Although Morningside Heights offers reliable brunch options, sometimes it’s necessary to take a break from Community’s blueberry pancakes and venture below 110th Street. With its wide array of options, Manhattan’s brunch scene can seem difficult and confusing to navigate. To make your life a bit easier, we’ve compiled a list of fun brunch places to launch you on the path to becoming a brunch connoisseur!
Najet’s Picks
Good Enough to Eat
520 Columbus Ave & 85th Street
An uptown staple, Good Enough to Eat has served “good, old-fashioned American comfort food” since 1981. Perfect for a crisp autumn day, the restaurant’s intimate atmosphere lends itself well to both group brunches and solo mornings on the Upper West Side. Since the eatery doesn’t accept reservations, come prepared for a fairly long, albeit worthwhile, wait. After grabbing a friend or your favorite book, head to this cozy eatery and try the delectable Pumpkin French Toast. Topped with a pear-cranberry compote and strawberry butter, this seasonal dish remains a must-have for locals and tourists alike, as well as a personal favorite. If you’re looking for a savory dish, the menu offers a variety of hearty egg scrambles, each served with a traditional buttermilk biscuit.
Ladurée SoHo
398 W. Broadway (Between Spring St. and Broome St.)
Throw on your favorite little black dress and head to SoHo for an elegant brunch, complete with macarons, pan au chocolat, and Parisian hot chocolate! Since its opening this past winter, Ladurée SoHo has quickly established itself as a staple amongst the “ladies who lunch” crowd. For the full Ladurée experience at a reasonable price, arrive before 11:30 and order Le Petit Dejeuner. Priced at just seventeen dollars, this delectable prefix includes various small pastries, traditional breads (served with honey, jam, and butter!), fresh-squeezed juice, and the shop’s signature hot chocolate. On your way out the door, be sure to purchase one of the patisserie’s delectable salted caramel macarons! C’est magnifique!
Murray’s Cheese Bar
264 Bleecker St. (Between Leroy St. and Morton St.)
This West Village offshoot of the famous Murray’s Cheese Shop opened in 2012, delighting cheese connoisseurs throughout the city. Head over to this restaurant for a variety of cheese-based dishes, each of which caters to a unique taste. For light eaters, the Ricotta and Fruit Compote, served with Murray’s granola, is an absolute must. To satisfy your sweet tooth, try the Stick Bun Style French Toast, soaked in brûlée custard and topped with toasted pecans, cinnamon toffee, and cream cheese. Served with hot, toasted bread, the Goat in the Garden omelet – which includes goat cheese and various fresh vegetables – remains a personal favorite dish. The sleek spot’s a la carte cheese menu gives its visitors a taste of the adjoining cheese shop, a Manhattan staple since 1940.
Alexa’s Picks
Sarabeth’s
40 Central Park South, 59th Street (Between 5th and 6th Avenues)
Sarabeth’s is like the “I <3 NY” T-shirts of Brunch: a New York staple. Perfect for a lovely brunch with your mother, and a right of passage for the Gossip Girl devotees. Everything on the menu is deliciously crafted with an elevated touch for the most sophisticated palettes; take Lemon & Ricotta Pancakes or the five flowers mimosas for example. The Central Park South location is the original and the unrivaled. Don’t forget to try their world famous porridge or preserves!
*Reservation Recommended
Agave
140 7th Avenue South (Between Charles St. and W 10th)
NYC is infamous for boozy brunch with good reason. More places than any other city in the world offer delicious bottomless brunch options on a budget. Agave in West Village offers Mexican inspired dishes paired with 2 hours of unlimited mimosas, wine, or traditional Margaritas for $27.95. Options range from Huevos Rancheros to Southwestern Eggs Benedict but also include the classics. Take your girlfriends, take your neighbors, take any and everybody because the more the merrier!
Happy Brunching!