Sunday brunch in Baton Rouge is a religion. After church, after sleeping in, after the LSU game hangover clears, the whole city ends up at a table somewhere between 11 AM and 2 PM ordering eggs, shrimp and grits, and something with champagne in it. The parking lots tell the story. If you drive down Perkins Road, Government Street, or Jefferson Highway on a Sunday morning, every restaurant worth going to has cars spilling into the street.
But not every brunch is created equal. Some spots are built for the bottomless mimosa crowd. Others are made for a quieter Sunday with real food and a room that doesn't feel like a cafeteria. The best brunch spots in Baton Rouge give you something you can't make at home and a reason to get dressed.
Here are the ones worth your Sunday.
The Colonel's Club
Sunday brunch every week from 11 AM to 4 PM. Chef Chris Motto (Hell's Kitchen, Chopped) runs the same kitchen for brunch that he runs for dinner, which means the food is several levels above the standard brunch menu. Shrimp and grits, eggs benedict, grillades, short rib grit bowl, and the $19.36 lunch entrees are all available. Live piano in the lounge during brunch. Brunch cocktails are $14: Satsuma French 75, Bloody Mary, Tequila Sunrise, and Screwdriver. The full craft cocktail bar is also open.
The room is the difference. A 1936 building with a fireplace, design details from around the world, and an atmosphere that makes Sunday morning feel like an occasion. Reservations recommended. Parties of six or more call 225-351-2296.
Best for: Couples, families, and groups who want brunch that feels like a real dining experience with live music and a room worth getting dressed for.
Mason's Grill
Multiple-time winner of Best Brunch in the Best of 225 awards. Mason's is the brunch spot your Baton Rouge friends have probably already taken you to. The Cajun Shrimp Omelet and Chicken and Waffles are the signature dishes. Bottomless mimosas for $6. Saturday and Sunday brunch from 9 AM to 3 PM. Family-owned, big portions, and the kind of place where the staff knows the regulars by name.
Best for: The classic Baton Rouge brunch experience. Big portions, good prices, and a crowd that's been coming back for years.
Juban's Restaurant and Bar
Jazz brunch on Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 AM. Juban's brings live music, elevated Creole dishes, and a polished atmosphere. The crawfish and spinach salad, Chantilly waffles, and oyster Sardou Benedict are the standouts. Mimosas and Bloody Marys are well made. Juban's is a Perkins Road institution and the jazz brunch has been running for years.
Best for: Brunch with live jazz, Creole food, and the feeling of going somewhere that's been doing this a long time.
Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine
Contemporary Louisiana cuisine with a Creole edge. The Duck Hash and White Chocolate Bread Pudding are what regulars come back for. Beausoleil does brunch the way it does everything: elevated but not pretentious. The neighborhood bistro atmosphere on Jefferson Highway feels right for a Sunday morning. Consistently rated among the top brunch spots in Baton Rouge on Yelp and TripAdvisor.
Best for: Foodies who want something a little more refined than the standard eggs-and-bacon brunch.
Brasserie Byronz
A newer addition to the Baton Rouge brunch scene, Brasserie Byronz launched its Sunday brunch after opening in the former Bistro Byronz location on Government Street. French-inspired with Southern touches. The St. Bruno Bread Co. pastry basket, Petite Ribeye Steak and Egg, and brunch tartines are drawing a crowd. Sunday brunch from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Best for: The Government Street crowd looking for a French-inflected brunch with fresh pastries and a polished atmosphere.
The Overpass Merchant
Right under the Perkins Road Overpass, practically next door to The Colonel's Club. The Overpass Merchant is known for its biscuit-forward brunch menu. Fried chicken biscuits, shrimp and grits, and honey chicken cheddar biscuits. The atmosphere is lively and laid-back. Outdoor seating is popular when the weather cooperates. Opens early on Sundays for brunch.
Best for: Casual brunch lovers who want comfort food, biscuits, and outdoor seating in the Perkins Overpass District.
Elsie's Plate and Pie
Winner of Best Overall Restaurant in the Best of 225 awards. Elsie's does comfort food with Louisiana roots, and the brunch menu balances savory and sweet. The real draw is the pie. Always save room for pie. Government Street location with a warm, neighborhood feel that brings in families, couples, and the after-church crowd.
Best for: Comfort food brunch with homemade pie and a neighborhood restaurant atmosphere.
SoLou
SoLou has become one of the trendier brunch spots in Baton Rouge. The food photographs well and tastes just as good. Southern charm meets a more modern, Instagram-worthy atmosphere. Bottomless mimosas are a draw. The menu changes seasonally and the cocktail game is strong. Gets crowded, so plan to arrive early or expect a wait.
Best for: The group brunch crowd that wants good food, good drinks, and a scene worth posting about.
The Gregory
Saturday and Sunday brunch from 10 AM to 2 PM inside the historic Watermark hotel downtown. Boudin enchiladas, shrimp and grits, and banana foster crepes are on the menu. The mimosa bar gives you a full bottle of sparkling brut with fresh juices and berries at your table. The downtown location and hotel setting make it a good pick for out-of-town visitors or a more upscale Sunday.
Best for: A downtown brunch with an upscale hotel atmosphere and a DIY mimosa bar experience.
What Makes a Great Sunday Brunch
Brunch is personal. Some people want bottomless mimosas and a DJ. Other people want live piano and a quiet room where they can hear the person across the table. Neither is wrong. But the best brunch spots in Baton Rouge share a few things in common.
The food is made fresh. Not reheated from a buffet line, not microwaved from a prep kitchen. When the shrimp and grits arrive and the shrimp are still sizzling, you know you're in the right place.
The drinks are real. A $6 bottomless mimosa is fun, but a well-made Bloody Mary or a Satsuma French 75 from a real cocktail bar is a different experience. Both have their place. Know which one you're in the mood for before you pick your spot.
The room matters. Brunch at a table by a fireplace with a piano playing feels different from brunch in a loud dining room with a 45-minute wait and a buzzer in your hand. Again, both are fine. Just pick the one that matches what you want your Sunday to feel like.
And parking. In Baton Rouge, Sunday brunch parking is a blood sport. Pick a spot with a lot, or show up before 11:30.
Sunday Brunch FAQ
Baton Rouge does Sunday brunch better than most cities twice its size. Whether you want bottomless mimosas and a loud table full of friends, or live piano and a shrimp and grits plate from an award-winning chef, there's a spot for you. If you're looking for a brunch with a real kitchen, a real bar, and a room that makes Sunday feel like the best day of the week, The Colonel's Club on Perkins Road is open every Sunday from 11 AM to 4 PM. Reserve a table or call 225-351-2296.