If your ideal weekend includes brunch, cocktails, sunshine and live music, Leola’s Cafe and Coffee House might need to be your next Mid City stop.

Tucked into the Circa 1857 community at 1857 Government Street, Leola’s has become one of those distinctly Baton Rouge spots where the setting is just as much a part of the experience as what’s on the table. The eclectic space combines indoor dining with a spacious patio and regular live music, making it an easy choice for everything from a casual weekday lunch to a full weekend brunch outing.

A Baton Rouge Brunch Spot With a Story

Leola’s originally opened in January 2021, but the idea behind it started long before then.

Founders Corey and Leann Ringe combined Corey’s idea for a coffee shop with Leann’s longtime dream of opening a cafe. Even the name has a personal connection: “Leola” was a childhood nickname given to Leann by her uncle.

The restaurant entered a new chapter in 2025 when Bultra Restaurant Group purchased Leola’s. Rather than completely changing the concept, the new ownership kept many of the restaurant’s popular dishes while adding new menu options, increasing portion sizes and expanding the beverage program.

Come Hungry

This is not a brunch menu built around just eggs and toast.

Leola’s currently serves a mix of breakfast, brunch and lunch with plenty of options designed for sharing. The menu includes everything from a Fruit & Brie Board and Brunch Nachos to a Pancake Flight and the Bro Rito, a hefty combination of brisket, eggs, cheese and potatoes wrapped into a burrito.

You’ll also find salads, sandwiches and plenty of comfort-food-inspired options if your brunch reservation starts creeping closer to lunchtime.

And if you’re coming with friends, Leola’s brunch boards are available by preorder and designed to feed two to three adults.

Don’t Forget the Drinks

Leola’s has leaned into the social side of brunch from the beginning, and cocktails remain a big part of the experience.

Along with specialty coffee, guests can find cocktails, spiked mimosas and other daytime drinks. The beverage selection was expanded under the restaurant’s current ownership to offer more choices beyond the mimosas that helped establish Leola’s brunch identity.

Basically, this can be a quick lunch stop, but it can just as easily turn into an entire afternoon.

Brunch + Live Music + a Patio? We’re Listening.

One of our favorite parts about Leola’s is that it feels like more than somewhere to simply grab a meal.

Live music is regularly part of the experience, particularly on the weekends, and the restaurant maintains an entertainment calendar for upcoming performances. The patio gives you plenty of reason to linger when Baton Rouge weather decides to cooperate.

It’s a combination that works especially well for birthday brunches, catching up with friends, family outings or those weekends when you want to get out of the house without needing an elaborate plan.

Leola’s also offers private event options, including its private room as well as opportunities to reserve the restaurant or patio for larger celebrations.

Know Before You Go

You can find Leola’s Cafe & Coffee House at 1857 Government Street in Baton Rouge. Current posted hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

So the next time someone drops the inevitable group-chat question — “Where should we go for brunch?” — add Leola’s to the list.

Come for brunch, grab a cocktail, catch some live music and give yourself enough time to wander around Circa 1857 while you’re there. That sounds like a pretty solid Baton Rouge weekend to us.