The Best Brunch Spots in Poncey-Highland, Atlanta

If you’ve ever dreamed of carbonara for breakfast, La Tavola can help make that fantasy a reality. La Tavola’s brunch selection is divided into pasta (Lasagna, Tagliatelle Bolognese, and Tagliolini with mushroom ragu and truffle oil are the best things on the menu!) and standard morning fare with Italian touches (French toast with whipped ricotta instead of cream, eggs topped with spicy marinara, and polenta taking the space typically occupied by Southern-style grits). Just add an elegant cocktail and a salami board and you’re all set.

Brunch spot by day and bar by night, 8ARM is one of Ponce’s strongest newcomers. It’s impossible to go wrong here, whether you choose a classic item, like a buttermilk biscuit sandwich, the Egg McMuff, or a daring seasonal dish. The counter at the front offers coffee and pastries, such as savory danishes and plump cinnamon rolls. Lastly, if you’re not planning on buying a home anytime soon, order the avocado toast topped with rock crab, radish slices, and lime juice.

Decked out in vintage decor, Java Jive focuses on old-school dishes like scrambled eggs with cream cheese and basil, golden brown pancakes and some of the best biscuits in Atlanta. On weekdays, Java Jive is the kind of place where you can sit with a cup of coffee and some work for an hour. Those who want something special and sweet should wait until the weekend for their famous gingerbread waffle topped with lemon curd.

Murphy’s is the champion of VaHi’s brunch scene, and it would be wrong to ignore that title. It also means that getting a table is tricky unless you pick an off hour or walk in alone and sit at the bar (a good strategy, FYI). The strength here lies in classics, such as egg plates and sides like the cheddar grits and chicken sausage. Don’t pass up the basket of biscuits and jam – they may not be an entree, but they can stand their own against any menu item.

It’s not like D.B.A. Barbecue doesn’t have solid lunch and dinner items (looking at you, Archie Bunker), but the artistry on their brunch menu is far too impressive to ignore. Here, comfort food takes itself very seriously: breakfast bowls come with barbecue, the chicken atop waffles is smoked and fried, and the creamy cheese grits surpass the Flying Biscuit’s. Wash it all down with endless mimosas or a Bloody Mary pitcher.

Every weekend, Folk Art‘s line goes around the corner, which is a testament to the quality of their brunch. The massive menu mixes Southern fare with decadent ingredients: think sweet potato beignets, shrimp po’boys for breakfast and house-made pigs in a blanket. If you really want to do it right, order the Foul Play: sweet potato waffles topped with fried chicken and peach and bourbon compote.