Brunch in NYC: 9 Top Tables To Try This Spring

Stroll through any New York City neighborhood on a weekend morning and you’ll inevitably encounter locals and travelers alike waiting eagerly for a table at the city’s most coveted brunch spots. And now that the season of outdoor dining is underway and the sidewalks are lined with tables for two, we've rounded up the restaurants currently on our radar, including several hot spots that just debuted their brunch menus this spring. Whether it's classic comfort food in a rustic Brooklyn retreat or fresh-off-the-farm fruits and veggies in a chic uptown brownstone, these eateries are perfect for your next brunch outing in NYC.

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La Mercerie, SoHo

La Mercerie, a gorgeous restaurant from the team behind the trendy Le Coucou, offers an all-day menu of French dishes such as buckwheat crêpes and boeuf bourguignon, plus sweet finishes like charlotte au chocolat or crème caramel. The light-drenched space occupies a unique location in the furniture store Roman and Williams Guild and offers an equally unique opportunity: the tableware is available for diners to purchase.

Olmsted,  Prospect Heights

The distinctive brunch menu at this neighborhood spot in Prospect Heights features such eclectic items as Austrian donuts, carrot kathi rolls, spinach shakshouka and highly Instagrammable breakfast egg rolls stuffed with bacon, eggs and cheese. For a particularly memorable meal, enjoy a bite in the vibrant backyard garden where many of the dishes’ ingredients are grown.

,  Flatiron District

Housed in the iconic seven-story home emporium ABC Carpet & Home, this bright, modern restaurant from star chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten has a focus on vegan- and vegetarian-friendly fare, serving creative “brunch bowls” and an impressive variety of fresh veggie dishes accompanied by housemade juices and shakes.

Maialino, Gramercy

Acclaimed restaurateur Danny Meyer has cited the traditional Roman trattoria as the inspiration behind his chic bar and restaurant that serves innovative Italian cuisine in a scenic spot opposite Gramercy Park. The weekend menu features delicious pastas in addition to classic brunch staples and homemade pastries. Don’t miss the cacio e pepe scrambled eggs.

The East Pole, Upper East Side

The uptown sister restaurant of downtown’s The Fat Radish, this refined restaurant is housed in a brownstone, with a charming terrace for al fresco dining. At brunch, patrons can nosh on housemade granola, lemon ricotta waffles, avocado toast and smoked salmon crostini.

For a scrumptious brunch with an equally impressive view, look no further than Cecconi’s in Brooklyn’s Dumbo, where the waterfront tables face the Manhattan skyline just across the East River. This New York outpost of the Soho House-backed chain offers pastries and eggs in addition to handmade pastas and wood-fired pizzas in a spacious and elegant setting.

Vinegar Hill House, Vinegar Hill

This cozy Brooklyn spot serves classic American fare in an old-fashioned setting that’s just as charming as its name suggests—especially if you can snag a table on the intimate backyard patio. You can’t go wrong with the seasonal sourdough pancake.

The Penrose

, Upper East Side

Offering a lively atmosphere and a creative cocktail list, The Penrose is equally fun with a date or a group of friends. Brunch-goers looking for a heartier dish can order the signature burger, touted by many as the best on the Upper East Side.