Virginia Beach Is Doing Brunch, and It's Awesome. Here's Proof.

In Virginia Beach, brunch is a beloved weekend tradition. A religious event. A prepping-for-Monday game plan. Because the coastal city has such a solid brunching scene — there are tons of options, all with distinct vibes — it’ll be immediately obvious why everyone is flocking here all year long to try a bite (or a hundred bites).

Whether you’re an early riser or one of those lucky-to-get-out-of-bed-before-noon folks, these eight brunch spots have got you covered for an unforgettable “Virginia Beach Brunch” experience.

 

Brunch Spot #1: Bay Local Eatery

 

Gotta try: the “Bloody Blue”

If you follow any East Coast foodie Instagrammers, you’ve likely seen a picture of one of Bay Local Eatery’s legendary “Bloody Blues” (a spin on the classic Bloody Mary). Topped with local Chesapeake Bay soft-shell crab, these seasonal babies are as delicious (and downright filling) as they are Insta-famous. Apart from Bloody Marys, the restaurant’s extensive cocktail menu includes an assortment of “crushes” made with fresh juices, as well as mega mimosas so huge they’re made for sharing with your fellow brunchers.

Bay Local’s self-described “Coastal Southern” food menu is full of classic Southern soul food combined with savory local seafood inspired by the Chesapeake Bay. You can’t go wrong with the Crab Cake Bennie — it’s a spin on Eggs Benedict, served with two pan-seared crab cakes and topped with crispy applewood smoked bacon. The Willis Wharf Special — an omelet with house Rockefeller mix and topped with fried oysters — is also a crowd pleaser.

 

Brunch Spot #2: Lubo Wine Tasting Room

 

Gotta try: Soppressata and Eggs

By night, Lubo Wine Tasting Room is exactly what it sounds like: a wine bar that offers high-class wine tastings and impressive gourmet eats. The local secret is that on weekend mornings, Lubo opens up its quaint dining room — and its comfy couch seating — for brunch. The kind of brunch you impress a date with. The kind of brunch you mark on your calendar.

Yes, there’s the mimosa and the Bloody Mary specials (mimosas for $3!), but don’t stop there. Their brunch menu includes so many delicious things: baked eggs with roasted garlic and basil marinara sauce, creamy Italian sausage and gravy over pan toast, French toast served with caramelized bananas… The Soppressata and Eggs dish — made with Italian soppressata, green peppers, and perfectly cooked eggs — feels like a combination of flavors your palate hasn’t experienced before. For the record, everything on the menu will definitely leave you more than satisfied.

 

Brunch Spot #3: Citrus

 

Gotta try: any of the signature mimosas or coffee cocktails

Chesapeake Bay area residents swear by Citrus, and it definitely lives up to all the local hype. Case in point: Citrus has become so popular that the owners recently added a spacious second location in the Great Neck area (conveniently close to I-264 and other major roads). Around here, you’re never lacking in motivation to get out of bed.

The Citrus menu includes about a dozen unique varieties of mimosas, and it’s best to go in fully cognizant of this fact, because otherwise you’ll be tempted to try them all. The Citrus Mimosa — made with champagne, fresh-squeezed OJ, mango juice, pineapple juice, and cranberry juice — is super refreshing and tasty. There’s even a separate section of the drink menu for hot coffee cocktails, including Flamin’ Pumpkin coffee, Mexican coffee, and Godiva Dream, to name a few.

The food menu is all about always-made-from-scratch breakfast items with local flair, like jumbo lump crab omelets, smoked Atlantic Salmon Benedicts, and the Citrus Signature Pancakes (gotta try that citrus glaze). If you’re feeling health-conscious, check out their “healthy breakfast” menu section — it’s been approved by Jim White, a resident fitness and nutrition studio.

 

Brunch Spot #4: Commune

 

Gotta try: the Off-the-Farm Biscuits and Gravy

When it comes to fresh food, Commune has distinguished itself as the Prince of Bel Air. Situated in a historic building within the ViBe Creative District, Commune serves up artistic, off-the-farm takes on classic breakfast dishes. Everything is prepared with ingredients harvested at its farm just minutes away, so you know it’s as fresh as possible.

