Orange County's Best Brunch Spots
Brunch can be a great first date if done right, and rest assured it will be done right if you follow our guide! The Ambiance Matchmaking team has carefully crafted this list of Orange County's best brunch spots based on restaurants with the best vibe, food and drink menu, and unique twists on popular brunch drinks such as the mimosa or Bloody Mary. Enjoy!
ORANGE COUNTY
ANEPALCO'S RESTAURANT
Anepalco's vibrates warmth! We love their French-inspired Mexican brunch serving up traditional Mexican favorites such as chilaquiles, enchiladas, and an amazing al pastor. Anepalco also made its way to our Orange County Best Date Bars list for its fresh and inventive cocktails. The restaurant's Peruvian mixologist, Cesar Cerrudo, is well-known for using unexpected flavors in traditional recipes, and also for his love of Pisco (resulting in one of the best Pisco cocktails in the area).
Address: 415 S Main St, Orange, CA 92868
Website
LAGUNA BEACH
ZINC CAFE
Zinc Cafe opened its first location in Laguna Beach in 1988. Its menu is inspired by the quality food movement initiated by Alice Waters of Chez Panisse in Berkeley, CA. Come for brunch where you can enjoy favorites such as the baked egg Spanish casserole, shop specialty goods at their marketplace, or check out one of their upcoming events, including art exhibits and happy hours. Other locations include Corona del Mar and Los Angeles.
Address: 350 Ocean Avenue, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Website
DRIFTWOOD KITCHEN
We love this oceanfront restaurant featuring an ocean-to-table dining experience of the freshest seafood, steaks, and hand-shucked oysters, alongside handcrafted cocktails. The menu focuses on seasonal ingredients and the ocean that’s right in their backyard.
Address: 619 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach, CA
Website
NEWPORT BEACH
BALBOA BAY RESORT
Balboa Bay Resort offers two distinct dining options. Waterline, with its nautical-inspired design, is a sophisticated yet casual waterfront restaurant known for its Sunday brunch. Choose the main dining room for scenic harbor views or al fresco on the patio. Expect a seasonal and fresh water-to-table experience. Or head to A&O, a gastropub with rustic wood floors, reclaimed barn siding walls, wooden communal dining tables, an iron-clad bar tap overlooking the harbor, and an outdoor patio with two fire pits. Check out their Waterfront Social Sunday Series on the A&O patio from 1-4 pm featuring live music and cocktail specials (now until Labor Day Weekend!).
Address: 1221 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA
Website
WOODY'S WHARF
Enjoy bottomless champagne with Woody's famous Saturday & Sunday brunch! Or if you're feeling festive during the week, they now offer a bottomless champagne brunch every day. Dine dockside or waterfront with views of the beach. If you prefer to dine for dinner, you can check out their live DJ three nights a week.
Address: 2318 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Website
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO
RAMOS HOUSE CAFE
This is a must for a good Southern-style brunch! As a starter, try the sweet hush puppies served with sweet-pepper jam. For the main course, order the crab hash with bacon scrambled eggs, and citrus cream. And don't forget to try their world-famous Soju Bloody Mary served with a Scotch Quail Egg!
Address: 31752 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
Website
COSTA MESA
PLUM'S CAFE
Plum's Cafe is known for its Northwest-inspired dishes, such as Alderwood smoked salmon hash and Dutch babies (deep-dish pancakes) that will not disappoint. Whatever you order, make sure it comes with crispy Plums Potatoes.
Address: 369 E 17th St, Costa Mesa, CA 92627
Website
OLD VINE
Old Vine is a cozy cafe best known for its brunch and fixed-price wine pairing dinners. We recommend going for brunch and trying the Goat Omelet served with slow-cooked pulled goat shoulder paired with mimosas made out of organic orange juice. YUM!
Address: 2937 Bristol St A102, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Website