9 Must-Try NYC Brunch Spots: Top-Rated Restaurants for 2024

No place on earth celebrates the weekend brunch more than New York. And it does not matter if you prefer a Saturday or Sunday brunch, breakfast rather than lunch, or vice versa. There are scores of incredible restaurants offering every imaginable brunch dish, making it easy to find what you are looking for. From a diner to French brasserie, Asian-inspired to a hole-in-the-wall that serves eggs 50 different ways, the brunch scene in the Big Apple is second to none. But what would you expect from a city with more than 26,000 restaurants?

To make your search for a brunch restaurant slightly less daunting, here are some of our favorite spots In Manhattan with a couple of Brooklyn standouts included for good measure.

Jack’s Wife Freda

While Jack's Wife Frida do accept reservations, this primarily walk-in chain, now with locations in the West Village, Chelsea, Union Square, Williamsburg in addition to its original bistro in SoHo, is one of New York’s brunch gems. Offering an all-day menu means that you can have breakfast or brunch any time of day from opening to closing (10 p.m.).

Enjoy a bottomless cup of coffee until 4 p.m. while dining on unique American-Mediterranean fare. Highlights include rosewater waffles, green shakshuka with challah toast, grilled eggplant baguette, and their signature Mediterranean breakfast of two eggs any style, labneh, chopped salad, avocado, and pita bread.

SoHo location, 226 Lafayette St. (Spring-Kenmare)

Boucherie

Describing themselves as “a traditional French restaurant that celebrates good food and joie de vive”, meaning an exuberant enjoyment of life, this spectacular brunch spot is one of a kind. With four Manhattan locations, one is bound to be nearby. The restaurants go by varying names including Boucherie Union, Boucherie West Village, La Grande Boucherie in Midtown (the largest location), and Petite Boucherie (the smallest location).

No matter the size of the restaurant that you have chosen, reservations are recommended via Open Table. Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., so there’s no rush to jump out of bed in the morning. Beyond the magical French cuisine, each spot features wall with wooden-framed mirrors, original Belle Epoque posters, white tiled walls, white marble and wood tables, burgundy leather booths, and a stunning pewter bar.

The brunch menu at Boucherie features oysters, clams, and other fresh seafood, les ouefs (a myriad of egg dishes), a wonderful ham (jambon) and gruyere baguette, and full-fledged dishes from steaks to halibut, scallops, free-range chicken, and a wagyu burger. Be sure to leave room for dessert. The almond or chocolate filled croissants are buttery, flaky, and magnifique!

Midtown, La Grande Boucherie, 145 W. 53 St., (6th – 7th Ave.)

Pastis

Serving brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, this Meatpacking District favorite offers their unique take on the classic French bistro. Whether you stop in for the pastry basket, croissants, or a scone, or a full meal, come hungry as the menu is tantalizing. Perhaps a plate of cheese to start, or one of Pastis’s hors d’oeuvres ranging from crispy artichokes to tuna carpaccio and onion soup.

Brunch mains turn traditional with buttermilk pancakes, French toast, quiche Florentine, and a Gruyere omelet. Of course, there are Croque Monsieur, Croque Madame, and cheeseburger sandwiches, and tempting more lunch than brunch main courses, too.

The casual yet elegant décor at Pastis features a curved zinc bar with subway tiled walls, vintage mirrors, and a mosaic tiled floor. Make sure you check the daily handwritten specials before placing your “usual” order.

52 Gansevoort St.

The Butcher’s Daughter

Vegetables take center stage at this vegetarian plant-forward café that is home to seasonal creations, homemade breads, pastries, and delicious cold-pressed juices. With a healthy emphasis on brunch, The Butcher’s Daughter has two locations in Manhattan – Nolita and the West Village, plus one in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. All are casual, colorful, and inviting, while promoting a healthy lifestyle with nourishing food and locally roasted coffee.

The weekend brunch here is best started with a refreshing cocktail, with or without alcohol, as the Butcher’s Daughter offers bubbly spritzes blended with your favorite juice or try a flight of four (4) different juices. Move on next to a shareable watermelon ‘tuna’ tostada, buckwheat pancakes, a tofu scramble, or the jackfruit ‘crab’ cake Benedict.

The menu here is unlike any other we’ve come across for brunch for vegetarians and vegans. But the creativity is so pronounced that anyone will find several dishes that interest them. Leave room for a smoothie or the sweet, loaded banana bread.

Nolita, 19 Kenmare St. (Bowery – Elizabeth)

Bubby’s

Originating as a bakery making pies for restaurants around town, Bubby’s has been serving healthy and delicious comfort food to diners on the West Side of Lower Manhattan for 32 years. Their goal is, and always has been, to make people more aware of American food, including the contributions made by so many people who have moved here from around the country, and the globe, bringing their recipes with them.

Welcoming everyone who enters as personal guests, Bubby’s wants its patrons to know how what is on their plate got there. From where? Who grew the ingredients? And who created the recipe, whether it be from the South, Mexico, China, or elsewhere. Bubby’s is truly a celebration of cultures that have come together in New York like nowhere else.

Serving an extensive brunch menu daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., the fun menu includes James Beard pancakes, huevos rancheros, buttermilk biscuits, burgers, bagels and lox, a turkey B.A.L.T. (the A is for avocado), salads, a turkey pastrami Reuben, and even matzo ball soup. There is something for everyone here, whether you’re craving cheese grits, fried chicken, an omelet, or tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich. Reservations are accepted except for weekend brunch.

Be sure to leave room for one of their amazing pies.

