Best for breakfast

Grilled Three Cheese Sandwich at The Breslin
This golden grilled cheese makes for an awfully rich breakfast, but morning is still the best time to order it. Three different curds—raclette (cow), montrachet (goat) and Idiazabal (sheep)—constitute the gooey center, contained within thick, griddled slices of Parmesan-encrusted bread. Though the sandwich is available throughout the day, a runny egg—available during breakfast and brunch services only—pulls the whole thing together. Ace Hotel, 16 W 29th St between Broadway and Fifth Ave (212-679-1939, thebreslin.com). With egg $18.

Pesce spada affumicato at Maialino
Chef Nick Anderer's Italian ode to the classic New York breakfast—bagels and lox—features translucent slices of smoked swordfish. Standing in for cream cheese—smooth, milky robiola—plus ciabatta toasts, pickled red onions, caper berries and a lemon-dressed mizuna salad. Gramercy Park Hotel, 2 Lexington Ave at 21st St (212-777-2410). $15.

Egg-sausage sandwich at M. Wells
Breakfast's staple sammie rises above its greasy-spoon roots at this pastel-hued diner, where a fluffy, homemade English muffin holds a slab of unctuous Berkshire pork sausage, cheddar and tomato, plus pickled jalapeos to brighten it up. 21-17 49th Ave at 21st St, Long Island City, Queens (718-425-6917, mwellsdiner.com). $8.

Pork 'n' Eggs at Papacito's Brooklyn
Papacito's Mexican street food version of the classic breakfast combo features blistered red peppers and molten poached eggs melting into lightly fried white rice and piquant chili verde—tender pork stewed with tomatillos, jalapeos, cilantro and garlic. 999 Manhattan Ave between Green and Huron Sts, Greenpoint, Brooklyn (718-349-7292, papacitosbrooklyn.com) $8.

Build-a-Biscuit at Peels
Most breakfast sandwiches trade on simplicity—fried eggs, American cheese—but the a.m. option at Peels is a bit more interesting. A buttery, freshly baked biscuit cradles a mound of scrambled organic eggs, plus a choice of cheeses (nutty cave-aged cheddar, Vermont Swiss), meats (crisp, fatty applewood-smoked bacon, house-made sausage) or a fruity smear of the restaurant's own seasonal jams. The substantial result tastes better than your corner deli's offerings, and is sure to keep you full until lunch. 325 Bowery at 2nd St (646-602-7015). $2--$8, depending on ingredients.

Taco de huevo, nopal, poblano y papa at Tacombi NYC
Less of a gut bomb than huevos rancheros but more coma-inducing than an egg-white omelette, this breakfast taco delivers morning sustenance without sacrificing the spice. The mixture of scrambled organic eggs and crunchy strips of cactus, poblano pepper and sauted potato is swaddled in a steaming flour tortilla and finished with a squirt of green tomatillo salsa. 267 Elizabeth St between E Houston and Prince Sts (917-727-0179, tacombi.com). $3.68.

Egg-in-a-nest at Traif
If a bacon-egg-and-cheese is the go-to cure for a PBR hangover, this baroque brunch-time panino is the champagne drinker's morning-after remedy. Meaty portobellos, melted Brie and bchamel make up the decadent filling. Crowning the creation: a fried, runny egg and an earthy, aromatic spread of truffle cream. 229 South 4th St between Havemeyer and Roebling Sts, Williamsburg, Brooklyn (347-844-9578, traifny.com). $9.