The 14 best brunch spots to have a 'bougie' breakfast in San Jose & the rest of the South Bay

The 14 best brunch spots to have a 'bougie' breakfast in San Jose & the rest of the South Bay The croissant breakfast sandwich at Bloom in Santa Clara. Photo via Instagram
Brianna Richard
Published on October 08, 2021

Weekend mornings are dedicated to brunch, one of the South Bay's favorite pastimes. Brunch is a way of life in many parts of the Bay Area, and it is taken very seriously by the locals. Lines out the door, bottomless mimosas, and delicious, Instagram-worthy food are all hallmarks of the region's top weekend breakfast spots. Fortunately, residents in the South Bay are spoiled for choices, with fried chicken and waffles, excellent chilaquiles, and pineapple mimosas being just a few of the numerous highlights.

Whether you need to recover from the night before or pregame for the weekend ahead, brunch is the ideal setting for both. Enjoy a mimosa or a cup of strong coffee. Order a cinnamon roll, or two. Here are the 14 hottest brunch spots in the South Bay to get you started.


The Breakfast Club at Midtown

Best Brunch in San Jose

If a boozy brunch is your thing, look no further than The Breakfast Club in San Jose. The Breakfast Club offers a liquid breakfast menu that includes everything from prawns to churros as garnishes. The cocktails are strong and sweet, and they're a great way to start any brunch. Of course, you'll need something substantial to accompany your morning mimosa or Bloody Mary. This restaurant offers an array of traditional breakfast fare with a few creative twists. The menu is extensive, so if you're undecided, go for the Midtown Trio — you can choose any three pancake or french toast options, so you can try a little bit of everything. The red velvet pancakes are an especially popular choice, with cream cheese icing drizzled on top along with chocolate chips and powdered sugar. Talk about swoon-worthy.

Visit WebsiteCall: 408.564.7150
1432 W San Carlos St #80, San Jose

 


Bill’s Cafe

Leading Brunch Options in Santa Clara County

From Palo Alto to Fremont, this South Bay favorite has a number of locations that are always busy. The perpetual line always moves quickly, and the food will be well worth your time. Bill's has been serving breakfast since 1977, and offers a wide variety of options. Everything is as fresh as it gets at this family-owned restaurant. The orange juice is freshly squeezed every day, the hash browns are excellent and made with fresh potatoes, and the soups are prepared in-house. Bill's is the type of place where everyone can find something they like. For those looking for comfort food, they have chicken and waffles, keto scrambles, and Impossible meat for vegetarians. Did I mention they have a menu of delectable mimosas? It does not matter if you order the watermelon mimosa or the peach pear. You can’t go wrong with anything at Bill’s. 

Visit WebsiteCall: 650.665.7941
3163 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto

 


Los Gatos Cafe Uptown

Top-Notch San Jose Brunch Restaurants

On Saturday mornings, Los Gatos residents flock to the Los Gatos Cafe Uptown in droves. This place is home to the South Bay's famous half-pound cinnamon roll — and it will unquestionably be the largest cinnamon roll you have ever seen, as well as one of the most delicious. It's tempting to come here just for the cinnamon rolls, but save room for some of their other savory dishes as well. The eggs are perfectly cooked, the omelets are filled with interesting ingredients, and the hash browns are delicious. And don't sleep in because the Los Gatos Cafe Uptown is only open until 1 p.m. 

Visit WebsiteCall: 408.356.0600
15662 Los Gatos Blvd, Los Gatos

 


Tostadas

Top Brunch in San Jose

Tostadas is a restaurant that caters to repeat customers, and the eggs are exceptional. Tosatads was founded in 2019 by two brothers whose mother had a restaurant when they were growing up — and she was known for her Tostadas de Tinga. To honor their mother and her legacy, they named Tostadas. This restaurant serves delicious food all day, but the breakfast is particularly noteworthy. They want to bring together flavors from Mexico, America, and their own family recipes. The carnitas Benedict is a must-try, served over a sourdough baguette — imagine perfectly cooked carnitas, grilled onions and peppers, poached eggs, and the traditional Hollandaise sauce. The chilaquiles get a five-star rating as well. This place will be your new favorite for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 

