A mimosa and relaxed-paced brunch is the stuff of vacations without the kids. On this rare spring morning, I was not out of town, but brunching with a friend in Omaha’s historic Blackstone District at the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel. Call it a Sunday mini vacation.
Disclosure: I was the guest of the Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel and received complimentary brunch to write this post. All thoughts, opinions and typos are my own.
Brunch, Cottonwood-style
There are no shortage of brunch options in Omaha. And good ones, at that. The fact that the Cottonwood Hotel serves brunch on Saturdays and Sundays now isn’t huge news. It’s what they’re doing additionally that is attention-worthy.
- It’s a French-inspired menu, with dishes like a French omelet
- There’s a Bloody Mary Cart every Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- And, in a nod to the history of the building (it was originally the Blackstone Hotel where the Reuben was said to be invented), there is, of course, a Blackstone Reuben on the menu
Brunch is served in the hotel’s Orleans Room, a spacious restaurant with a mix of tables and casual seating areas, plus a bar. There’s a surf & turf station tucked in one area of the restaurant.
The menu is more than French options, including lighter fruit dishes, delicate and airy pancakes, and more hearty traditional brunch options.
I went big and tried the surf & turf. It’s not my typical order, but our waitress said it was a popular choice, so I figured why not.
The surf: Jumbo shrimp cocktail served alongside raw oyster and a savory seafood salad lettuce wrap. The winner? The lettuce wrap.
The turf: Juice prime rib served with well-seasoned vegetables. The winner? Prime rib which was a surprise to me because it’s never been a favorite of mine. It was prepared and seasoned exceptionally well.
My friend, Leslie, had an eggs Benedict and it was lick-the-plate good. I didn’t lick the plate, nor did she. But we could’ve.
About those brunch cocktails
Mimosas are the quintessential brunch cocktail, and Cottonwood has a couple different flavors. But honestly, I’d skip the mimosa and go for coffee martini. I had a taste of my friend’s martini, and it was luxury in a glass.
Side note: The cost of a meal with me is letting me have a bite of most of your food. Sorry, not sorry.
Hotel details
The Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel, 302 S. 36th St. is located in midtown Omaha on the east-end of the thriving Blackstone District.
Brunch is served every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Orleans Room. There are a few other dining and drink options at the hotel, but the Orleans Room is your best bet for brunch.
You can make a whole day of it. Off-season rooms at the Cottonwood Hotel are surprisingly affordable for a staycation. Book a room at the Cottonwood Hotel.
If you’re looking for just a day of fun, consider getting a Resort Pass for the hotel’s outdoor pool. The beautiful pool deck is open to hotel guests and those with a Resort Pass in the summer, so you can brunch first and then lounge pool-side all afternoon. The pass is reasonable for a full day at the pool.
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Book a stay in Omaha
Want to stay at one of my favorite hotels in Omaha? Check out the following:
- Embassy Suites Omaha (Downtown/Old Market) – Within walking distance to Old Market, Capital District, and the RiverFront, and the best hotel near the zoo
- Kimpton Cottonwood Hotel – In the hip Blackstone District, great outdoor pool and brunch
- Cambria Hotel Omaha Downtown – Great view of Schwab Park, usually a lower rate than other comparable downtown hotels
Looking for condos or home rentals instead? Check out the variety VRBO!