Must-try Tennessee Brunch Spots

This cheery, quick-serve diner is a popular spot in Memphis. The rustic plank walls and multicolored furniture of Sunrise Memphis create a fun vibe, and the delicious food will keep you coming back. “The Kitchen Sink” is a favorite, and comes with everything you could ever want in a breakfast meal: bacon, a biscuit, eggs, grits, hash browns and sausage. For a breakfast sandwich with a kick, try The Rooster - crispy fried chicken, house-made pickles and Tabasco honey on a buttermilk biscuit. For a morning kick, check out the bloody Mary bar.

Roll out of bed and greet the day at The Row in Nashville with three buttermilk pancakes topped with bananas and chocolate chips with syrup and whipped butter, a quinoa veggie burger topped with fresh kale and tomato jam with fries, and the Southern classic chicken and biscuits smothers in country gravy. Accent your choices with a Grand Mimosa or Bloody Mary.

Pastis, a famous French brasserie from New York, landed in Nashville in June 2025 with its craveable French fare in the Wedgewood-Houston neighborhoods. Brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The brunch menu at Pastis Nashville offers French fare for everyone, featuring dishes like Eggs Benedict with Parisian ham, Quiche Lorraine, Eggs Norwegian with smoked salmon and Crepe Complete, along with assorted fresh-baked pastries, coffees and cocktail selections. Pastis favorites are also be available during brunch service, such as the Cheeseburger a l’Americaine, Moules Frites, Grilled Branzino and Onion Soup.

Head to Franklin's Historic Main Street for Saturday and Sunday brunch at 55 South. There's a Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar, beermosas, 2-4-1 mimosas and 2-4-1 sangria to get the day off to a fun start. Choose starters like queso and smoked barbecue brisket, seafood gumbo, raw or char-grilled oysters or house donuts tossed in powdered sugar. Breakfast tacos, eggs Benedict with fried okra, tomato gravy, parmesan and prosciutto style country ham, bacon and cheese quiche, shrimp & grits, and French bread French toast will make your day bright. After brunch, explore downtown Franklin's history, shopping and music.

37 Cedar Restaurant & Bar in Cookeville's WestSide Cultural District serves up brunch with a signature Bloody Mary bar 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. Get a fresh, tasty start to your weekend with choices like chicken & waffles, omelets, frittatas, the waffle-bun bacon, egg & cheese sandwich and the must-try bread pudding.

With a skateboarding skeleton that doubles as a chandelier and old concert posters that cover the walls, Aretha Frankensteins is one of Chattanooga’s most fascinating restaurants. While its décor makes for a unique dining experience, its food makes it unforgettable. Aretha’s is famous for its thick pancakes, stuffed Breakfast Burrito and Shrimp & Grits that are so good, you’ll dream of them until your next visit. Spread the homemade apple butter on moist, fluffy biscuits to compliment your experience. Seating can be limited, especially on the weekends, so get there early.

If you’re craving tasty breakfast sandwiches and Instagram lattes, check out this Lenoir City coffeehouse. Ugly Mug roasts its own coffee, and it’s all ethically sourced to support the farmers who grow it. Try the Blue Suede Macchiato, its signature blend with the flavor of caramel, toasted macaroon and a hint of its secret ingredient. The pastries are also a great choice, especially the Buttermoon Pound Cake.

The first pancake house in Tennessee, Pancake Pantry has been serving up fluffy pancakes of all types of varieties since 1960. In Gatlinburg, choices abound with the Sugar ‘N Spice Pancakes made with cinnamon, sweet spices, and served with applesauce and cinnamon cream, Banana Pineapple Triumph (banana wedges rolled up in pancakes and topped with pineapple syrup) or the Smoky Mountain buckwheat cakes served with syrup and whipped butter.

Saturdays and Sundays just got tastier at The Tomato Head, a locally sourced eatery in Knoxville serving up some serious brunch with breakfast burritos like the Fernando: scrambled eggs, chorizo (or tofu), spinach, pineapple and jalapeno peppers all topped with spicy apple salsa and chipotle crema. Order a breakfast egg roll (pizza dough wrapped around scrambled eggs and Benton's bacon) and some Monkey Bread with vanilla cream cheese. Yes, please!

Start a day of outdoor adventure in Chattanooga with brunch at Milk & Honey. The S.O.S (sausage, spinach, onions and shallots, poached egg, onion spread and white and cheddar cheese all on a scrumptious ciabatta roll) is a great choice or put some Tennessee in your mouth with the TN Ham & Apple: Benton's Country Ham, apple slices, yellow cheddar slathered with honey mustard on a sourdough roll. 

If you’re looking for a leisurely meal with friends or a quick stop to fuel up before exploring Tennessee, try all the delicious food at these and other brunch spots across the state.