The brunch staple and fave of fliers of the friendly skies (because tomato juice tastes better at 30,000 feet – and, dare we say, vodka, too?), we’ve never met a Bloody Mary we didn’t love. Whether they’re classic takes on or inventive interpretations of the universally beloved hangover cure, Bloody Marys are the ideal way to toast the weekend.

Argyle Steakhouse, Carlsbad, California
At the Argyle Steakhouse, located at the Park Hyatt Aviara Resort, Golf Club & manage-mixologist Anamaria Osborne stirs up The 25 Bloody Mary. “A unique blend of 25 ingredients perfectly balanced to revive your spirit and provide a little hair of the dog boost to rejuvenate the body” notes Osborne. Some of the ingredients include housemade Bloody Mary mix, olives, onions, celery, cucumbers, and, of course vodka. Make a reservation at Argyle Steakhouse.

Bar Lupo, Chicago, Illinois
Oh my spaghetti (and meatballs)! The Spaghetti and Meatball Bloody balances a meaty, spicy, citrusy tomato base with classic spaghetti and meatballs. The base mixes tomato juice with a secret blend of herbs and spices, giardiniera, and drippings from roasting the meatballs. A forkful of saucy spaghetti topped with a delicate meatball tops things off with crunchy celery, a fried mozzarella stick cheese curd, and a pickled pepperoncino. Of course, there is a beer sidecar to complete the set. Of course. Make a reservation at Bar Lupo.

Cosmos at Loews Minneapolis Hotel, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Dear Cosmos – you had us at meat stick straw. This stunner of a brunch Bloody Mary is adorned with bacon, celery, a Fresno pepper, house pickles, a charcuterie skewer, shrimp cocktail, a meat stick straw (!), and a beer snit back (we’ll let you Google that if you’re not from the Midwest). Make a reservation at Cosmos at Loews Minneapolis Hotel.

Party Fowl, Nashville, Tennessee
The Brunch for Two at Nashville hot chicken joint Party Fowl from executive chef just might nourish more than even the most ravenous duo. The feast features a 55-ounce Bloody Mary topped with two Nashville-hot Cornish game hens, fried okra, avocado, Scotch eggs, and more. Make a reservation at Party Fowl.

Beatrix-Streeterville, Chicago, Illinois
This Make Your Own Bloody Mary Bar has the ‘write’ stuff. Head over on the weekend, and your server will bring you a sheet of paper. Check off everything you want, and then bring it to bartender for them to build your base, from an array of options including amped up tomato juices, various liquors, and mix-ins, like kung pao Brussels sprouts, potato salad deviled eggs, pepper jack cubes, and more. Make a reservation at Beatrix-Streeterville.

Upland, Miami, Florida
We’re not much on DIY – except when it comes to doing it ourselves with these bottomless Bloody Mary’s. Upland Miami invites you to build your own of epic proportions. A carafe of Upland’s signature Bloody Mary mix and Wodka Vodka are presented alongside a pickle board featuring cornichons, heirloom tomatoes, housemade pickles, and jalapeños. Onward and Upland-ward. Make a reservation at Upland.

Sunda, Chicago, Illinois
Call this one brunch in a glass. The new Sumo Mary at Sunda is served in a hulking 32-ounce Mason jar and is adorned with strips of bacon, half a grilled cheese-and-tocino sandwich, a duck bao, braised pork belly, a crab sushi roll, a lumpia stick, several stalks of Chinese broccoli, pickled daikon radish, roasted potatoes, and shishito peppers. Make a reservation at Sunda.

The Ribbon, New York, New York
Who will not wear the ribbon? Okay, Seinfeld references aside, we’re not sure who will not drink The Ribbon’s famous Bloody Mary. Tabasco, Worcester sauce, pepper, celery salt, hot sauce, Old Bay seasoning, and horseradish macerate for a fortnight, at which point fat-washed bourbon with bacon is added to create a smoky, savory quality. Black peppercorns are infused in the tequila to accentuate the peppery flavor of some tequilas. Expect a dash of Clamato for another level of flavor, and choose from a garnish of bacon, shrimp, or pickled peppers. Make a reservation at The Ribbon.

