Two plates with breakfast sandwiches featuring scrambled eggs, cheese, and creamy sauce on toasted buns, set on a table.

Photo of a.kitchen breakfast sandwich, courtesy of a.bar, via VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

 

When it comes to brunch, Philly has an embarrassment of riches—so much so that it can be hard to choose which place to park yourself every weekend. So we here at Guild House have taken the liberty of choosing some of our favorite brunch spots to point you toward. (And we made it really easy, too: They’re all within easy walking distance of our little boutique hotel.) Whether you’re looking for Philly’s best pastries, a bougie buffet, a great spot for a group, French dishes, Israeli specialties, a Southern brunch or just your basic cheese-laden omelet with a side of bacon … well, we’ve got you covered and then some. (And if you prefer a simpler, faster morning meal? Check out our Guild House guide to breakfasts!)

Here, the Guild House guide to 10 great Philadelphia brunch spots in Rittenhouse, Washington Square West, Bella Vista, the Gayborhood, South Street, and more:

 

For Elevated Twists on Brunch Faves

The Spot: High Street, 101 S. 9th Street

The Brunch: Bright, spare and beautiful, this brunch-lunch-dinner gem from James Beard-winning restaurateur Ellen Yin and culinary director Ei Kulp offers some of Philadelphia’s best pastries and breads, but also a thoughtful menu with amped up favorites: a dutch baby with roasted apples and whipped maple creme fraiche, for example, and baked eggs with tomato sauce and grilled focaccia. The sandwiches are to die for, too. (Try the pastrami on caraway rye.)

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 0.5 miles (12-minute walk)

For Middle Eastern Treats

The Spot: K’Far Cafe, 110 S. 19th Street

The Brunch: This narrow, sleek and chic Michael Solomonov hotspot is known for its excellent pastries (chocolate rugelach! Pistachio sticky buns! Caramel apple babka!), Jerusalem-style bagels (the humble egg-and-cheese sandwich on a bagel is revelatory with K’Far’s addition of schug and za’atar), and also memorable kubaneh toasts topped with smoked trout, labneh and fried egg.

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 0.7 miles (15-minute walk)

Four people are in a cafe: two sitting at the counter and two standing and talking. The menu board and shelves with bottles are visible in the background.

Photo of K’Far by Jeff Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

For a Southern-style Spread 

The Spot: Rex at the Royal, 1524 South Street

The Brunch: Rex—housed in a historic landmark— is a swank spot with its soaring ceilings and plush booths, and it excels at serving up Southern dishes you can’t find too many other places up here: cheese grits and home fries, a fantastic country omelet, chicken and waffles, Nashville hot chicken Cuban biscuits … and much more. They’ve got an amazing cocktail list (including N/A!), to boot.

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 0.6 miles (13-minute walk)

For an Upscale Buffet

The Spot: Harp & Crown, 1525 Sansom Street

The Brunch: Nothing not to like here: A crowd-pleasing, generously stocked brunch buffet complete with an omelet station and a rotating lineup of sandwiches and dishes like chicken and waffles, quiche, bagels and lox, pastries, and more, all served in a breathtaking space. (Fun fact: Harp & Crown was designed by the same Philadelphia-based design team that brought our historic boutique hotel to life!)

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 0.4 miles (8-minute walk)

People dining at tables in a rustic restaurant with plants hanging overhead and exposed brick walls.

Photo of Harp & Crown by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

For a Brunch-Focused BYOB

The Spot: Winkel, 1119 Locust Street

The Brunch: This cheery Dutch-inspired bruncherie (a neighbor of our Guild House Hotel!) doesn’t just hit all your brunch cravings (to wit: three-cheese omelets loaded with cheddar, swiss and gouda; eggs benedict with hefty brisket; bread pudding French toast), but also satisfies cravings you never knew you had. Try the omelet with pickled beets and brie, or the root veggie uitsmijter (open-faced egg sandwiche), or the sweet corn, bacon and chive pancakes. You won’t regret it.

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 0.1 mile (3-minute walk)

For a Glam Gathering

The Spot: Parc, 227 S. 18th Street

The Brunch: One of the prettiest, most popular restaurants in Philly, Parc also boasts an excellent brunch heavy on French classics — think quiche lorraine with bacon and gruyere; French toast with cognac chantilly; smoked salmon tartine with creme fraiche; croque monsieur with prosciutto. And unlike many Center City spots, it’s not a major hassle to reserve a table for a party of six or more, so long as you plan a little ahead.

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 0.4 miles (9-minute walk)

Four people sitting at a restaurant table, enjoying a meal and drinks together, smiling and talking.

Photo of Parc by Oskar Kalinowski, courtesy of Palette Group via VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

For a Chic Simplicity 

The Spot: a.kitchen, 135 18th Street

The Brunch:A tightly curated brunch menu is smart and appealing, much like the spare, elegant space in which it’s served. Expect cornmeal pancakes with lemon curd, a French omelet with trout rillettes, fried eggs on a fluffy house-made biscuit, steak frites and more.

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 0.5 miles (12-minute walk)

For a Lovely Escape

The Spot: Talula’s Garden, 210 West Washington Square

The Brunch: Lovely is exactly the right word for every single aspect of brunch at this gorgeous Wash West staple: There’s the lush garden patio, which stuns even in winter; the petite, polished bar; the warm dining spaces drenched in golden light; and, of course, the menu. The seasonal brunch offerings are just note-perfect, from warm cranberry-orange scones topped with orange-nutmeg creme fraiche to a gorgeous broccoli-and-cheddar frittata to candied bacon strips with a sriracha glaze. It’s elegant and homey, elevated and accessible, all at once.

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 0.5 miles (12-minute walk)

People dining outdoors at a restaurant surrounded by greenery, with a waiter serving drinks and various patrons at tables engaged in conversation.

Photo of Talula’s Garden by J. Fusco for VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

For Comfort Food

The Spot: Bud & Marilyn’s, 1234 Locust Street

The Brunch: We’d love this vaguely retro spot even if it wasn’t right across from our own little boutique hotel. (But truly, you can’t beat that location!) The menu here is laden with satisfying, gratifying comfort-food favorites and also dotted with some unexpected treats: crispy cheese curds, coffee cake pancakes, shakshuka, braised short rib chilaquiles, a fried half-chicken with fries, an awesome espresso martini.

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 128 feet (1-minute walk)

Plate of fries and a burger topped with a fried egg and pickles, served with water and a pink drink on a table setting.

Photo of Bud & Marilyn’s burger by M. Fischetti, courtesy of VISIT PHILADELPHIA®

For a Longtime Local Fave

The Spot: Sabrina’s Cafe, 2101 South Street

The Brunch: One of the reasons Sabrina’s has always been a popular brunch pick in Philly is because it doesn’t take itself too seriously: The specials are intriguing (pb&j French toast! Cinnamon roll waffle sandwich with cheddar cheese eggs, jalapeño jam!), and the regular menu has a little bit of everything. (Huevos rancheros? Check. Egg-and-cheese sandwiches? Check. Cinnamon roll pancakes? Check.) Like all of its sister restaurants (this outpost is one of six total, and the closest to our historic Philly hotel!), South Street’s Sabrina’s is a casual, cheerful, easy brunch spot.

Distance from Guild House Hotel: 1 mile (22-minute walk)

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