20 New Year’s Day Brunch Options Around Boston

The wood-fired oven at Area Four Boston is being put to good use during New Year’s Day brunch. / Photo by Melissa Ostrow

Area Four

Both Cambridge and Boston locations have festive brunch specials—and of course, the Hot Mess, breakfast pizza, and more wood-fired fare—during the day, then are open for regular dinner service.

Open 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. at 500 Technology Square, Kendall Square, Cambridge, 617-758-4444, open 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for brunch, 4 p.m.-11 p.m. for dinner at 264 East Berkeley St., South End, Boston, 857-317-4805, areafour.com.

Bar Mezzana. / Photo by Nina Gallant for “Restaurant Review: Bar Mezzana”

Bar Mezzana

Break out a Hawaiian shirt—this South End team is welcoming the new year Magnum P.I.-style. There will be tiki drinks and magnums to keep the party going, plus decadent brunch specials. (And an avocado toast cocktail, if that’s something you need.) Reservations are encouraged.

11 a.m.-4 p.m., 360 Harrison Ave., South End, Boston, 617-530-1770, barmezzana.com.

By Chloe in the Boston Seaport. / Photos by Dan Watkins

by CHLOE.

It’s healthy because it’s vegan, right? Well, no. But if one of your New Year’s resolutions is to eat more plant-based meals, either of this spot’s two Boston locations will help you start off strong. They’re both open regular weekend hours (10 a.m.-10 p.m.), and brunch favorites, like banana bread pancakes, and quinoa hash, are available until 4 p.m.

107 Seaport Blvd., 100 Van Ness St., Boston, eatbychloe.com.

Capo. / Photo provided

Capo

Your first brunch of 2018 could be complete with tiramisu French toast, corn-and-bacon pizza, linguini with spicy lobster, and more. Capo will have a live DJ in the dining room—and a roaring fireplace—during the 11 a.m.-3 p.m. service, too.

443 W. Broadway, South Boston, 617-993-8080, caposouthboston.com.

Chicken and waffles at City Tap House. / Photo provided

City Tap House

Keep your pajamas on for this one and “cheers” into the new year at this Fort Point beer bar’s “onesie recovery brunch.”

11 a.m.-3 p.m., 10 Boston Wharf Rd., Fort Point, Boston, 617-904-2748, boston.citytap.com.

Committee’s Greek omelet. / Photo by Stefanos Ougrinis

Committee

DJ Ryan Brown is spinning the soundtrack to the first meal of the year here—that includes a breakfast gyro, tsoureki toast with fresh berries and maple whipped cream, and more Greek-inflected specials. Committee is closed for dinner.

11 a.m.–4 p.m, 50 Northern Ave., Seaport, Boston, 617-737-5051, committeeboston.com.

(L to R) Deadhorse Hill director of service Julia Auger, and co-owners Albert LaValley, Sean Woods, and Jared Forman. / Photo by Brian Samuels provided

Deadhorse Hill

If you wake up in Worcester, hit up this excellent Main Street spot before it takes a few days off from January 2-4. The regular brunch menu is on—with house-made pastries, fried chicken and waffles, a full Japanese-style breakfast, baller steak and eggs, and more—from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The restaurant is closed for dinner.

281 Main St., Worcester, 774-420-7107, deadhorsehill.com.

Eastern Standard. / Photo by Chelsea Kyle for “Beyond the 50 Best Restaurants 2014“

Eastern Standard

Of course this standby is open for New Year’s Day brunch, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.—it’s open for breakfast, too, from 7-9 a.m. After 3 p.m., it’s drinks-only until an early close at 5 p.m.

528 Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Square, Boston, 617-532-9100, easternstandardboston.com.

Eventide Fenway. / Photo by Zack Bowen / Knack Factory

Eventide Fenway

Start fresh with a half-dozen oysters, a couple Maine beers or a house-made soda, and a brown butter lobster roll. One of the best things to happen in 2017 is Eventide’s expansion to Boston, and it’s open regular hours (11 a.m.-10 p.m.) on New Year’s Day.

1321 Boylston St., the Fenway, Boston, 617-545-1060, eventideoysterco.com.

Island Creek Oyster Bar. / Photo by Michael Piazza

Island Creek Oyster Bar Boston

Brunch favorites like brioche French toast, a maple sausage breakfast sandwich, and the confit yellowfin tuna melt are joined by a special build-your-own-Benny option on New Year’s Day.

