For families: There’s lots of room at The Boiler House for your little bundle of ADHD to run amok. The food’s top-notch, too. Parents can enjoy a well-stocked omelette station, while little ones chow down on peanut butter–smothered bagels or chocolate waffles.

For hangovers: Dakota Tavern’s $12 all-you-can-eat fry-up (scrambled eggs, bacon and pancakes) is served family style on long wooden tables, accompanied by live music. And for hair-of-the dog disciples, the taps are never far away.

For celeb spotting: Rub elbows with local and out-of-town glitterati while you sip a variety of specialty cocktails—including the Hemingway-inspired Death in the Afternoon—and nosh on chocolate buttermilk pancakes or apple-and-herb hush puppies at the Drake Hotel.

For taking Grandma out: With its vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows and view of the campus, Hart House’s Gallery Grill is a sublime setting for a Mother’s Day meal or Nana’s birthday. The eclectic menu features such fare as grilled veal sweetbreads and grilled octopus.

For the budget conscious: Noon’s Bathurst outpost offers a unique build-your-own-brunch option. Choose from a variety of organic items, such as Applegirth kosher smoked salmon and Madeleine’s fresh croissants ($2–$4 per item).