Brunch in NYC is alternately loved and loathed. Some folks deride its pricey dishes, some scoff at day drinking, and others call it amateur hour. Who knew pancakes could be so polarizing? But ya still gotta eat, and brunch splits the difference between sweet, rich breakfast items and savory, fortifying lunch fare. Call it what you wish: Brunch is a mid-morning (or afternoon) meal teeming with opportunity.
Since I first embarked on this oft-boozy journey over a year ago, I’ve filled my weekends with dozens of eggsellent meals in the hopes of uncovering as many distinctly amazing brunch spots as there are distinctly amazing neighborhoods in the city -- all for you, dear reader (someone has to make the sacrifice!).
Along the way I’ve learned that when you find that perfect spot, whether it’s in your own neighborhood, or the one you wished you lived in, something magical happens. Every weekend suddenly has the potential to be a little vacation, one Benedict or bacon Bloody Mary at a time. Sojourn your own getaway at the best brunch spots in 51 NYC neighborhoods.
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Astoria
Queens Comfort
This aptly named area fave is unique in its menu and aesthetic. Quirky, comforting dishes like lasagna Benedict and Cap’n Crunch crusted chicken sandwiches are served in a space that looks like Christmas fell in love with Mardi Gras and they had a Saturday morning cartoon baby. It’s cash only (boo!) and BYOB (yay!).
Baychester
The Dumpling Cove
If a Carribean getaway isn’t in the cards for you anytime soon, the Jamaican flavors of ackee and saltfish, callaloo and porridge, and the breezy island vibes at 30-year-old Bronx staple The Dumpling Cove give you a chance to at least realistically daydream about it. The all-you-can-eat Sunday brunch buffet is an absolute steal at $20.
Bayside
Aperitif
This is an equally excellent choice for a celebratory meal or for an every-other Sunday brunch. French bistro classics like croque monsieur and sweet and savory crepes are reliably delicious, especially when paired with the bottomless beverage option ($18 for two hours).
Bedford Park
Hudson Garden Grill
The lush, verdant flora at the New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx makes it one of the most idyllic, relaxing brunch venues in town. Soak up a little nature at its resident restaurant, and sip a couple of cocktails while you nosh on scrumptious, shareable dishes like whipped local ricotta and savory monkey bread.
Bedford-Stuyvesant
Fancy Nancy
Arrive just before noon to avoid a wait at Fancy Nancy, which tends to fill up with regulars quickly on the weekends (no wonder it feels like a cross between Saved By The Bell’s The Max and Beverly Hills, 90210’s Peach Pit). The brunch menu offers a tidy seven options, all excellently executed. The chicken biscuits are a Fancy Nancy standout -- a salty, spicy, savory and sweet mash up ideal for a boozy morning meal.
Bushwick
Roberta’s
Best known for its contributions to the NYC pizza canon, constant crowds, and warmed up warehouse style, Roberta’s is a bit of a pivot from your standard brunch fare. But the Of Champions -- a breakfast pizza topped with mozzarella, cheddar, egg and maple syrup -- will make you want to break out of your typical weekend routine.
Carroll Gardens
Buttermilk Channel
Farmhouse fare and environs get an upgrade at this family friendly Court Street mainstay. Try the pecan pie french toast for a sweet fast break, or stay savory with the short rib hash. A tidy Bloody Mary menu includes a spicy classic, an antipasti-garnished option, and one with a freshly shucked oyster.
Crown Heights
Catfish
This cozy neighborhood spot brings a bit of the bayou to Brooklyn, where you’ll choose from New Orleans brunch favorites like shrimp and grits and catfish po’boys. Wash it down with the savory Creole Bloody Mary -- made extra savory with beef bouillon in addition to the usual spicy ingredients -- or the sweet and decadent milk punch, a mix of brandy, cream, vanilla, sugar and nutmeg.
