The Best Brunch Spots in Columbus, Ohio Worth Getting Out of Bed For

This guide covers eight Columbus brunch spots across different neighborhoods, price points, and styles. By the end, you'll know which one fits your Saturday mood, whether that's a quiet eggs Benedict with coffee or a full mimosa-and-music situation.

Katalina's Cafe Corner (Italian Village)

This small corner spot on Fourth Street is one of the most talked-about breakfast stops on the north side of downtown. The pancake balls, filled with Nutella or seasonal fruit and dusted with powdered sugar, regularly sell out before noon on weekends. Most dishes land between $10 and $14. Seating is limited and there's no reservation system, so expect a wait on Sundays after 10 a.m. Best for: people who want something genuinely creative without a loud dining room.

Jeni's and Fox in the Snow (Short North / German Village)

Fox in the Snow Cafe on Parsons Avenue in German Village pairs a focused brunch menu with some of the best baked goods in the city. The brown butter cardamom morning bun has a consistent following. Plates run roughly $9 to $13. The Short North location on Summit Street draws a heavier weekend crowd. Both locations stop serving food by early afternoon, so the earlier you go, the better the pastry selection. Best for: people who prioritize quality over table size.

The Angry Baker (Westerville / Clintonville Area)

A neighborhood bakery-cafe format that leans into hearty breakfast sandwiches and fresh-baked bread. The morning sandwiches on house-made focaccia run around $10 to $12. The space is smaller than it looks from the outside, and weekend seating fills fast. Best for: north Columbus residents who want a local spot without driving downtown.

Zoom Kitchen (Multiple Columbus Locations)

Not a traditional sit-down brunch, but Zoom operates a virtual brunch model through delivery, with egg-forward bowls and wraps that clock in at $10 to $15 delivered. Worth knowing about if brunch plans get rained out or the idea of a waitlist sounds exhausting. Best for: people who want brunch food at home without cooking it.

Northstar Cafe (Short North / Clintonville / New Albany)

Northstar has built a reliable following across its Columbus locations for a reason: the menu is consistent, the sourcing is local and communicated clearly on the menu, and the avocado toast with soft-boiled egg is a $13 staple that actually earns its price. Weekend waits at the Short North location can stretch to 45 minutes by 10:30 a.m. The Clintonville location on High Street tends to move faster. Best for: groups with mixed dietary preferences, since the menu handles vegetarian and omnivore orders equally well.

Skillet Restaurant (Italian Village)

Skillet sits on Fourth Street and runs a brunch focused on elevated Southern-leaning comfort food. The shrimp and grits, priced around $17 to $19, is the dish that keeps people coming back. The space has a fuller bar program than most brunch spots, and the Bloody Marys are built with house-made mix. Weekend reservations are available and worth booking, since walk-in waits run long by 11 a.m. Best for: people who want a fuller dining experience and are willing to spend a little more for it.

Molinari's (Bexley)

Located on Main Street in Bexley, Molinari's runs a weekend brunch that leans Italian-American, with frittatas, housemade pastries, and a mushroom and fontina scramble that's consistently on the menu. Prices sit in the $12 to $16 range for entrees. The neighborhood feel keeps this one a little quieter than Short North options on the same morning. Best for: east-side Columbus residents and anyone avoiding the parking situation downtown.

Milestone 229 (Downtown Columbus, Riverfront)

Positioned along the Scioto River near COSI, Milestone 229 offers a brunch with a waterfront view that most Columbus spots can't match. The Sunday brunch runs a larger format with a mix of a la carte options and weekend specials. Entrees range from $14 to $22. The patio is one of the better outdoor brunch setups in the city when the weather holds. Best for: out-of-town visitors, special occasions, or anyone who wants to make brunch feel like more of an event.

How to Pick

If you're already in the Short North, Northstar and Skillet are within walking distance of each other and serve genuinely different crowds. For something quieter, Molinari's in Bexley and The Angry Baker up north both skip the downtown energy. Reservations matter most at Skillet and Milestone 229; everywhere else, plan to arrive before 10 a.m. or expect a wait. Hours shift seasonally at several of these, so check directly before heading out on a holiday weekend.