Best brunch in Chelsea

Cookshop has been dishing out inspired American brunch fare in Chelsea for two decades. Reliable and consistent, the menus is a roll-call of everyone’s favorites, from buttermilk cornmeal pancakes (a personal favorite) to punchy huevos rancheros and the freshest BLT you’ll have in NYC.

Better still, the restaurant is flooded with natural light, making it a great spot for anyone looking to shore up a vitamin D deficiency. Reservations are recommended, but the wait is worthwhile for this popular Chelsea brunch haunt.

Citizens of Chelsea opened in 2016 when co-founders Justin Giuffrida and Andrew Geisel decided to introduce a community-focused restaurant that emphasized clean food and great coffee. Nearly ten years later, the popular Austrian cafe became known for serving some of the most beautiful brunch in Chelsea.

Thankfully, everything tastes as great as it looks. I recommend splitting the famous blueberry and maple pancakes with the table before flirting with the entree menu. I’m partial to the Smashing Avocado (multigrain toast, pickled onion, feta, beetroot hummus) and the Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, but everything on the menu is bound to impress.

Dating back to 1976, Empire Diner is on constant rotation in Chelsea’s brunch scene. There’s something endearing about old-school diners, and Empire kicks it up a notch with inspired American classics.

From airy omelettes and hearty breakfast sandwiches to grilled steak and eggs or shrimp and grits, the only non-negotiable is an order of the truffle Parmesan fries and warm homemade biscuits.

Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Empire Diner has you covered. But, since this one of the most popular restaurants for brunch in Chelsea, I recommend getting there early to avoid a long wait (reservations for weekend brunch not accepted).

Jack’s Wife Freda is a popular restaurant that merges South African and Israeli cuisine.

The couple worked at several notable restaurants before fatefully meeting at Balthazar. Years later, they took a leap of faith by opening their own. Named after Dean’s grandparents, Jack and Freda, this chic Chelsea brunch restaurant is a love letter to comforting childhood meals.

But you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.

Note Jack’s Wife Freda leans into the vibes playing music at a volume louder than some might enjoy. Those nursing the consequences of a fun night on the town might want to consider other options ;

Named after famed economist Milton Friedman (who coined the phrase “there’s no such thing as free lunch”), Friedman’s serves the best gluten-free brunch in Chelsea. After being diagnosed with celiac disease, Alan Philips made it a personal mission to offer gluten-free meals worth getting excited about.

Everything on the menu is gluten-free (or can be substituted for gluten free). You’ll find classic comfort food like lemon ricotta pancakes, crab cake Benedict and the restaurant’s signature juicy burger. With so much variety on offer, everyone at the table will find an indulgence to enjoy at Friedman’s.

Named after the owner’s rescue dog, LouLou is a charming restaurant serving classic French fare. You couldn’t miss it if you tried, thanks to the outlandishly decorated facade. The biggest draw are the stunning craft cocktails churning out of the bistro’s subterranean speakeasy, but the food is nothing to scoff at either.

From hearty egg dishes like steak and eggs to unforgettable croissant french toast, it won’t take long to see why LouLou is considered one of the best brunch restaurants in Chelsea. Don’t sleep on the craft cocktails during your meal, served in custom-made glassware, you’ll be the envy of your instagram feed in no time.

Fusing Chinese and Cuban cuisines, Calle Dao proves that New York City’s reputation as the melting pot of America is well earned. This popular Chelsea brunch restaurant was designed to pay homage to Havana’s once-prosperous Chinatown where the unique fusion of cuisines originated.

Start with one of the hot appetizers (I recommend the Cuban sandwich spring rolls and Ma-Po Maduros) before diving into the mains. My go-to order is the Cuban eggs Benedict, but my husband swears by the chorizo and garbanzo hash.

These days, the restaurant’s bottomless brunch offering seems to be the biggest draw. Offering one hour of unlimited drinks for $30 per person, choose from mojitos, margaritas, Cuba libres, sangrias, champagne, wine and beer.