The best breakfast spots in New York City

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What is it? This new Beverly Hills import is already attracting lines of hungry New Yorkers eager for an easy-eating, California-style Chinese chicken salad; tuna in tender butter lettuce cups with herbs, cucumber and spicy mustard; and more meals that hint at that healthful California sunshine that we’re all too stubborn to enjoy year-round.  

Why we love it: Everything on the menu is pleasingly simple, from egg whites surrounded by fanned avocado, heirloom tomatoes and bright, soft pea tendrils with dill to a stack of not-too-sweet gluten-free banana pancakes made with almond flour, oats, vanilla and honey. 

Time Out tip: They don’t open until 9am, so you’ll need to grab your coffee elsewhere before walking quickly over (this is still New York, after all) for a very LA breakfast burrito stuffed with avocado and hash browns. 

Address: 210 6th Ave, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Daily 9am–5pm

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What is it? Does Park Slope have…lines now? It would appear so, partly thanks to Vato’s viral burnt ends burritos, cinnamon rolls and crackly, colorful conchas. If you head there super-early, you might just manage to beat the crowds. Grab a few slim burritos (their flour tortillas, which the team perfected at Michelin-starred Corima, are worth waiting for) and a bag of pastries before heading to Prospect Park for a full breakfast spread. 

Why we love it: If the burritos sell out by the time you get to the front of the line, don’t fret. The cinnamon roll might be the best thing on the menu, even in a neighborhood packed with excellent takes on the form. Vato’s is absolutely gigantic, topped with gooey, vanilla-flecked frosting and so good you’ll hate to share it. 

Time Out tip: Grab a ten-pack of tortillas to go. Pop in some beans and cheese, and you’ve got yourself tomorrow’s breakfast, too. 

Address: 226 7th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11215

Opening hours: Mon, Thu–Sun, 7am–3pm

What is it? This adorable, intimate French cafe tucked behind a coffee counter is ideal for cozy catchups with a friend, long breakfasts for one or just a spot to grab a double espresso and a pain au chocolat. It’s owned by the same folks who run The Mulberry cocktail bar, where the likes of Margot Robbie and Brad Pitt have been spotted in the private room. 

Why we love it: Their daytime menu skews super classic, with good bread, salty butter and spicy radishes; a ham-and-egg sandwich with Gruyère and fig jam; and a croque monsieur or madame on brioche. Even the egg soldiers are elegant here, served in silver egg cups with a handful of chives and a sprinkle of salt. 

Time Out tip: The coffee counter opens at 9am on weekends, but breakfast isn’t served until 10:30am. Then again, if you’re in the mood for an early hanger steak or shrimp cocktail, hanging out with a matcha for an hour isn’t the worst way to spend a Sunday morning.

Address: 240 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012

Opening hours: Tue–Thu, Fri, 8am–10pm; Sat, 9am–10pm; Sun, 9am–5pm

What is it? This small shop is dedicated to congee, which the menu makes clear is made in a “non-traditional style”: a slow-cooked blend of white rice, brown rice, red quinoa, medjool dates and fresh ginger. Choose from toppings like Chinese sausages and aromatic golden sambal. 

Why we love it: Head straight to the “Breakfast Ritual” section of the menu, where the “Morning Glow” congee comes topped with avocado, soft egg and shallots, and the “Awaken” congee packs in even more protein with braised chicken. You can also go for Maya’s version of the BEC, a brioche bun stuffed with rich pork floss, scrambled eggs, cheese and vibrant chili oil. 

Time Out tip: Both locations have a small collection of shoppable goods, including five-spice powder, jasmine rice, black vinegar, and fish sauce, so you can try your hand at making a big bowl of breakfast congee at home. 

Address: Multiple locations

Opening hours: Thu–Mon, 10am–4pm

What is it? This buzzy Korean diner from Sam Yoo recalls NYC's diners of yore. It has swivel stools at the counter, nostalgic light fixtures and breakfast treats including homemade granola with flax seeds and orange zest, fluffy honey butter pancakes and a perfectly green coffee cake made with matcha and hojicha. 

Why we love it: Laidback enough for an easygoing breakfast but delicious enough to make it a destination—what more could you want from a diner? If you’re in the mood for standard greasy spoon fare, get two eggs served with home fries, bacon and toast, or branch out to the mushroom reuben quesadilla, filled with pastrami-spiced portobellos and sauerkraut, then served with Russian dressing for a mind-blowing mid-morning umami bomb. 

Time Out tip: If there’s a special, order it. You can (and frankly, you should) still order honey butter pancakes for the table. 

Address: 123 Madison Street, New York, NY 10002

Opening hours: Daily 9am–10pm

What is it? A third-generation, family-owned Ukrainian restaurant that first opened in 1954, Veselka remains one of New York City's favorite breakfast spots. Comfort foods like borscht and pierogies are beloved by NYU students, late-night partiers refueling with a midnight bite and everyone who remembers what New York used to be like, no matter when that was.  

