It’s that time of year again where you wake up to sunshine, birds chirping and temperatures warm enough that you don’t need a parka to get out of bed, a.k.a. bottomless brunch season. College kids everywhere are breathing sighs of relief that they can nurse their hangover and hopefully take advantage of the shampoo effect with a boozy and carbohydrate heavy breakfast, instead of being holed up with Netflix and Gatorade. So grab your Ray Bans, wake up your roommates and skim this guide to the best bottomless brunch spots in the DC area.
Mad Hatter
Notorious for its college kid saturated bar and deadly Hatter’s Punch served in a giant upside down top hat (an Instagram pic classic), it also offers a surprisingly delicious weekend brunch.
Drinks: Highlights include a make your own bloody mary bar, unlimited mimosas or champagne and a variety of other morning cocktail specials (sadly only served by the glass).
Food: One of the more comprehensive brunch menus, options span breakfast classics, sweet confections, sandwiches and even salads for those rare souls looking for a healthy brunch option.
Bottom Line: There’s something for everybody at Mad Hatter and it’s good for rowdy, large groups.
Tip: if it’s your birthday, you get a free brownie sundae served in an oversized martini glass.
District Commons
Located right by the Foggy Bottom metro stop, District Commons has an upscale ambiance (note: you will be getting tipsy next to families) and a large space with plenty of seating.
Drinks: Bottomless blood orange mimosas or bloody marys (a plus for those not into sweet drinks).
Food: The menu takes simple brunch dishes and brings them to the next level with ingredients like chorizo, quinoa, crab and goat cheese. Their tasty flatbreads and fresh seafood dishes are unusual brunch finds.
Bottom Line: If you’re feeling like drinking with your pinky up, this is your spot.
Tip: Order their famous hot pretzel baguette to tide over the hungry table while you wait for drinks (service can be slow).
Tonic
Drinks: Priced the same as District Commons, Tonic offers bottomless mimosas for $16 and serves them in larger than normal glasses. They also offer creative drinks by the glass.
Food: A hungover Napoleon Dynamite’s dream, their brunch menu is based around tater tots instead of hash browns. The menu offers classic breakfast sandwiches, eggs and burgers. But if you’re smart, you wont even entertain ordering anything but the tater tots benedict.
Bottom Line: With outdoor seating (hello people watching), a youthful vibe and tater tots, this is a great place to recover and try and recount the previous night.
Big Play Sports Grill
If you can’t stomach a metro ride and need to go within crawling distance of your bed, College Park offers an unlikely destination: Big Play Sports Grill. Conveniently located on Route One, this sports bar caters to those looking for a cheap and low-key brunch.
Drinks: Unlimited bottomless mimosas are served from 12 – 4 pm for only $10, the most frugal deal for miles.
Food: Surprisingly high brow, the small menu covers the classics and is extremely reliable. Simply prepared, the food is well seasoned and generously portioned.
Bottom Line: If you want a casual brunch that can lazily span your entire afternoon, Big Play has got you covered.
Tip: their chicken and waffles are so good, they distract even the biggest sports fan from the numerous flat-screen TV’s showing ESPN.