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.

 

 

Brasserie Royale, Sterling 

How about a quick trip to Paris for brunch or, should I say, le brunch? Tiled floors, golden light, a menu featuring escargot, lobster royale and steak frites… France may be 4,000 miles away from Loudoun but classic new French bistro Brasserie Royale in Cascades Marketplace, Sterling is the real deal. Brainchild of Loudoun power couple Ally and Michael Stebner, chef-owners behind farm-to-fork favorite Local Provisions right next door, the couple came up with the concept on a trip to Paris where they fell in love with a neighborhood bistro. On top of all the classic French dishes they do three styles of hand-cut frites browned to perfection in peanut oil and bake their own baguettes. Fine wine list, too. Magnifique!

Bartender preparing drinks at the marble bar inside Brasserie Royale in Sterling, Loudoun County

 

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 Bennies (we like The Neptune where your eggs hollandaise comes on crabcakes), two scrambled eggs dishes and three “Skillet” options. For the latter go for The Farmer’s Hash: roasted onion, pickled sweet pepper, potato, sharp cheddar, bacon, corned beef and poached eggs. They do French toast, salads, sandwiches, espresso drinks, pastries, muffins and cocktails, too. If the sun is out try get a table in the secluded 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.