Sure, you expect big cities like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Toronto and Montreal to have drag brunches. Cosmopolitan places have drag-everything. But it takes a special mid-sized city to nurture talented performers and build loyal audiences. From Richmond, Virginia, to Baltimore, Maryland and Norwalk, Connecticut, here are our picks of seven kiki-licious weekend experiences. These glamazonic brunch experiences take place even when it’s not Pride season, but not always every week, so check the schedule for details. And remember to bring cash for tips—you’re rewarding not just food service, but performance, fashion, attitude and belly laughs. 

Richmond, Virginia

Godfrey’s (308 E Grace St., Richmond, Virginia). Seating Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Founded as a restaurant in 1997, Godfrey’s grew into a dance bar/entertainment complex that was serving drag brunch way before RuPaul was serving Drag Race. The menu has few surprises except the crab chesapeake—eggs benny with seasoned crab meat. The performers—that’s where the surprises are coming from. Frequent hostesses Celestia R. Cox and Alvion Arnell Davenport know french toast from french fries—Cox also occasionally hosts at New Realm Brewing in Virginia Beach, a two-hour drive to the coast. Godfrey's is ages 21+ throughout the weekend.

Charlotte, North Carolina and other places

Diva Royale (2301 Freedom Dr., Charlotte, North Carolina). Seating Sundays, 1:30 p.m. Not so much a local endeavour, Diva Royale is what you might call a travelling worldwide phenomenon which makes stops in places like Scottsdale, Arizona; Cleveland, Ohio and Charlotte, North Carolina (the one we’re spotlighting), as well as usual suspects like New York, Boston and West Hollywood. So, handy for places that may not be big enough to have their own permanent brunch crew. The troupe’s formula is simple: dinner shows Fridays and Saturdays, brunch on Sundays, then off to the next city. Take heed: these polished pop divas tend to attract a high number of bachelorette parties. The quality of the meals and venues varies. At the Charlotte venue, The Scorpio nightclub, food consumption isn’t required but if you want to eat, you need to preorder it when you buy tickets. Most shows 18+.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

LUSH (990 NE Central Ave., Minneapolis). Seating Saturdays and Sundays, 11 a.m. This family-friendly all-ages show is highly interactive, with games and call-outs to those celebrating something special. Special appearances by the likes of local celeb Jacob S. Principle. Food is provided by local fave Betty & Earl’s Biscuit Kitchen and one of three options must be ordered when booking tickets; drinks, you can order on the day. LUSH’s theatre hosts lots of other artsy and LGBTQ2S+-flavoured events and performances.

Houston, Texas

Bar Boheme (307 Fairview St., Houston). All-you-can-eat-buffet-style brunch Sundays from 10:45 a.m. to 5 p.m., with shows at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Leave it to the Texans to innovate drag brunch with a buffet, so the focus can be on the laughs, not who ordered how many side salads. One of the more beloved patios in the queerly off-beat Montrose neighbourhood. Cyn City, Angelina DM Trailz and Chloe Crawford Ross are among the regular performers. A breezy party atmosphere for a 21+ audience.

Baltimore, Maryland

Guilford Hall (1611 Guilford Ave., Baltimore). Monthly Saturdays or Sundays, varying times. One of the 19 stops of SADBrunch, a touring drag-brunch company co-founded by Evon Dior Michelle, chosen Baltimore’s drag queen of the year in 2020. Most SADBrunch events have a special guest star: this April’s in Baltimore had Aura Mayari from RuPaul’s Drag Race, Boston’s this April had Kennedy Davenport, also of RuPaul fame.

Norwalk, Connecticut

What is going on in Connecticut? In season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, four of the 16 contestants were from the Constitution State. Some performed with Troupe429, which presents Drag Brunch CT at Coals Norwalk (9-11 Wall Street, Norwalk) and other venues. Seatings every third Sunday, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. While some drag brunches are about restaurateurs creating “dining experiences” to get bums in seats ordering bottomless mimosas, this show is definitely talent-driven. Troupe429 (“G-A-Y” on a telephone keypad, a reference to Stonewall-era discretion) was formed in 2016 and has its own performance space in Norwalk (3 Wall St.), which is more of a nighttime burlesque-y scene. Host Sienna Rose, joined by troupe members like Sapphire Bills, Stefani Steel and other queens from across New England, takes the lead on the 21+ brunch duty. It’s sometimes, but not always, held at local gourmet pizza place Coals (check the website to see where it’s at the weekend you’re planning to go). Everybody gets a free rainbow clack fan to take home to throw some shade of their own. 

Denver, Colorado

The Triangle Bar (2036 N. Broadway, Denver, Colorado). Seating Sundays, 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Creative themes keep it fresh, but it’s talent like Drag King Daddy Kaptain Inherpants, Minor Misdemeanor and Brittany Blaze-Shearz that keep it real. For a cocktail, try the Bitter Bitch, made of vodka, Aperol and blood-orange purée. Bonus points: Triangle, a well-established nightlife hub, emphasizes food and cocktails with locally sourced and sustainable ingredients, takes composting and recycling very seriously and uses wind power to generate a portion of its electricity.