Weekend brunch on Folly Beach occupies a specific and important cultural position on the island. It's the meal that happens after the morning surf session and before the afternoon beach time — simultaneously breakfast, recovery from the night before, and social gathering. The island takes it seriously.
Rita's Seaside Grille — The Classic Choice
Rita's on East Arctic Avenue, across from the pier, runs weekend brunch from 8 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu covers the standard brunch territory — eggs benedict, French toast, omelets, pancakes — but the execution is consistently good and the location is unmatched.
The outdoor patio has a direct view of the beach access near the pier. Sitting outside at Rita's on a clear Sunday morning with a bloody mary and eggs is one of the more pleasant experiences available on Folly Beach regardless of season.
The bloody mary at Rita's is built properly — a substantial drink with the garnishes and seasoning that make the difference between a bloody mary that's worth ordering and one that isn't. It's the brunch drink of choice here.
What to order: Eggs benedict. The shrimp and grits brunch version. The bloody mary or a mimosa from the brunch cocktail list.
Lost Dog Cafe — The Neighborhood Staple
Lost Dog Cafe's brunch is technically just their full breakfast and lunch menu, available from opening at 6:30 AM through closing at 3 PM. But in practice, weekend brunch at Lost Dog is its own experience — the table next to you is celebrating a birthday, the table on the other side is hungover surfers, and the room has the energy of a place that everyone on the island passes through eventually.
The wait on weekend mornings is the primary friction point. Arriving before 8:30 AM or after 1 PM sidesteps the worst of it. The food is worth it.
Bohemian Bull — Full Bar and Kitchen
Bohemian Bull at 1531 Folly Road runs a weekend brunch with 31 rotating craft beers on draft and a menu that covers both breakfast and lunch items. It's slightly off the main Center Street strip — on Folly Road rather than on the beach itself — which means it's accessible without Center Street parking competition.
Good for: groups that want a full bar experience with brunch, people who arrived before realizing the closer spots had waits, visitors who want the craft beer selection without waiting for happy hour.
The Brunch Timing Reality
Weekend brunch on Folly Beach operates on beach town time. Places fill up quickly between 9 AM and noon. The wait at the most popular spots on a sunny summer Saturday can be an hour or more. Building flexibility into your brunch plan — being willing to walk a few blocks from your first choice to your second — makes the morning go more smoothly.
The Folly Beach brunch window closes earlier than most places. By 2 PM the brunch energy transitions to lunch and early afternoon, and by 3 PM Lost Dog closes entirely. Plan accordingly.
For more on the full Folly Beach food scene, see our complete restaurant guide and our breakfast guide for the early morning options before the brunch crowd arrives.