Best brunch in the East Village

David’s Cafe is a cozy French-American diner with large windows overlooking St. Mark’s Place, making it a prime spot for people-watching while enjoying brunch in the East Village. To the untrained eye, the relaxed vibes and well-executed meals feel like a stark juxtaposition, but there’s a reason for the madness.

A passion project of two famed NYC chefs, David’s Cafe is helmed by David Malbequi (an alum of Daniel Boulud) and Daniel Rivera (Les Enfants de Bohème). Chef Malbequi is responsible for the perfectly-executed French fare churning out of the kitchen, Rivera gets credit for the cozy vibes in the dinning room.

Churning out time-tested classics like french toast and pancakes alongside hangover poutine and burgers, David’s Cafe is a go-to East Village brunch spot for locals in the know.

If you’re in the market for great restaurants rumored to cure hangovers, consider swinging by Yellow Rose. This busy Tex Mex restaurant is known for toothsome breakfast tacos and mean margaritas (hair of the dog, anyone?).

The homemade flour tortillas churn out of the kitchen daily, perfect canvases for everything on the menu from the crowd-favorite tacos to migas.

The succinct brunch menu spotlights breakfast tacos, which come in eight variations (don’t sleep on the chorizo and egg). End your meal with homemade donuts to see why this one of the most popular brunch restaurants in the East Village.

I’m quite reluctant about hyped up places because they seldom live up to expectations. However, one of my out-of-town guests suggested we visit Smør while she was in town. I’ve been working on going with the flow a bit more (blame the pregnancy), which is how we ended up at this cozy Scandinavian East Village brunch restaurant on a random Saturday morning.

First, I was really impressed by the kindness and attentiveness of the staff, automatic star in that department. Secondly, the restaurant had a bit of a wait, so we popped into the sister bakery next door to split a doughy cardamon bun while we waited, another perk.

So impressed by the cardamon bun, we were eager to peruse to restaurant’s menu by the time our names were called. I opted for the crepe-style danish pancakes (whipped cream, seasonal house jam, lemon zest) while my friend ordered the smoked salmon smørrebrød.

Everything was top-notch! I enjoyed the meal so much, I returned a week later with my husband for the Danish hot dogs (my sister raves about them after her trip to Iceland). I’m excited to try more on the menu, it seems like everything churning out of the kitchen is bound to impress.

Brunch in NYC isn’t just a meal, it’s a competitive sport, and these spots are the reigning champions.

Dating back to 1938, B&H Dairy has been serving the neighborhood for more than eight decades. Known for legendary matzoh ball soup, this shoebox of a diner serves some of the best brunch in the East Village.

A safe haven for Yidish comfort food, you’ll find all the usual suspects, crispy latkes, oversized knishes, and soft pierogis. If you’re visiting for breakfast or brunch, the challah French toast is a non-negotiable order. A favorite with families and post-bar revelers in search of a hangover cure, it’s hard to imagine a better way to kick off the weekend.

Celebrating more than 40 years in the neighborhood, at Cafe Mogador you’ll find an exciting lineup of breakfast classics with a Mediterranean twist. ).

Otherwise, go with the Middle Eastern Breakfast (eggs any style, hummus, tabouli and Arabic salad) or Moroccan Eggs (Poached eggs, spicy tomato, pepper sauce, house-made merguez sausage) for a punchy brunch meal.

San Marzano is a lauded Italian restaurant most famous for fresh pasta dishes. Shaking things up a bit, they decided to offer traditional American brunch during the weekends, and the neighborhood is better for it.

I’m guessing the lump crab Benedict (poached eggs, avocado, hollandaise) and Salmon Eggs (cheddar scrambled eggs, smoked salmon) might be enough to entice you, but if not, let’s talk about the bottomless mimosas on offer.

For a mere $14, you can add bottomless mimosas to your meal, which makes San Marzano one of the best bottomless brunch deals in the East Village.

Ever wished for a leisurely boozy brunch without the pressure of downing endless mimosas? You’re not alone, and that’s precisely why Lil Frankie’s makes my list of great East Village brunch restaurants.

This cash-only establishment runs a generous “3-4-1 special” during brunch, giving you the option to enjoy three cocktails (mimosa, bloody mark, screwdriver, bellini or prosecco) for the price of one for $19. Drinks aside, the well-put together food menu is nothing to scoff at!

I’m partial to the applewood smoked BLT breakfast sandwich, but the spinach and goat cheese omelette has been known to make an appearance on my plate from time to time.

If you enjoy eggs but want to shake things up a bit, go for the baked eggs alla parmigiana (tomatoes and Parmesan cheese with eggs based in a 900 degree wood burning stove) or polpettine and eggs (baby meatball ragu with baked eggs).

Perfectly posh, Ladybird is a popular vegan restaurant perfect for a girls brunch in the East Village, regardless of dietary restrictions. Food options rotate constantly because the cuisine relies heavily on in-season produce.

The BEC Buns (steamed bao bun, scrambled just egg, parmesan, mushroom bacon, chipotle aioli, cilantro crema) are a must-try, as are the chikin n’ waffles (oyster mushroom, chives, maple syrup, whipped cream).

If I had to name a quintessential East Village brunch spot, it’d be Little Ruby’s Cafe. Established in 2002, the charming restaurant blends traditional breakfast dishes with an Australian flare. Standout items include the popular avocado toast and spicy sausage breakfast sandwich. You can’t go wrong with either.

Ruby’s doesn’t accept reservations, it runs on a first come, first served basis only. Try to plan your East Village brunch date early to avoid long wait times!