Best Brunch in Austin: Deals and Special Events You Won’t Want to Miss

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then having a list of go-to’s for brunch in Austin is a must. I’ve compiled a list of my favorite brunch spots around town, and they all have deals, fun events or unique activities to attract you through the door.

Try them all out and let me know which place becomes your local brunch favorite.

Rainey Street Royalty: Javelina, Icenhauer’s and Banger’s

Javelina

Located at 69 Rainey Street, Javelina hooks you in with free pancakes on Saturday and Sunday from 12-1 PM. You’ll also find specials on breakfast tacos and breakfast sandwiches until 6 PM!

Need additional suggestions? Try the killer green chile fries. I suggested adding a queso topper for extra brunching oomph! And I haven’t even started on the drinks.

You might spy a rockabilly muse on any occasion, plus there’s a boar’s head on the wall and an old timey photo booth at the back end of the bar!

Banger’s Sausage House and Beer Garden

Although no brunch food comes free at this Rainey location, the music at Banger’s (79 Rainey Street) will swing and sway you through the community-style brunching experience. My favorite cocktail highlight is definitely the build-your-own-Michelada bar.

If you’ve never been, know that Banger’s is a great place for kids and dogs. There is plenty of space for kiddos to dance and, in the back of the outdoor dining yard, Banger’s has incorporated an enclosed doggie park.

Insider tip: All the fun takes place outdoors, but it can get rather loud. If conversation among all the members of your group is important, you might want to choose an indoor seat.

Icenhauer’s

Just down the street, Icenhauer’s (83 Rainey Street) hosts Southern Fried Sunday on the first Sunday of each month during the summer months. On Southern Friday Sunday, patrons are happily fed free fried chicken and waffles. The butterfly chairs and patio tables top off the backyard’s appeal and draw the brunching kind in for an afternoon which eventually includes an intimate live music performance by one of Austin’s many local acts.

Insider tip: Seating can be limited. So ladies, if you’re planning to dress for comfort, sport a pair of pants, shorts or a long dress so you can easily sit on a stair step, brick circle wall or concrete ledge near the music stage.

Hip to My Lou My Darling

Olivia

Editor’s Note: Olivia will be closing in October 2016.

Olivia offers hidden serenity off of what is currently a dusty and crowded drive down South Lamar. Located at 2043 S. Lamar Blvd., an on-site garden is located behind the restaurant, which boasts an unusually large parking lot.

Shaded outdoor dining and sleek interior space create an oasis amidst the trendy uproar of the infamous 78704. My favorite part of brunch dining at this venue? If you are a grazer like me, or you enjoy the typical brunch contemplation between sweet or savory, you can score a half order of nearly all brunch plates on the menu. It’s a sweet deal…or a savory one?

Foreign & Domestic

This North Loop spot’s brunch highlight is the Foreign & Domestic Bake Sale, which takes place every Saturday from 10 AM until they sell out. Come to 306 East 53rd Street early to get to the front of the line. Fill your pink pastry box with goodies and you’ll head home a happy camper. But bring cash! No cards are accepted.

If you’re in the mood for doing something different, your bake sale experience will be much more mobile than the normal dining experience at Foreign & Domestic. Plus, bake sales often benefit a local non-profit.

The pastry selection varies from one weekend to the next, but to stay up to date on what’s coming soon, you can subscribe to the Foreign & Domestic newsletter for regular weekly updates (see the top banner on fndaustin.com).

 

@CrisMueller asks:

What is your favorite brunch spot in Austin?