Top 5 Places to Nurse a Hangover in Midtown

There is a party in our neighborhood almost every night. Midtown is the king of cool new bars, trendy restaurants, hole-in-the-wall blues joints and hard to find digs.

But great nights can result in  bad mornings. Luckily, Midtown has some excellent options for beating back the beast. Next time that jackhammer of a hangover starts going to work on your head in the morning, try one of these brunch joints to nurse your hangover:

1)  This Midtown cafe offers a great brunch on Sunday. The cocktail menu is inventive and, usually, you don't have to wait for a table -- a rarity  in Atlanta. Try the "Huevos Espanola," and be sure to ask about brunch specials. Need a hair of the dog (or three) to take the edge off that hangover? Après has cocktails such as the "MANmosa," a more hardcore version of the classic brunch beverage that pairs orange juice with Hoegaarden, Stoli Oranj and Cointreau, instead of champagne. Another drink, the "Breakfast of Champions," is a beefed- up Bloody Mary with Guinness ale and a splash of Jameson Irish Whiskey. Order a few of these and you'll be ready to hit the bars again. Also try Après’ sister restaurant, , just down street on Dutch Valley Road off Monroe Drive. They offer a fantastic brunch, too.

2) Highland Bakery Midtown On 14th Street in Midtown, there is a new outpost of Highland Bakery, a popular morning spot on Highland Avenue in Old Fourth Ward.  If the second location can serve up the same mouth-watering breakfast items and baked goods as the original, Midtown is in for a treat. Go for the "Highland Breakfast." With two eggs, toast and your choice of meat (including "SOYage"), it's surely enough food to stop your head from throbbing. Or build your own breakfast sandwiches and omelettes. When you’re done eating, grab some baked goods or pastries to munch on later. You can easy order to-go at the Midtown restaurant, which is helpful when your hangover is so bad you can only eat laying down somewhere with your sunglasses on. Do note: the Midtown bakery is only an option for weekday mornings. It is closed Saturday and Sunday, unlike the other location.

3) Waffle House Tech Square Sometimes there is no need to mess with perfection. Waffle House has had the post-hangover market cornered since, well, since it opened its doors in 1955. With the opening of the new Waffle House in Midtown’s Tech Square, residents finally have a nearby place for breakfast any time of day. Get the standard waffles and hash-browns, or go for a Texas cheesesteak or the patty melt. The deliciously greasy meal will surely take the edge off that hangover. Don’t forget a coffee. Afterwards, if you can focus your eyes without your brain exploding, walk over to for some light reading.

4)  Located in trendy West Midtown, West Egg Café has become the Sunday morning brunch destination for the hungover masses. You might wait awhile for a table, but West Egg’s delicious southern dishes are worth the time. Go for the "Peachtree Plate" with pimento cheese grits and fried green tomatoes. Or try the Brunswick stew; it's always reliable. Baked goods, such as the coca-cola cupcakes, also are delicious. While West Egg doesn’t serve booze at brunch (yet), their coffee is top notch and they offer fresh-squeezed juices and homemade Italian sodas. West Egg keeps brunch going until 5 p.m. on the weekends, much longer than most places. They are now open for dinner, too.

5) When your hangover is of epic proportions, pancakes, waffles or granola isn’t going to cut it. For those times you really need some relief, you can thank the gods of drinking for a place like the Vortex Bar and Grill. Sitting pretty on Peachtree between 7th and 8th  streets, Vortex opens at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday for those that need some heavy-duty early morning aid. Vortex is the place for a big, meaty, greasy burger to help settle your stomach. Go for the Coronary Bypass Burger, which is topped with a fried egg, three slices of cheese and four slices of bacon. It’s breakfast on top of a burger. Vortex also offers a killer bar menu for those who need to numb the pain. But remember, the Vortex staff is known for their “take no shit” attitude, so no puking in the bathroom. Take care of that before you head over.