Case in point: the heirloom cornmeal waffles, served with pasture-raised fried chicken or breakfast sausage — homemade, of course. They also have flavorful organic buckwheat crepes and breakfast sandwiches that are somehow fit for royals (prosciutto, sourdough brioche bun, organic greens…you get the idea). And if you’re pressed for time, there’s a coffee bar and bakery in house.

 

Brunch Spot #5: Mary’s Restaurant

 

Gotta try: the pecan Belgian waffles

If you’re looking for an inexpensive and authentically Va Beach breakfast joint, Mary’s is your next stop. It’s something of a local beach hangout, complete with surfboards on the walls, and it’s been going strong for more than 40 years.

The food will totally remind you of your grandmother’s homecooking. They’ve got all the breakfast basics, and you can customize your meal pretty much any way you can imagine. They nail all the classics, but if you’re feeling like a specialty, try Mary’s pecan Belgian waffles or the Surf N Turf — three eggs any style served with a boneless filet of deep-fried catfish. (Yes, Va Beach loves seafood at all hours of the day.)

 

Brunch Spot #6: Doc Taylor’s

 

Gotta try: Dr. White’s Virginian Omelet

You’ll find Doc Taylor’s right on the oceanfront, a former beach cottage that’s been transformed into a homey brunch restaurant. Once actually a doctor’s home, it now serves dishes named after locals — local doctors, fittingly — or following other medical themes (i.e., the Stroke, The Heart Attack, etc). It’s a bit of a strange choice, sure, but once you’re there, you’ll see how it definitely works (and how it’s definitely memorable).

Dr. White’s Virginian Omelet — prepared simply with country ham, tomatoes, and cheese and topped with hollandaise — is the best way to try Virginia’s famous country ham. Another worthy contender is Doc Conkwright’s Cobb Omelet, served with chicken breast, bacon, avocados, and other veggies.

Locals’ tip: Grab a seat at the bar, and you’ll get to see the ultra-skilled cooks in action.

 

Brunch Spot #7: the closest Va Beach coffeehouse to wherever you are

 

Gotta try: the Norwegian-style brew at Three Ships Coffee

If there’s one thing Va Beach is picky about, it’s the quality of their coffee. Lucky for you, there are tons of local coffee shops in Virginia Beach. Odds are you’re never more than a few minutes away from one, wherever you’re staying.

It’s all about the beach here, and the vast majority of the local shops incorporate coastal vibes into their drinks accordingly. At Three Ships Coffee, a nautical-themed spot near the oceanfront (whose name pays tribute to the area’s first settlers), each and every one of their locally roasted drinks has a unique story (ask the barista and you’ll get the rundown). At nearby Java Surf Café, you’ll find a surf-chill ambiance, delicious espressos, and countless other flavorful coffee drink variations. Coffee fans who enjoy a little “something extra” in their cuppa (and need the afternoon pick-me-up) can stop by American Brew — a recent addition to the Chesapeake Bay coffee scene — for one of their whiskey-infused coffees. A solid recommendation is the crème brûlée latte with a shot of vanilla Crown Royal. That’ll wake you up.

 

Brunch Spot #8: the local farmers’ markets

 

Gotta try: the local seafood, fruits, and veggies

If you’ve got the Betty Crocker skills, you always have the option to source your own goodies, especially in a city like Virginia Beach. After all, the only way to truly know where your ingredients came from is to get them yourself, right? Enter Virginia Beach’s farmers’ markets.

The Old Beach Farmers’ Market, a certified Virginia Green market within the ViBe Creative District and only six blocks from the ocean, has a ton of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, seafood, cheeses, baked goods, artisanal breads, and more. After you’ve prepared your smorgasbord with locally sourced ingredients, head on down to the beach and enjoy it seaside with your toes in the sand. You know, just an idea.