Ditmas Park
Milk and Honey
Delicious brunch offerings like creme brulee French toast and Egyptian eggs (poached eggs with avocado, baby arugula, and tomato on sourdough bread topped with an Egyptian herb/nuts/spice mixture) are made with care at this cozy cafe. The airy interior is lush with plants -- large swaths of exposed brick are covered with flora -- and there’s outside seating for warm weather days.
DUMBO
AlMar
AlMar is righteously best known for the Instagram-favorite “Egg in a Cloud,” a baked egg yolk set in a bed of whipped egg whites on top of a cheesy brioche roll. It’s great for the grid, but you’ll be equally delighted by any of the other egg dishes on the menu, like their eponymous take on the baconeggandcheese, which is served on a brioche bun with avocado.
East Village
Hearth
Hearth is one of those places that’s as perfect the day after a rager as it is for a Mother’s Day brunch -- with grown-up decor and noise levels in spite of its EV location. Here “good fats are celebrated… and vegetables crowned supreme,” meaning your food will both taste good and be -- at least moderately -- good for you. The baked ricotta with Brussels sprouts, a fried egg, and brown bread stands out on a menu full of exceptional options.
Elmhurst
Laly’s Restaurant
Head to Laly’s seven days a week for a menu full of Mexican brunch favorites like chilaquiles, huevos rancheros and breakfast burritos. If eggs aren’t your jam, go for the Cemita burger, a beef burger stacked with refried beans, papalo, Oaxaca cheese, avocado and chipotle mayo.
Financial District
Hole in the Wall
Primarily a coffee shop/juice bar with a bright, beachy color scheme that betrays its name, Hole in the Wall’s elevated takes on café food merit more serious meal consideration. Try not to inhale the smashed avo -- avocado toast featuring truffled feta, basil oil, pepitas and micro herbs -- before your walk over the Brooklyn Bridge, just a few blocks away.
Flushing
Pop’s Diner
Pop’s has been delivering warm, friendly service and classic greasy spoon favorites since 1963. They don’t serve alcohol, but they do serve breakfast all day, making it the perfect spot for brunch following a raucous night out. The food is always hot, fresh, fast, and affordable; expect to eat happily and heartily for well under $20 per person, all-in.
Forest Hills
Jack & Nellie’s
Classic wine bar vibes and loyal regulars make Jack & Nellies feel like it’s been in the neighborhood forever. Bloody Marys, royales (both made with sake), mimosas, and select wines are just $5 a pop at brunch, and sip will with breakfast burgers and Bennies.
Fort Greene
Miss Ada
This casually cool restaurant’s tiny kitchen produces luxuriously flavorful dishes like sweet potato hummus and shakshuka, inspired by owner/chef Tomer Blechman’s upbringing in Israel. Reserve the communal table in the back for a large gathering or grab a quiet table for two on the shady backyard patio.
Gowanus
Runner & Stone
A cozy neighborhood spot,Runner and Stone is owned and operated by a chef and a baker, and offers a weekly rotating brunch menu including options like chicken liver pâté, mushroom panzanella, and fried chicken and biscuits. Everything incorporates homemade breads that you can purchase from the onsite bakery to enjoy at home.
Grant City
The Kova
This Staten Island newbie has been well-received for its gorgeous design, airy environs and tasty dishes since it opened last year. Its hearty, thoughtfully executed takes on brunch classics like the pancakes and the eggs Benedict (which are topped with made-to-order, silky Hollandaise) have proven that it has more than beginner’s luck.
Greenpoint
Glasserie
Items on Glasserie’s Middle Eastern/Mediterranean menu hark back to meals like grandma used to make. Mix and match $6 mezze like pumpkin marjoram labneh, spicy hummus, and apple and pistachio tabouli, in a chic, rustic space.
Greenwich Village
Avena Downtown
Avena opened in the former Da Silvano last year. Its tidy, modest decor of exposed brick and white tablecloths evoke a rustic-yet-sophisticated vibe. Go for the carbonara: Creamy, al dente spaghetti topped with a crispy cup of pancetta cradling a single egg yolk. Crack it open and mix it all together for an exquisitely rich and salty meal that pairs beautifully with a just-slightly chilled glass of sangiovese.
