Whether you’re craving a savory Southern breakfast with all the fixings, a decadent cocktail-fueled brunch, or a healthy morning meal on the go, Franklin has plenty of breakfast and brunch options to satisfy every appetite. Here are a few of our favorite spots to butter your biscuit in Franklin and Williamson County.
Fox & Locke
Formerly known as Puckett’s of Leiper’s Fork, Fox & Locke still offers the same mouthwatering menu and live music. The only difference is that its name now hearkens back to the 1950s when Fox & Locke General Merchandise Store was in its place. Today, you can stop in for breakfast at this Leiper’s Fork staple Fridays through Sundays from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Expect all the Southern classics here, like eggs, home fries, pancakes, and biscuits and gravy, plus a gigantic cinnamon roll that gets special billing. Follow up breakfast with a stroll through Leiper’s Fork’s shops and art galleries, and you’ve got one perfect weekend outing.
Big Bad Breakfast
Big Bad Breakfast has made quite a splash since opening in Middle Tennessee, and its new Spring Hill and Franklin locations live up to the hype. The brainchild of James Beard award-winning chef John Currence, Big Bad Breakfast is a nod to his early years in New Orleans, where good food was at the heart of every social activity. Here, you can dig into seasonal specials like the fried oyster scramble or stick with staples like the ‘mother of all biscuits’ – a crispy dill-fried chicken breast and cheddar cheese on a freshly made biscuit. Lighter options like avocado toast or steel-cut oatmeal will appease the more health-conscious in your group and the cocktails, made with fresh-squeezed juices, are sure to please everyone.
Fairview Fresh Deli Donuts
Years of consistently delicious pastries have earned Fairview Fresh Deli Donuts a devoted following here in Middle Tennessee. Locals swear it’s worth the drive to score fresh donuts from the tiny Fairview bakery, and they try to arrive as early as possible. The place opens at 4:30 a.m. and closes up tight when everything sells out by the early afternoon. While the donuts are wonderful, we also love their sausage and cheese kolaches, which make for a satisfying breakfast or lunch. Consider rewarding yourself with a trip here after a morning hike at nearby Bowie Nature Park.
First Watch
With locations in Franklin, Brentwood, and Spring Hill, First Watch will satisfy your brunch hankering any day of the week. Choose from healthy options like the superfoods bowl or power wrap, or opt for traditional favorites like biscuits and gravy or blueberry muffin pancakes. First Watch also boasts a juice bar with specially blended concoctions to make you feel your best. Be sure and check the website ahead of time to see how long the wait is at your chosen location and get on the waitlist if needed.
Biscuit Love
The award for Franklin’s most Instagram-worthy breakfast spot may well go to Biscuit Love, which you’ll find inside the historic Corn House, a short walk from the Public Square. Biscuit Love’s bonuts (fried sugar dough tossed in sugar and topped with lemon mascarpone) shouldn’t be missed, and their princess sandwich—an open-faced biscuit topped with hot chicken, pickles, mustard, and honey—is a true culinary masterpiece.
BrickTops
You can’t go wrong with Sunday brunch at BrickTops in Cool Springs. The beloved local favorite offers decadent brunch options like homemade donuts with fresh crème anglaise and raspberry and hot fudge dipping sauces, steak and eggs with filet mignon, and brioche french toast. Add a round of tequila sunrise mimosas for the table, and you’ve got the ultimate Sunday Funday.
Herban Market
Carefully sourced, top-quality ingredients are what make breakfast at Franklin’s Herban Market memorable. Every dressing, sauce, bun, and muffin is made in-house from scratch, and I can tell you from experience that you will taste the difference. Try the Herban Breakfast, which includes grass-fed wagyu tri-tip steak, pastured eggs, an organic English muffin, and fruit jam—or opt for the focaccia sandwich, made with fresh focaccia bread, local pastured eggs, pastured bacon, avocado, caramelized onions, and cheddar. We love our breakfasts at Herban Market—and judging from its bustling dining room, we’re far from alone.
Franklin Bakehouse
For a lighter breakfast, before you head out shopping on Franklin’s Main Street, Franklin Bakehouse is our go-to option. The breakfast menu features staples like a classic egg sandwich, or you can choose from the Bakehouse’s assorted sweet and savory pastries. Franklin Bakehouse’s fresh-baked loaves are also incredible, and you owe it to yourself to grab one to savor later.
Itty Bitty Donuts
A day trip to Nolensville’s historic district is a guaranteed good time, and there’s no better way to kick things off than with a stop at Itty Bitty Donuts. Located behind The Painted Firefly on Nolensville Road (one of my favorite shops in Tennessee), Itty Bitty’s employees make every donut to order, so they’re always hot, fresh, and seriously scrumptious. The coffee is fantastic as well. Honestly, I’m going to just go ahead and give Itty Bitty Donuts Rite of Passage status. You haven’t had the full Nolensville experience until you’ve tried them.
The Honeysuckle
Franklin’s most dedicated brunch crowd is likely to be found at The Honeysuckle in Cool Springs. Saturdays and Sundays feature a delectable brunch menu with options like breakfast macaroni and cheese, benedict Oscar topped with blue crab, duck with brussels sprouts and grits, and oysters Vanderbilt. Honeysuckle regulars rave about the food, the attentive servers, and the restaurant’s cozy ambiance.
Ruby Sunshine
You can’t miss Ruby Sunshine in downtown Franklin. The popular New Orleans-inspired brunch restaurant is always packed with diners, and when you look at the menu, you’ll want to rush right on over and join them. Favorite dishes here include bananas Foster pain perdu, pig-candy bacon bites, and white chocolate bread pudding pancakes, as well as Big Easy cocktail favorites like a Peychaud’s Aperitivo spritz and a Sazerac sipper. Ruby Sunshine doesn’t take reservations, but you can pull up their website to get on the waitlist before you go.
