Lower East Side

Last Updated on February 2, 2022 by Top Brunch Spots Staff

sweet chick food
Looking for the best brunch Lower East Side this weekend? Great! Top Brunch Spots is the go to resource for brunch each and every weekend. On top of that, we’ve already done all the hard work for you. That includes filtering through the noise to provide you only the best bottomless, boozy drinks and tasty brunches in this weekend.
These brunch spots will be sure to be the highlight of your day.

Many restaurants serve a special brunch menu for Mother’s Day beyond your normal scrambled eggs, avocado toast, poached egg or smoked salmon and some even have a prix fixe menu so be sure to contact the restaurant and try to put in a reservation if you can. If not, don’t worry most restaurants will accommodate walk-ins on Mother’s Day.

So how does this work?

We pick our top choices based on the quality of the food, service, and consistency over time. We’ll start off by giving you the best options overall for brunch in Lower East Side and then follow up with links to different types of brunches in different neighborhoods ( and more) at the end of this page.

The Lower East Side is filled to the brim with some of the best restaurants, bars, and venues in New York City. The brunch spots vying for the best brunch Lower East Side, include top brunch spots and people that brunch hard and brunch well every single weekend. Check out our recommendations below.


Sweet Chick – Lower East Side

sweet chick food
Sweet Chick
sweet chick logo

Sweet Chick‘s philosophy says it all. Great food, a cool vibe, and interesting brunch cocktails at a great price.

Fried Chicken & waffles is the most popular dish at this hip restaurant. However, don’t sleep on the ricotta pancakes. The pancakes are some of the best in the city and the chicken is served all day!

Address:

178 Ludlow St

New York, NY 10002

Website:

https://www.sweetchick.com/

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side

Food Type:

Southern


Mezetto

Mezetto

For a Mediterranean brunch (or dinner) on the lower east side, try Mezetto. They have a bottomless brunch (proceed at your own risk) and tons of sharing options. The menu is split into spreadable, brunch bites, and proper brunch plates. If you’re having a hard time deciding which to choose, we recommend sharing a bunch of bites and a spreadable, or a few of the brunch plates.

Address:

161 E Houston St

New York, NY 10002

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side

Website:

mezetto.com/

Food Type:

Mediterranean


Dudley’s

Dudley's NYC

Dudley’s – an Orchard street hot spot – is a brunch hot spot for a reason. With a well-rounded and pretty robust menu, delicious food inspired by both American (eggs, etc) and Australian fare is served either inside or outside (an excellent opportunity for the sought after and very intriguing activity of New York City people watching). 

Address:

85 Orchard St

New York, NY 10002

Website:

https://www.dudleysnyc.com/

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side

Food Type:

American


Pig and Khao

Pig and Khao food
Pig and Khao logo

If you’re looking for something a little more exotic in your brunch menu, then you have to try Pig and Khao. This eatery inspired by Southeast Asian delicacies, specifically Thai and Filipino dishes, serves brunch, dinner, and caters to large parties, so you have many chances to get your fill without a crazy wait time. But the brunch menu might especially blow your mind.

Address:

68 Clinton St

New York, NY 10002

Website:

pigandkhao.com

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side

Food Type:

Asian Fusion


Russ & Daughters Cafe

From a legendary appetizing shop comes this retro, full-service outpost serving Jewish comfort food. If you’re looking for a brunch place with real Jewish comfort food, then Russ & Daughters Cafe is your place. Located on Orchard Street, this Lower East Side retro spot is not far from the Williamsburg bridge and is sure to make your bagel dreams come true. Russ & Daughters Cafe is a popular brunch spot in New York City, so be sure to get there early or be prepared to wait in line come brunch time.

Address:

127 Orchard St

New York, NY 10002

Website:

russanddaughterscafe.com

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side

Food Type:

Bagels


Benson’s NYC

Rustic-chic bar focused on craft beer, wine & cider with bar snacks & plates, plus brews to-go. Benson’s NYC is for the bar lover in you. Full of bar favorites like burgers (with onion rings on top), thick-cut fries, and even thicker cut bacon, you’ll get your fill of brunch favorites and get to have your beer with it, too. That’s not to say that Benson’s only serves bar food, there are also some healthy options for those of us who still want to fit into the designer jeans we bought at the sample sale.

