I am in no way, shape, or form a morning person. When I was a kid, my mother practically had to use a hydraulic lift to rouse me from bed on school mornings. And on the weekends? Forget it: nobody was allowed in my bedroom before noon. Now that I’ve grown, so has my affinity for long, lingering mornings, especially following late nights out at my favorite hot spots.
But there is one thing that will get me out of bed despite my hangover, and that, friends, is brunch.
Brunch is my all-time favorite meal. Craving pancakes (mmm, pancakes) but also Caesar salad? Want to throw back a bunch of vodka (disguised as tomato juice) before noon? Feel like dining in your pajamas? This weekend-morning meal is beloved by Americans, especially Bostonians — and lucky for us, some of the best restaurants in town offer brunches to die for. Or at least pull yourself out of bed for.
Being of the opinion that no meal is complete without a cocktail or glass of wine, I’ve found that my favorite brunch locales are ones that serve up creative, tasty drinks to go with their morning menus. And who better to master the art of the cocktail than those who also serve up the hottest nightlife in town? Many of Boston’s best brunch spots are places that enjoy a Jekyll-and-Hyde kind of existence: cheery and bustling by day, sexy and sizzling by night.
One of the most drastic day-to-night transitions is at the Living Room (101 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, 617.723.5101), where cozy couches make for equal amounts naughty and nice. Late evenings (into early mornings) here are notorious for clever martinis, flirty vibes, and gorgeous coeds, while the Sunday-morning pajama brunch takes “bedhead” to a whole new level. Keeping with its playful reputation, the Living Room has transformed the mimosa from a simple morning classic into a humorous, vibrant treat. For $7, you can enjoy the Champagne cocktail with its standard orange-juice partner, or sip on the Mango Morning (Stoli Persik, mango juice, and Champagne), the Strawberry Kiss (Stoli Strasberi, cranberry juice, Champagne), the Blueberry Breeze (Champagne with pomegranate and blueberry juices), the Grapes of Wrath (Ciroc vodka, grape juice, and Champagne), or the Grinch (Midori and Champagne) — the latter of which aptly describes most pre-coffee brunchers
- SARA FAITH ALTERMAN
PHOTOS BY KELLY DAVIDSON