The Best Brunch in New York City

Brunch in New York is a blood sport. We all want the same thing at the same time on the same two days of the week. We want a table for four, we want strong coffee, and we want something fried. The problem is that the city is full of mediocre eggs served in rooms that are too loud, charging too much money for the privilege of waiting an hour on the sidewalk.

But when brunch is good, it is the best meal of the week. It is a time to recap Friday night, plan Saturday afternoon, and eat foods that blur the line between breakfast and dessert. We put together this list to help you avoid the bad ones. These are the rooms where the food actually matches the hype, the drinks are made with care, and the wait is justified.

The Classics

These places are the brunch establishment, the names you already know for a reason.

Balthazar

SoHo · 80 Spring St · $$$ WebsiteMap

Keith McNally's Soho brasserie is the one place we will allow the word iconic. It opened in 1997 and still feels like the center of the universe. The room is loud, the mirrors are distressed, and the steak frites are perfect. You are paying for the theater of it all, and it is worth every dollar for a certain kind of New York morning.

Go for: The seafood tower, a gruyere omelette, and people watching. Know before you go: Dress well. Reservations are essential and book up far in advance.

Clinton St. Baking Company

Lower East Side · 4 Clinton St · $$ WebsiteMap

The lines here used to be the stuff of legend, but they finally modernized. The blueberry pancakes come with a small pitcher of warm maple butter that changes the entire equation. It has been open since 2001 and remains a crucial part of the Lower East Side weekend circuit, and for good reason.

Go for: The wild Maine blueberry pancakes. Know before you go: You can book ahead on Resy, which saves you from waiting an hour on the street. Reservations are released 30 days in advance.

Russ & Daughters Cafe

Lower East Side · 127 Orchard St · $$ WebsiteMap

After a century of making people stand in line for smoked fish, the family opened this sit down cafe in 2014. The white coated staff will bring you wooden boards loaded with lox, sable, bagels from one of the /best-bagels-nyc, and cream cheese. It is the purest expression of Jewish appetizing culture in the city, now with comfortable seating.

Go for: The Classic board and a bloody mary. Know before you go: This is a walk in only spot, so prepare to wait. Put your name down and kill time walking around Orchard Street.

Sadelle's

SoHo · 463 W Broadway · $$$ WebsiteMap

Another temple of Jewish appetizing, but with a more polished, scene-heavy SoHo vibe. Sadelle's is famous for its towers of bagels and smoked fish, which arrive at your table like a trophy. The room is always buzzing, making it a perfect spot for a celebration or when you want brunch to feel like an event.

Go for: The fish towers and sticky buns. Know before you go: Reservations are very competitive. Book well in advance or try for a weekday table.

Veselka

East Village · 144 2nd Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

The East Village Ukrainian diner has been boiling pierogi since 1954. As of spring 2026, they have brought back 24 hour service on weekends, meaning brunch can happen at 3 a.m. or 1 p.m. The latkes are crisp, the borscht is deeply savory, and the room is full of NYU students and neighborhood lifers. It is also a fixture on our list of where to eat after midnight in New York.

Go for: A plate of mixed pierogi and a side of kielbasa. Know before you go: They now have a location in Grand Central if you need to eat before a train.

The New School

Not new, necessarily, but these spots define the modern brunch era.

Golden Diner

Two Bridges · 123 Madison St · $$ WebsiteMap

Chef Sam Yoo runs this spot under the Manhattan Bridge that marries New York diner traditions with Asian influences. The honey butter pancakes are towering, fluffy, and completely live up to their internet fame. Go early or expect a wait on the sidewalk. You can consult our Chinatown guide for ways to kill time if you get put on the list.

Go for: Honey butter pancakes and the chicken katsu club. Know before you go: They do not take brunch reservations, but you can join the waitlist in person.

Thai Diner

Nolita · 186 Mott St · $$ WebsiteMap

An Uncle Boons offshoot that feels like a diner on overdrive. The bamboo ceiling and retro booths set the stage for Thai tea babka French toast and crab fried rice. It is one of the hardest tables to secure, but sitting at the counter is just as good. If you strike out, you can always hit one of the best coffee shops in New York City and try again next week.

Go for: The Thai tea babka French toast. Know before you go: Reservations open a week in advance on Resy and disappear instantly.

