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Photograph: Time Out / Ali Garber

The 45 best brunch spots in NYC right now

The best brunch in NYC includes boozy specials, old-school New York gems and all-day cafés.

Amber Sutherland-Namako
Written by
Amber Sutherland-Namako
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The best brunch in NYC can be found every day of the week. Saturday brunch is the best time to gear up for the night ahead, Sundays are perfect for relaxing and a weekday brunch is a rarefied treat designated for ad hoc time off.

It doesn’t matter so much when you do it, but where you do it. And whether you skew more toward the breakfast or lunch ends of the portmanteau’s spectrum, toward coffee or mimosas, these are the best brunch destinations in NYC. 

RECOMMENDED: Full guide to the best restaurants in NYC

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Time Out Market New York
Clinton St. Baking Company
  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Lower East Side
  • price 2 of 4

If we could brunch every day, we would do it in heart beat, and you'd find us at Clinton St. Baking Company. We never tire of the pancakes and breakfast-as-dinner fare, so, naturally, we invited it to hold court at Time Out Market New York. 

Best brunch in NYC

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Downtown Brooklyn
  • Recommended

The beautiful revival of Gage & Tollner was one of the best new restaurants of 2021, and if you still can’t get a reservation for dinner, please join us in line. Or, book for an afternoon, instead! Although they have elected to title it the latter half of brunch’s portmanteau, Gage & Tollner recently expanded its house to include Friday, Saturday and Sunday service from 11:30am to 4:30pm. Eggs and bacon join several selections from the standard menu, and they’ve created a new burger exclusively for these earlier hours. So far lunch is also considerably less competitive; there was plenty of availability for pop-ins on a recent Sunday.

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Fort Greene
  • Recommended

Sailor was last year's buzziest restaurant, and, not unrelated possibly its hardest to get into. It quietly added brunch service to its hours last month, with menu items like vanilla sugared doughnuts, a soft omelette with goat gouda and a burger with melted onions and cheddar. 

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Soho
  • Recommended

More of a nod than a revival, Milady’s takes its name from the popular dive bar that occupied its space for decades until 2014. The new occupant is as terrific as it is different than before, with tip-tip cocktails, one of the best burgers in New York City, and brunch that happens to include both, plus a lobster Benedict, truffled egg toast and omelette. 

  • Bars
  • Lounges
  • Cobble Hill
  • price 2 of 4

Just off Atlantic Avenue in Cobble Hill, Henry Public has old-timey Kings County environs without getting themey about it. The bar and large booths up front are comfortable (the tiny tables near the windows, less-so), the roomy back can accommodate larger parties (reservations are accepted for 6+), and, in addition to eggs several ways, burgers and French toast, this place makes the best turkey sandwich you'll ever have. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Financial District

Famed chef Daniel Boulud's Le Gratin was awarded five Time Out stars (an infrequent occurrence) after opening in a lovely space at the Beekman hotel last year. It introduced brunch even more recently, serving oodles of oeufs, croques madame and monsieur a few some dinner menu favorites, too. 

  • Restaurants
  • East Village

One may deign to day drink, or one may rise and imbibe at Sidney’s Five. The terrific East Village bar and restaurant has a whole martini menu any time, and its morning variety, with gin, lemon, cointreau and orange marmalade, is an elegant a.m. option. Pair it with buttermilk pancakes with fresh peaches, whipped peach butter and rosemary maple syrup for a decadent weekend treat. Sidney's Five also recently introduced drag brunch.

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  • Restaurants
  • Italian
  • Lower East Side
  • price 2 of 4

This narrow trattoria has been operating on Ludlow Street since 2007, and its bottomless brunch is still best in class. For $40, you’ll sip unlimited sparkling white wine or mimosas along with plates of pancakes, pasta and crispy chicken sandwiches. There’s a 90 minute limit like most brunches of this ilk, but service is unrushed and it's probably good to set your limits this early, anyway.

  • Restaurants
  • Diners
  • Two Bridges

A kind of diner revival by Sam Yoo, previously of Momofuku Ko and Torrisi, Golden was the best of a mini-bunch to revisit the classic genre in 2019. Its egg sandwiches on sesame scallion milk buns, omelettes, and green tea coffee cake are still ace.

