Brunch is a lazy person’s formula to wake up late but still call it a day. I am adamant on believing that any time of the morning is acceptable to eat, but there is something about good brunch places that makes me believe that I can be as sleepy as a sloth and still make it in time to the best meal of my life.
For example, it is a cold, drizzly December morning, and even after hitting the snooze button many times, you cannot find it in you to wake up and toss an omelet. And if you live in the same city as mine, you will know that New York’s winters are unforgiving and cold. That’s why I always sleep in some more and then quickly make my way to the warm and energetic brunch places in NYC.
Once inside, sipping on a hot cup of coffee and enjoying a hearty plate of French toast and baked feta eggs justify the chilly 15-20 minute walk that I just pulled off. The best brunch places in NYC have a menu as impressive as an apple pecan and as indulgent as a cinnamon roll. Once I have gobbled up my food, I down it all with a slug of mimosa or an Irish coffee, but still want to try out the tiramisu.
Does it sound like it’s worth all the hype? I’d say so! There is a lot to be said about the best brunch spots in NYC on my list, so let’s continue our conversation as I trot from one brunch place to the next.
Penelope
159 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016, United States
+1 212-481-3800
In a city where daily routines are defined by visits to eateries from morning to night, you can expect an all-day café and bakery serving the best brunch in New York to be lined with full tables and hungry patrons all the time.
The packed crowd at Penelope is greeted with signature breakfast, entrees, burgers, sammys, pasta, dessert and salad bowls, and the Penelope favorites such as Maria’s Chicken Meatballs and Very Veggie Chili.
The freshly baked doughs and farmer’s harvests at this brunch spot always surprise me with the chefs’ passion for American comfort food and local ingredients. The brunch is served until 4 pm – wear your coziest T-shirts and flip-flops to dine in this welcoming brunch place.
Jane Restaurant West Village
100 W Houston Street, New York, NY 10012, United States
+1 212-254-7000
Visit in spring, summer or winter, this lively American bistro is one of the best brunch places in NYC attracting people from all over the city. Pass through the beautiful Housten street and you will find one of the best brunches in NYC.
It is a good brunch place known for easygoing staff and seasonally inspired menus. The brunch is available every Wednesday to Friday from 11 am to 4:30 pm, and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 am to 4:30 pm.
A huge counter wraps around one side serving beverages while tables are dotted throughout the place so that you can meet your brunch munchies in a laid-back style, such as Buttermilk Biscuits, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Tuna Tartare Tacos, Jane Benedict, and so much more.
Buvette Gastrotheque
42 Grove Street, New York, NY 10014, United States
+1 212-255-3590
You would be forgiven for thinking that you are actually in a Parisian bistro when you visit this vibrant brunch restaurant in NYC. Exposed brick walls, artistic décor, and wrought iron furniture – reminiscent of an old world café in France – give an authentic vibe to this place.
They take their reputation seriously here, working with seasonal ingredients and quality produce, and the result is their famous French small-plates with a number of brunch specials. It is the best brunch spot in NYC to enjoy classic French scones, almond croissants, madeleines, and Légumes.
If you see these items on the menu, don’t forget to order them and you will realize why there is always a crowd of hungry guests waiting outside this brunch spot.
Bubby’s
120 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013, United States
+1 212-219-0666
Those in the know of the best brunch spots in NYC are aware of this weekend brunch spot that has been serving delicious meals to its people for decades. Their homestyle American foods – made from scratch – are known for their simple and fresh flavors.
While many consider it to have the best brunch in New York, as soon as I spot their soft shell blue crab sandwich or an 1890 sourdough, I cannot help but agree with them. Or if you see that double beef patty burger with hand cut fries, don’t hesitate to order it with coleslaw and a salad.
The brunch is served between 8 am to 4 pm, but the last seating is at 3:45 pm so make sure that you secure your place before that. We can’t be too careful when it comes to delicious food and drinks.
Mom’s Kitchen and Bar
701 9th Avenue, New York, NY 10019, United States
+1 646-657-0080
The all-day brunch menu at Mom’s promises honey dripping Mac & Cheese pancakes, scrambled eggs pancake burritos, jumbo Cajun cheesy shrimps, chive-mascarpone breakfast sandwich, grilled strip steak & eggs, and much more.