Visit WebsiteCall: 669.342.4701
304 E Santa Clara St suite a, San Jose

 


Southern Kitchen

Leading South Bay Brunch Spots

Diners seeking serious comfort food should head to Southern Kitchen. For over 50 years, this establishment has been serving a delectable southern breakfast. It appears to be a small American diner from the outside. The inside is packed with regulars, the walls are covered in knickknacks, and the aromas are incredible. The portions are enormous and meant to be shared. The omelets and pancakes are so large that they spill over the plate's edges, but no one seems to mind because the food is so delicious! Southern Kitchen serves menudo on weekends and traditional Mexican breakfast items every day of the week, in addition to Southern classics. The machaca is an absolute must-try!

Visit WebsiteCall: 4082254381
3378 Monterey Rd, San Jose

 


Toast Cafe and Grill

Top-Notch Brunch Options in Santa Clara County

Avocado toast is delicious at any time of day, whether for breakfast or dinner. And Toast has some "toast spreads" that are better than the Instagram influencer version: fresh avocado, whipped mascarpone, and goat cheese, sauteed spinach, mushrooms, peppers, and egg whites, marsala wine, and a balsamic glaze make up the mushroom toast. Choose from a variety of toasts, including gluten-free and sourdough options. Smoked salmon toast, Caprese toast, and a breakfast toast with thick bacon and a sunny-side-up egg are also available. If this Millennial cult classic isn't for you, Toast also serves up some delicious Benedicts and waffles. The patio is cozy and casual, the servers are warm and friendly, and the food is delicious.

Call: 408.320.1575
1411 Bird Ave, San Jose

 


Egghead Cafe

Best San Jose Brunch Restaurants

If you can't ever have enough breakfast sandwiches, Egghead Cafe is your spot. It calls itself a "sando cafe," and it also serves fantastic coffee and tea. Only fresh organic ingredients are used by Egghead, and the quality is evident in their sandwiches. Every visit and bite will leave you speechless. One of their most popular menu items is the Hawaiian Morning, which is a must-order — it's an over medium egg atop a warm brioche bun, with Spam, arugula, and house sauce. Egghead takes a lot of pride in their drinks, and the drink menu here will make you never want to go back to your regular coffee shop.  The coffee is made to order, the tea is freshly brewed, and the organic matcha is the real deal from Japan. Almost every drink can be made dairy-free and there are also a line of caffeine-free options if you are visiting later in the day. Egghead will be your new favorite breakfast sando spot. 

Visit WebsiteCall: 408.899.6782
19929 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino

 


Cafe San Jose

Leading Brunch Options in Santa Clara County

For hungry local diners, Cafe San Jose serves platter after platter of fancy pancakes and perfect omelets. This friendly cafe will make you feel like you're eating breakfast at home, but without the dishes and cleanup. If you're looking for a traditional, comforting breakfast, this is the place to go. Two eggs, crispy hashbrowns, salty bacon, and buttery toast will never let you down. The pancakes are always light and fluffy, and they are served hot. The coffee is potent and steaming. Cafe San Jose's servers are also extremely friendly and accommodating. If you have food allergies, they are accommodating, and if you are a first-time visitor, they have excellent recommendations. You will love this warm and homey breakfast spot.

Visit WebsiteCall: 408.265.3020
1583A Meridian Ave, San Jose

 


Scrambl’z

Top-Notch San Jose Brunch Restaurants

Scrambl'z is the place to go for a filling breakfast in a diner with extravagant decor, and it's a great place if you have kids of any age. The cheerful dining room and delicious American breakfast will put a smile on your and your children's faces. You can sit in the most coveted spot in the house, a converted VW bus, if you arrive early enough. A surfboard protrudes from the back of the yellow bus, which is covered in flower stickers. If you don't get a chance to sit on the bus, all of the booths at Scrambl'z feel different and fun, and they're surrounded by artwork and celebrity memorabilia. So, while the decor here is fantastic, we're also looking for a great breakfast, which Scrambl'z provides. All of the food is prepared from scratch. The pancakes are fluffy, the bacon is crisp, and the country-fried potatoes are a savory pick-me-up that we all need in the morning.