Sunday in Brooklyn

Williamsburg · 348 Wythe Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

This three story restaurant is famous for one very specific reason: the malted pancakes. They come coated in a thick hazelnut praline and brown butter sauce, looking like a stack of small cakes. You will see them on almost every table in the dining room. As of October 2026, the restaurant is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Go for: The malted pancakes, obviously. Know before you go: They reserve plenty of space for walk ins, but grabbing a reservation makes life much easier.

Rule of Thirds

Greenpoint · 171 Banker St · $$ WebsiteMap

A massive, beautiful industrial space in Greenpoint that serves Japanese comfort food. The Saturday and Sunday brunch features a giant, jiggly soufflé pancake that takes 20 minutes to bake. They have plenty of large tables, making it a reliable choice for group dining. Read our Greenpoint guide for ideas on where to walk off the meal afterward.

Go for: The soufflé pancake and the chicken karaage. Know before you go: Brunch is served weekends only from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Win Son Bakery

East Williamsburg · 164 Graham Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

The casual counter service sibling to the main restaurant across the street. The line moves fast, and the reward is a bacon, egg, and cheese served on a scallion pancake. It is a chaotic, fun room where you will likely end up sharing a table with strangers. This is one of the best bakeries in New York City to start your morning.

Go for: The scallion pancake BEC and a mochi donut. Know before you go: This is a walk in only spot, so prepare to wait if you arrive at noon on a Sunday.

Neighborhood Favorites

From Gowanus to Prospect Heights, these are the local heroes.

Pies 'n' Thighs

Williamsburg · 166 S 4th St · $$ WebsiteMap

This Williamsburg staple has been serving massive, messy plates of Southern food since 2006. The fried chicken box comes with a biscuit that will ruin all other biscuits for you. The space is small and casual, and the portions will guarantee you need a nap later. They opened a new Park Slope location in 2026.

Go for: The chicken and waffles or the fish and grits. Know before you go: Save room for a slice of the banana cream pie.

Leland Eating and Drinking House

Prospect Heights · 755 Dean St · $$ WebsiteMap

A corner spot in Prospect Heights that feels like eating in the home of someone with excellent taste. They bake their own focaccia, hang meats in the basement, and pour great natural wine. The backyard is an ideal place to spend a slow weekend afternoon.

Go for: The sourdough cinnamon buns and poached eggs. Know before you go: They accept reservations 14 days out, which takes the stress out of planning.

Claro

Gowanus · 284 Third Ave · $$$ Map

A Michelin starred Oaxacan restaurant in Gowanus with a backyard that makes you forget you are near a canal. They press masa by hand and cook everything over a wood fire. The chilaquiles and memelas are complex, smoky, and filling.

Go for: The short rib chilaquiles and a mezcal cocktail. Know before you go: The backyard tables are the best seats in the house. Book ahead.

S&P Lunch

Flatiron · 174 5th Ave · $$ WebsiteMap

The team behind Court Street Grocers took over the old Eisenberg's space and preserved the long counter, the swivel stools, and the spirit of a true New York luncheonette. You can get a tuna melt, a pastrami sandwich, or just eggs and coffee. It is fast, affordable, and exactly what Flatiron needs.

Go for: The pastrami sandwich and a chocolate egg cream. Know before you go: It is mostly counter service, making it great for dining alone.

Dress for It

Brunch spots for when you want to see and be seen.

Café Chelsea

Chelsea · 218 W 23rd St · $$$ Map

The Hotel Chelsea spent years under renovation and returned with this gorgeous French bistro on the ground floor. It is currently one of the hardest reservations to get, drawing a crowd that cares about clothes just as much as food. The menu hits all the right brasserie notes, from ravioles to excellent coffee.

Go for: The Ravioles du Dauphiné. Know before you go: Book precisely 14 days in advance or show up right when they open to ask for a bar seat, which is first come, first served.

Shopsin's General Store

Lower East Side · 88 Essex St (Essex Market) · $$ WebsiteMap

Eating here comes with a set of rules. You cannot order the same dish as someone else at your table, you cannot have a party larger than four, and you cannot ask for substitutions. In exchange for your obedience, you get brilliant, absurd food like macaroni and cheese pancakes. It operates out of a stall inside the Essex Market.

Go for: The mac and cheese pancakes and whatever the daily special is. Know before you go: Read the rules before you sit down. Seriously. They will ask you to leave.

The Shout NY take

Brunch is a fluid concept. Some days call for a fast counter stool and a cheap egg sandwich from one of our /best-cheap-eats-nyc picks. Other days require white tablecloths and a budget that hurts to look at. Decide what kind of morning you want, check the reservation policy, and always bring a pair of sunglasses.