All the ingredients are of top-notch quality – the turkey bacon has the right amount of salty, smoky, and meaty flavors. The Mom’s home fries make for a delicious side – add on one of the 9 brunch sides to your meal and watch how it transforms into the best brunch in NYC.
From the glossy streets of Midtown NYC, enter this bright and warm brunch spot with a casual ambiance letting you sit and enjoy your meal as you watch the cars pass by from the huge windows.
Egg Shop
151 Elizabeth Street, New York, NY 10012, United States
+1 646-666-0810
In contrast to most of the moody and dark brunch restaurants, Egg Shop has quite a bright ambiance with walls painted in colorful patterns and French doors letting in maximum sunlight to bathe the wooden chairs and tables.
Egg Shop is one of the best brunch restaurants in NYC taking an intimate approach to creative egg recipes including sausage egg & cheese, ricotta scramble, smoked salmon benedict and English muffin with poached eggs. It’s a good brunch place to try out exciting elixirs and juices such as turmeric latte, iced matcha spritz, and cucumber cooler.
The diner is approached by brunch enthusiasts and creative foodies who are here to partake in the healthy and organic cooking by the chefs. The signature and playful recipes are very homestyle and will surely put a smile on your face early in the morning.
Dudleys
85 Orchard Street, New York, NY 10002, United States
+1 212-925-7355
Dark and wooden ceilings, blue paneled counters and walls, iron-wrought furniture and ambient lights – this is one of the best brunch places in NYC which is all a merger of neighborhood friendliness and a pub and bistro style eatery designed to share the best meals of your day with family and friends.
This brunch spot is always crowded by locals and tourists looking for a laid-back dining space. They are here to enjoy one of the best brunches in NYC available until 4 pm.
Freshly baked banana bread, house granola with Greek yogurt, winter truffle, smoked salmon benedict, and tasty brunch sides such as Brussels sprouts and truffle fries are all cooked and served in a very American style, along with an Australian punch.
Sarabeth’s
40 Central Park South, 59th Street Between 5th And 6th Avenues, New York, NY 10019, United States
+1 212-826-5959
The creative, very American, and the best brunch in NYC at Sarabeth’s is served every Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 4 pm.
Say “bon appétit!” and begin your meals with a fruity Four Flowers Smoothie, make your way to the Breakfast Bowl with smoked salmon and avocados, taste some popovers served with local greens such as the Wild Mushroom Scramble, and don’t let the eggs and omelets grow cold as well – the Sarabeth’s Quiche is not something to be taken for granted.
Don’t forget to give the Seafood Cobb Salad a chance too – it has your favorite seafood bites in a single bowl including crab meat, Maine lobster, and shrimp, along with blue cheese and avocados.
Sunday in Brooklyn
348 Wythe Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11249, United States
+1 347-222-6722
This seemingly unpretentious eatery looking like a plain ol’ good brunch place in NYC is actually very stunning from the inside. Tucked away in Wythe Avenue, Sunday in Brooklyn is one of the best brunch places in NYC recognized internationally for their innovative brunches.
Make your way upstairs to the dining room and heated outdoor garden, and you will find a range of eclectic brunch offerings – Ofira’s Pita & Hummus, Ricotta & Roasted Berry Toast, Mediterranean Salad and the Sunday Burger.
The brunch is available all week from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. The very American eatery is one of the best brunch places in NYC, serving up to 400 people on weekends. Just a heads up – the spots fill up pretty quickly with others like you who have discovered this golden brunch spot. Arrive quickly to reserve a place for you and your friends – you can’t just let go of the delicious brunch menu items that easily.
Parker & Quinn
64 W 39th Street, New York, NY 10018, United States
+1 212-729-0277
Parker & Quinn’s brunch menu is more than just eggs and waffles. These plates are something that you can really get addicted to.
With the first bite of an appetizer, followed by a spoonful of Gazpacho and then a delectable mimosa, this brunch place will become the reason why you make the habit of skipping breakfast and coming for brunch instead.
Oh, and it’s all worth waiting for the weekend brunch that arrives every Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 3 pm. Simple but delicious recipes are served in a vintage-like ambiance with leather-tufted sofas and wallpaper-laden walls. Parker & Quinn is the reason why New Yorkers have raised the bar so high for all the eateries in the city.
