Where to Get Real Brunch in Midtown Carmel (Not Just Breakfast After 11)
Published July 26, 2026
** Editor Note ** I created this blog after having the breakfast burrito at Craft Kitchen 101. It was the best breakfast burrito I've ever had. I ordered extra Salsa Verde to smother it with and to add a little extra kick!!!!
Midtown Carmel has no shortage of places that'll serve you eggs before noon, but true brunch — a dedicated menu, a mimosa list, a kitchen that treats Saturday morning like its own event — is a smaller club. Here are the Midtown spots that actually put "brunch" on the menu, plus the dishes worth ordering at each.
101 Craft Kitchen — Best for Going All In
Tucked at the south end of Midtown at 1200 S. Rangeline Rd., 101 Craft Kitchen runs a full brunch menu Saturday and Sunday until 3 p.m. — not a quick add-on to the regular menu. Standout: the Creme Brulee French Toast, brioche stuffed with Nutella, topped with candied bacon and fresh strawberries. Craving something savory instead? The Chorizo Breakfast Burrito comes loaded with crispy potatoes, black beans, roasted corn, and salsa verde, and the Fried Chicken & Biscuit swaps traditional sausage gravy for a chili-honey gravy that's worth the trip on its own.
Garden Table — Best for Classic Brunch Combos
Garden Table sits right off the Monon at 350 Monon Blvd., steps from Midtown Plaza, and serves brunch every single day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Standout: the B&G — a house buttermilk biscuit smothered in sausage gravy with bacon, a sunny-side egg, and cheddar cheese. The Steak and Eggs Burrito and Veggie Burrito cover breakfast burrito duty, and the Croissant French Toast (custard-dipped Moonlight Bakery croissant, chantilly cream cheese, strawberries) is a strong reason to save room for something sweet.
Vivante at Hotel Carmichael — Best for a Sit-Down Occasion
Vivante serves brunch daily from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside Hotel Carmichael at 1 Carmichael Square, making it the rare spot where you don't have to wait for the weekend. Standout: the Crab Cake Benedict — poached eggs and a crab cake over an English muffin with tomatillo hollandaise. The Cauliflower Cake Benedict is a solid vegetarian twist on the same idea, and the Avocado Toast (whipped avocado ricotta, poached egg, spicy vinaigrette) holds its own against any of the egg dishes.
Divvy — Best for a Group
Divvy at Carmel City Center (71 W. City Center Dr.) leans into brunch as a shared experience, serving Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Standout: the Morning Glory and Rise & Shine boards, each stacked with five sampler portions so a table can taste across the menu instead of committing to one plate. The cured salmon avocado toast and breakfast quesadilla are also on regular rotation, and both the mimosa and Bloody Mary "tours" come in zero-proof versions if you're not drinking.
Salt — Best for a Seafood Spin
At Carmel City Center (11 City Center Dr.), Salt runs a seafood-inspired brunch daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., developed by former Gallery Pastry Shop owner Alison Lineberry. Standout: dishes built around the catch of the day, including an Indiana tomato salad paired with whatever's fresh — a different direction from the usual eggs-and-syrup brunch lineup. Jumbo lump crab cakes are also a menu staple worth flagging if you're after something a little more coastal with your coffee.
The Cake Bake Shop — Best for Something a Little Fancier
At Carmel City Center's upper deck (800 S. Rangeline Rd., Suite 260), The Cake Bake Shop serves a shorter but polished brunch window: Saturday and Sunday, 8 to 11:30 a.m. Standout: the French toast, made with thick brioche soaked in an orange zest and Grand Marnier custard, finished with pink vanilla buttercream and Vermont maple syrup. The quiche — broccoli, shallot, and Parmesan, or French ham, rosemary, and goat cheese — is a strong savory alternative if you want brunch without the sugar rush.
Sources: 101 Craft Kitchen, Garden Table, Vivante Restaurant & Bar, Divvy / Carmel City Center, Salt, The Cake Bake Shop