For a brunch experience during the week: Tanner Smith’s
Besides being a great option to go to before or after a Broadway show or even a concert at Carnegie Hall – because it’s located near Central Park and Columbus Circle – it is also a place for a late bite – the kitchen opens until midnight daily.
Plus, this is the perfect spot to have brunch on weekdays. They offer brunch from Wednesday to Sunday – with the option to add on bottomless cocktails with an entree. Besides the classic Mimosa & Bloody Mary, there are two additional cocktails to choose from. You can check the menu here.
The avocado toast is really delish and my husband and friends had nothing to complain about the dishes with eggs! Also recommend the pancakes and the flatbreads.
Address: 204 W 55th St.
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For the best pancakes in the city: Clinton St. Baking Company
Clinton St. Baking Company is such a classic for breakfast and brunch – plus, this is a place to have brunch EVERY DAY. And on top of that, they have one of the best pancakes in the city – and I’m not the only one who thinks that. I highly recommend the blueberry one.
Of course, their menu also features classics like eggs Benedict, omelettes and other options. And you should make a reservation – it is a very popular spot.
You can either go to their original location or at Time Out Market New York in Brooklyn.
Address: 4 Clinton St | 55 Water St (Brooklyn)
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For a a brunch with a French Twist: Boucherie
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I absolutely love La Grande Boucherie restaurants. The environment is so sophisticated and the menu features a lot of French Classics like Steak Frites, Entrecôte Grillée and Escargots. Plus, on their brunch menu you will also find other French classics like Croque Madamem Croque Monsieur and Steak aux oeufs (steak with eggs).
I’ve been to almost all of their locations and they are very consistent. La Grande Boucherie is very glamorous and perfect for winter time while the other locations can be a great choice for a Spring/Summer day.
- Check the menus.
- Address: 145 W 53rd St (La Grands Boucherie) | 99 7th Ave S (West Village) | 225 Park Ave S (Union Square) | 14 Christopher St (West Village).
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For a a brunch with a Spanish Twist: Boqueria
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When I visited Spain for the first time back in 2017, I got obsessed with their tapas and when I got back I was determined to find a place in NYC with delicious tapas to satisfy my cravings. And that’s when I found Boqueria – and, since then, I’ve been to their restaurants a lot of times and I absolutely love their tapas.
Their brunch menu features American classics with a Spanish twist – or vice-versa. Think about eggs served with Jamón Serrano, Mahón cheese, salsa verde and aioli or even a classic paella topped with eggs.
- Check the menus.
- Locations: 1460 2nd Ave | 260 W 40th St | 53 W 19th St | 171 Spring St.
For a classic breakfast menu and a cool atmosphere: Citizens of
Citizens, established in 2016, is an Australian cafe group with some locations in the city. You can expect a menu with toasts, egg dishes, sandwiches, pancakes and french toasts, plus salads and a great selection of beverages. The environment is really cool. Highly recommend their avocado toast – and please don’t forget to order the Belgian Waffles. So so so good! Oh, and this is also a spot to have brunch every day!
- Check the menus.
- Locations: 401 W 25 St (Chelsea) | 201 Lafayette St | 362 2nd Ave.
For a brunch on a boat – La Barca Cantina
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Food + drinks + beautiful views – that’s what La Barca Cantina offers during their bottomless Sunday brunch special. This is the first and only Mexican floating restaurant in NYC. The cruise lasts 2h and you will enjoy beautiful views of New York City – including the Statue of Liberty – plus a Mexican and American Buffet (you don’t need to choose between French Toast and tacos, you can have both!). The ticket also includes unlimited mimosas and bellinis – plus coffee, tea and soda.
Such a great experience! You can purchase your tickets below:
- Not in the mood for brunch? Buy a pass for other days and times to enjoy the vibes, the views and Mexican food and drinks.
For a special occasion: Brunch cruises
If you follow me for a while, you know that cruises are among the NYC experiences I always recommend here on the blog and on my social media. Fortunately, there are several ways to take a river cruise – and meal cruises are among the best ones.
Bateaux cruises are the most famous cruises in the city and they offer a brunch one! It is a complete experience: in the case of the brunch cruise, the entire journey takes 2 hours and 30 minutes (slightly shorter than the dinner one, which takes a total of 3 hours) + a freshly prepared brunch + music – for dinner, there’s a live band, and for brunch, there’s a DJ, but the music selection is neat.
The Bateaux experience includes a brunch with a starter, a main course, and a dessert – you can choose one option. There are classic brunch dishes such as French toast and eggs and other dishes. In addition, the ticket also includes unlimited coffee, tea, and water.
Another great option is Classic Harbor Line Brunch Cruise. I really love their cruises because they use luxury and beautiful motor yachts – and with a lot of stability. Being a relatively small yacht, it is a more intimate and less crowded cruise than tourist cruises, featuring tables by the windows, so you’ll have a privileged view no matter where you sit. In addition to the closed area, with glass windows, there is also an open deck.
- You can book here – remember to select the date first to see the available cruises
- You should also check: The best cruises and experiences to see New York City from the water
For a brunch with a view: Robert
Robert is an American restaurant and open for lunch, dinner, and brunch. It is located on the ninth floor of the Museum of Arts and Design, in Columbus Circle, with beautiful views of the Columbus Circle area and also Central Park. On the brunch menu, there are egg dishes and other options, with prices ranging from $24 to $36. There are also sandwiches between $18 and $21 and a selection of pasta and risotto.
- Address: 2 Columbus Cir.
- Check all the menus.
- For more restaurants with a view in NYC, click here.
For a local’s favorite experience: Cafe Luluc
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Cafe Luluc was one of the first spots that I had brunch when I moved to NYC, during my first month in the city – and I never forgot their food. Until this day, this casual, neighborhood French spot with garden seating is still a favorite among locals. The bad news is that they don’t take reservations – but the good news is that they offer a breakfast menu every day! The pancakes are a must-try!
- Address: 214 Smith St (Brooklyn)
- Check all the menus.
For a brunch with jazz and soul food: Red Rooster
Red Rooster is a Harlem’s institution. Their Jazzy Sunday is a weekly musical affair featuring their resident jazz artist Nate Lucas. The menu features brunch dishes inspired by Soul’s food – like Jerk BBQ Cauliflower, Jerk Salmon Bowl and Shrimp & Grits.
- Address: 310 Lenox Ave.
- Check all the menus.
Other brunch tips
- Red Rooster also offers a Gospel Brunch every Sunday – voted number one gospel brunch in New York City. For $80 per person, enjoy both the gospel show and a delectable all-you-can-eat buffet. Check more details.
- Drag Brunches are very popular in NYC as well. You can check this article for more recs.
- To find amazing brunch experiences in NYC, I highly recommend following Shad – aka The Brunch Guy. He posts about great spots to have brunch in the city and a lot of them are bottomless.
Content creator and journalist in New York City. Here, I share lifestyle, beauty, NYC tips, thoughts, and the struggles about living in the most amazing city in the world! I’m not gonna pretend to be another person: I’m a Brazilian immigrant and I think this is my soul, it is part of who I am. I hope you enjoy my content! Follow me on Instagram!
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