The Smith
1150 Bdwy., New York, NY 10001, United States
+1 212-685-4500
Recent hits in the brunching lifestyle of New Yorkers have given new eateries in New York a chance to stand out, but only a few can compete with the pros. Boasting four stunning locations across the city, The Smith has one mission, and that is to prove itself as the best brunch place in NYC working closely with purveyors and farmers to serve food that people actually crave.
The weekend brunch hits the menu every Saturday and Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm. And the menu isn’t an ordinary affair of eggs, French toast, and pancakes.
Here you will find raw bar menu items like oysters, shellfish, and seafood platters with chilled shrimps and spicy salmon tartare. You will come across shrimp cocktails and cinnamon sugar donuts, Blistered Shishito Peppers, and goat cheese omelets, all items that successfully steal the show.
Clinton St. Baking Company
4 Clinton Street, New York, NY 10002, United States
+1 646-602-6263
As soon as I saw their Insta famous blueberry pancakes, I knew I had to try out Clinton St. Baking Company, claiming to be one of the best brunch spots in NYC. Brunch all day, any day from Monday to Sunday, from 9 am to 4 pm, with a delicious pastry display letting you know that you are in for a treat.
The talented chefs pop out delicious food items that you can either dine in for, take out, or get delivered to your doorstep. The brunch menu features a healthy and fresh Southern Breakfast, hearty Pancakes with Warm Maple Butter, Latke Eggs Benedict, and the cheesy and toasted Clinton St. Cheeseburger.
Though you can order in, it is best to sit inside the elegant and spacious ambiance and taste the dishes hot and fresh. It is indeed one of the best brunches in NYC that can be mistaken for a Michelin-star dining experience.
Sadelle’s New York
463 W Bdwy., New York, NY 10012, United States
+1 212-254-3000
Sadelle’s is a vintage style brunch restaurant in NYC, which totally makes sense, as it is situated in the heart of SoHo. Considering the intimate and refined approach they are taking to make them the best brunch place in NYC, the sliced-to-order house salmon, tuna salads and bagels, Freddy’s salad and Leo Omelete are worth waiting for.
There isn’t a lot of distraction here. Simple, no fuss dining space along with an outdoor area with small tables and patio umbrellas makes it all the better to focus on what’s on your plate.
The precise flavors and friendly dining you are about to experience look deceptively simple, but once you take a bite, there is no going back. You will be trapped forever in the charm and delicious recipes of this brunch spot in NYC.
The Grey Dog – Nolita
244 Mulberry Street, New York, NY 10012, United States
+1 212-966-1060
Breakfasts and brunches at The Grey Dog happen until 3 pm on weekdays and 4 pm on weekends. The chefs have an expert hand with the American classics, using hearty and healthy ingredients, and always focusing on simple and wholesome ingredients.
The Grey Dog’s Breakfast, with French toast, eggs any style, home fries, sausage and avocado are just for $19, and a steal deal in my opinion.
It’s a good brunch place on Mulberry Street and has other brunch classics, too, such as Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Philly Cheesesteak Wrap, Egg & Cheese Croissants, and Chilaquiles that pair beautifully with the desserts (carrot cake, apple crumb, and others), and the drinks too such as the Matcha Latte and Decaf Americano. Add $5 and make it a bottomless coffee. And it will become the best brunch in New York that you will ever have.
Friend Of A Farmer
77 Irving Pl, New York, NY 10003, United States
+1 212-477-2188
American country cooking is out in full force, as we can see from the best brunch places in NYC. Most of these eateries offer brunch specials in their most practical form but hear me out. This is where Friend of a Farmer steps in. The food served in farmhouse quarters is a pure farm-to-table sensation, with local and fresh ingredients, unlike anything you have had before.
The moment I stepped in, I knew that this vibe and ambiance was a result of a thoughtful movement. Wooden columns, fireplaces and exposed wooden beams on the roof, straw baskets hanging from the ceilings all gave a rustic farmhouse vibe to the whole place.
It’s the best brunch place in New York to find a change from the urban eateries. The brunch menu has everything from hearty soups and quiches to cornbread waffles and southwestern omelets. Pair them with a delicious hot or cold beverage such as organic tea, cranberry juice, or lemonade.
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