Why we love it: Veselka serves breakfast all day, including a weekday-only breakfast bowl special with four boiled potato pierogi, two eggs any way and your choice of bacon, sausage, kielbasa or avocado. A side of burachky, a beet-and-horseradish salad, cuts through the richness with its earthy tang. 

Time Out tip: While Veselka no longer operates around the clock, you can get your fix 24/7 with a bag of their frozen pierogies to take home. 

Address: Multiple locations 

Opening hours: Vary by location 

What is it? If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to hang out at the Chelsea Hotel in its 1960s heyday, this French bistro will give you a taste of that bohemian aesthetic. (Although if you’re an actual bohemian, you’ll have to look elsewhere: Jack Kerouac might roll, scroll-style, in his grave if he saw two eggs and toast soldiers go for $21.)

Why we love it: The menu offers a solid breakfast selection for impressing dates and out-of-towners or a morning meeting on the company card. An excellent, simple herbed omelette with salad and a pain perdu stuffed with mascarpone and drenched in cognac-warmed syrup might be even more fun than the see-and-be-seen crowd. 

Time Out tip: If you’re willing to brave weekend brunch, you’ll be rewarded with a raw bar with oysters, lobster and mussels; a classic steak tartare with dijon and egg yolk; and Petrossian Royal Oyster Caviar. It’s a far cry from Sid and Nancy’s go-to orders, but they probably weren’t up before noon, anyway. 

Address: 218 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 7am–11pm; Fri, Sat, 7am–midnight

What is it? This pint-sized Japanese kissaten-style café punches way above its square footage with transcendent toasts topped with sweet red bean and butter; honey, lemon and mint; or spicy cod caviar with a savory schmear of mayo.  

Why we love it: Pair your breakfast with a subtly nutty azuki latte, matcha with jiggly coffee jellies, a Kyoto-style cold brew—smoother, richer and more caffeinated, thanks to its long steeping time—and other exciting ways to get your morning caffeine fix. 

Time Out tip: Don’t be afraid to let your phone eat first. Everyone else will be doing it, and the berry and cream cheese toast’s checkered pattern of red and white is basically begging for it. 

Address: 102 Suffolk St, New York, NY 10002

Opening hours: Daily: Cafe, 8am–6pm; Restaurant, 9:30am–5pm

What is it? This café serves Nyonya comfort food, drawing mainly on Chinese and Malaysian flavors, with Portuguese, Dutch and British influences. The all-day Malaysian breakfast menu includes nasi lemak, a transportive spread of fragrant coconut rice, crunchy fried anchovies and peanuts, a hard-boiled egg and bright-red sambal, plus thick toast spread with pandan-coconut jam and butter or coated in custard and peanut sugar and then pan-fried. 

Why we love it: Pan mee, a big bowl of noodles hand-pulled to order and served with or without broth, is one of the best ways to wake up in NYC. Minced pork, anchovies and two kinds of mushrooms make for a salty, spicy bowl with a kick that rivals your morning cortado. 

Time Out tip: Skip the coffee and go for the traditional drinks like bright pink iced bandung with rose syrup and condensed milk, creamy fresh soy milk and the Milo Dinosaur, a Malaysian treat of iced Milo topped with even more Milo powder. 

Address: 151 E Broadway, New York, NY, 10002

Opening hours: Daily 10am–10pm

What is it? This colorful Jew-ish café, the little sister of Gertrude’s, recently reopened after relocating from Williamsburg to Prospect Heights. Sandwiches are the heroes here, with classics like a tuna melt made extra zippy with a swipe of preserved lemon mayo and chicken salad studded with potato chips and served on sliced challah.  

Why we love it: Belly up to the latke bar, where you’ll get three per order of petite potato pancakes topped with apple butter and sour cream, pickled herring and mustard, smoked salmon and hot honey mayo and more surprising (and not-so-surprising) combos. 

Time Out tip: They don’t serve the seven-layer black-and-white cake that turned Gertrude’s into a destination (and Gertrude’s doesn’t serve it at 9am—trust us, we’ve asked), but they do have a pastry case filled with chocolate babka and apple cake for a grab-and-go breakfast.  

Address: 602 Vanderbilt Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Opening hours: Daily 8am–4pm

What is it? This old-world café from Rita Sodi and Jody Williams opens at 8am for those of us who could use a little escapism before we face the realities of modernity. 

Why we love it: Early on the weekday is among the better times to get a table at the perpetually popular Buvette. And what could be more luxurious than a Wednesday morning spent lingering over the sunny-side egg on a croque madame in one of the best French restaurants in all of New York City? At the right hour, daylight pours onto the pressed-tin ceilings and rows of champagne coupes, turning that Madeleine you’re eating into an actual Proustian experience. 

