Top brunch places with views in Southern California

Here in Southern California, we take brunch seriously. And while you likely have a few neighborhood favorites you frequent for the most important meal of the week, now is the perfect time to up your brunch game. Our list of the 10 hippest and highest brunch venues will bring you to sky-reaching roof decks, hill-perched patios, and oceanfront outdoor decks—all with mind-blowing views.

Impress out-of-towners with a trip to the top of the swanky AAA Four Diamond Waldorf Astoria, where stylish open-air 12th-floor lounge The Rooftop by JG awaits. Here you’ll find some of L.A.’s most stunning views, which reach all the way to downtown. The umbrella-dotted restaurant is decked out with a living wall and fire features.

Its mix of creative brunch fare comes courtesy of renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Opt for the sunny-side up frittata laced with bacon, cherry tomato and corn, Vongerichten’s signature tuna tartare, or the indulgent Gruyère-topped lobster burger. 

After a multimillion dollar overhaul two years ago, the longstanding Castaway, nestled in the Verdugo Hills, now has a sleek, modern look, a sprawling outdoor patio, and multilevel seating that ensures diners have a view of the San Fernando Valley from any spot in the house.

The menu is heavy on dry-aged steaks, and, for brunch, guests can choose from innovative offerings such as a port wine–braised short rib hash and a Wagyu skirt steak eggs Benedict. Seafood fans can go for the tempura lobster and orange-scented waffles, shrimp and grits, or seared tuna tartine. The venue’s spiked cereal milk cocktails will definitely put the “funday” in your Sunday. 

The brunch scene is always bustling at Mozambique, and the pet-friendly third-floor patio offers views of the ocean and the Laguna Beach bluffs.

The restaurant infuses South African flavors throughout all its menus, including at brunch, when guests can pair eggs with boerewors, a specialty spiced sausage popular in the African nation. The breakfast tower comes layered with crabmeat, veggies, and Swiss cheese atop ciabatta while the egg white–and-veggie omelet is a lighter bet. Check the schedule to brunch on a day when the restaurant features live jazz. 

The Central Coast outpost of this family of seafood restaurants puts guests within eyeshot of the historic Santa Barbara Harbor from its second-floor dining deck at the edge of busy State Street. 

Bluewater Grill focuses on serving sustainably caught seafood and incorporates shellfish into its morning menu with dishes such as crab and avocado toast or shrimp frittata in addition to more traditional fare of brioche French toast and a hearty platter of New York steak and eggs. 

The French-inspired menu at Perch pairs perfectly with the European flair of this 15th-floor gem surrounded by the ever-growing cluster of skyscrapers in downtown L.A. Plant yourself on the landscaped patio or head to the inside dining room with its arched windows, velvet upholstery, and wood-carved bar.

At either spot you can dine on seasonal oysters; a baby beet salad; a spinach, Gruyère, and mushroom omelet; and some diet-busting truffle-cheese frites. Visit between noon and 3 p.m. on weekends to take in live jazz, too. And to get even more sky-high, head up a floor, where the top-level rooftop lounge serves cocktails starting at noon on weekends.

The Nolen, a rooftop lounge on the 14th floor of the Courtyard San Diego Gaslamp Hotel, underwent a face-lift last year that resulted in a stylish art deco look with accents of brass, marble, and velvet in addition to a large fire pit surrounded by killer views of the San Diego skyline, Petco Park, and the Coronado Bridge.

The Nolen brunch menu offers playful Hawaiian and internationally inspired dishes, including a beer-braised short rib loco moco and pork carnitas Benedict. Look for a roster of sparkling cocktails, too.