Best Brunch Spots in New York

By Katie Sagal
Published: May 16, 2024

Brunch is a serious business in New York. It’s when everyone rolls out of bed, fights through that weekend malaise (or possible hangover), and heads out to the new hot spot for the decadent food and bottomless mimosas. For brunch lovers heading to (or living in) New York City, we’ve pulled together our favorite venues for this timeless weekend rite. To help fill out the rest of your day, we’ve also made some suggestions for other fun things to do in the area after you’ve eaten your fill.

Red Rooster

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The brainchild of famed chef Marcus Samuelsson, this Harlem hot spot boasts a menu filled with all the luscious southern favorites you can imagine—fried chicken and waffles, biscuits, gooey cinnamon rolls, and the ever-popular rooster slam, a delectable combo of hot honey chicken, blueberry waffle, French toast, beef sausage, bacon, and a fried egg. Things to do Nearby: We like the walking tour of Harlem that focuses on the history of gospel in this neighborhood, or the self-guided bike tour of Harlem to help you burn off that eggs benedict.

Jacob’s Pickles

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A post shared by Jacob's Pickles (@jacobspickles) on Aug 22, 2019 at 9:53am PDT

You’ll probably need to wait at this immensely popular UWS spot, but it’s worth every minute. Their abundant menu features practically everything we can imagine wanting for brunch: more southern favorites like biscuits and gravy, the French classic Croque madame, deviled eggs, catfish tacos (I know, right!?) and, of course, their signature array of pickled veggies. Things to do Nearby: Jacob’s Pickles is conveniently close to many cultural attractions like the American Museum of Natural History and the New York Historical Society Museum, as well as the west side of Central Park.

Victor’s Café

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A post shared by Victors Cafe (@victorscafenyc) on Aug 26, 2019 at 9:01am PDT

A sumptuous array of Cuban cuisine awaits you at Victor’s Café. Located in Hell’s Kitchen, this brunch powerhouse offers classics alongside new inventions—our top picks include ceviche de pargo, bartolito (plantain croquettes), empanadas, and the Cubana frittata. They also offer hearty brunch entrees that feel more like dinner options, but you’ll leave feeling stuffed and content. Things to do Nearby: Within a stone’s throw of the theatre district, Victor’s Café is near the Museum of Modern Art, Radio City Music Hall, and the Top of the Rock. Plus, you know, all the theatres.

Vinegar Hill House

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Among the most popular restaurants in Brooklyn, Vinegar Hill House is a cozy space serving rustic dishes from a modest menu. You won’t have a wealth of choices, but what they offer makes up for it in taste. Some current dishes (although these may change) include sourdough pancakes, omelets, and shrimp and grits. Things to do Nearby: Explore the Brooklyn Navy Yard, walk around DUMBO, get some shopping in, or check out the local street art.

Olmsted

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A post shared by Olmsted (@olmstednyc) on Aug 18, 2019 at 9:19am PDT

Located in Prospect Heights, this eclectic restaurant features plentiful brunch in beautiful digs. The menu shifts frequently to cater to seasonal produce and local sources, but some recent options have included Austrian donuts, potato latkes, heirloom tomato schnitzel, and waffles with seasonal fruit and whipped cream. You can also enjoy a variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. Things to do Nearby: One of the best ways to unwind and burn a few calories from brunch is to stroll in some fresh air—fortunately, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Museum is right near Olmsted!

Locanda Verde

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Fans of Italian cuisine will adore the rustic and hearty fare offered by one of the city’s best. A beloved spot in Tribeca, Locanda Verde features favorites like lemon-ricotta pancakes, frittatas, sandwiches, and all kinds of egg dishes. If you’re there on the later end of brunch, you can also opt for more hearty savory dishes—definitely worth the feeling of being extra full. Things to do Nearby: Several cruises depart from the adjacent piers if you’re hoping to enjoy a leisurely boat ride around the harbor. You’re also close to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

Café Mogador

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Fans of Moroccan food, or anyone looking to try something unique, will delight in Café Mogador. Its East Village location boasts flavorful Mediterranean dishes like halloumi with eggs, French toast, eggs with spicy stewed tomatoes, buttermilk pancakes, and organic granola. You can also choose from sides like house-made merguez sausage, bacon, and authentic sauces like Schug. Things to do Nearby: You’re a few blocks or a quick transit ride away from several different cultural tours, including a tour of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral and the downtown experience by the RIDE, an entertaining tour perfect for visitors.

Upland

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A post shared by Upland (@upland_nyc) on Aug 4, 2019 at 7:28pm PDT

Anyone homesick for California or their fresh cuisine won’t want to skip brunch at Upland. Located in the Flatiron District, this chic restaurant combines Italian influences with a Cali cool vibe in dishes like funky donuts, buttermilk pancakes, eggs benedict, quiche, and bucatini cacio e pepe. May we also recommend “The Larry David,” an everything bagel with smoked whitefish, tomatoes, capers, and cream cheese? Things to do Nearby: If you’re brunching with your significant other—or a hot date—then try checking out the Museum of Sex. It’s a funky little space that’s among the most unique museums in the city. Otherwise, the Empire State Building is a few blocks farther north.

