Lakeview is a bustling, hip Chicago neighborhood, incorporating some of the city’s most famous districts, including Boystown and Wrigleyville. The neighborhood attracts young city dwellers, Cubs fans, and the LGBQ community, not to mention those wishing to be steps away from the lakefront, park, and bike path.
But alongside these attractions is a range of restaurants that are perfect for brunch, no matter the season. Here are our top 10 favorite brunch spots in Lakeview that you have to check out now.
3800 N Clark St
Uncommon Ground is a unique bar and restaurant to enjoy brunch, lunch, or dinner. The Lakeview location also has a listening room where they host live music events and houses the organic brewery, Greenstar Brewing. In the warmer Chicago months, the outdoor patio is always busy. Their brunch features yummy concoctions like short rib hash and ham and cheese stuffed French toast. Uncommon Ground serves brunch daily, Monday through Friday from 11 am to 3 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 3 pm.
3408 N Clark St
The Pick Me Up Café has a colorfully charming interior and serves breakfast dishes all day and night. These include scrambles, huevos rancheros, benedicts, pancakes, and plenty of vegan options. They serve weekend brunch from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, which adds tasty dishes like a lox platter and banana nut French toast. They also have sandwiches, wraps, soups, and salads, and are open Monday to Friday from 11 am to 2 am, Saturday from 9 am to 2 am, and Sunday from 8 am to 2 am.
3301 N Clark St
Known for its comfort food and impressive cocktail list, Hutch is nestled between the Belmont and Addison red line stops on Clark street. Their brunch selection includes innovative avocado toasts, benedicts, and traditional egg dishes, and you can get a $5 mimosa or an $8 bloody mary. With modern rustic-chic style, this restaurant and bar is a stellar place to spend a few hours no matter the season. Hutch serves brunch from 10 am to 3 pm daily.
3411 N Halsted St
The Chicago Diner has become a Chicago staple since its establishment in 1983, with its extensive offering of vegan and vegetarian comfort food in a casual environment. For brunch, the diner offers delicious benedicts, hash, pancakes, scrambles, and breakfast bowls. Paired with a delightful vegan shake, like mint chocolate chip or cookie dough peanut butter, or a fresh mimosa or beer, all your brunch cravings are covered. The Chicago Diner services brunch until 3 pm daily and open at 11 am on weekdays, and 10 am on weekends.
909 W Belmont Ave
Another Chicago classic is Ann Sather, famous for its hearty, homemade breakfast and lunch dishes at its three Chicago locations. The versatile menu includes soups, sandwiches, salads, scrambles, omelets, mac and cheese, and Swedish and Norwegian classics like cinnamon rolls and bagels and lox. This restaurant is an excellent option for low prices, hearty fare, and friendly staff. Ann Sather is open daily from 7 am, until 3 pm on weekdays and 4 pm on weekends.
3130 N Broadway
For all the literary fanatics out there, this upscale Irish pub named after Oscar Wilde provides traditional comfort food dishes, a huge beer list, and a weekend brunch to die for that includes breakfast favorites, hearty burgers, sandwiches, skillets, and more. The dark and cozy setting is the perfect hideaway from cold Chicago winters. Brunch is served at Wilde on Saturday and Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm.
3552 N Southport
The Southport Grocery and Café provides breakfast and lunch to Lakeview residents every day of the week. Also attached to the café is a grocery providing local and artisan foods. Enjoy the café’s plethora of breakfast food that includes all the classics, from pancakes to hash to omelets to quiche. And yes, Southport even has avocado toast, the brunch classic. They also have lots of lunch options and a selection of baked goods. The Southport Grocery and Café is open from Monday to Friday from 7 am to 3 pm, and Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm.
3108 N Broadway
Serving breakfast, lunch, and brunch, Mortar & Pestle brings together dishes inspired by global cuisine with rustic, stylish digs. The brunch menu includes classics like French toast, benedicts, and biscuits and gravy, along with dishes inspired by Mexican and Middle Eastern cuisine. For drinks, choose from coffee and tea to cocktails and wine. Mortar & Pestle is closed on Tuesdays, and open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 2 pm and Friday through Sunday from 8 am to 3 pm.
3351 N Broadway
When you’re looking for a Mexican-inspired brunch, Esencia Urban Kitchen won’t disappoint with its impressive breakfast dish selection. Enjoy classic breakfast tacos, chilaquiles, chorizo hash, and huevos rancheros, in addition to wraps, salads, sandwiches, and omelets. Note that Esencia is BYOB, but they do have lots of tasty coffee and tea drinks on the menu. Esencia is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 2 pm, and closed Tuesdays.
2878 N Lincoln Ave
Left Coast is the perfect breakfast or brunch spot for healthy eaters. They specialize in grain bowls, hearty salads, and juices. Left Coast is a bit more casual of a brunch spot, perfect if you don’t want to spend a lot of time waiting for a table. This location is excellent in the spring and summer with its comfortable patio space, and you’ll be right next to the great shopping and hubbub of Lincoln Park.
Ready to start brunching? No matter the season, Chicago is one of the nation’s best places to brunch. These ten spots in the eclectic Lakeview neighborhood offer a range of eaters just what the doctor ordered, whether you’re seeking healthy and vegan options, traditional breakfast food, mimosas, and bloody marys, or a mix of everything.
