Loudoun has a thriving café culture but sometimes we need a little bit more with that cup of craft Joe. Eggs and a Bloody Mary, perhaps? Yes, it’s time for a long and decadent brunch.
Here we select six top brunch spots in Loudoun.
Magnolias at the Mill, Purcellville
Sometimes you deserve a feast. Farm-to-table temple Magnolias at the Mill has a la carte brunch options (eggs benedict; French toast, pancakes) but we like to go for the all-you-can-eat buffet. Expect mounds of bacon, sausage, smoked salmon, eggs done half a dozen different ways and a separate table of cheeses, charcuterie, pastries, breads and fresh fruit. All that and spicy Bloody Mary drinks made to perfection at the bar. You won’t need dinner. Sister restaurant Tuscarora Mill in Leesburg has similarly decadent options.
King Street Oyster Bar, Middleburg
The upscale Sunday brunch (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at this Middleburg hot spot suits the elegant high-ceiling setting. What do we mean upscale? Well, the omelet is filled with lobster; the meat in the breakfast burrito is filet mignon and the Benedict is on top of crab instead of Canadian ham. There’s also an intriguing Avo Smash: avocado, marinated tomatoes, watermelon radish and the option of smoked salmon or a poached egg on the side. Cocktail wise they do Bloody Marys, espresso martinis and a “Build your own Mimosa” where you can choose from pineapple, orange, mango, grapefruit or cranberry.
Goosecup, Leesburg
Leesburg hipster hangout Goosecup is famous for its artisanal coffee and craft cocktails but the brunch dishes are out this world, too. They do inventive twists on modern classics, so the avocado toast comes with a sunny-side-up egg and black truffle paste; the bacon, egg and cheese sandwich has aged white cheddar, arugula and spicy aioli and the Hudson Valley smoked salmon with a dill flavored shmear is served on toast as opposed to a bagel. Delish.
Shoes Cup & Cork, Leesburg
Weekend brunch is served all day long at this cozy hideaway on Leesburg’s King Street. Eggs are the name of the game with a variety of Benedicts (we like the Avocado & Chimichurri Benedict with the poached eggs on sliced avo with homemade chimichurri and arugula), and several “Scramble” options. Try the Hunter, bacon and cheddar cheese scrambled in eggs served with sourdough toast and breakfast potatoes, or the more health conscious option, the Gatherer: roasted zucchini, mushrooms, onions and red peppers scrambled in eggs and topped with avocado. They do excellent espresso drinks, pastries and muffins too. If the sun is out, you will want to be in the Secret Garden out back, flowers, trees and birdsong all around. Magic.
Clyde’s Willow Creek Farm, Ashburn
There are no half measures when it comes to weekend brunch at this venerable east Loudoun institution. Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. the vast barn-like space with multiple dining rooms and a pretty creeper-draped terrace delivers a feast fit for kings. Signatures include the Eggs Chesapeake (crab cakes, Old Bay hollandaise), a rich Smoked Salmon & Avocado Toast and a Crispy Brioche French Toast that comes with Vermont maple syrup and apple butter. There’s a full bar for Bloody Marys, Mimosas and other cocktails. Take a cozy bar room booth or, if the sun is out, a table on the garden terrace, and soak up the good life.
1836 Kitchen & Taproom, Lovettsville
This cozy Lovettsville eatery flies under the radar but discerning foodies flock to it. Brunches on Saturdays and Sundays (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) are lively affairs, with dishes running the gamut from Southern classics (Chicken and Waffles, Country Fried Steak) to more esoteric Candied BLT (candied bacon on Challah bread), Banana French Toast and a meat forward Pulled Pork Skillet Casserole (smoked pork, eggs, pico de gallo, cheddar cheese and sour cream). There’s an extensive kids’ menu and staff behind the handsome ship’s galley bar serve a variety of local beers and craft cocktails.
