brunch milwaukee

Forget the day’s calorie count when you start strong with a lemon cheesecake French Toast from Blue’s Egg. (Photo: Courtesy of Blue’s Egg)

Eat + Drink

Good Day, Sunshine: 5 Essential Brunch Spots in Milwaukee

For many, the most important meal of the weekend is Sunday brunch. Whether you are recouping with the Saturday night crew or meeting Mom for a much-needed catch-up, Sunday’s are simply not complete without the promise of French toast, good conversation and perhaps a mimosa or Bloody Mary—or two.

Here are some top spots in Milwaukee to enjoy a brunch experience that checks all the boxes:

Local Favorite

Practically everyone in Milwaukee knows and adores Blue’s Egg for brunch. The locally-driven menu is compact, making deciding on what to order a stress-free event. The stars of the show are the four “Benedicts,” including classic (with pulled ham and Hollandaise), Dubliner (with corned beef and paprika aioli), Florentine (with spinach and Hollandaise) and Beef Cheeks (over a cheddar buttermilk biscuit and with sauce Choron).

Brunch to Impress

For brunch at the stylish Stella Van Buren, you should bring your A-game attire. The food at Stella Van Buren brunch is as tasty as the restaurant is gorgeous.

brunch milwaukee
Avocado bruschetta is a morning must. (Photo: Courtesy of Stella Van Buren)

Take in floor-to-ceiling views of the city while you dine on avocado bruschetta topped with poached egg or lemon ricotta pancakes and sip on “brunch-tails,” such as the house Bloody Mary, served with a Miller High Life pony chaser.

Brunch 911

When you need a fortifying brunch featuring house-butchered meats and a menu spanning the globe, you don’t have to dial emergency. Engine Company 3, located in a former firehouse, has you covered with a menu that changes regularly with what’s in season.

Keeping It Simple

brunch milwaukee
Go for the standards with a twist at Simple Café. (Photo: Courtesy of Simple Café)

With a name like Simple Café, you might expect a classic American brunch menu. But this restaurant actually specializes in a Korean-style brunch—think items like a BBQ breakfast bowl made with braised pork, veggies, brown rice and kimchi, with an over-easy egg on top.

Something for Every Taste

If you are dining with a hard-to-please crowd, The National is your best friend. The restaurant offers a range of international fare, including an all-American breakfast, full English breakfast, huevos rancheros for those in need of Mexican cuisine and a croque madame for the Francophile. A seasoned traveler, Chef Nell Benton draws from global inspirations for this go-to brunch spot.