Sundays — Some University of Wisconsin students choose to spend them productively, rising with the sun and getting a jump on next week’s homework. Some. It’s much more likely you wake up a few minutes shy of noon, brutally hungover and still wearing jeans and sneakers, with 20 missed calls, 50 unread texts, a pounding headache and zero will to live … much less a will to get out of bed. Oh, and don’t forget about that big assignment (that you haven’t even started yet) which is due at the end of the day. It’s worth 25% of your grade — remember?
There’s really nothing like a hangover to make a Sunday go from bad to much, much worse.
But fear not — that sinking feeling in your stomach is curable. All it takes to absorb last night’s liquor and ease this morning’s hangxiety is a big, hearty meal from one of Madison’s hangover hot spots. Here are our picks. (And yes, they’re all open on Sundays.)
Ancora
You can’t go wrong with this Madison classic, complete with delicious seasonal drinks and the ultimate selection of comfort food. It’s the perfect place to get “breakfast” at 1 p.m. Open Monday-Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to p.m. and Sundays, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 107 King St.
Bassett Street Brunch Club
Health professionals far and wide agree the fastest way to eradicate your hangover-induced migraine is with a stack of lemon ricotta pancakes and a healthy serving of Wisconsin cheese curds. You can find both at Bassett Street Brunch Club, plus a plethora of other hangover cures like brunch poutine, steak and eggs and cinnamon roll French toast. And if the house Bloody Mary looks too good to pass up, go for it. Doctors have also been known to say that the best detox is a retox. Open Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m. to midnight and Sundays, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. 444 W. Johnson St.
Comfort Fuel
Sometimes a hangover is so awful that it causes you to consider pursuing a 100% nutritious lifestyle. If that’s the case, head to Comfort Fuel for some healthy options. An açai bowl is your best bet — try the peanut butter cocoa puffs bowl, which has a base of organic acai and organic pitaya, topped with granola, peanut butter, goji berries, cacao nibs, strawberries and bananas. Open Mondays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 439 N. Frances St.
Gotham Bagels
New York-style bagels, anyone? Go for The Rocky’s Deli (fried egg, thick cut bacon, aged cheddar, potato latke and spicy ketchup).Trust us, you won’t regret it. Make sure to order ahead to avoid contemplating your entire life waiting for your order to be ready. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sundays, 8 a.m. to noon. 112 E. Mifflin St.
Greenbush Bakery
Cement your status as roommate of the year by bringing home a box of cake donuts, cinnamon rolls and fritters from this classic Regent Street bakery. Your roommates will tell stories of your heroism for years to come. Open Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. 1402 Regent St.
MacTaggart’s Market & Deli
Basic, we know … but it really is that good! MacTaggart’s, affectionately referred to as Tagg’s by students, isn’t just renowned for its convenient Langdon Street location. Its made-to-order breakfast sandwiches and subs are popular for a reason — just be prepared to wait in line behind a ravenous pack of frat boys. Open daily 7 a.m. to midnight. 230 W. Lakelawn Place
Marigold Kitchen
If you can make the walk to Capital Square, Marigold Kitchen will assuage your hunger and your hangover. Of course, we recommend the saltiest, greasiest thing on the menu: the Marigold Breakfast Sandwich, which features a fried egg, cheddar spiked Boursin, bacon, tomato and green onions on ciabatta. A salted maple latte will wash it down and later, keep you from falling asleep on your textbook. Open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 118 S. Pinckney St.
Monty’s Blue Plate Diner
For classic diner staples like biscuits & gravy, huevos rancheros and buttermilk pancakes, look no further than Monty’s Blue Plate Diner. It’s a bit far off campus, but luckily, you can order for delivery from this retro eatery through DoorDash, EatStreet or GrubHub. Open daily, 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. 2089 Atwood Ave.
Pizza Brutta
When you’re suffering from a hangover this terrible, don’t settle for Domino’s. The best and most authentic pizza in Madison can be found on Monroe Street at Pizza Brutta. (Don’t worry about the distance if you live downtown — you can order for delivery with UberEats.) Build your own pie or go with a menu staple, like the Olivetto (basil, artichoke, sun-dried tomatoes, Sicilian olives and goat cheese) or the Diavola (basil, pepper flakes, spiced salami and pepperoncini). You’ll never eat at Ian’s again. Open daily 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. 1805 Monroe St.
