The Best Brunch Patios in Southern California
The hard part is picking where to go. Here are nine patios worth the drive, spread from the desert to the coast. For each one, I noted what to order and how to land a good table.
Southern California hands you good weather most of the year, so eating eggs outside stops being a treat and becomes the default.
Café Santorini, Pasadena
Café Santorini sits above the street in Old Town, and its patio is the kind of place you walk right past without noticing. You climb the stairs and end up tucked away from the foot traffic on Colorado Boulevard, with string lights overhead and a view of the courtyard below. The menu leans Mediterranean, so think grilled plates, flatbreads, and eggs done a few different ways. Book a patio table for late morning on a weekend, and you can sit for two hours without anyone hurrying you out.
Mike & Anne's, South Pasadena
Mike & Anne's has become one of the most popular brunch spots on this side of town. The back patio is roomy, which makes it a rare pick for groups of six or more who actually want to sit outside together instead of getting split across two tables. The space gets a lot of natural light, and the menu sticks to well-made American brunch food. Reservations help on Saturday and Sunday, since the patio fills up by mid-morning.
Cheeky's, Palm Springs
Cheeky's in the Uptown Design District is the brunch spot locals send you to first. The patio is small and sunny, the menu changes every week, and the kitchen pulls from nearby farms. Order the birria hash with poached eggs, or whatever frittata they are running that day. Two things to know: there is almost always a wait, and the desert sun is real, so go before 11 a.m. if you want a comfortable seat and a shorter line.
The Cannery, Newport Beach
The Cannery sits on the Balboa Peninsula with an expansive patio looking out over Newport Harbor. You get boats drifting past while you eat, which is the whole point of brunch on the water. The kitchen is known for fresh oysters and seafood, and they pour bottomless mimosas if that is your speed. Reserve a patio table facing the harbor, and aim for a Sunday when the boat traffic picks up.
The Boathouse at Hendry's Beach, Santa Barbara
The Boathouse sits right above Hendry's Beach, also called Arroyo Burro Beach, and the patio is about as close to the sand as a restaurant gets. The breakfast menu runs daily and includes egg Benedicts, a house-cured salmon plate, and breakfast burritos. The patio is heated, so it works year-round, and it is dog-friendly if you want to bring yours. Get a table at the patio edge for the ocean view, then walk the beach after you eat.
Las Brisas, Laguna Beach
Las Brisas occupies a building that has stood on the Laguna bluff for 88 years. It opened as the Victor Hugo Inn in 1938, and the current restaurant took over the spot in 1979. The setting is Heisler Park, with the Pacific spread out below. The outdoor patio gives you ocean views from nearly every seat. The menu is Mexican and seafood-driven, with strong margaritas and a weekend brunch that draws a steady crowd. To skip the valet, look for metered street parking nearby. Take a quick walk along the coastline before you sit down.
Brockton Villa, San Diego
Brockton Villa overlooks La Jolla Cove, and the patio gives you one of the best water views in the city. The signature dish is the Coast Toast, a soufflé-style French toast that regulars order without thinking. The Breakfast Tacos and the corned beef hash are solid savory picks. Call ahead and ask specifically for a patio table with a cove view, because those go fast on weekends.
Perch, Downtown Los Angeles
Perch is a French-inspired rooftop bistro fifteen floors above downtown, with open-air seating and a clear line of sight to the skyline. Brunch starts at 10 a.m. on weekends, and entrees run around $22, with prix fixe options if you want more courses. There is often live music. The dress code is upscale casual, so skip the gym clothes. Book a table near the railing for the view.
Aroma Cafe, Studio City
Aroma Cafe sits in Tujunga Village and runs all day, but weekend brunch is when the place packs out. The back courtyard winds through what used to be a house, with a front patio and a few seating areas tucked around it. You order at the counter, then find a table outside. Expect a line most mornings, though it moves fast. Order the brioche French toast, the bagel BLT, or the chipotle steak eggs Benedict if you want a full plate. Get there before 9 a.m. to beat the crowd and still catch the pancakes. One heads-up: there is no wifi, so this is not the spot if you planned to work through your meal.