Visit WebsiteCall: 408.269.2900
5055 Almaden Expy, San Jose

 


Peanuts Deluxe Cafe

Top Brunch in San Jose

Since 1977, Peanuts Deluxe Cafe has been providing food to San Jose State students and professors, and it feels like an ideal college hangout. The portions are generous, the prices are reasonable, and the walls are adorned with mementos from local fraternities and sororities. Don't be put off by the relaxed atmosphere; there's a reason why all the students love it. Breakfast is absolutely delicious and is available all day! They have a menu that will appeal to everyone in your party. This is the kind of place where you can get everything from pancakes to eggs to a Philly cheesesteak. This is going to be your new favorite greasy diner, and I say that with great respect.

Visit WebsiteCall: 408.998.9778
275 E San Fernando St, San Jose

 


Rose Cafe and Donuts

Leading South Bay Brunch Spots

If you are not a morning person and require some truly delicious food to motivate you to get out of bed, Rose Cafe and Donuts is just the thing to get you going. This popular doughnut shop opens at 5 a.m. every day and will provide you with just the right amount of sugar to get you through the morning. The doughnuts are fantastic, the breakfast sandwiches are delicious, and the breakfast burritos are among the best in the area. A warm flour tortilla is stuffed with bacon, ham, sausage, eggs, cheese, a crispy hash brown patty, and a side of salsa. This is a place you're going to adore.

Visit WebsiteCall: 408.379.3299
994 Saratoga Ave, San Jose

 


Big E Cafe

Top-Notch Brunch Options in Santa Clara County

The Big E Cafe hits every sweet and savory note in the book. Since 2005, this family-owned brunch spot has been a local favorite. The Big E's "E" stands for empanadas, and the breakfast empanadas are not to be missed — they're fresh, handcrafted, and based on Peruvian family recipes. The empanadas can be filled with almost anything you can think of. Egg, ham, potato, and bacon are among the ingredients in the breakfast empanadas. They have a sweeter version with peaches and blueberries, as well as an apple and cranberry option. There are savory options as well, such as cheese and spinach. They're flaky on the outside and hot on the inside, and they don't let you down. The coffee here is also fantastic, and it's the perfect accompaniment to your empanadas.

Visit WebsiteCall: 4089789040
1683 Branham Ln, San Jose

 


Bloom

Best San Jose Brunch Restaurants

Among breakfast spots, Bloom is a breath of fresh air. This charming restaurant has made a name for itself in the brunch scene in a short amount of time, quickly winning over locals since opening in late 2020. Look at their stellar Yelp reviews if you don't believe me. They take classic breakfast dishes and make them lighter, more exciting, and with unique twists. For example, the "Benes" are Bloom's versions of a Benedict. You can order your Bene with Spanish chorizo and a Hollandaise sauce that is impossible to duplicate, or topped with jumbo crab and sauteed spinach. The sweet potato shishito hash is my personal favorite dish on the menu. Corned beef, sweet potatoes, and shishito peppers are combined in this dish, which is served with tartine, eggs, and breakfast potatoes. All of the ingredients are sourced locally and are fresh, and the dishes are expertly prepared.

Visit WebsiteCall: 408.345.2667
202 Saratoga Ave, Santa Clara

 


Cafe Borrone

Leading Brunch Options in Santa Clara County

Cafe Borrone has a weekend brunch you just can’t miss, with the perfect patio for outdoor dining. Cafe Borrone has been around since 1979 and is a treasured brunch spot in Menlo Park. Locals line up on the weekends because at Cafe Borrone, everything is done right. The chefs arrive early each day to prepare all the menu items from scratch. The ingredients are local and organic, the fish is selected to be as sustainable as possible and Cafe Borrone strives to support local farms. Everything here is delicious and it doesn’t matter what you order, you will love it. The waffles are one of the most popular menu items. They're made to order, with fresh fruit piled high and a dollop of decadent housemade whipped cream on top. The espresso is steaming, the eggs are elegant, and the brunch here is something to savor.

Visit WebsiteCall: 650.327.0830
1010 El Camino Real, Menlo Park