But first, brunch. I’m here to tell you about the best restaurants in STL to eat the best meal of the day; I’m not talking about breakfast, and I’m not talking about lunch. I’m talking about brunch! I’m a big fan of brunch—so much so that some might call me a brunch aficionado (okay, only I call myself that). I’ve created a list of the best brunch restaurants I’ve been to in STL, so you too can enjoy their deliciousness. Let’s get brunching. (Have I used the word brunch enough already?)
1. First Watch
The first restaurant on my list is First Watch. See what I did there? This is my go-to brunch spot. The first time I went here was at the beginning of my first year at SLU, and the Lemon-Ricotta Pancakes changed my life. The wait times can be kind of long, so you can either wait for a table or you can sit at one of their first-come, first-serve community tables. This is what I usually do because I want my food ASAP. I’ve been here many times and have never had a bad experience.
2. City Coffeehouse and Crêperie
Feeling ~fancy~? You’re not? That’s okay, because even though number 2 on my list, the City Coffeehouse and Crêperie, sounds fancy, it’s a pretty casual place. This place is located right across the street from the First Watch in Clayton. They have dozens of crêpe options. DOZENS. You order at the counter and then find a seat; if you’re lucky you will get one in the inside patio! Every time I’ve been here it has been very busy, so get there early and be patient; a seat will open up! While I’ve tried and loved many of their veggie crêpes (vegetarian life), my usual order is their avocado toast (basic girl life).
3. Rise
Rise with the sun and go to Rise for brunch (or don’t and go for dinner; it’s open until 7pm on weekends!). Rise is located in the Grove and has the best London Fog tea I’ve ever had. But if you’re not interested in having the best tea drink ever made, the baristas are amazing and will make you a fabulous coffee. As for food, I always get the Full Breakfast; it has eggs and hashbrowns and chili, oh my! This is not only a great brunch spot, but also a great study spot. So, bring your schoolwork and take advantage of the study room upstairs!
Food (specifically brunch) is a huge part of my life and STL sure has a lot of it! These places are my favorite brunch spots, so I hope you find them as delicious as I do. If you’re starting your brunch journey in STL, let this be your guide.