It is no secret that New Yorkers have an infatuation with brunch. Our weekends almost always revolve around finding a reservation to a place that provides a fun atmosphere, bottomless mimosas, and breakfast foods until 3pm. If you truly want to step up your brunch game, impress your eating partners with a place that has a menu worth talking about. Booking your reservation to a scrumptious and boozy brunch is just a click away.
La Mercerie
When in the mood for something French, head over to LA MERCERIE (photos at the top of this post). The posh eatery is known for their pastry counter and the home decor Roman and Williams Guild showcase in the back. With items like Crêpes au Sucre and Quiche du Jour, how can you resist coming here for a casual meet up or a special occasion meal. The imaginative and authentically French menu attracts expats and New Yorkers alike. The best part is, if you love the dishes your brunch is served on, you can buy them in the shop.
La Mercerie, 53 Howard St (betw Broadway/Mercer St)
The Odeon
For anyone nostalgic for New York in the 80s, THE ODEON is a place where you can go and experience a classic. Located in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood, this French-American bistro transports you to a time when restaurants felt like one big party. Brunch here is legendary. Make sure to order their Country Frisée Salad, Buffalo Chicken Dumplings, and the Lobster Roll. If you need yet another reason to have your brunch here you should know that this is the birthplace of the Cosmopolitan. Bartender Toby Cecchini invented it in the 80s, while Sex & The City made it a staple drink.
The Odeon, 145 W Broadway (betw Thomas/Duane St)
Veselka
With the war on our minds, we cannot miss the mention of VESELKA. The diner-like restaurant serves Ukrainian soul food, plus all the American classics you already know and love. The popular Ukrainian diner might be a scene on the weekends, but we think the pierogis make the short wait worth it. Manhattan’s Little Ukraine has truly rallied the community and continues to donate supplies to the front lines. You can help by simply eating a delicious meal, as all proceeds from Veselka’s borscht soup go to Ukraine. Seasonal pierogis like cherry or lobster are our favorite. While pierogies, made on the premises, are always a must, the menu is extensive enough to please just about anyone.
Veselka, 144 2nd Ave (betw St Marks Pl/9th St)
Cafe Sabarsky
New here? Do yourself a favor, visit CAFE SABARSKY. It is one of those magical New York places that combines art, culture and the best selection of desserts. The restaurant is inside Neue Galerie, an Austrian and German museum. Come for breakfast, brunch, or dinner, and see why this place has withstood the test of time. Upon entrance you are transported to old Vienna. We recommend trying the Bavarian breakfast sausage, and apple strudel. At night the cafe transports to another time with cabaret or classic music performances.
Cafe Sabarsky, 1048 5th Ave (betw 85th/86th St)
Row House
If bottomless drinks and live jazz brunch sound good to you, make your way to Harlem. This is the type of place you come to when you want to share good food and laughs with a group of friends. The ROW HOUSE pays homage to Harlem’s architecture and is located on Frederick Douglass Boulevard’s restaurant row. There is both outdoor and indoor seating and we recommend going for the bottomless brunch and ordering sharable items, Rose Sangria, and the Shrimp and Grits. Row House guarantees a good time. (photos via Instagram)
Row House, 2128 Frederick Douglass Blvd (SE corner of 115th St)
Great Banks
For that summer feeling, head over to the waterfront where Crew hospitality serves up a sustainable sourced menu of oysters on a fishing boat. GREAT BANKS is a seasonal restaurant that gives us something to look forward to. Located in Manhattan’s Tribeca, this brunch and dinner spot is inspired by the floating “oyster barges” that lined Manhattan’s waterfront in the 18th and 19th centuries. Come here to enjoy the breeze as you rock back and forth with a drink in hand. We love ordering the scallops or a lobster roll, oysters (obviously), tomato and watermelon salad. The cocktails are so good, it is hard to pick a favorite. Try more than one. After all, you are on holiday, sort of! (photos via Instagram)
Great Banks, Pier 25 Hudson River (across from N Moore St)
Penrose
PENROSE is one of those all day places that serves fried chicken and waffles during the day but turns into a fun bar with creative cocktails at night. Their Eggs Benedict and Lemon Poppy Seed French Toast Sticks are pretty stellar. Wood details and attractive vintage-inspired wallpaper makes this place a date favorite. If you live or happen to find yourself in Yorkville, brunch here never disappoints, plus it is just a straight shot towards the MET Museum afterwards. (photos via Instagram)
Penrose, 1590 2nd Ave (betw 82nd/83rd St)
Kyma
KYMA, “wave” in Greek, is an elegant restaurant in Manhattan’s Flatiron area. Kyma is known for their seafood and energetic, often uproarious atmosphere. This is the best place to come to for a group brunch, a celebration, or sit at the bar for a lunch date. For our brunch we started with Grilled Octopus and Zucchini Fritters with Lemon Yogurt. Pescatarians will be more than pleased by the seafood options and fresh fish, flown in from the Mediterranean.
Kyma, 15 West 18th St (betw 5th/6th Ave)
Buvette
One of the most talked about brunch places is BUVETTE. It is popular for its French bistro charm and people watching. If you dare to go but hate to feel cramped, we recommend visiting during off hours. Buvette is open from 8am until 2am, making it a great spot for both breakfast and a late night dinner. The food is always delicious and no matter your dietary needs, we feel like this place can please just about any picky eater. You will find healthy small bites or easy classics, like Croque Madame, and Belgian Waffle on the menu, but if you crave creativity go for dinner and order the Coq au vin or Escargots.
Buvette, 42 Grove St (betw Bleecker/Bedford)
Sel Rrose
SEL RROSE is a refreshing oasis and an oyster bar in downtown Manhattan. We love going to their weekend drag brunch, but if you prefer a quieter meal there is plenty of space near the oyster bar. The interior is equal parts beachy and rustic, and service is always excellent. This is the place to order a pretty cocktail, we recommend Larme de Rose or On the Bowery, but there are excellent options for non-alcoholic drinkers as well. For food, oysters are the obvious choice, but we tend to aim for the deviled eggs, hand cut truffle fries, Sel Rose burger, and the Beet Salad is our top favorite dish. Next stop: the Montauk location!
Sel Rrose, 1 Delancey St (betw Bowery and Christie St)