Balthazar

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A longstanding Soho brasserie, Balthazar is not for those with a light budget. However, should you be in the mood to splurge, they offer a menu bursting with French delights like caramelized banana tartine, chicken liver, and foie gras mousse, eggs Florentine, a ratatouille omelet, and many (very expensive) seafood options. If you want to see the décor but only want to spend a bit, try one of their hangover drinks—which will still run you over $15/drink, but hey, it’s Soho. Things to do Nearby: Soho’s location makes it the perfect nexus for local tours, as well as the City Winery, which is an awesome destination if you want to keep up with the imbibing.

Maison Kayser

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This bakery-slash-café is one of a series of such outposts, but the original location in the UES is a nice place to start. Offering primarily French fare—and doing very well at baking said French pastries—this is the perfect option for those looking for a quick bite or less expensive option. Some of their most iconic dishes include natural levain bread and viennoiseries, all baked on-site. You can choose from a pit stop at the coffee bar to grab some bread, or a sit-down at the café to enjoy a full Parisian menu. Things to do Nearby: The Upper East Side is filled with nature, culture, and fun. Spend the rest of the day at the Met, zip around Central Park on a bike, or marvel at the architecture at the Guggenheim Museum.

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Dusk view of the Empire State Building from the Top of the Rock observatory
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The Best Time to Visit The Top Of The Rock

The Rockefeller Center – aka 30 Rock – is the iconic Art Deco centerpiece of Rockefeller Plaza, a glorious, skyscraping work of art that, at a whopping 850 feet high, ranks as one of the Big Apple’s tallest buildings. It’s no wonder then that the uppermost floors (67, 69 and 70, to be precise) have been given over to observation decks collectively known as the Top of The Rock. We’re talking 360-degree views across the entire city to Long Island, New Jersey and even – on clear days – as far as Connecticut. And (spoiler alert!) if visually stunning 1930s Art Deco treasures are your bag, you’ll also enjoy uninterrupted close-up views of the Empire State Building from up here. Read on for our guide to the best times to visit the Top of The Rock. Opening hours Top of The Rock is open every single day of the year including holidays from 9AM to 11PM. Come rain, hail or shine, you can whiz heavenwards in the glass Sky Shuttle elevator, reaching the 70th floor in less than a minute. Guests can visit the observation decks for as long as they like during operating hours, but the latest entry to Top of The Rock is at 10:10PM. Check the Top of The Rock website for the latest opening hours before making your booking. A Go City attraction pass gives you access to the Top of The Rock’s three observation decks with their uninterrupted views of the Big Apple. The 67th floor deck has a large indoor space plus north and south-facing outdoor terraces. Floor 69 has yet more outdoor space, but it’s the fully outdoor 70th floor, right on top of the building, from where you’ll enjoy the clearest views of NYC icons including Central Park, the Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building and the Hudson. Best time to visit the Top Of The Rock As with many of the Big Apple’s most popular attractions, the best times to visit Top of The Rock tend to be early in the morning or late in the evening if, that is, your primary objective is to beat the crowds. If, on the other hand, it’s heart-soaring sunsets you’re after (and quite frankly why wouldn’t it be?), you'll need to head to the Top of the Rock about an hour before dusk, and expect lines. 3PM–9PM tends to be the busiest time of day for precisely that reason. Just after the 9AM opening is when you’ll get the most private experience, as the morning sun glints and gleams on the Empire State Building and across the skyscrapers of Midtown. Crowds also tail off after sunset meaning that beyond 9PM is the best time to see the city lights illuminating the Manhattan skyline. Beautiful though this time of day is, do note that unlit areas like Central Park will be visible only as large dark patches on the ground after nightfall. Generally speaking, Mondays and Tuesdays tend to be the quietest days. Holidays and weekends (especially Saturdays) are when Top of The Rock is at its most busy. Visit during the festive season to pair your visit with a pilgrimage to the enormous Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree, which is displayed on the plaza (but not visible from the Top of The Rock itself) from mid-November until early January. Getting to the Top Of The Rock There are oodles of ways to get to the Top of The Rock with ease. Most straightforward are the multiple subway services that call at the 47th–50th Streets–Rockefeller Center station (B, D, F and M trains) as well as additional trains to 49th, 50th and 51st Street stops. Discounted parking is also available at Rockefeller Center SP+ garage which you’ll find at 25 West 48th Street. Enter 30 Rock on 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Tickets Pre-book tickets direct on the Top of The Rock website to avoid having to wait in potentially long lines at the box office on the day. There are a few different ticket options available, ranging from general admission to the three observation decks to a VIP skip-the-line experience that includes a guide and a peek into 30 Rock’s glitzy Rainbow Room restaurant, a favorite with New York’s rich and famous for nearly a century. You can save money with a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive pass for New York attractions, which includes entry to the Top of The Rock in addition to many more landmark attractions across the Big Apple. These include the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Where to eat Dining options at the Rockefeller Center are plentiful and run the gamut from family favorites to fine dining. There are grab’n’go sandwich bars and those with a sweet tooth can get their fix from any number of bakeries, cookie stores and ice cream vendors. Check the Rockefeller Center website for the most up-to-date list of restaurants and to find out how to book. We love Le Rock for chic Art Deco style and French fine dining. Or choose Ace’s Pizza on the center’s rink level for Detroit and Sicilian-style slices to share with family and friends. In brief... Want to beat the crowds? Visit as close as possible to opening time (9AM) or come after 9PM to experience the best of the glittering Manhattan skyline after dark. Book tickets online in advance to avoid having to wait in line at the box office and you’ll be speeding skyward in that lightning-fast glass elevator before you know it. Uninterrupted 360-degree views await on the 70th-floor open-air observation deck right at the top of the building. Get the Go City attraction pass to make great savings when visiting this and other popular New York City attractions! Useful links Buy tickets online Get the Go City attraction pass for New York Visit the Top of The Rock with Go City Official Top of The Rock website
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Manhattan skyline with the One World Trade Center in the foreground
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The Best Time to Visit The One World Observatory (Trade Center)

