Eat · Brunch · 2026
The brunch spots I actually go to.
In my order, from my own visits, updated September 2026. 10 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 ones where the food is genuinely, embarrassingly good.
I’ve been doing brunch in New York for years now and I’ve sat through a lot of mediocre eggs benedict to earn this list. Every restaurant here is one I return to regularly. Not because it’s trendy, not because someone told me to go, but because the food makes me genuinely happy. That’s the bar.
- BuvetteRestaurant · West VillageI come here when I want brunch to feel like a quiet morning in someone’s very beautiful apartment.
- Jack’s Wife FredaRestaurant · West VillageI’ve never waited more than 20 minutes here, even on a Saturday.
- GertieRestaurant · WilliamsburgThe pastrami egg and cheese on a roll is one of the best breakfast sandwiches in New York.
- Cafe MogadorRestaurant · East VillageThere’s a reason it’s survived four decades in a neighborhood that reinvents itself every five years.
- Sunday in BrooklynRestaurant · WilliamsburgThe malted pancakes with hazelnut maple praline are the single best pancakes I’ve ever eaten and I’m not being dramatic.
- Russ and Daughters CafeRestaurant · Lower East SideIf you like smoked fish, this is the best place in New York.
- Dudley’sRestaurant · Lower East SideThe ricotta hotcakes with banana and honeycomb butter are fantastic.
- Jacob’s PicklesRestaurant · Upper West SideI bring out-of-town friends here when I want to impress them without taking them somewhere fussy.
- Cafe SabarskyRestaurant · Upper East SideThis is the brunch I choose when I want to feel like a slightly more cultured version of myself.
- Win SonRestaurant · WilliamsburgThis is the spot I send food-obsessed friends to.
- 1
Buvette
Restaurant · West Village · Grove Street between Bedford and Bleecker
I come here when I want brunch to feel like a quiet morning in someone’s very beautiful apartment.
- 2
Jack’s Wife Freda
Restaurant · West Village · Carmine Street
I’ve never waited more than 20 minutes here, even on a Saturday.
- 3
Gertie
Restaurant · Williamsburg · Wythe Avenue near North 1st Street
The pastrami egg and cheese on a roll is one of the best breakfast sandwiches in New York.
- 4
Cafe Mogador
Restaurant · East Village · St. Marks Place near First Avenue
There’s a reason it’s survived four decades in a neighborhood that reinvents itself every five years.
- 5
Sunday in Brooklyn
Restaurant · Williamsburg · Wythe Avenue at South 2nd Street
The malted pancakes with hazelnut maple praline are the single best pancakes I’ve ever eaten and I’m not being dramatic.
- 6
Russ and Daughters Cafe
Restaurant · Lower East Side · Orchard Street between Houston and Stanton
If you like smoked fish, this is the best place in New York.
- 7
Dudley’s
Restaurant · Lower East Side · Orchard Street near Broome
The ricotta hotcakes with banana and honeycomb butter are fantastic.
- 8
Jacob’s Pickles
Restaurant · Upper West Side · Amsterdam Avenue between 84th and 85th
I bring out-of-town friends here when I want to impress them without taking them somewhere fussy.
- 9
Cafe Sabarsky
Restaurant · Upper East Side · Inside the Neue Galerie at 86th and Fifth Avenue
This is the brunch I choose when I want to feel like a slightly more cultured version of myself.
- 10
Win Son
Restaurant · Williamsburg · Graham Avenue near Scholes Street
This is the spot I send food-obsessed friends to.
The brunch spots I actually go to, 2026
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The full guide, with the ones that didn't make it and why: The Brunch Spots in NYC I Actually Go To.