Foreign Cinema is one of the best spots in San Francisco to kick back with some wine and oysters, sit on a magical patio filled with twinkle lights, and pretend to not have a care in the world. If you've never been to this Mission institution during the day, weekend brunch is a great excuse to do so, especially for fantastic omelets, croque monsieurs, and homemade Pop Tarts (get the strawberry).

The small French bistro in Cole Valley is a brunch staple thanks to their absurdly good french toast, "miracle" pancakes, and range of benedicts and scrambles. The service is friendly to both humans and animals, and there's a nice heated back patio to enjoy your casual meal in. The only problem: Zazie doesn't take reservations. So, similar to many spots on this guide, expect to wait on the morning your brunch hankering kicks in.

The casual Potrero Hill spot with diner-style charm is breakfast royalty, and everybody knows it. Which is why there will be a line to eat inside or snag one of the few sidewalk tables. Everyone is here for the french toast, fried egg sandwiches, and scrambles with sides of bacon and crispy potatoes. But one of the best things you can get here is the lemon ricotta pancakes. They are light and fluffy, and the lemon curd on the side takes them over the top.

Outerlands in the Sunset serves one of the best brunches in the city. So there will inevitably be a wait (especially because they don't take reservations). Once you get seated on the sidewalk patio, prepare to fill up on excellent Dutch pancakes, morning buns, and tartines.

Do yourself a favor and get the brunch burger at Causwells. If that’s a little too much for 11am, the rest of the menu isn’t super long but has everything you need: cocktails, eggs, salads, and a buttermilk biscuit side that is a necessity. Causwells has become one of the more neighborhood-y places in the Marina, with a bunch of outdoor tables and a covered parklet.

The home of the brown sugar, pepper, and cayenne-dusted “millionaire’s bacon” is also serving brunch on their lively patio on weekdays (9am-2pm) and weekends (9am-2:30pm). You can order the bacon, of course, as well as french toast, omelets, and eggs benedict, and wash it all down with coffee, wine, and cocktails (bottomless mimosas are $23 a person with a 60-minute limit). Reservations are available online for weekday brunch only.

We really like this Ghirardelli Square dim sum spot from the people behind Dragon Beaux. And, like Dragon Beaux, Palette Tea House also serves the colorful xiao long bao with five different flavors, including a tasty crab roe with a turmeric wrapper. Ordering the har gow, which comes with small pipettes of lobster butter, is also never a bad idea. This place has a ton of elbow room on their large patio pavillion overlooking all the action in Ghirardelli Square.

We zero in on The Front Porch for heartier brunches. This Bernal Heights spot specializes in Southern dishes, including beignets, perfectly crispy chicken and waffles, pulled pork chilaquiles, and a country breakfast with biscuits and eggs. Grab a table on the parklet or the snug patio up front.

Sweet Maple is yet another casual brunch spot in the city to fuel up on their sticky-sweet millionaire's bacon (they're owned by the same folks behind Kitchen Story). Head to the sidewalk patio for eggs scrambles, omelets, and french toasts that tastes like funnel cake (in a great way). Pair everything with freshly squeezed orange juice, mimosas, or Bloody Marys.

The Italian restaurant is chill and spacious and generally the best place in the Dogpatch for any meal you want to last for more than a few hours. They have excellent coffee and pastries on the sweet side, and very good pizzas and eggs. Also, the fact that you can walk up and easily grab a table in their Scandanavian-style dining room—and, more importantly, their sidewalk patio and deck on Minnesota Street—are major pluses. This place is absolutely worth your time.