Brunch to a New Yorker is like black clothes and strong coffee to a Parisian; a way of life, and not one they’ll be giving up anytime soon. From piles of light-as-a-feather pancakes dripping with silky cream and blueberries to salty, gooey eggs on hot buttered toast, the art of rising late and dining slow is one that New Yorkers have down to a (perfectly toasted) art. Naturally then, it follows that the city is literally bursting at the seams with brunch joints promising your Next Great Meal. How on earth, therefore, does a gal choose? I’ll tell you how; with the dealchecker guide to our top five favourite NYC brunch spots! This city might never sleep…but it always eats.
Five Leaves
18 Bedford Avenue
Greenpoint, Brooklyn 11222
Too-cool-for-school hipster hotspot it may be, but Five Leaves is the ideal combination of being a truly fantastic people-watching spot (an oft underrated quality in a restaurant) and a purveyor of some seriously delicious brunch-age. I greedily chose the ricotta pancakes with honeycomb butter, banana, strawberries, blueberries and maple syrup and they were everything you’d hope something so fattening could be. They also serve up a delicious mushroom toast that funghi-fanatics will go wild for. You can’t book, so just turn up and hope for the best. If you have to wait, take the opportunity to explore amazing Williamsburg.
The Sunburnt Cow
137 Avenue C, NYC
Show me someone who doesn’t like the sound of an “Endless Brunch” and i’ll show you a liar. At the Sunburnt Cow, this means an entree and as many mimosas as you can swallow. It’s $18 dollars, but seeing as you’ll walk out just as squiffy as you were after that $15 cocktail last night, it seems reasonable! The Bush Benedict is a winner, but my favourite was probably the Queen Adelaide Benedict, which consists of perfectly cooked poached eggs, creamy hollandaise, oaky smoked salmon and salted avocado on an English muffin.
Clinton St. Baking Company
4 Clinton Street, East Village 10002
New York Magazine voted their blueberry pancakes the best in the city – twice! Neil Kleinberg’s creations ensure that the queue at Clinton St. Baking Company is the annoying gift that keeps on giving, with wait times of up to two hours sometimes! The rest of the menu — including brioche French toast and a smoked salmon scramble — keeps the 32 seats filled at all times. Again, you can’t make a reservation here, so just try your luck and dream of blueberries.
Image by Erin & camera
Egg
135 North 5th Street, Brooklyn 11211
I wandered down to the magnificent Egg with some friends after a night on the New York tiles, and it was the perfect antidote to the excesses of the previous evening! Relaxed, easy and delicious, it’s open for breakfast until 6pm every day and serves up good ol’ fashioned American grub in a stylish, modern setting. We loved the Duck Hash, but for a taste of the Deep South, how about Biscuits and Gravy, or Grits and Eggs? Prices are reasonable from $8.
Image by missmeng
Pastis
9 Ninth Avenue, 10014
Probably the ‘swankiest’ option on this list, Pastis has been accused of being a little pretentious at times due to its glamorous crowd and how difficult it is to get a table, but if you can get in, it’s arguably one of the best brunches in town. If, like me, you happen to be a Bloody Mary enthusiast, you may well have found your Shangrai-La right here in the Meatpacking District! Who knew? Pastis is also well known as one of the cities most desirable celeb-spotting haunts. If that’s your poison, you’ll never want to leave.
Image by missmeng
All these scrumptious pictures got you in the mood for a real bite of the Big Apple? Cheap flights to New York are easy to come by when you use our snazzy search tool! Go on…your tastebuds will thank us.
Top image by Or Hiltch
