Top 10 Places to Get Amazing Breakfast in NYC: Addresses & Reviews
New York City’s breakfast scene offers everything from quick grab-and-go bagels to leisurely brunches with bottomless coffee. Whether you’re a local looking for a new morning spot or a visitor planning your NYC itinerary, these top breakfast destinations deliver exceptional morning meals that showcase the city’s diverse culinary landscape.
We’ve scoured the five boroughs to bring you the absolute best breakfast NYC has to offer, complete with addresses, standout menu items, and real customer feedback. Save this guide for your next morning adventure in the Big Apple!
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Save This List1. Golden Diner
Golden Diner’s famous Honey Butter Pancakes
Address: 123 Madison Street, New York, NY 10002
This buzzy Korean-influenced diner in Two Bridges recalls NYC’s classic diners while bringing fresh culinary perspectives. Founded by chef Sam Yoo, Golden Diner offers a nostalgic atmosphere with swivel stools at the counter and vintage light fixtures.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Honey Butter Pancakes – Incredibly fluffy and frisbee-sized
- Breakfast Sandwich on Scallion Milk Bun
- Green Tea Coffee Cake
- Eggs Any Style with home fries and challah toast
“Once you try the incredibly fluffy and frisbee-sized Honey Butter Pancakes, there is no going back. Easily the best breakfast in NYC I’ve had in years.” – Time Out New York
2. B&H Dairy
B&H Dairy’s classic eggs with home fries and challah
Address: 127 2nd Avenue, New York, NY 10003
One of New York’s last remaining kosher dairy restaurants, this venerable East Village institution has been serving beloved kosher dairy dishes since 1938. The tiny 400-square-foot lunch counter offers incredible value with hearty, comforting breakfast classics.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Two Eggs Any Style with home fries and challah
- Cheese Blintzes with sour cream
- Vegetable Omelette with home fries
- Challah French Toast
“This place is a true NYC institution. The breakfast special is still under $10 for two eggs any style, home fries, challah, orange juice and coffee or tea. Incredible value and the challah is perfect!” – Yelp reviewer
Insider Tip: Grab a free “Challah!” pen near the register on your way out as a souvenir.
3. Cafe Henri
Cafe Henri’s French breakfast spread
Address: 1010 50th Avenue, Long Island City, NY 11101
This charming French bistro in Long Island City offers a warm, inviting atmosphere that immediately transports you to Paris. The brunch menu features French breakfast classics prepared with authentic techniques and quality ingredients.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Classic Crepes with fresh berries and crème fraîche
- Eggs Benedict with house-made hollandaise
- Croque Madame with bechamel and a perfectly fried egg
- French Press Coffee
“There’s something about this brasserie that just feels immediately warm and inviting. Their eggs Benedict is absolutely perfect – the hollandaise has just the right amount of lemon to cut through the richness.” – Google Review
Note: For those with dietary restrictions, be aware that substitutions are politely declined to maintain dish authenticity.
4. Russ & Daughters
Russ & Daughters’ classic bagel with lox
Address: 179 E Houston St, New York, NY 10002 (original location)
An iconic New York institution since 1914, Russ & Daughters has been serving some of the city’s finest lox, herring, and other Jewish appetizing foods for over a century. While the original location is primarily a shop, they’ve expanded with sit-down cafes that offer full breakfast service.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- The Classic Board – bagel with cream cheese, smoked salmon, tomato, onion and capers
- Potato Latkes with applesauce and sour cream
- Lower East Side Breakfast with scrambled eggs and Nova
- House-made Chocolate Babka
“No one does smoked fish better than Russ & Daughters. Their bagel sandwiches are the quintessential New York breakfast – perfectly chewy bagels, silky cream cheese, and salmon sliced so thin you can read the newspaper through it.” – New York Magazine
Insider Tip: At their Brooklyn Navy Yard location, you can actually watch how the rugelach gets made.
5. Veselka
Veselka’s breakfast pierogi topped with eggs
Address: 144 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10003 (East Village location)
This third-generation family-owned Ukrainian restaurant has been an East Village staple since 1954. Open 24 hours, Veselka serves breakfast all day, offering a unique blend of traditional American breakfast items alongside Ukrainian specialties.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Breakfast Pierogi Special – four pierogi topped with two eggs any style
- Ukrainian Breakfast Plate with kielbasa and potato pancakes
- Blintzes with sweet cheese filling and fresh fruit
- Challah French Toast with maple syrup
“Veselka’s breakfast pierogi special is the ultimate comfort food – perfectly cooked dumplings topped with runny eggs, plus your choice of meat. The beet and horseradish salad on the side adds the perfect tangy contrast.” – 4.5/5 stars on Yelp
6. Shopsin’s at Essex Market
Shopsin’s famous creative pancake varieties
Address: 88 Essex Street, New York, NY 10002
The only diner operating inside Essex Market, Shopsin’s is locally beloved for its massive menu and creative breakfast concoctions. With nearly two dozen pancake options alone and seemingly infinite egg preparations, this quirky spot offers some of the most inventive breakfast dishes in the city.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Mac & Cheese Pancakes – their signature creation
- ABC Breakfast – chicken, sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, and grits
- “So Good” – poached egg-topped triple decker French toast grilled cheese
- Coconut Sweet Rice Pancakes
“Shopsin’s menu is like a book of breakfast dreams. The Mac & Cheese Pancakes sound bizarre but are genuinely life-changing. Just be prepared to wait – they’re only open about six hours a day and closed Mondays and Tuesdays.” – Food Network review
Hours Note: Shopsin’s keeps limited hours (Wed-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat-Sun 10am-4pm) and is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
7. Jack’s Wife Freda
Jack’s Wife Freda’s signature rosewater waffles
Address: 224 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10012 (SoHo location)
This all-day bistro specializes in Mediterranean-influenced cuisine served in a stylish setting with dark-green leather banquettes, brass railings, and marble counters. With four locations across NYC, Jack’s Wife Freda offers a fresh take on breakfast with dishes featuring Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavors.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Rosewater Waffles with Lebanese yogurt and mixed berries
- Green Shakshuka with challah toast
- Mediterranean Breakfast with two eggs, chopped salad, and halloumi
- Duck Bacon, Egg & Cheese Sandwich with tomato jam
“The rosewater waffles are unlike anything else in the city – light, fragrant, and perfectly balanced with the tart yogurt. This place manages to be both trendy and genuinely good, which is rare in SoHo.” – 4.6/5 stars on Google Reviews
Insider Tip: Brunch is extremely popular, especially on weekends. Make a reservation to avoid the typically long wait.