Lolo’s Surf Cantina, Miami, Florida
Ave, Maria! Spice up your morning with the Bloody Maria made with El Jimador Silver tequila and Lolo’s special grandmother sauce. We could tell you what’s in the secret sauce, but…we won’t. It’s blended with a splash of salsa roja and tangy lime, and for the finishing touch, they put tajin and sal de gusano on the rim. Garnished with carnitas fluttua, cherry tomatoes, and a celery stick, it kicks brunch off on a high note. Make a reservation at Lolo’s Surf Cantina.

Tarallucci E Vino, New York, New York
The usual suspects are present – vodka? Check. Tomato juice? Check. But then things get really interesting with mustard and balsamic vinegar. Finished with unusually delicious additions of a grilled pineapple wedge, a carrot, and a housemade pickled pearl onion, the drink’s flourishes are always seasonal. Look for radishes and pickled strawberries in the coming months. Make a reservation at Tarallucci e Vino.

Borgne, New Orleans, Louisiana
Large format cocktails just got a lot larger. Like, a LOT. The Ultimate Bloody Mary at this seafood-focused NOLA standout is made for the ultimate brunchers, serving six to eight people and priced at $95. Cathead vodka, housemade Bloody Mary mix, and pickled vegetables will make you wish every day were a weekend day. Make a reservation at Borgne.

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba, Chicago, Illinois
Build your own bloody good Bloody Mary every weekend. The drink gets a Spanish accent with Uncle Dougie’s Torpedo Juice, Bloody Mary mix, or Gazpacho Andaluz. Coronate it with an array of garnishes like shrimp, date-glazed bacon, Gilda olives, pickles, jamón, and more. A buck scores you a beer back. Make a reservation at Café Ba-Ba-Reeba.

Boqueria, New York, New York
The Gilda Maria is a Spanish twist on this brunch staple. Sweet carrot juice, guindilla pepper, and sherry vinegar make it stand out from the crowd. Choose your spirit from gin, tequila, or vodka. We dare you not to destroy the garnish – a boqueron, guindilla pepper, and olive – as soon as your server sets it in front of you. Make a reservation at Boqueria.

Holeman and Finch Public House, Atlanta, Georgia
The original recipe for the signature Bloody Mary was created in chef Linton Hopkins’s kitchen with bright citrus, tangy Georgia tomatoes, and savory spices, after hundreds of attempts with wildly obscure ingredients. Chef Hopkins prides himself on utilizing local, fresh ingredients in all his creations, and this is no exception. Taste trumps flash in this bev. Served at the restaurant, the proprietary mix can also be purchased at Holeman and Finch Bottle Shop for bewitched imbibers. Make a reservation at Holeman and Finch Public House.

21 Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York
The Ugly Carrie isn’t named after Bizarro Carrie Bradshaw from SATC. It’s actually a nod to the restaurant’s dedication to minimizing food waste. This alterna Bloody Mary from bartender Garrett Jones takes “ugly carrot” juice and mixes it with turmeric, Crop Organic cucumber vodka, ancho reyes verde, and lemon juice. Make a reservation at 21 Greenpoint.

EPIC Steak, San Francisco, California
Looking for an epic Bloody Mary with an epic view? Right this way. Waterfront EPIC Steak serves the EPIC Bloody Mary! Made with V8, fresh horseradish, Siracha, Worcestershire, sugar, salt, Tabasco, and a blend of spices, including coriander, fennel seed and black pepper, the cocktail is topped off with a skewer of house-brined pearl onions, Castelvetrano olives, and charcuterie from Boccalone Salumeria in the San Francisco Ferry Building, such as Coppa and Mortadella. Make a reservation at EPIC Steak.

Continue Reading