The 44 best brunch spots in NYC right now

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.

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

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.

This fantastic western Turkish newcomer's titular fifteen items at brunch include choice of egg preparation, plus a wide variety of sweet and savory tastes, served family style for $27 per person (mimimum two). Eggs with two sides are also available for $22.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

Named for a famed Canadian hotdog shop and located a short distance from the Greenpoint waterfront, Chez Ma Tante's European-influenced menu includes pâté varieties, pig head terrine with egg and quiche in comfortable environs. 

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. 

Cantaloupe mimosas, bloody marys and even espresso martinis pair splendidly with plates of green shakshuka and poached eggs with grilled tomato and haloumi at Jack's Wife Freda. Sandwiches, salads and substantial mains are also available at its four NYC loations. 

Even if you head to Leland Eating and Drinking House earlier in the day desirous of the excellent dinner items like trout rillettes that also appear in the afternoon, its brunch-only options are enticing. Go ahead and try a sourdough cinnamon bun and the egg sandwich with cheddar and arugula. You can always come back after dark. 

New to Brooklyn by way of Los Angeles and Manhattan, the Carroll Gardens edition of Breakfast by Salt's Cure is best for those free-day weekdays, as it can carry a wait on Saturdays and Sundays. Take a WFH break over great griddle cakes, eggs, ham and hashbrowns. 

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. 

This is the Chez Ma Tante team's lobby takeover of the Wythe Hotel that even locals can love. You’ll find croissants, oeufs en meurette and roast chicken on the French-American menu. Chocolate mousse and crème brûlée are available for dessert.

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. 

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. 

Kokomo's a favorite any time of day, and it's especially beloved for its brunch. Kick off the weekend with plates like oxtail flatbread, chicken and waffles and sweet plantain pancakes.

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. 

This pocket of midtown got a welcome new brunch option when All & Sundry opened last year. The warm, pretty spot includes BECs, Benedicts, French toast and croque madame among its offerings. 

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. 

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. 

Ed’s Lobster Bar, from Pearl Oyster Bar's longtime sous chef, nails summery seafood plates, and makes them a real treat for brunch. Lobster rolls and clam chowder satify and spark dreams of seaside vacations.  

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.

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.   

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

One of the best restaurants in Queens, Casa Enrique's brunch includes guacamole with house made totopos, tortas, enchiladas, chilaquiles and eggs many ways. The highly regarded repeat award-winner serves it all weekend long outside and in. 

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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.