NYC Review: Where to Find the “Berry” Best Brunch in the City
Written by Michelle Manis
No matter the time of year or the weather, you can expect your local NYC brunch spot to be booked and busy. It’s understandable—who doesn’t love great company, good eats, and immaculate vibes? It’s safe to say that brunch reigns supreme for me. It’s the perfect excuse to catch up with your friends while enjoying sweet or savory classics in a cozy hotspot, and that’s what I call pure multitasking bliss (a win in my busy book). Now that we’ve established we take the most important meal of the weekend seriously…where to go? There are truly so many brunch hidden gems in the city, you can’t go wrong. Whether you skew towards breakfast or lunch on the spectrum, allow me to recommend some great brunch spots for you to enjoy, but warning, your mouth may water!
A renowned Tribeca gem, Bubby’s is known for their fluffy and thick pancakes so much so that they even sell their own pancake mix. My personal recommendation is their Pancake Flight with fresh cream, assorted fruit, nutella, and walnuts. Tip: expect to see a line down the block of folks waiting to be seated so get there early! But trust me, it’s worth the wait.
Australian cafe, Ruby’s has a few locations in the city, all equally fantastic. A healthy brunch option, Ruby’s has comfort dishes like grain bowls and passion fruit yogurt bowls, but also offers delightful smoothies (the Himalayan is my favorite), fluffy ricotta hotcakes, and a “Big Breakfast” with beans, sourdough toast, eggs, tomatoes and mushrooms reminiscent of a traditional English breakfast that I absolutely love (I miss you London study abroad).
Outro makes going to brunch with a bunch of friends easy with their unique service style. Each person can individually order and pay for their food on their phone via a QR code on the table. Within minutes, the food is served to the table number indicated from the code. High tech and simple, Outro is unique in more ways than one. Because of their lovely outdoor seating, it’s the perfect spot to go to when the weather gets warmer. As well, their food is of course amazing, and offers all the fun drinks like lavender lattes, rose lattes, and matcha espressos.
Need a little more music in your life? Jazz Brunch at the Canary Club is the perfect solution. Honestly, anywhere there’s a food and music combination you can expect me to be having the time of my life. This one I haven’t personally been to yet, but after seeing all the great reviews, I’m making that reservation ASAP. Not to mention, the interior is beautiful: calming nostalgic green walls + rustic auburn accents = good vibes.
Agave Restaurant and Tequila Bar
Can’t make up your mind between wanting Mexican food for lunch and a tasty traditional brunch menu? Lucky for you Agave has both—whew crisis averted! Agave offers bottomless brunch and a wide selection of brunch dishes with a Mexican twist like South Western Benedict, Egg White Frittata, Huevos Rancheros, and many more!
Tonia’s Picks
Here are some brunch recommendations from our founder, Tonia Berry!
A tiny, extra-charming, French-inspired gastrothèque in the heart of West Village. It’s the cool girl of NYC brunch spots. Buvette stands for walling gracefully in quiet luxuries, and it definitely lives up to its name. Tonia’s favorite here is simple—Les Oeufs Vapeurs (scrambled eggs and toast) and fresh squeezed orange juice. Perfect every time.
Cafe Chelsea is a French American restaurant located in the historic Hotel Chelsea. Featuring a wide selection of seafood, salads, and traditional brunch cuisine, expect nothing but elegance and delight with every bite. Tonia’s favorite way to brunch at Cafe Chelsea is to get an Americano and Breakfast Américain with avocado.
Raving reviews, an impressive wine list, and what are referred to as “the best pancakes of all time” by some Google reviewers, Chez Ma Tante is a Brooklyn gem. Tonia’s favorite is the pancake, of course!
It doesn’t get any fresher than Cookshop. They pride themselves on using local farmer’s produce and cooking with only the finest ingredients. If you’re looking for a feel good healthy brunch option, Cookshop is the perfect pick!
I don’t know about you, but I know what I’m doing Sunday afternoon. I hope these recommendations help you find your new favorite brunch go-to spot in NYC. Eat well and…
Be Well,
Michelle
