Summer’s winding down with cooler temperatures and the approach of Labor Day, the season’s unofficial last hurrah. If you’re one of the lucky ones with the day off, you can wake up early for brunch at plenty of spots around D.C. The rundown includes $0.25 brunch cocktails from Buena Vida Clarendon, a traditional brunch at The Pembroke, $4 breakfast tacos from Franklin Hall, and more.
Ambar
Ambar has got you set with endless small plates and drinks on Labor Day. The all-you-can-eat offerings include “Popara” Balkan bread pudding with milk, chili flakes, and aged cow cheese, served with bacon, an almond and walnut crusted fried chicken sandwich, roasted mushroom crepes, and prosciutto Benedict served on an English muffin with peppery ajvar and creamy kajmak sauces. For your drinking pleasure, sip traditional cocktails like the bloody Mary and mimosa, or switch it up with mixed berry, mango, and peach mimosas all mixed with Balkan sparkling wine. (523 8th St. SE, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., $39, entire table must order unlimited brunch)
Brookland’s Finest
Hit up Brookland’s Finest for Labor Day brunch where you’ll find mainstays from its regular brunch menu. Some of the highlights include Tony’s Breakfast Club: a French toast sandwich filled with bacon, pork roll, cheddar, eggs, and Dijon maple syrup ($15) and the fried green tomato Benedict ($15). Sip $7 Bloody Marys and $10 Bellinis. (3126 12th St. NE, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.)
Boqueria
Sink your teeth into Boqueria’s boozy brunch on Labor Day weekend with unlimited tapas. Your choices include lamb meatballs with tomato sauce and sheep’s milk cheese; a caramelized French toast served with fruit and caramel sauce; and escalivada, a dish of fire-roasted eggplant, red pepper, onion, labneh yogurt, herbs, and olive oil served with flatbread. Unlimited drinks include mimosas, sangrias, beer and leche de pantera, a cocktail made with vodka, coffee, condensed milk and “panther powder” (a combination of ground espresso, orange zest, and cinnamon). Round out your meal with churros con chocolate or piña inopia- pineapple drizzled with molasses and sprinkled with lime zest. Boqueria offers the brunch special at both of its locations. (1837 M St. NW and 777 9th St. NW, Aug. 31 – Sept. 2, $42)
Buena Vida Social Club
Your days for brunching in the hot sun are numbered with Labor Day’s arrival, so swing by Buena Vida Social Club restaurant on the third floor of the three-level La Esquina de Clarendon in Arlington. They’re offering up an all-you-can eat brunch on its rooftop. Your options include freshly baked pastries, salads, gazpacho, and a build-your-own taco station, all served buffet style. Wash it all down with unlimited java or non-alcoholic aguas frescas. (2900 Wilson Blvd., 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., $25)
Buena Vida Clarendon
Buena Vida Clarendon, another one of the three restaurants inside La Esquina de Clarendon, serves up its own bottomless Buena Vida Brunch experience where you can pair food with $0.25 specialty cocktails. The restaurant specializes in traditional and Mexican flavors and dishes including an egg white omelet, fried chicken, concha French toast with caramelized bananas, and the shrimp aguachile featuring Black Tiger shrimp, green, aguachile sauce, onions, and cilantro. Your options for specialty cocktail are the hibiscus margarita; the Maria Verde with tomatillo, cucumber, lime, lemon, cilantro and house vodka; and the Clamato with Modelo Especial beer, clamato cocktail juice, lime juice, Cholula hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and crushed black pepper. (2900 Wilson Blvd, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., $34 for the food, $10 for optional starters, the entire table must order brunch)
Franklin Hall
Swing by Franklin Hall, which opens early for a special brunch service that gets more expensive the longer you wait. Starting at noon, all brunch drinks (think bloody Marys, mimosas and screwdrivers) and breakfast tacos will be priced at $4 for the first hour of service. The price of every brunch item goes up $1 for every hour until 3 p.m., so don’t stay too long at the pool! (1348 Florida Ave. NW, 12 p.m.-3 p.m.)
The Pembroke
The restaurant inside the Dupont Circle Hotel is open for brunch Monday, so stock up on classics from its regular brunch menu, like blueberry pancakes, brioche French toast, the toasted farro breakfast bowl, and the croque madame. (1500 New Hampshire Ave. NW)