Harlem
The Edge
Sisters Juliet and Justine Masters opened The Edge in 2014 to both “pay homage to the spirit of Harlem” and share the foods of their parents’ homelands (Jamaica and England). Folks flock to the artsy spot where tables are dotted with dainty floral arrangements for traditional Caribbean dishes like ackee and saltfish and modern interpretations of classics like jerk chicken and waffles.
Hunts Point
Boogie Down Grind Cafe
At $3.75, the lattes at this locally owned and operated “hip hop coffee shop” are among the best and most reasonably priced in the city. It’s small, so groups should expect to grab and go an assortment of pastries. Solo diners can settle in with a book book and try the Big Punini (turkey, cheese, olive spread), an homage to the Bronx’s own late hip-hop legend, Big Punisher.
Inwood
Bocaditos Bistro
Bocaditos’ homey interior is at once welcoming (pretty plates and tea cups line the walls) and whimsical (birds factor into much of the decor). It’s also quite spacious, making it a great venue for a group brunch (plus a 90-minute bottomless mimosa session is only $19). Try the mama’s breakfast -- plantains, Dominican salami, white cheese and a fried egg.
Jackson Heights
The Queensboro
The Queensboro is one of the newest restaurants in a neighborhood celebrated for its diversity, and it’s brunch menu is a reflection of these hyperlocal international influences. Cozy up in a banquette under a canopy of hanging plants and string lights and choose from dishes like garlic fried rice, garam masala granola with coconut yoghurt, and steak and eggs with chimichurri.
Kingsbridge
Leche Y Miel
Everything in this unassuming Bronx storefront is made to order with care, the staff is incredibly kind, and its menu items are fairly priced. Try the mofonguitos -- a two-bite version of the classic Dominican dish made with plantains, garlic, steak or shrimp and cheese.
Kips Bay
My Friend Duke
My Friend Duke’s brunch menu, which includes internationally inspired options like crispy fish tacos and dulce de leche French toast, nicely complements its stellar bar program. Pair the Mae West, a rum, pineapple and green chartreuse cocktail with savory plates, and sip the Nite Owl, a whiskey-spiked oat milk cold brew, with sweeter fare.
Long Island City
LIC Market
You may already know that natural wine is all the rage these days. But did you know that LIC Market has been serving it (along with natural beers and ciders) from their little corner of the trend-setting neighborhood since 2010? Plates here are hearty and homey -- meat lovers in particular will rejoice at menu options like short rib & eggs, slow cooked pork and roasted duck hash.
Lower East Side
Clinton St. Baking Company
Clinton St. Baking Company, which has been serving some of the city’s favorite breakfasts in the same crowded, efficient locale for nearly 20 years. The blueberry pancakes are the most popular dish here, but don’t sleep on the farmers breakfast: soft scrambled eggs, farmhouse cheddar cheese, housemade rosemary sausage, potatoes and sourdough toast -- it’s a drool emoji worthy combination.
Tsismis
Filipino cuisine is still inexplicably under-represented in NYC, which makes Tsismis is an especially welcome addition to the competitive Lower East Side restaurant landscape. Its food is also solid, and the service is warm and generous. Brunch hits include the bibingka de queso (a cheesy rice cake that takes about 40 minutes to prepare) and the beef tapsilog -- fried beef jerky with garlic fried rice, fried egg, and chayote relish.
Midtown
Valerie
Owing to both its location (45th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues) and its ambiance, which nods to everyone’s notion of The Great Gatsby, Valerie is the perfect stop for a post-matinee brunch. Go for the fried Korean chicken (served with kimchi butter).
Mott Haven
Charlie’s Bar & Kitchen
Charlie’s is great for buoyant group outings -- it often features live music and always serves vegan and carnivore-friendly dishes in vintage-ish environs. The Churrasco steak & eggs, vegan quinoa, Brussels sprouts hash, and fried chicken Benny are all stellar options for a variety of cravings.