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  • Bars
  • Beer bars
  • Astoria
  • price 2 of 4

This Astoria staple serves brunch inside and across two outdoor areas all weekend from 10am until 4pm. The breakfast nachos with bacon, black beans, avocado, sausage gravy, cheese and jalapeño are a must "for the table," and you can unlimit your drinks with a $25 add-on. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Mexican
  • Carroll Gardens
  • price 1 of 4

One of the best rooftop restaurants in NYC, Alma’s brunch offerings include fun frozen cocktails, peak form margaritas, chilaquiles to rival any other and a fortifying arroz con queso. Its hot sauce options are some of the best in town, and both of its two floors boast a casually beautiful view of lower Manhattan and the East River. 

  • Restaurants
  • Jackson Heights

First opened in 2018, this Northern Boulevard charmer is lined in long banquettes, with roomy, cozy booths and plenty of seats in the bar area. Hardwood floors shine below and leafy plants and rustic exposed beams are fixed overhead. The menus are frequently updated, and you can expect items to slake any sized group’s varied appetites any time of day. The Queensboro’s present brunch menu includes Spam, egg and cheese sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, burgers and eggs many ways. 

 

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Raoul’s
  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Soho
  • price 4 of 4

Another one of NYC's best restaurants overall, Raoul's pays considerable attention to its brunch menu, too. The stylishly romantic, 48 year-old French destination serves eggs a few ways, soufflé pancakes and its celebrated burgers throughout those fleeting weekend hours. 

  • Restaurants
  • Seafood
  • Financial District

Jean-Georges’ seafood-centric spot at Pier 17 is a stunner. We’re talking NYC movie-moment beautiful, with views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the East River and Brooklyn Bridge Park so close across the glittering water you can almost grab it. The food’s good too, including kicky seafood plateaus, lobster rolls and land items like eggs Benedict and fried chicken. 

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  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Greenpoint
  • price 2 of 4

Five Leaves is often busy, but always worth the wait. This is another spot with a long, crowd-pleasing menu, plus plenty of seats outside. Its brunch menu includes house baked croissants and Aussie rolls, egg sandwiches, salads and burgers. 

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Brooklyn Heights
  • Recommended

A charming corner spot if there ever was one, and deep in the wilds of Brooklyn Heights, Inga’s Bar is a page from storybook New York. The interior is simple and a little rustic, with hardwood floors and a handsome alcove bar. The brief brunch menu includes a double cheeseburger with fries, chilaquiles and an omelette. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Diners
  • East Village
  • price 1 of 4

First opened in the East Village in 1938, B&H Dairy is a 400-square-foot lunch counter that still serves sunny-side-up eggs and pierogi with sides of challah. Its typically tightly packed, so this is your best bet for a quick stop when errands await. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Greenpoint

A good, old fashioned Grand Slam-style breakfast is surprisingly hard to find in NYC, but Stowaway is a fantastic destination for the form. Its Shoreline Breakfast includes a pancake, eggs, hashbrown and choice of breakfast meat. The Hen House adds a fried chicken thigh in lieu of the potatoes. Biscuit sandwiches and lunchier options are also available. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Crown Heights

After opening in a cheerful, sunny spot with sensational style in 2021, Agi’s Counter has continued to expand its fantastic Jewish and Eastern European-influenced menus. Settle in for sensational pastries, tuna melts and multi-item “country club” plates with beautifully arranged bites like cured salmon, chicken liver and pickles. 

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  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Lower East Side
  • price 2 of 4

Freemans is all taxidermy, vintage wallpaper and classic brunch plates, with tons of cocktails to choose from at the end of its eponymous downtown alley. The long menu and communal tables make it great for groups. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Sandwich shops
  • Nolita
  • price 1 of 4

This eggstaurant fries, scrambles, poaches and pickles its organic, locally sourced main ingredient, which tops sandwiches and fills bowls in a pleasant, mint-green scene that sports playful, yolk-related illustrations and ceiling lights shaped like egg cartons.

  • Restaurants
  • Chinese
  • Hell's Kitchen
  • price 1 of 4

The first NYC location of this dim sum darling launched in the East Village in 2016, serving signature baked BBQ pork buns, steamed shrimp dumplings and pan-fried turnip cakes. This Hell's Kitchen outpost is the second in the city. 

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  • Restaurants
  • French
  • Soho
  • price 2 of 4

One of NYC's many retail/restaurant mashups, this stylish sit-down café at Roman and Williams Guild serves crêpes, croques, croissants and other French fare with a side of homewares. It is as comfortably appointed as its environs would suggest. 

