Hungry for brunch? Meet you in Black Mountain.
“Let’s meet for brunch!”
These four little words instantly sweeten any weekend. How did brunching in the U.S.A. become so popular? Brunch as we know it is rooted in the traditions of English hunting parties and post-church gatherings. Modern American brunch, however, took on a life of its own in the late 20th century, fueled by changing work schedules, the rise of foodie culture, and a growing love for leisure.
Today’s brunch is all about being social, flexible, and casual, whether you're in it for the avocado toast, the cocktails, sunlit patios, or that feeling of freedom when you’re “off the clock” with your besties. There’s nowhere like Black Mountain, North Carolina for escaping into this brunch vibe and rounding out your week in the tastiest possible way.
Linger Longer in Black Mountain
Choices, choices! For a complete directory of coffee shops, cafes, and restaurants that serve breakfast and/or brunch, please visit our Drink/Dine directory.
Here are just three of our favorite spots to linger.
Louise’s Kitchen
Louise’s is located inside a charming, 1904 house with authentic decor and all its original interior walls, which means the space is very unique and cozy. And the food? Amazing. Their all-week breakfast menu is always available, supplemented during their Sunday brunch with house specialties. We recommend you arrive early for brunch and order Eggs Louise before they run out. And yes, they sell their delicious house jam along with local honey and merch. If you want to purchase their house-made vanilla bean syrup, it’s sold by the pint with 24-hours advance notice so they can make it fresh for you. Enough said, right? louisesblackmtn.com
Open Oven Brunch & Bakery
Also located in our picturesque downtown, the name says it all: Open Oven Brunch and Bakery. Their dedication to fresh and thoughtfully-sourced ingredients is evident in every bite. You will dream about their classic eggs benedict, topped with white wine rosemary hollandaise on homemade sourdough English muffins. Or mix it up with their chicken and waffles benny! Everything pairs perfectly with a cup of locally-roasted Dynamite Roasting Co. coffee or a house mimosa. You can either sit inside in one of their cozy dining spaces or outside on their “see and be seen” patio. openovenblkmtn.com
The Pure & Proper
Open all day every day except Monday, The Pure & Proper is truly unique. It opened in the 1940’s as the Pure Oil Station, a Black Mountain landmark. Today, with its carefully-preserved European interiors and gloriously “secret” outdoor garden patio, it feels like it was always meant to be a neighborhood gathering place. The chef-driven cuisine is gourmet, clever, and accessible, as are their signature cocktail and mocktails. The Pure & Proper’s very open-minded Sunday brunch menu ranges from takes on avocado toast to lox plates to bologna benedict to shrimp and grits (seasonal offerings may vary). Reservations recommended. thepureandproper.com
About the Author
This blog story was written by Amy J. Schultz, an award-winning author, brand/marketing strategist, and overall creative type. She, her husband Brian, and their giant dog Bentley love their downtown Black Mountain neighborhood.