Time Out tip: Weekend brunch at Buvette is a madhouse, but we wouldn’t blame you for being willing to wait in a line that starts at 7:30 in the morning. Simple meals of eggs, prosciutto and parmesan and potted salmon with radishes and butter lettuce come alive in their expert hands. (Plus, they make a Bloody Mary with such a kick of horseradish it’ll make you come alive.) 

Address: 42 Grove St, New York, NY 10014

Opening hours: Daily 8am–midnight

What is it? One of New York's last remaining kosher dairy restaurants, this venerable, 400-square-foot lunch counter still serves the kosher dairy dishes that have been beloved by New Yorkers since 1938. 

Why we love it: Our favorite breakfast here rings up at just $10.50 for two eggs any style, home fries, homemade challah, orange juice and coffee or tea. And for just seven bucks, you can get a warm bowl of oatmeal along with your juice and choice of pick-me-up. 

Time Out tip: B&H Dairy is one of the few places in NYC where you can still order an egg cream. Stop us if you’ve heard this before, but they’re made with neither egg nor cream. Instead, they’re made with milk, seltzer and chocolate syrup, making it a frothy throwback to a time when a drink used to cost a nickel. 

Address: 127 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 7am–11pm

What is it? This all-day bistro specializing in Mediterranean dishes is a daytime staple for W Village Girl influencers and those who have been influenced by W Village Girls. Easy to like and easy to photograph, the breakfast menu includes grapefruit, mint and granola with Lebanese yogurt; rosewater waffles with honey syrup; and a breakfast bowl with kale, red quinoa, spaghetti squash and two eggs. 

Why we love it: Jack’s Wife Freda is, admittedly, adorable, with five locations featuring details like green leather banquettes, brass railings and marble counters. If you’re brunching with a big group or need a spot where everyone will find something to like (even, say, your picky niece or your pickier father-in-law), it’s a spot that’s sure to come through. 

Time Out tip: Last-minute brunch reservations are pretty easily had, but walking in at prime time in Manhattan may result in a bit of a wait. 

Address: Multiple locations

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 8:30am–10pm; Fri, Sat 8:30am–11pm; Sun 8:30am–9pm

What is it? One of New York's most iconic bagel institutions, Russ & Daughters is a packed appetizing shop known as much for its lox and whitefish as its crowds calling for more of them. The original location of Russ & Daughters has been serving New Yorkers since 1914, and they’ve since opened more locations, including a sit-down cafe by the original, a sprawling store and factory in Brooklyn’s Navy Yard, and a midtown shop with casual booths to sit and enjoy your pumpernickel.

Why we love it: We favor the “Sandwiches and Schmears” section of the menu across locations. Choose a classic bagel with Gaspe Nova smoked salmon, the “Mensch” with butter and sturgeon on a bagel or bialy or the “Fancy Delancey” with smoked tuna, horseradish dill cream cheese and wasabi flying fish roe. 

Time Out tip: At the latest production facility in the Navy Yard, you can watch through the windows as they bake and braid their challah and roll up their raspberry, cinnamon and chocolate rugelach. 

Address: Multiple locations

Opening hours: Varies by location 

What is it? This locally beloved eatery, despite having moved from its original location, still has the oodles of incredible options that made it famous. (Well, that and the dearly departed Kenny Shopsin himself, who was once identified in this publication as Shopsin’s “foul-mouthed, middle-aged chef and owner”).

Why we love it: The "Pancakeland" section offers over two dozen options, while “Eggland” section offers up alphabetized “Name Plates,” from the classic Abc (chicken, sausage gravy, scrambled eggs and grits) to the Zebra (egg whites, veggie links, black beans, rice). It might take you a while to try them all, since Shopsin's is only open about six hours a day, five days a week. 

Time Out tip: Overwhelmed by the breadth and depth of the menu? The "Special Pancakes" really are something special, so you might as well start there. Get your hotcakes griddled with coconut sweet rice, cashew white chocolate chip and even mac and cheese with chorizo. 

Address: 88 Essex St, New York, NY 10002

Opening hours: Wed–Fri 9am–3pm; Sat, Sun 10am–4pm

What is it? This hip, throwback-style diner at the edge of Transmitter Park serves up dishes inspired by the 1940s radio era. In fact, the furniture and fixtures are all actual originals that hail from nearly 100 years ago. 

Why we love it: The breakfast menu is small but mighty, including poached eggs with harissa and yogurt, merguez in a blanket and griddle sandwiches made with tofu, smoky pork or classic ham and egg. If you’re feeling snacky, go for the “Jars,” which are served all day: yogurt and walnut, roasted garlic and feta and pepper are made to be spread on their toasty bread. 

Time Out tip: Dessert is available all day, too, so you can grab a boozy pistachio tiramisu or sesame almond oat shake while you watch the morning sun play over Manhattan, just across the river. 

Address: 13 Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222

Opening hours: Sun–Thu 8am–10pm; Fri, Sat, 8am–11:30pm