Philadelphia Brunch Restaurants
Teresa’s Next Door
We’ve made it our mission to find the perfect beer to pair with our favorite menu items here: the open-face country ham and gruyère sandwich topped with a sunny-side egg, and the chorizo-and-egg-stuffed huevos piccante. Since there are more than 20 brews on tap, it might take us a while, but we won’t give up. Promise. Brunching hours: Sunday from 11 a.m. 124 North Wayne Avenue, Wayne, 610-293-9909, teresas-cafe.com.
Continental Martini Bar
The cocktail list at Stephen Starr’s Old City diner/bar is filled with tough decisions: Will you get loose with the Wake & Bacon, a Bloody Mary made with bacon-infused vodka? Or do you prefer to start your Sunday with the Breakfast of Champions (right), chocolate milk spiked with peanut cream liquor, served over a bowl of Cap’n Crunch? We say try both, and soak up all the booze with whitefish salad on a bagel or a juicy burger. Brunching hours: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. 138 Market Street, 215-923-6069, continentalmartinibar.com.
Café Estelle
What Café Estelle doesn’t have: a liquor license. What Café Estelle does have: a damn good Bloody Mary. If you bring the vodka, your waitress will bring you a carafe of the house-made mix and a bowl of olives, cornichons and pickled jalapeños to garnish with as you see fit. And you already know how much we love the Best of Philly-winning food, like peach-and-cinnamon cream-cheese-stuffed French toast, and brisket hash. Brunching hours: Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. 444 North 4th Street, 215-925-5080, cafeestelle.com.
El Vez
With its kicky house Bloody Mary, fruity mimosas and alcoholic iced coffee, El Vez is a choice stop for cocktails during daylight hours. If that kind of hair of the dog fails to save you, the Mexican breakfast dishes — like huevos rancheros and DIY scrambled-egg tacos — are rich and delicious hangover cures. Brunching hours: Sunday from 11 a.m. 121 South 13th Street, 215-928-9800, elvezrestaurant.com.
Valanni
We can’t decide which we like most about this Gayborhood spot — the boisterous vibe, or the drinks. On second thought, they just might go hand-in-hand. Order the brunch-rita (a margarita with a touch of OJ) or the Brazilian Pop, which has pomegranate liquor, mango puree and champagne. Grab a seat near the window to show off your shades, and nibble on a killer Monte Cristo, grilled romaine salad with polenta croutons, or lemon ricotta pancakes with blueberries. Brunching hours: Sunday from 11 a.m. 1229 Spruce Street, 215-790-9494, valanni.com.