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The Best of New York · Eat · Brunch

The best brunch in the East Village

Updated November 2026. 9 places.

I used to think brunch was overrated. Two hours for eggs and an $18 mimosa? Pass. Then I found the places on this list and everything changed. These aren’t the Instagram-bait spots where you wait 90 minutes for a photo op. These are the East Village brunch spots where the food is genuinely, embarrassingly good. Let’s eat.

Antonina PattizWriter and photographer · how I decide
Best of New York 2026, New York Dearest

Best brunch in the East Village, 2026

  1. Cafe MogadorRestaurant · East VillageCelebrating more than 40 years in the neighborhood, at Cafe Mogador you'll find an exciting lineup of breakfast classics with a Mediterranean twist.
  2. Lil' Frankie'sRestaurant · East Village
  3. Little Ruby's CafeRestaurant · East VillageIf I had to name a quintessential East Village brunch spot, it'd be Little Ruby's Cafe.
  4. SmørRestaurant · East Village
  5. Yellow RoseRestaurant · East VillageThis busy Tex Mex restaurant is known for toothsome breakfast tacos and mean margaritas (hair of the dog, anyone?).
  6. B&H DairyRestaurant · East VillageDating back to 1938, B&H Dairy has been serving the neighborhood for more than eight decades.
  7. David's CafeRestaurant · East VillageChurning 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.
  8. LadybirdRestaurant · East VillagePerfectly posh, Ladybird is a popular vegan restaurant perfect for a girls brunch in the East Village, regardless of dietary restrictions.
  9. San MarzanoRestaurant · East VillageSan Marzano serves a better brunch than half the spots with fancy PR teams.

On the map

Where they are

All in East Village.

East Village

Best of New York 2026, New York Dearest

The Best of New York 2026

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The full guide, with the ones that didn't make it and why: 13 Top-Notch Brunch Spots in the East Village (Worth the Wait).