Best Brunch in Durham (2025)

A Durham staple blending Swabian German roots with North Carolina produce, served on a leafy patio with serious pastry game and morning cocktails. Voted Best Brunch by INDY Week readers and a frequent pick in local critics’ roundups.

Sunday brunch at this Ninth Street bistro is a rite of passage: omelets, steak frites, French toast, and classic cocktails in a warmly worn-in dining room. Regularly praised by Eater Carolinas and a perennial INDY Week readers’ favorite.

A sunlit lobby brunch with Counter Culture coffee, seasonal plates, and smart cocktails at a locally owned boutique hotel. Highlighted by Southern Living and local editors as a downtown anchor for leisurely weekend gatherings.

What began as a farmers’ market tricycle is now a bustling bakery-cafe for inventive breakfast sandwiches, quiche, and small-batch donuts. Frequently recommended by Eater Carolinas and cited by local tourism coverage following The New York Times’s 36 Hours spotlight.

South Durham’s go-to for indulgent biscuits, shrimp and grits, and daily specials that remix Southern comfort. Consistently included in Eater Carolinas’ Durham brunch guides and praised by local writers for big flavors and value.

A former 1940s service station turned neighborhood hangout with a rooftop and playful brunch: biscuit sandwiches, brioche doughnuts, and blueberry pancakes. Recommended by News & Observer dining writers and embraced by locals across generations.

Modern Southern brunch in the historic Davis Baking Co. building, with live jazz on Sundays and signatures like red velvet waffles and breakfast poutine. Featured by Eater Carolinas and celebrated by local media for deep community ties.

Hand-rolled, old-school bagels and lox sandwiches from a 2023 brick-and-mortar that grew out of Durham Farmers’ Market pop-ups. Added to Eater Carolinas’ brunch map and named Best Bagel by INDY Week readers.

Weekend dim sum carts roll through this beloved North Durham standby, offering shu mai, congee, turnip cakes, and egg tarts. A fixture in Eater Carolinas’ brunch coverage and a favorite of Triangle food critics.

In the American Tobacco Campus, Press does a lively weekend brunch with a seated crêpe bar, hash-brown waffles, and cocktails. Shouted out by Southern Living and regularly noted by local travel editors for breakfast and brunch.

Chef Oscar Diaz’s pocho cuisine meets brunch on Sundays with playful, border-crossing plates and strong cocktails. Lauded by Axios’s best-of Triangle lists and embraced by Durham diners for originality and neighborhood warmth.

A longtime, locally owned, farm-to-table cafe with an inclusive menu and spirited brunch service. Frequently praised by local critics and regional publications for wholesome dishes, accessibility, and community-minded leadership.