Address:

181 Essex St

New York, NY 10002

Website:

https://www.bensonsnyc.com

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side

Food Type:

American


Clinton St. Baking Company

This iconic brunch spot, famed for being one of, if not the best in the city, has even expanded to Singapore, Dubai, and Tokyo. What started as a simple brunch spot has now become the place to go if you absolutely have to have the best pancakes money can buy to go along with your eggs.

Clinton St Baking Company is especially known for its very popular weekend brunch & its blueberry pancakes with a long wait time.

Address:

4 Clinton St

New York, NY 10002

Website:

clintonstreetbaking.com

Neighborhood:

DUMBO

Food Type:

Food Stands


La Contenta

There’s a special place in our hearts for Mexican breakfast and La Contenta delivers. For some West Coast transplants, it can be desperately hard to find authentic Mexican food, but this brunch spot tops the list of New York City eateries. Like Freeman’s, La Contenta serves brunch, dinner, and happy hour drinks and plates. So, you have plenty of opportunities to try it all. 

Address:

102 Norfolk St

New York, NY 10002

Website:

https://lacontentanyc.com

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side

Food Type:

Mexican


Clancey

Clancey isn’t taking any brunch prisoners, because their brunch runs from 10:00-4:00 on Saturdays and 10:00-6:00 on Sundays. If you get a late afternoon breakfast/brunch craving for french toast, then Clancey is your place. Clancey is definitively American (eggs and all), with a strong rotation of craft beers and specialty cocktails as well.

Address:

79 Clinton St

New York, NY 10002

Website:

clanceynyc.com

Neighborhood:

Lower East Side

Food Type:

American


POST

The simple and unassuming POST looks like your typical cafe on the outside, but it’s actually one of the most popular brunch spots in NYC. Like any good New York City joint, POST is aesthetically pleasing. Another brunch spot focusing on traditional American cuisine, they will likely satisfy that brunch craving you get every Sunday after a night out you accidentally spent in Williamsburg.

Address:

42 Avenue B

New York, NY 10009

Website:

post-nyc.com

Neighborhood:

Alphabet City

Food Type:

American


Shopsin’s

Shopsins’s General Store puts on absolutely no airs. This diner is known for its rough and curt approach to breakfast service, so be warned. While New Yorkers might be prepared for this particular type of brunch grit, your grandmother from the Midwest may not. However, it’s all a part of Shopsin’s charm so don’t take their brunch service personal.


Freemans 

This colonial tavern tucked away down an alley off the Bowery, is one of the staple brunch spots on the lower east side. Freemans serves dishes inspired by the American rustic, with many of the plates being served in tiny cast iron skillets, and large wooden carving boards. Some stand out brunch menu items include banana buttermilk pancakes (with vanilla glaze and candied pistachios), eggs and a mushroom benedict with truffle hollandaise. Say truffle, and we’ll be there.

New York, NY


Beauty & Essex

For an elegant brunch day out, Beauty & Essex can give you the sweet and the savory you’ve been craving (pancakes, french toast, eggs, cheese and all). Beauty & Essex is owned by the Tao Group, which owns restaurants in other major cities on the West Coast, Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Even in its decor, Beauty & Essex is a little wacky. Upon walking you, guests are greeted by a curated modern pawn shop before they can explore the restaurant’s four dining rooms.

New York, NY

Root & Bone 

Root & Bone is a hip, elegant brunch spot with a flair for presentation. Thriving on hospitality and ethically sourced food, Root & Bone’s rustic charm goes beyond the food. If we’re speaking about the food at Root & Bone; however, then we need to discuss how often the menu changes. That’s something we love in a brunch place – or any restaurant for that matter – that way, each time we visit, we get to taste something new.

New York, NY

Dirty French

Since there has to be another French brunch option on this list, we give you Dirty French. If you like your breakfast sweet and loaded with freshly baked bread, then Dirty French’s brunch is what you’ve been looking for. This brasserie promises chic French decor and food that will satisfy your European-inclined cravings.

