If you're planning to use Easter as an excuse to chow down on fluffy omelettes and buttermilk pancakes, then get ready to throw back some mimosas at these bomb Bay Area brunches.
SAN FRANCISCO
The Commissary
If you're already planning a day of hiking and hanging around the Presidio, double down with a tantalizing brunch at the Commissary, where cheese fritters with black truffle honey, patatas bravas with buttermilk aioli, and English pea tagliatelle with duck egg are on the menu. Finish with apple and ginger beignets or chocolate soufflé with crème anglaise. // 11am to 3pm; 101 Montgomery St. (Presidio), thecommissarysf.com
Marla Bakery
If you're hosting brunch at your place, surf over to Marla Bakery where you can pre-order special fluffy hot cross buns, spring cookies and macarons for pickup. Of course, you could always swing into the bakery for the Bakerwoman's breakfast (pork rilletes with pastrami, farmers cheese, and nectarines) or a decadent lemon verbena French toast. // 10am to 2:30pm; 3619 Balboa St. (Outer Richmond), marlabakery.com
Locanda
You're more than familiar with the chocolate hazelnut bombolone, eggs in purgatory, and delicious sips on Locanda's brunch menu, but go for Easter and get a special treat—surprise dishes will be added for the occasion. // 557 Valencia St. (Mission), locandasf.com
District
The popular wine bar and resto's San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose locations will be throwing down all-you-can-eat breakfast buffets ($22/person) and bottomless mimosas (for an additional $13). With buttermilk pancakes with banana-rum syrup, steel-cut oatmeal with bourbon vanilla brown sugar, biscuits and sawmill gravy among the offering, you're guaranteed to roll out stuffed. Specialty cocktails will also be available. // 216 Townsend St. (SoMa), districtSF.com; 827 Washington St. (Oakland), districtoak.com; 65 N. San Pedro St. (San Jose), districtsj.com
Park Chalet
Always a favorite for a chill Sunday brunch, Park Chalet's buffet ($55/person) promises to be overstuffed with pastries, savory options (think a pan-roasted fresh catch and braised short ribs with Anson Mills cheddar grits), and sweets such as pain de mie French toast or ricotta and blueberry pancakes. There will also be a seafood bar with smoked Nova Scotia salmon, peel and eat shrimp, and caviar deviled eggs. // 1000 Great Highway (Golden Gate Park), parkchalet.com
(Courtesy of Hornblower)
Hornblower Cruises
Bring the whole fam out on the San Francisco Bay for a one-of-a-kind Easter dining cruise ($86-$119/person) from Hornblower Cruises & Events. Try one of the brunch cruises with an extensive buffet, free-flowing bubbly, and an appearance by the Easter Bunny, or an elegant four-course dinner cruise with live entertainment and dancing. The only thing that could make all this even more fab? Nonstop stunning views of the Golden Gate, Alcatraz, and the city skyline guarantee you'll have a memorable experience. // *Thank you to our awesome sponsors at hornblower.com.
MARIN
Cavallo Point
We're crossing our fingers for pretty weather at Sausalito's Cavallo Point, where two special brunches are on offer. Go for the buffet ($115/person) in the Callippe Ballroom where live jazz will complement your meal, or opt in for the five-course tasting menu ($95) and optional wine pairing ($50) at Murray Circle. Easter menus are still being finalized—please, oh please let there be Dungeness crab Benedict. // 601 Murray Circle (Sausalito), cavallopoint.com
Farmshop
Easily one of the most delightful brunches in the Bay, this sunny spot at Marin Country Mart promises to be festive on the patio if weather permits. Dine on brioche sticky buns, Tomales Bay Miyagi oysters, smoky shakshukka, and Dungeness crab frittata. Should you be in the mood for pizza, we love the wild mushroom with Bellwether Farms crescenza. // 2233 Larkspur Landing Circle (Larkspur), farmshopca.com
Left Bank Brasserie
A feast of seasonal Cal-French fare by chef Roland Passot is a perfectly indulgent way spend a Sunday. May we suggest the gaufre a la fraise (a warm waffle with market strawberries and crème fraiche)? Or perhaps the tartine gourmande with sunny side-up eggs, herbed goat cheese, and grilled country bread? Really, you can't go wrong. // 507 Magnolia Ave. (Larkspur), leftbank.com
EAST BAY
This Oakland foodie hotspot is guaranteed to be buzzing on Easter Sunday. The holiday offering has yet to be announced, but look out for standards including soba biscuits and sausage gravy, cinnamon twist French toast, and of course that marvelous buttermilk fried chicken. // 1915 San Pablo Ave. (Oakland), hopscotchoakland.com
Calavera
The day's specials are still TBA, but we know you can expect bottomless mimosas and anything but traditional Easter fare. Look for Meixcan staples including papas con mole, ceviche of line-caught Baja yellowtail jack, ethereal churros with Oaxacan chocolate, and huevos rancheros . // 2337 Broadway (Oakland), calaveraoakland.com
Lake Chalet Seafood Bar & Grill
A special limited brunch menu carrying into dinner (10pm) will include tasty delights like crispy fried chicken and waffles with bacon marmalade, blueberry chipotle syrup, fried herbs and sea salt and slow cooked lamb shoulder with spring onion polenta cakes, poached farm eggs, natural jus and asparagus. For the kiddos, there will even be a visit from the Easter bunny and an Easter egg hunt at 12pm and 3pm. // 1520 Lakeside Dr. (Oakland),thelakechalet.com
The Terrace Room
This quaint cafe with windows facing Lake Merritt makes for the perfect brunch spot (especially to take out-of-towners). Their brunch buffet ($60/person) will include a chop salad bar, a made-to-order omelet station, mini Benedicts, mini biscuits and gravy, French toast, a carving station, and more. // 1800 Madison St. (Oakland), theterraceroom.com
WINE COUNTRY
Spoonbar
As if we needed another excuse to hit the road for lovely Healdsburg, h2hotel's Spoonbar will be serving up a wonderfully affordable three-course Easter brunch ($39/person). Load up on buttermilk pancakes, spring vegetable quiche, and orange- and honey-glazed baby back ribs; but save room for the dessert bar! For something boozy, toast with a bergamot blossom, bloody Mary or other farm-to-bar sip. // 219 Healdsburg Ave. (Healdsburg), spoonbar.com
Dry Creek Kitchen
Dry Creek Kitchen promises a leisurely Sunday whether you soak up the sun on the terrace or cozy up by the fireplace. The three-course brunch ($55/person) will include warm crab with Sonoma asparagus; Bellwether Farms ricotta pancakes; and Mary's chicken pot pie. Top it off with German chocolate pie, heirloom carrot cake, or key lime millefeuille. // 317 Healdsburg Ave. (Healdsburg), drycreekkitchen.com
SOUTH BAY
The Sea by Alexander's Steakhouse
If it's a fancy brunch in Silicon Valley you seek, then the three-course brunch—crafted from local, seasonal, and wild or sustainably harvested ingredients—from chef Yu Min Lin will not disappoint. Main courses include king salmon with radish, maitake mushrooms, and smoked bacon; lobster scrambled eggs; wild scallops with peas and polenta; and Iberico ham pasta with shimeji mushrooms. Oh, and of course there's a Wagyu steak. // 4269 El Camino Real (Palo Alto), theseausa.com