Tribeca, 120 Hudson St. (SE corner of N. Moore)

Sunday in Brooklyn

Describing themselves quite simply as Sunday in Brooklyn is your favorite neighborhood spot serving American staples,” is a brunch hotspot for Brooklynites and those who venture across the river to check them out. Just minutes from the East River, Sunday in Brooklyn is known for its maple cheddar biscuits, hazelnut maple praline pancakes (OMG!), shakshuka, hot chicken sandwich, and our favorite, the Don Ruben omelette with mole, cremini mushrooms and goat cheese.

The Brooklyn vibe is quite different from that “M” island across the river, and the energy level is palpable. Sure, there are salads, overnight oatmeal, and they make an excellent avocado toast, but the more creative items mentioned above, and others are what caught our attention the first time around. If making a menu choice proves difficult, consider the pancakes which come with brown butter, and then order another shareable.

Sunday in Brooklyn is primarily for walk-ins for weekend brunch.

Williamsburg, 348 Wythe Ave. (SW corner of S. 2nd St.)

Malibu Farm

Serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., Malibu Farm originated in Newport Beach, California, and then added a Hawaii location on the island of Lanai. Opening across the country in New York at South Street Seaport, the restaurant has brought its West Coast cuisine to the Big Apple.

Priding itself on the use of mostly whole wheat flour, whole grains, and an abundance fruits and veggies, Malibu Farm makes it clear that they “use no fake food and no non-fat products.” Everything is fresh, or as close to fresh as possible, and they know where each ingredient came from.

Weekend brunch menu items include hot skillet coconut French toast, organic egg scramble with ricotta and balthazar sourdough, Malibu eggs Benedict, roasted mushroom tacos, and a Malibu vegan salad. Add-ons to this and other salads range from avocado, tofu, and salmon to shrimp, flank steak, and chicken. Have it your way!

There is one thing that very few restaurants can compete with Malibu Farms on, and that is the incredible view of the Brooklyn Bridge and New York waterfront.

89 South St. (2 minutes on foot from South/Fulton St. intersection, NE side of Pier 17 at South Street Seaport)

Maison Pickle

What in the world does a restaurant named “Pickle House” have to offer? Well, if you go with their tagline, “Cocktails and French Dip” you might just choose to go elsewhere. Trust us and don’t make that mistake. This place is special, from the food to the ambiance, you haven’t been to anything like Maison Pickle before.

Beyond their signature French dip sandwiches, Break Bread is surely the most interesting standout from a menu perspective, with five (5) different options to choose from. The huge mound of 10 stuck-together rolls needs a large plate and strong server just to reach you. There’s honey & butter, bread & butter, garlic & parmesan, feta & olive, and the weekends only frosted cinna’nut bun (go early or it will be gone). Depending on your choice, it will be gooey, sticky, savory, buttery, drippy, or some other superlative we have not thought of yet.

As for the rest of the menu at this retro-chic establishment, check out the pickled crudites or salmon or steak tartare starters. Then there are omelets, Texas Toast sandwiches, burgers, croque madame, and a variety of challah French toast options. If you must have a salad there are two available, but after Break(ing) Bread, you may choose to dive into the rest of this calorie-laden menu just for fun.

Fabulous sides for the table include grilled asparagus, Maison frites, and Gruyere fondue with bacon. We have no doubt that you will thoroughly enjoy the comfortable brass and green leather motif that perfectly fits this Upper West Side hotspot.

2315 Broadway (SW corner of 84th St.)

Clinton Street Baking Company

Considered by many to have the absolute best pancakes in the city, this casual standout offers brunch every day of the week until 4 p.m. The menu in Clinton Street Baking Company offers a bit of everything, much like the neighborhood that Clinton Street calls home. Dishes that came from the U.S. South, Mexico, the Southwest U.S., the coast of New England, and of course, Jewish New York, all come together here.

A substantial percentage of the ingredients are made in-house, such as buttermilk biscuits, raspberry jam, as well as the hot habanero sauce and corn tortillas. Freshness is paramount along with sustainability, so the coffee, milk, cage free eggs, heritage farm-raised pork, plus the rich premium ice cream all come from local suppliers who can vouch for the high quality of their products.

The menu reflects the diversity of New York City as well as the wants of the customers who often crave breakfast/brunch comfort foods. If you for some reason do not want pancakes try one of these specialties: Southern breakfast with cheese grits, Spanish scramble, huevos rancheros, Brioche French toast, latke eggs Benedict, or fried chicken and waffles.

Look for the bold red exterior and add this place to your bucket list.

There’s a Brooklyn location in Dumbo at The Time Out Market New York.

4 Clinton St. (Lower East Side, SE corner of E. Houston St., 4 blocks east of Katz’s Deli)

While these nine (9) brunch spots are some of our favorites, there are so many options in New York that others also deserve a mention here. You may also want to consider:

Sarabeth’s – locations on the Upper West Side, Central Park South, Park Avenue South, and Greenwich Village.

Lafayette Grand Café & Bakery – 380 Lafayette St., Greenwich Village

Friend of a Farmer - 77 Irving Pl., Gramercy Park, and 68 W. 71st St., Upper West Side

Little Ruby’s Café – locations in SoHo, the East Village, West Village, and Murray Hill

The Little Owl – 90 Bedford St., West Village (in the Friend’s TV show building)

Incredible food is synonymous with New York City, and brunch is one of the favorite things that New Yorkers do regularly. While visiting you can find brunch any day of the week at many fabulous restaurants, so you don’t have to wait for the weekend. Check online for brunch days and hours, and if possible, we recommend reservations when available.

Bon appetit!