Staring down a weekend with too many brunch tabs open? The best brunch in NYC depends on your craving, but Thai Diner in Nolita made both Time Out’s and The Infatuation’s lists.
Planning more than brunch? Browse the full guide to new york restaurants for the rest of the city’s dining.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Dolores (Bed-Stuy) brunch hours | Sat and Sun, 11am-3pm |
| Miss Ada (Fort Greene) brunch hours | Sat and Sun, 11am-2:30pm |
| Lola’s (Nomad) brunch days | Saturday only |
| Barney Greengrass (Upper West Side) established | 1908 |
| Spots on Time Out’s brunch list | 20 |
The figures come from Time Out’s brunch guide and The Infatuation’s brunch guide. Hours and menus can change, so check the source and the restaurant before you rely on them.
How do you choose a brunch spot in New York?
Start with the day of the week. Time Out says Saturday brunch is the best time to gear up for the night ahead, Sundays are perfect for relaxing and a weekday brunch is a rarefied treat.
Then check which days a kitchen serves. As of The Infatuation’s October 20, 2026 guide, Lola’s brunch is Saturday-only.
Next, think about the wait. Phê has an inevitable line, Croft Alley has a line on weekends, and Time Out advises a reservation at Miss Ada, where the outdoor patio is a nice find in good weather.
Last, match the place to what you want to eat. The sections below sort the spots by sweet, savory, classic and group-friendly.
Sweet brunch: pancakes, French toast and babka
Dolores in Bed-Stuy is a Mexican cantina whose standout dish is the churro French toast, a thick slice of bread crusted with cinnamon sugar. Time Out suggests ordering it on the side to split.
Miss Ada in Fort Greene serves challah French toast with a labne mousse alongside dips and bourekas. Time Out gives both Miss Ada and Thai Diner 5 out of 5 stars.
At Thai Diner, Time Out points to custardy slices of babka drizzled with condensed milk and a Thai tea butter. LenLen in Flatiron serves a neon green pandan pancake that is on pretty much every table.
Uptown, the masa pancake at Cocina Consuelo in Hamilton Heights is crisp along its honey-soaked edges and soft like corn pudding in the center. Down on the Lower East Side, Time Out says it never tires of the pancakes at Clinton St. Baking Company.
Savory brunch: roti, skillets and breakfast pizza
If eggs, spice and bread matter more than syrup, these spots stand out:
- Thai Diner (Nolita): The Infatuation calls the buttery egg-and-cheese roti its top order, with the Thai tea babka French toast a close second.
- Phê (Chinatown): Vietnamese coffee and banh mi chao, where you swipe small baguettes through skillets of sausage, beef, egg and pate.
- Super Nice Pizza (Upper West Side): A breakfast pizza with thinly shaved potatoes, runny eggs and rosemary.
- Ánimo (Midtown East): Enchiladas, chilaquiles and tortas with eggs and chorizo.
- Lola’s (Nomad): Seasonal cooking, including cornbread with a lemon poppyseed zing, on Saturdays only.
- Croft Alley (Soho): A manageably sized breakfast burrito and gluten-free pancakes that The Infatuation calls perfectly fluffy.
Old-school and big-group brunch
Barney Greengrass is described by The Infatuation as Upper West Side brunch royalty. The 1908-established Jewish deli has plenty of room to sit and eat.
For a crowd, Jacob’s Pickles is a Southern comfort restaurant that has, per The Infatuation, stuck to a quantity-over-quality approach since 2011. It moved 10 blocks uptown, and anything with fried chicken is worth ordering.
Brunch in NYC by neighborhood
Use this list to find a spot near where you already are:
- Brooklyn: Dolores in Bedford-Stuyvesant and Miss Ada in Fort Greene.
- Downtown Manhattan: Clinton St. Baking Company on the Lower East Side, Thai Diner in Nolita, Phê in Chinatown and Croft Alley in Soho.
- Midtown and Flatiron: Lola’s in Nomad, LenLen in Flatiron and Ánimo in Midtown East.
- Uptown: Barney Greengrass, Jacob’s Pickles and Super Nice Pizza on the Upper West Side, plus Cocina Consuelo in Hamilton Heights.
Check before you go, and what to read next
Restaurant lists change. Time Out’s October 2026 update removed Agi’s Counter because it has closed and added Seahorse in Union Square for its jazzy brunch.
If you would rather grab something quick, see the guide to the best bagels in nyc. For lower-cost meals, the cheap eats nyc roundup is a good next stop.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a reservation for brunch in NYC?
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It depends on the place. Time Out recommends a reservation at Miss Ada, while Phê and Croft Alley are known for lines, so check each restaurant before you go.
Which day is best for brunch?
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Time Out says Saturday suits gearing up for the night ahead, Sunday suits relaxing and a weekday brunch is a rarefied treat. Some kitchens, such as Lola’s, serve brunch on Saturday only.
Where can you find gluten-free brunch?
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The Infatuation highlights the gluten-free pancakes at Croft Alley in Soho. Ask any restaurant about ingredients before you order.
Where can you eat brunch without a traditional egg dish?
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Try the masa pancake at Cocina Consuelo, the pandan pancake at LenLen or the churro French toast at Dolores. Each is a sweet or corn-based alternative to a classic egg plate.
