best brunch spots in highland park
Highland Park doesn't do brunch halfway. Whether you're after a lazy patio morning or something quick and cold before a walk down Figueroa, this neighborhood has a version of Saturday morning that'll make you never want to leave. Here's where locals actually go.
Kitchen Mouse · 5904 N Figueroa St
This is the one people drive from other neighborhoods for. Kitchen Mouse is fully plant-based, but don't let that word scare anyone off, the avocado toast here is the kind that makes you stop mid-bite. The vegan grain bowls change with the season and always hit. Rated 4.6★, with a patio, cocktails, and reservations available. Go before noon on weekends if you don't have a reservation, or you're waiting. Worth it either way.
Hippo · 5918 N Figueroa St
Hippo is where you go when brunch feels like an occasion. It's a little more polished than the rest of the block, with cocktails that actually taste like someone thought about them and a patio that gets good morning light. Rated 4.6★ and on the pricier side for the neighborhood ($$$ ), but portions are generous and the vibe is relaxed enough that you won't feel rushed. Reservations are smart here, especially for groups.
Tropical Juice LA · 5729 N Figueroa St
Rated 4.9★, one of the highest on the street, and for good reason. The juices are cold, fresh, and made to order. If you're starting your morning with a walk or heading to the farmers market, this is your first stop. Nothing fussy, nothing overpriced. Just really good juice on a sunny sidewalk.
Tierra Mia · Figueroa St
For coffee, this is the local answer. Order the horchata latte and sit with it for a minute. The café de olla is the real one, spiced, warm, and nothing like what you'd get at a chain. Rated 4.6★ and easy on the wallet. Good for a slow start before you figure out where the rest of the morning takes you.
Villa's Tacos · 5455 N Figueroa St
Tacos are brunch. Especially here. Villa's has a patio, a loyal neighborhood following, and a straightforward menu done with real care. Rated 4.7★. Get there on the earlier side on weekends, this place fills up and the line moves at its own pace. Bring cash and patience. Both are rewarded.
Antojitos Carmen · 5765 N Figueroa St
A little further up Figueroa and worth the extra blocks. The tacos de canasta are the move, soft, filled, and exactly what you want at 10am. The quesadillas con flor de calabaza (squash blossom) are something special if they're on. Rated 4.6★ and as neighborhood as it gets.
Wax Paper · 2902 Knox Ave
Technically a sandwich spot, but the morning hours here feel like brunch in the best way. Everything is made with intention, house-made condiments, creative combinations, the kind of sandwich that becomes a thing you think about later. Rated a perfect 5★. It's a little off the main Figueroa strip, so parking is usually easier. Bring a friend and split something.
Gold Line · 5607 N Figueroa St
If brunch means a cocktail and a patio with friends, Gold Line is your spot. Rated 4.7★, it's a bar that does daytime well, relaxed, not trying too hard, good for groups. The patio faces Figueroa so you get a front-row seat to the neighborhood moving around you.
A few practical notes
Street parking on N Figueroa gets tight after 10am on weekends. Try the side streets, Ave 57, Ave 58, or Monte Vista, and walk a few blocks. Most of these spots are within easy distance of each other, so a brunch crawl (juice at Tropical, tacos at Villa's, coffee at Tierra Mia) is a completely reasonable life choice. None of these spots require a valet or a reservation app with a credit card hold. That's kind of the point.