Hey, Lakeland. We need to talk. It’s about something serious… brunch.
That’s right, the best meal of any mid-morning or early afternoon. We asked y’all on Instagram, if you had friends in town for one day – where would you take them for brunch and what’s the one thing you’d say they *had* to order?
With the help of your recommendations, we put together a roundup of weekend places to enjoy some great sunrise sustenance. ☀️
Saturday
10+ minute drive from downtown
Cozy Oaks, 1201 E. Orange St. |
Must-try: Fill up on the western omelet with a side of hashbrowns without emptying your wallet.
Bring your ID: 10% off for college students 😌
Classic Brunch 🏠
The Brunch Box | 735 E. Memorial Blvd. | Menu
If you’re lookin’ for good home cookin’ and bacon that just won’t quit, look no further.
Must-try: Two words, my friend: Brownie. Sunday.
Who says you can’t Instagram your brunch brownie and eat it too? 🍰
Boozy Brunch 🥂
Frescos | 132 S. Kentucky Ave. | Menu
“You had me at bottomless mimosas + eclectic fusion cuisine.”
Must-try: The sunset at Lake Mirror is pretty enough to bottle and drink, isn’t it? Fresco’s thought so too. You haven’t really lived until you’ve tried their gin-based cocktail, aptly named: “The Lake Mirror Sunset.”
Pro Tip: For $12 you can mix + match mimosas from an array of 7 different flavors 💛
Brunch with a View ⛲
Black & Brew | 205 E. Main St. | Menu
B&B serves up a smorgasbord of coffee with a side of goodness. Beautiful Munn Park sits right across the street. Or if your aesthetic is more indoor vibes, snag a table + a strawberry basil iced tea, and relax by their brick wall mural.
Must-try: The Smoked Turkey Sandwich is to die for. 🥪
Fun Fact: Black & Brew first opened its doors on Valentine’s Day in 2006. What’s not to love?
Old School Brunch 🍗
Fred’s Market | 2120 Harden Blvd | Menu
Can’t decide what you want? At Fred’s you don’t have to. Feast upon a buffet of biscuits and gravy + fried chicken that’ll be making you wish you had more fingers to lick.
Must-try: Trust us, you knead the skillet cornbread in your life.
Save time by grabbing 2 plates in 1 trip - August is National Carb free month anyway, right? #askingforafriend 👀
Asian-Fusion Brunch 🍲
The Rib House | 2918 S. Florida Ave. | Menu
Ah, the gastronautical quandary of craving bacon, sushi, and pad thai. The Rib House is the safe haven in Lakeland for that one slightly-annoying-and-yet-you-still-love-them picky friend in your crew 👯
Must-try: Your new relationship status is now: engaged to The Rib House’s edamame.
Pulled pork for breakfast, guys. 😋
Easy Brunch 👌🏼
Born & Bread | 2918 S. Florida Ave. | Menu
Easy. Breezy. Beautiful. Born & Bread. Seize the day, a pastry + 100 new likes on your insta-photo by stopping in Born & Bread for artisan crafted art that doubles as food 🎨
Must-try: They’ve got cruffins on lock. 🔒 Check out their Milk + Honey flavor.
Date Brunch 😍
Red Door Wine Market | 733 E. Palmetto St. | Menu
Amber may be the color of her energy, but red will always be the color of love. Even if your date has you wishing you would’ve swiped left, Red Door’s Brunch menu will always be the right choice.
Must-try: Big fan of charcuterie? Check out their cheese plate. 🧀
The lighting is good for proposal photos if you’re at that stage. Just sayin’. 👀
Healthy Brunch 🏃🏽
First Watch | 4620 Florida Ave S Suite 130 or 4316 US Hwy. 98 N. #200 | Menu
An apple a day is great and all but, in all reality, smoked salmon tastes exceedingly better. With two locations in town (yes, they’re that good), this specialized brunch bistro will have you running in before your next 5k.
Must-try: Avocado toast. And you can still probably buy that house one day. 🏡
Quinoa get a heck yes for juice smoothies you don’t have to dirty your blender for?
Diner Style Brunch 🍽
Fat Jack’s | 2940 S. Florida Ave| $ | Menu
The cozy hole-in-the-wall scene where you want to be a regular. ☕
Must-try: Reuben Sandwich (because I don’t care who you are - it’s never too early for sauerkraut).
Having first opened their door over 55 years ago, we salute you Fat Jack. 🎉
Instagrammable Brunch 📸
Cob and Pen | 41221 Florida Ave. S. | Menu
Go be shellfish, you deserve it for making it through the week. Cob and Pen’s shrimp and grits are so beautiful, you feel almost bad for eating it. 🍤
Must-try: If you’d rather drink your brunch, opt for the $4 sangria.
It’s fruit so it’s kind of healthy right?
Classy Brunch 🤵
Nineteen61 | 1212 S FL Ave. | Menu
Not only does this modern Cuban restaurant *ahem*, paradise have a beautiful seating area and an attentive staff, it also boasts drool-worthy food.
Must-try: Their tres Leche will satisfiy your daily sweet craving. 😏
It goes without saying, but Lakeland is a food lover’s paradise - and a brunch obsessed aficionado’s dream. 🙋 So grab your favorite people and go toast the town. Better yet, DM me your go-to brunch place in Lakeland. It’s 11 o’clock somewhere. Amirite? 😎
Viva la brunch my fellow foodies,
-Kaylee