Nolita
The Usual
Chef Alvin Cailan opened The Usual after a successful pop-up run of his hugely popular LA breakfast chain Eggslut. Stationed at the foot of the Nolitan hotel, everything here is quality, but the real draw is Brunchapalooza, a greatest hits breakfast platter including fruit, yogurt, granola, eggs, pancakes or waffles, potatoes or salad and your choice of protein ($30).
Norwood
Nicky’s Coffee Shop
Nicky’s is about as classic a New York diner as it gets: a cash only, decades-old neighborhood mainstay with an extensive yet no-nonsense, plastic-covered menu. Order your favorite diner dish -- whatever it is -- and rest assured that it will exceed your expectations (but note that the Bainbridge burger is particularly fulfilling).
Ozone Park
The Local Press
The brunch menu at The Local Press definitely leans more toward the lunch side of the meal’s spectrum -- eggs aren’t prominent here -- so this is your spot if you love tacos and burgers. Their take on the patty melt, the Roadside Burger, is particularly delicious, and a relative bargain at $10.50. Arrive early (they open at noon) to avoid a wait.
Park Slope
Casa Azul
Named for the Blue House, Frida Kahlo’s lifelong home, Casa Azul is a family owned and operated newcomer to Park Slope. Its unique interpretations of traditional Oaxacan cuisine are excellently executed, particularly the chilaquiles tuleños, a steak and egg topped lovechild of nachos and enchiladas, and any of the homemade daily tamales.
Prospect Heights
Oxalis
Oxalis fires on all four cylinders from start to finish. Its service is genuinely gracious, its creamy white interior is cozy in spite of the sprawling space, and the food and drinks are truly extraordinary. Brunch here is a set, four course, family-style meal ($30 pp for fried eggs, fingerling potato hash, spring vegetable salad, and cinnamon rolls), and a la carte additions like pork neck, duck sausage, and country ham are predictably delicious, too. And don’t you dare leave without enjoying at least one breakfast martini.
Richmond Valley
Page Plaza Diner
Egg lovers can indulge every day of the week at this Staten Island favorite, where the “parade of omelettes” includes 22 different selections. More of a sweet tooth? There’s an entire menu page dedicated to varieties of pancakes, waffles and French toast. A true diner, the prices are modest, the portions are hearty, and the service is gracious yet brisk.
Ridgewood
Norma’s Corner Shoppe
Find breakfast sandwich heaven at Norma’s Corner Shoppe -- an ideal option for a brunch on the go. In the mood for a classic bacon egg & cheese? Go for the New Yorker. Love a Mexican breakfast? Try the bagel ranchero, which is essentially a breakfast burrito on a bagel.
Rosebank
J’s on the Bay
The “booooozy” smores and cannoli milkshake are obvious hits at this 1950s-styled Staten Island diner where brunch is served daily. Specials rotate weekly, and each new menu seems to outdo the last. The cauliflower hash with chorizo and dried cherries topped with a sunny side up egg was a recent stunner.
Schuylerville
Havana Cafe
If you’re looking for a boozy brunch in the Bronx, Havana Cafe should top your list. Listen to live music while you sip unlimited sangria and fill up on hearty dishes like cazuela, a breakfast casserole with chorizo, home fries, cheese and peppers. Service is quick and attentive, so you’ll definitely get your money’s worth with the bottomless option.
SoHo
Gran Tivoli
Gran Tivoli is perfect for a catch-up brunch with old friends: the flavors are rich and rustic, it’s got a warm, convivial vibe, and the menu works for a variety of diets. Kick things off with the bread basket (the grape tomato focaccine is a favorite), then go for the raspberry and cacao pancakes or the cacciatore hunter’s breakfast.
Stapleton
Surf
The mighty backdrop of the Manhattan skyline makes this Staten Island mainstay an excellent option if views are your brunch priority. Expect traditional brunch fare but with a fresh farm-to-table upgrade, like the B.E.C., a locavore-filled take on the bacon egg and cheese.