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  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Bars
  • Wine bars
  • West Village
  • price 2 of 4
  • Recommended

Fairfax is another sunny Happy Cooking venture in the West Village. It’s a prime place to post up alone with a laptop or with a pal amid-century modern decor in the light of large windows. Egg sandwiches, avocado toast, burgers and carb with fried green tomato are all on the menu. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Mediterranean
  • Soho
  • price 2 of 4

Shuka’s rustic, vibrant menu is inspired by Ayesha Nurdjaja’s travels through Spain and North Africa, as well as her experience on the line at top Tel Aviv kitchens. Moroccan-influenced tiles and textiles accompany a menu full of mezze (fried halloumi, za’atar fries) and dishes like baklava cinnamon rolls, spit roasted chicken shawarma and shakshuka.

  • Restaurants
  • Malaysian
  • Two Bridges

This Malaysian café has an all-day menu of small plates and snacks. Kopitaim’s nasi lemak, the national dish of Malaysia, which includes coconut rice, fried anchovies, cucumber, peanuts, hard boiled egg, side of house sambal sauce, is a comforting way to start the day.   

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  • Restaurants
  • Upper West Side

Variety’s delightful any time, and, in addition to entrées like its Jerusalem bagel with smoked salmon, shakshuka, Israeli breakfast and pancakes with fruit compote, Dagon lets you design your own mezze from options like whipped eggplant, chicken liver mousse and muhammara. 

  • Restaurants
  • Indian
  • East Village
  • price 3 of 4

Brunch at beautiful, jewel-toned Baar Baar includes one large plate and one side for $39. Mix and match options like chili cheese naan, pani puri, bombay masala omelettes and chicken tikka masala. Mimosas, bellinis and sangria are also available by the pitcher for $40. 

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  • Restaurants
  • Japanese
  • Lower East Side
  • price 1 of 4

Head out before cocktail hour this weekend to see the delicious checkerboard that is Davelle's lovely berries and cream toast. Other sweet and savory toasts are also on the menu, plus lots of coffee and tea opetions, beer, wine and sake. 

  • 3 out of 5 stars
  • Restaurants
  • Soul and southern American
  • Williamsburg
  • price 1 of 4
  • Recommended

What began as a few square feet at the back of a bar, this Southern-fried spot run by three chefs, Carolyn Bane, Erika Geldzahler and Sarah Buck, who met working at Diner, retains that DIY, dive-y spirit. Its fried chicken—simply brined, floured and fried—is among the city’s most succulent, with an extra-crispy exterior.

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  • Restaurants
  • Soul and southern American
  • Bedford-Stuyvesant
  • price 1 of 4

Owners Craig Samuel and Ben Grossman (both of The Smoke Joint) tune into greenmarket and upscale Southern concepts at their Bed-Stuy spot. Brunch items include smoked chicken and sausage gumbo, grits with shrimp or blackened catfish and steak and eggs.

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  • Restaurants
  • Californian
  • Chinatown
  • price 2 of 4

The Lower East Side restaurant that launched a thousand tweets (j/k; it's probably like way more) first opened at another location nearby in 2013 before relocating to its present address two years later and way before "Dimes Square" think pieces reached a saturation point. And guess what! You can simply visit for breakfast sandwiches, tacos, bowls and eggs any way without having to write word one about the world outside. 

  • Restaurants
  • Caribbean
  • East Village
  • price 2 of 4

Cod fritters, jerk chicken and coconut pancakes are among the entrées at this downtown Caribbean restaurant. Pait them with cocktails like the One Love bellini (sparkling rosé, pineapple and peach) and Lily’s rum punch (pineapple, orange and cranberry) or share a pitcher of punch. 

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  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Chelsea
  • price 2 of 4

Cookshop is great for alfresco dining near the High Line, featuring seasonal, locally sourced dishes and an array of drinks. The Dutch baby with lemon curd is decadent and sweet, and savory options include poached eggs, huevos rancheros and salads. 

  • Restaurants
  • American
  • Williamsburg
  • price 3 of 4

Surprise! Sunday in Brooklyn is open for brunch every day of the week. The rustic space boasts an outdoor patio, private dining room and a rooftop garden. The brunch menu includes items like an egg and cheese sandwich with gochujang aioli and a cheddar scramble with bacon, breakfast sausage, chicken sausage or avocado.

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  • Restaurants
  • Juice bars
  • Nolita
  • price 2 of 4

A one-time humble juice bar is now raw food royalty with bicoastal outposts. NYC's bright café location has a rustic-chic vibe, with blonde-wood counters, white-washed brick, and lush greenery around farm-forward plates. Drinks include super-food smoothies, elixir shots and cold-pressed cocktails.

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