8. Café Chelsea
Café Chelsea’s elegant French-American breakfast
Address: 218 West 23rd Street, New York, NY 10011
Located inside the historic Hotel Chelsea, this French-American bistro offers a glimpse into the cool, mod aesthetic that once defined this legendary establishment in its 1960s heyday. The French cafe-inspired menu offers elegant breakfast options in a stylish, art-filled setting.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Florentine Omelet with spinach and gruyère
- Open-Faced Breakfast Sandwich with avocado and poached eggs
- House-Made Granola with seasonal fruit and yogurt
- Freshly Baked Pastry Basket
“If you’ve ever wondered what it was like to hang out at the Chelsea Hotel during its artistic heyday, Café Chelsea gives you a taste of that cool, creative atmosphere. The food is simple but perfectly executed – their Florentine omelet is a masterclass in technique.” – New York Times
Weekend Tip: If you visit for weekend brunch, you’ll find expanded menu options including oysters, caviar, and steak tartare.
9. Radio Star
Radio Star’s Merguez sausage in phyllo dough
Address: 13 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222
This hip throwback-style diner in Greenpoint serves up dishes inspired by the flavors of northern Africa and the Mediterranean. The space features relics from the 1940s, from the furniture to the light fixtures, creating a unique atmosphere for enjoying their creative breakfast offerings.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Flatbread Breakfast Sandwich with harissa aioli
- Merguez in a Blanket – sausage wrapped in phyllo dough
- Saffron and Orange Blossom Cream Cheese Pastry
- Moroccan Spiced Coffee
“Radio Star takes the classic American diner and infuses it with North African flavors in the most delicious way possible. Their take on ‘pigs in a blanket’ using Merguez sausage and phyllo is genius, and that orange blossom pastry is worth the trip to Greenpoint alone.” – Brooklyn Magazine
10. Marlow & Sons
Marlow & Sons’ seasonal vegetable frittata
Address: 81 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11249
Approaching twenty years in operation, this cozy Williamsburg restaurant was one of the first from acclaimed restaurateur Andrew Tarlow. The menu evolves seasonally in its familiar, heavily wood-lined space, offering a farm-to-table approach to breakfast in a rustic-chic setting.
Must-Try Menu Items:
- Seasonal Vegetable Frittata – changes based on market availability
- House-Made Pastries – especially the scones
- Avocado Toast with pickled onions and chili flakes
- Breakfast Sandwich with house-cured bacon
“Marlow & Sons helped define Brooklyn’s food scene, and it’s still going strong. Their frittata is always perfect – light, fluffy, and filled with whatever vegetables are at their peak. The pastries are worth every calorie, especially when enjoyed on their sidewalk seating in warm weather.” – 4.7/5 stars on OpenTable
Insider Tip: In warm weather, arrive early to snag one of the coveted sidewalk tables for a perfect Brooklyn breakfast experience.
Find the Best Breakfast NYC Locations
Map of our top 10 best breakfast NYC locations
Frequently Asked Questions About Breakfast in NYC
What’s the best neighborhood for breakfast in NYC?
While great breakfast spots can be found throughout the city, the East Village and Lower East Side have the highest concentration of exceptional morning eateries. Williamsburg in Brooklyn is a close second, offering numerous artisanal and creative breakfast options. For classic New York breakfast experiences, the Upper West Side has several iconic establishments.
Are these breakfast spots budget-friendly?
Our list includes options across various price points. B&H Dairy and Three Decker Diner offer exceptional value with breakfast options under $15. Mid-range spots like Golden Diner and Veselka provide substantial portions for $15-25. More upscale experiences like Café Chelsea and Jack’s Wife Freda typically run $25-35 per person for breakfast with coffee. Most places offer at least a few budget-friendly options.
What time do most breakfast places open in NYC?
Opening times vary, but many breakfast-focused establishments open between 7-9am on weekdays and slightly later (8-10am) on weekends. Places like Veselka and B&H Dairy open early (around 7-8am), while more brunch-oriented spots like Jack’s Wife Freda might not open until 9-10am. Always check current hours before visiting, as schedules may change seasonally.
Experience the Best Breakfast NYC Has to Offer
From classic Jewish appetizing shops to innovative diners and elegant hotel cafes, New York City’s breakfast scene offers something for every taste and budget. These ten establishments represent the diversity, quality, and creativity that make NYC a breakfast lover’s paradise.
Whether you’re craving perfectly executed classics like bagels with lox or innovative creations like mac and cheese pancakes, these spots deliver memorable morning meals that showcase why breakfast might just be the most exciting meal of the day in the Big Apple.
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