanish tapas bar!
Details: Brunch runs all day every Saturday and Sunday and costs $42, but it’s all inclusive of as many dishes and sangrias, beers, and mimosas as you can consume.
Halfsmoke
Named after the DC local sausage delicacy, the “half-smoke” (like a hot dog, but bigger, spicier, and served with herbs and chilli sauce) this DC restaurant is a go-to spot for bottomless brunch. Inside this U Street joint, you’ll see neon signs like “don’t grow up, it’s a trap” and a wall of board games, furthering the feeling of being a “playground” for big kids (aka millennials). While you’re there, you can’t miss the “Cash App Me,” a sweet and salty plate of Cinnamon Toast Crunch French toast with bourbon maple syrup and a side of home fries.
Details: Brunch runs all day everyday and costs $30 per person, which includes an entree and two bottles of champagne!
El Centro D.F.
How about a Mexican bottomless brunch with unlimited cocktails such as margaritas, mimosas, bloody marys, and spiked aqua fresca? El Centro has locations in DC both at 14th Street and in the Georgetown area where you can enjoy brunch items such as a Mexican Benedict, six different kinds of breakfast tacos, and churros with passion fruit jam, cajeta caramel, and chocolate sauce. Exposed brick floors and wooden tabletops contribute to the warm atmosphere, made all the more inviting by the incredible service you can expect. Plates are small in order to encourage sharing and tasting a number (we mean, a lot) of menu items! All in all, it’s a great deal. There’s just one caveat: Everyone at the table has to commit to the bottomless brunch instead of some people ordering a la carte.
Details: Brunch runs on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (with a two hour limit) and costs $39 per person, all inclusive.
Ambar
This restaurant serves up great Balkan (a Turkish word) food in a cozy atmosphere with rich dark wood furniture and moody lighting. Small plates are part of this bottomless brunch in DC, called “The Balkan Experience”, with an impressive menu. Chow down on items like cheese pie, prosciutto benedict, and poached pear waffles while you sip on bloody mary’s or one of four types of mimosas (including peach!). They underwent a huge renovation in early 2020, so you can expect a fresh experience, a mix of contemporary and traditional Balkan decor, and a much larger space, all with the same Ambar charm locals have grown to love. You can also sit outdoors on their gorgeous rooftop bar with a retractable roof, making this one of the city’s best bottomless brunches on a patio.
Details: Brunch runs all day on Saturdays and Sundays (with a two hour limit) and costs $39 per person, all inclusive of as many dishes as you can eat and as many bloody marys and mimosas as you can drink!
Buena Vida
Another incredible restaurant offers a bottomless Mexican brunch that can’t be missed is Buena Vida! The whole menu is made up of traditional dishes from the Vazquez Lugo family of Mexico City and includes dishes like huervo ranchos, brussels sprout and sweet potato hash, breakfast carnitas, and shrimp and chorizo grits. The bottomless drink menu is expansive compared to other restaurants, with mimosas, red and white sangria, margaritas, bloody marys, and micheladas. Luckily for you, you can try them all at this DC bottomless brunch! Their tortillas and chips are made fresh daily and are completely gluten free, made from organic masa, which makes them 100% delicious. Especially when served with a hefty portion of guac!
Details: Brunch runs all day on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and costs $35 per person.
DC Harvest
This beloved DC spot does bottomless brunch a little bit differently, though it’s still absolutely delicious. Food is priced a la carte and you can add bottomless mimosas or bloody marys for $20 for $25 respectively. This option is perfect if you’d rather fill up on drinks instead of trying to eat your bodyweight in parmesan potato croquettes and coconut caramel and grilled pineapple brioche french toast. Located in the Atlas District, this local favorite is the perfect stop on your Saturday morning for a tasty bottomless brunch in DC.
Details: Brunch runs all day on Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM and costs $20-25 for bottomless drinks, plus the cost of your choice of entree.
Cava Mezze
This Mediterranean spot offers a weekend bottomless brunch you won’t forget. It comes out in small portions, compared to the a la carte option, which means there is plenty of opportunity to try everything! Definitely order the honey butter biscuits and if it’s your thing, the chicken and waffles with feta is ah-mazing! If the weather is nice, grab a spot on the patio to enjoy your brunch (including 25 cent mimosas) outside.
Details: Brunch runs all day on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM and costs $35 per person, plus 25 cents per mimosa.