New York, NY

Sons of Essex

Highly rated for their stellar macaroni and cheese, Sons of Essex also has an excellent brunch which is one of the best in NYC. It’s also one of the fabled NYC speakeasies, so at Sons of Essex, there are multitudes of fun to be had. The Sons of Essex’s rallying cry is to combine the classic American comfort food that New York has come to represent, but also to implement the melting pot of cultures that comprise New York City in an effort to serve up the perfect brunch.

New York, NY

Jajaja Plantas Mexicana

A spot that serves Mexican that’s vegetarian and vegan – this is a brunch place fit for the hungry and lovers of vibrancy – both in aesthetics and their food. While it’s not so hard to find excellent vegan restaurants in a place like NYC, you still want to be eating the best of the best. Which is what Jajaja touts in all aspects. We recommend you eat the regular menu for brunch as opposed to the brunch menu.

New York, NY

Les Enfants de Bohème

In our opinion, everyone needs a French brunch once in a while. And yes, there have been a few French-inspired places on the list so far, but Les Enfants de Bohème is just as good. This French restaurant serves every meal, in addition to happy hour and cocktails, so you’re more than welcome to try all of their menus, but for now, let’s stick to brunch and keep an open appetite for french toast.

New York, NY

Cafe Medi

Cafe Medi has a brunch that features coastal cuisine. They take inspiration from France, Italy, and Spain — three countries that are always at odds on who’s cuisine is better. What a great idea to just implement all three. Especially at brunch each and every Saturday and Sunday.

New York, NY

Poco 

A charming atmosphere welcomes you as you enter Poco in the East Village just north of Lower East Side in Alphabet City. The restaurant serves a boozy brunch, party brunch and a menu chock full of organic ingredients. But what we’re really here for is the lobster guacamole. Who even knew that was possible?

East Village

New York, NY

Grey Lady

From 12-4 at Grey Lady in LES, you can enjoy a fantastic brunch. If you’re still not over having a lobster first thing, the first thing you’ll see on Grey Lady’s menu is the lobster egg rolls. A moment of silence, please. 

Les Enfants Delice

Les Enfants Delice is the to-go version of Les Enfants de Boehme if you find yourself needing to go to the MET for the last day of the costume exhibit next year, or any other time New York City hustling makes you too busy to do anything else. 

Cornerstone Cafe

Cornerstone Cafe has a ton of brunch options on the menu. Whatever you’re looking for, they’ll probably have it. Whether you’re looking for an omelet, eggs benedict, steak, and eggs, or just a simple bagel and cream cheese, Cornerstone Cafe has you covered. There are also paninis and breakfast sandwiches that are easy to grab on the go, or enjoy with your friends. 

Villa Cemita

Honestly, there’s no such thing as too much Mexican food. But Villa Cemita is cash only, so remember to go to the ATM before brunch. Some highlights from the menu include: Huevos con mole served with plantains and avocado, tamal eggs benedict with queso and chorizo, and pulpo ensalada, which is an octopus salad! Looks like Grey Lady might have some competition in the seafood department, but just don’t go to Villa Cemita looking for avocado toast.

Loreley Beer Garden

Brunch and a Biergarten? We honestly don’t know what we did to deserve this. Living in NYC is difficult, it’s smelly, it’s occupied, but it is an oasis in many other ways. Especially when it comes to brunch. At Loreley Beer Garden you can enjoy a huge mug of beer with your brunch or a hot chocolate loaded with caramel and whipped cream; either way, your stomach will be satisfied.

FONDA

FONDA is another East Village restaurant serving a Mexican inspired brunch in a lively setting. Though the menu is a little small, it likely means that all the items are done well.

Cibao

Cibao is for your most low key brunches. Set up as a counter service or delivery place, this Dominican spot shines at brunch. It’s also one of the most affordable options for those of us who don’t want to spend a significant amount of our pay chugging bellinis

Table of Contents

More Restaurants You'll Love

Scroll to Top