Noon-4 p.m., 500 Commonwealth Ave., Kenmore Square, Boston, 617-532-5300, islandcreekoysterbar.com.

The dining room at La Brasa. / Photo by David Salafia for “Restaurant Review: La Brasa”

La Brasa

This Somerville spot is celebrating the first day of 2018 with a pig roast brunch from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Dinner’s on from 5-8 p.m., too.

124 Broadway, Somerville, 617-764-1412, labrasasomerville.com.

Smoked turkey hash at Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant. / Photo provided

Lincoln Tavern & Restaurant

Of course this weekday brunch favorite (it serves the special meal every day) has plans on January 1. Doors open at 10 a.m., and brunch fans are advised to arrive early for one of the Southie spot’s most popular days of the year.

Lincoln Tavern, 425 W. Broadway, South Boston, 617-765-8636, lincolnsouthboston.com.

Tacos at Loco. / photo provided

Loco Taqueria

If you can’t get into Lincoln—or if you just need some New Year’s tacos—this sister spot is slinging brunch from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., too. Live music is on, alongside dishes like huevos con carne, fried chicken and jalapeño cornbread waffles, guac, ceviche, and more.

412 West Broadway, South Boston, 617-917-LOCO, locosouthboston.com.

Olde Magoun’s Saloon. / Photo provided

Olde Magoun’s Saloon

Keep this one in mind if you plan to go hard the night before. This Somerville tavern has an all-you-can-eat buffet for just $16, with biscuits and sausage gravy, whiskey-soaked French toast, yogurt and granola, and more.

10 a.m.-4 p.m., 518 Medford St., Somerville, 617-776-2600, magounssaloon.com.

Pier 6

This Charlestown spot is teaming up with Ketel One on a build-your-own Bloody Mary / Maria / Manny menu and mimosas. It will also have sustenance like stuffed jalapeños, fried oysters, charcuterie, crab cake Benedict, and more.

11 a.m-3 p.m., 18th St., Charlestown, 617.337.0054, pier6boston.com.

Reelhouse. / Photo by Brian Samuels

ReelHouse

Across the Harbor, Pier 6’s Eastie sister spot has its own Ketel One specials, plus brunch favorites like a BLT Benedict, the ReelHouse Reuben, brioche French toast, avocado edamame toast, and more.

11 .m.-3 p.m., 6 New St., East Boston, 617-895-4075, reelhouseboston.com.

Fried Clams at Saltie Girl. / Photo provided

Saltie Girl

Keep things festive with brunch favorites like eggs and eggs—scrambled, and caviar—a bagel Benedict with your choice of seafood, fried lobster and waffles, and more. The holiday special caviar tasting with Cristal toast—a half-dozen oysters, a trio of caviar, and traditional accoutrements—is also available on New Year’s Day.

11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., 281 Dartmouth St., Back Bay, Boston, 617-267-0691, saltiegirl.com.

Steel & Rye. / Photograph by Adam Detour for “Inside the 50 Best Restaurants 2014“

Steel & Rye

Slightly south of the city, this laid-back spot in a glammed-up, historic Milton garage is keeping things toasty with wood-oven sticky buns, waffles with peaches and honey butter, and more brunch specials. There will also be live music on New Year’s Day.

95 Eliot Street, Milton, 617-690-2787, steelandrye.com.

Sulmona in Cambridge. / Photo by Eric Luciano

Sulmona

This 2017 newcomer is easing into the new year with a soulful soundtrack, and hearty Italian brunch items like porchetta hash and eggs, stuffed French toast, pizzette, and a Bloody Mary garnished with prosciutto-wrapped olives.

Starts at 10 a.m., 608 Main St., Kendall Square, Cambridge, 617-714-4995, sulmonacambridge.com.

Sweet Cheeks biscuits photo by Mike Diskin

Sweet Cheeks

The ultimate hangover cure might be Tiffani Faison’s famous biscuits doused in gravy and smoked pork belly. You’ll find that here, along with $2 oysters (while they last), a Bloody Mary bar, and more.

1381 Boylston St., Fenway, Boston, 617-266-1300, sweetcheeksq.com.