Jul
16

New York is obsessed with brunch.

Europeans don’t brunch. Chicagoans occasionally brunch, but don’t tend to linger. In Miami, they just skip the eating part and drink mimosas and rosé by the pool. And I think everyone just goes jogging in LA and San Fran, followed by a huge Starbucks.

Brunch in New York is an official institution, and one of the few leisurely experiences that is shared across the board in this sleepless town. And when it comes to brunch, there are two types:

  1. The Recovery Brunch, following a big night out.
  2. The Boozy Brunch, that can also follow a big night out, but most likely takes the helm and steers the direction of an entire day. (Boozy Brunch has been known to result in an early evening hangover)

Drumroll please…best brunch spots, in no certain order.

Cafe Habana

1. Prune 54 E. 1st St. b/w 1st and 2nd Ave

Extensive Bloody Mary menu, fave is The Matchbox. Carbonara contains addictive substance that is possibly crack.

2. Café Habana 17 Prince St. b/w Mott and Elizabeth

Between the Micheladas and the famous on the cob…what more do you need? Huevos Rancheros.

3. Freeman’s Alley off Rivington b/w Bowery and Chrystie

Escape the city down a little alley. Delish homestyle food and lots of pretty faces. Takes reservations.

4. Bubby’s 120 Hudson St. at N. Moore St.

Midwest-size portions of heavy classics…lots of strollers and perpetual celebs. Takes reservations.

5. Hundred Acres 38 Macdougal St.  b/w Prince and Houston

This is just a cute place to park yourself for an afternoon for cocktail-menu exploration padded with comfort food. Takes reservations for groups of 6+.

6. Double Crown 316 Bowery at Bleecker

$30 for brunch AND unlimited access to the DIY Bloody Mary bar? Don’t mind if I do. Outdoor seating, takes reservations. They literally deliver you glasses of vodka for hours.

7. Jing Fong 20 Elizab2eth St. b/w Bayard and Canal

Dim Sum in an enoooormous banquet hall. Communal seating so strangers can eavesdrop on your Saturday night debauchery. Oh and it’s laughably cheap. I dare you to break $20 pp.

8. Back Forty 190 Avenue B at E. 12th St.

In the mood for chicken and waffles while sitting in a backyard? Don’t skip the doughnuts.

9. Commerce 50 Commerce St. b/w Barrow and Bedford

Classic chic on one of the cutest blocks in Manhattan…menu holds a few surprises.

10. Isabella’s 359 Columbus Ave at W. 77th St.

The only Uptown selection on the EH list, Isabella’s is elegant and precise. Eggs Benedict just the way it should be.

If you’re finished reading this post and huffing about how your favorite spot didn’t make the list…it’s your civic duty to comment below and share your wisdom.

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