St. George
Beso
Terracotta-colored, white tableclothed Beso is one of the easiest SI restaurants to visit from outside the borough. An easy walk from the Staten Island Ferry, here you’ll enjoy what is perhaps the best brunch deal in all of NYC: $25 buys you three tasty courses, including a glass of sangria.
Sunnyside
The Haab
Hit The Haab -- adorned with colorful Mexican party decorations -- when you’re looking for a very chill fiesta brunch. Try the tamale Oaxaqueño or pancakes with figs and settle in for a good time: margaritas, sangrias, Bloody Marys, bellinis and mimosas are all $5 until 4pm on weekends.
Tribeca
Greca
Brunch (and happy hour!) is all day, every day at Greca, where everything is served with a Greek-inspired twist. Greca’s shakshuka gigantes includes tomato-braised giant beans, feta, fried eggs and toast, and the salmon platter comes with the usual capers and tomatoes, along with manouri cheese, pickled vegetables and olive. Bonus: the decor is cozy and gorgeous. And did I mention happy hour is all day?
Upper East Side
Regency Bar & Grill
A leisurely brunch at the Regency Bar & Grill followed by a day of window shopping (let’s be real) will make you feel like you’re on staycation. Classics like buttermilk pancakes and eggs Benedict have no room for improvement, and if you’re in the mood to celebrate, they have nice options for split bottles of bubbly.
Upper West Side
Marlow Bistro
It seems like everyone at Marlow Bistro is a regular, which is always a good sign. People keep coming back to the bright corner spot for good reason: everything at this UWS Mediterranean restaurant is done well, particularly brunch classics like the croque madame, eggs Florentine, and blueberry pancakes.
Asset Restaurant
Neighborhood newcomer Asset is the place to be for an A+ brunch of excellent chicken and waffles. The salty-sweet dish goes especially well with the Wild Thoughts, a sweet-spicy cocktail of gin, strawberry, lime, and chili tincture.
Washington Heights
Le Chéile
Le Chéile -- named for a Gaelic phrase that translates to “together,” is a warm, familiar place to gather your crew. The menu is short and sweet at just a dozen items like eggs Benedict and the Irish breakfast, but they’re all worth return trips.
West Brighton
Beans and Leaves
If you’re looking for a sweet tooth-friendly brunch option on Staten Island, West Brighton’s beachy Beans and Leaves is the perfect choice. Choose from six Belgian waffle batters and 15 different toppings (some are savory) and over a dozen types of frappes.
West Village
RedFarm
You’re probably going to have to wait a bit to grab a seat at one of RedFarm’s big communal tables, but once you do, settle in. The brunch menu is full of spicy and savory dim sum classics -- the pork and crab soup dumplings are especially soul-stirring during the cold winter months.
Extra Virgin
Extra Virgin is one of the most charming restaurants in a neighborhood already flush with charisma, making it an excellent option for a date or catch-up with an old friend. Try the virgin frittata (goat cheese, roasted tomato, arugula and basil pesto) or the baked eggs (pancetta, spinach, roasted tomato hollandaise).
Williamsburg
Leuca
Dine at the stylishly elegant Leuca on a day when you have plenty of time to linger and luxuriate, and go with a group so you can order something from each section of the menu. Items are outlined in true Italian tradition: divided by course, beginning with bread, followed by the antipasti, then pizza, then brunch entrées.
The Hive
Head to The Hive for locally sourced American comfort food (think Scotch eggs and five kinds of pancakes) served in a comfy yet meticulously decorated bistro. The restaurant, which lives on a cute and homey block in Williamsburg, is “inspired by the honeybee, which gathers, collaborates and creates for the betterment of its community.” Take advantage of patio seating when the weather is nice.
Woodside
The Alcove
The Alcove’s brunch burger is what a burger lover’s breakfast dreams are made of: a truffled egg, grilled pineapple, and sliced avocado. Pair it with the $20 mimosa flight -- a tasting of six different fruit puree-and-champagne blends.
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