ARLO
Mission Valley
First came the cronut, now there’s the croffle. Order a croissant waffle at ARLO’s new weekend brunch at the Town and Country Resort, which also features bottomless mimosas and… a live DJ? The perfect locale for party animals with a 9 p.m. bedtime.
Toasted Gastrobrunch
La Mesa
Sami Ladecki jumped from pies to pancakes when he converted Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza in La Mesa into his fourth Toasted Gastrobrunch location in early 2024. Spins on brunch favorites include short rib eggs benedict, Elvis French toast (with bananas, peanut butter, bacon, and honey), and lobster toast.
Sunday Breakfast Society
Chula Vista
If brunch was a color, it would be millennial pink. You’ll get both in excess at Sunday Breakfast Society, which sisters Chantelle and Crystal Godinez opened in Eastlake in 2023. The dishes photograph well and taste even better, especially the absurdly fluffy soufflé pancakes, hazelnutty French toast, and buried-in-berries “Sunday cereal.” The sisters grew up working at their family birrieria, so for a savory bite, don’t skip the birria tacos and “birriaquiles.”
Beginner’s Diner
North Park
It’s easy to get lost in the new LaFayette Hotel, which now contains a bowling alley, poolside bar, Oaxaca-inspired mezcalería, and more patterns than any eyeball could absorb at once. But Beginner’s Diner manages to dazzle without completely overdoing it, offering 24-hour service, laying down breakfast until 1 p.m. daily and whipping up weekend brunch 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Don’t skip the big-ass cinnamon roll or the seemingly endless ways to order a fried potato.)