Standing at a whopping 1,776 feet, the gleaming One World Trade Center is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, and the seventh tallest on the planet. Thrillseekers with a serious head for heights can soar up 102 stories to the One World Observatory on the top three floors for far-reaching views that stretch for up to 45 miles in every direction and take in many of the Big Apple’s most iconic attractions. This high-tech engineering marvel also contains digital marvels such as hi-res digital video screens inside the Skypod elevators that tell the story of New York through the ages and a glass Sky Portal beneath your feet that displays live images of the streets far below. Read on for our guide to the best times to visit the One World Observatory. Opening hours The One World Observatory is open daily with regular hours that run from 9AM–9PM. There are some seasonal variations on opening and closing times as well as special extended hours on some holidays, so do check direct with the One World Observatory website for the most up-to-date information. Once inside, you're welcome to stay for as long as you like, but note that last available entry is one hour from closing time. A Go City attraction pass includes entry to the One World Observatory’s three top floors via a thrilling 47-second ride in the Skypod elevators. Alongside a number of fascinating digital exhibits charting the history of the city and One World Trade Center, the 360-degree views from up top are some of the best in the city, taking in Downtown Manhattan, the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler and the Statue of Liberty. Best time to visit the One World Observatory Beat the rush by planning your visit first thing in the morning or last thing in the evening. This is hands-down the best way to experience the One World Observatory as it means you’ll dodge the worst of the lines, of which there are several: going up, coming back down, and for a number of the digital exhibits in between. Arriving after around 11AM pretty much guarantees longer waiting times, whereas early birds can simply sail in and should expect to be up to in mere minutes. Similarly, you’ll get spectacular views of the city lights after dark once the crowds who piled in for sunset have dissipated. Sunsets from up here are (as you might well imagine) pretty spectacular affairs, so if longer lines bother you not a jot you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to fill your Insta feed with enviable snaps as the Manhattan skyline turns several shades of burnt orange and bruised purple at dusk. The busiest time of day at the One World Observatory is between midday and 5PM. Avoid these times if you can but, if not, do make sure you’ve purchased tickets in advance so you can at least omit the wait in the box office line. Getting to the One World Observatory The One World Observatory is located at the One World Trade Center on the corner of West and Vesey Streets in Downtown Manhattan. The entrance is on West Street and there are plenty of easy ways to get there. Hop on the subway and disembark at Fulton St, Rector St, Chamber St, Cortlandt St or World Trade Center stations, depending on where you’ve come from. All are just a short walk from the entrance. Tickets We recommend pre-booking tickets if you want to avoid waiting in line at the box office, then having to queue up again for the attraction itself. You can do this via the One World Observatory website, where the range of ticket options available includes everything from general admission to a bells-and-whistles VIP experience that includes a 60-minute guided tour, plus priority skip-the-line entry and a credit for spending in the cafe, bar, restaurant or gift shop. A Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive pass for New York attractions saves you money by including entry to the One World Observatory as well as many more Big Apple icons. These include the Statue of Liberty, MoMA, the Empire State Building and the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, as well as a number of walking and cycling tours, and much more. Where to eat The ONE Dine restaurant and ONE Mix bar are located high above the city, way up on the One World Trade Center’s 101st floor. Tuck into New York classics including caesar salad, swordfish steaks and filet mignon then wash down with a Midtown Margarita cocktail in the bar. The cafe and gelateria will keep young kids happy with plenty of sodas and sweet treats. Head over to the nearby Oculus to admire its unique architecture and discover more eating and drinking options in its bars and restaurants, where options range from pretzels to sushi. In brief... If you want to beat the lines, the best times to visit the One World Observatory are early morning and late evening. Do it one of these ways and not only will you be able to get in (and out) faster, you’ll also benefit from New York’s beautiful morning light and the opportunity to see Manhattan lit up at night. Sunset is perhaps the most beautiful time to visit but you should expect crowds at this time so plan accordingly and get there early to avoid disappointment. Get the Go City attraction pass to make great savings when visiting this and other popular New York City attractions! Useful links Buy tickets online Get the Go City attraction pass for New York Visit the One World Observatory with Go City Official One World Observatory website
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
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