Authors Note — If there’s an amazing Chelsea brunch spot that you feel like is missing from this list please drop me a comment below and I’ll check it out ASAP!
Quick Summary. Looking for brunch joints in Chelsea? Here are my top picks. Cookshop, Citizens Of Chelsea, Empire Diner, and more.
Best Brunch in Chelsea NYC
Table of Contents. Best Chelsea Brunch Spots
Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out my helpful guide on Where to Stay in New York City (10 Best Neighborhoods +3 to Avoid). Don’t have time? Here’s my favorite hotel in NYC, hands down.
Cookshop
Website. Cookshop
Location— 156 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011
Brunch Hours.Saturday & Sunday 10am-3:30pm
Cookshop has been dishing out inspired American brunch fare in Chelsea for two decades. Reliable and consistent, the menus is a roll-call of everyone’s favorites, from buttermilk cornmeal pancakes (a personal favorite) to punchy huevos rancheros and the freshest BLT you’ll have in NYC.
Better still, the restaurant is flooded with natural light, making it a great spot for anyone looking to shore up a vitamin D deficiency. Reservations are recommended, but the wait is worthwhile for this popular Chelsea brunch haunt.
Further Reading.15 Tantalizing Restaurants in Chelsea
Citizens Of Chelsea
Website.Citizens Of Chelsea
Address. 401 W 25th St, New York, NY
Brunch Hours.All day brunch
Citizens of Chelsea opened in 2016 when co-founders Justin Giuffrida and Andrew Geisel decided to introduce a community-focused restaurant that emphasized clean food and great coffee. Nearly ten years later, the popular Austrian cafe became known for serving some of the most beautiful brunch in Chelsea.
Thankfully, everything tastes as great as it looks. I recommend splitting the famous blueberry and maple pancakes with the table before flirting with the entree menu. I’m partial to the Smashing Avocado (multigrain toast, pickled onion, feta, beetroot hummus) and the Chorizo Breakfast Burrito, but everything on the menu is bound to impress.
Empire Diner
Website— Empire Diner
Location— 210 10th Ave, New York, NY
Brunch Hours. All day brunch
Dating back to 1976, Empire Diner is on constant rotation in Chelsea’s brunch scene. There’s something endearing about old-school diners, and Empire kicks it up a notch with inspired American classics.
From airy omelettes and hearty breakfast sandwiches to grilled steak and eggs or shrimp and grits, the only non-negotiable is an order of the truffle Parmesan fries and warm homemade biscuits.
Breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Empire Diner has you covered. But, since this one of the most popular restaurants for brunch in Chelsea, I recommend getting there early to avoid a long wait (reservations for weekend brunch not accepted).
Local tip. Insider move. ask for the off-menu special.
Jack’s Wife Freda
Website. Jack’s Wife Freda
Address. 116 8th Ave, New York, NY
Brunch Hours.All day brunch
Jack’s Wife Freda is a popular restaurant that merges South African and Israeli cuisine.
The couple worked at several notable restaurants before fatefully meeting at Balthazar. Years later, they took a leap of faith by opening their own. Named after Dean’s grandparents, Jack and Freda, this chic Chelsea brunch restaurant is a love letter to comforting childhood meals.
But you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu.
Note — Jack’s Wife Freda leans into the vibes playing music at a volume louder than some might enjoy. Those nursing the consequences of a fun night on the town might want to consider other options ;
Friedman’s at the Chelsea Market
Website. Friedman’s Chelsea Market
Address.75 9th Ave, New York, NY
Brunch Hours. All day brunch
Named after famed economist Milton Friedman (who coined the phrase “there’s no such thing as free lunch”), Friedman’s serves the best gluten-free brunch in Chelsea. After being diagnosed with celiac disease, Alan Philips made it a personal mission to offer gluten-free meals worth getting excited about.
Everything on the menu is gluten-free (or can be substituted for gluten free). You’ll find classic comfort food like lemon ricotta pancakes, crab cake Benedict and the restaurant’s signature juicy burger. With so much variety on offer, everyone at the table will find an indulgence to enjoy at Friedman’s.
Unpopular opinion. Controversial take. eggs benedict is the most overrated brunch dish in existence. Order something creative instead.
The Orchard Townhouse
Website. The Orchard Townhouse
Address. 242 10th Ave, New York, NY
Brunch Hours.Saturdays 11am-4pm
Brunch is a Saturday affair at Orchard Townhouse, a charming corner restaurant spotlighting contemporary bistro fare and step up brunch dishes.
You’ll find hearty pastas (the Spicy Crab Spaghetti deserves a shout-out) and a slew of sandwich options along with inspired breakfast dishes like ricotta crepes and crispy potato latkes with smoked salmon.
Modern and airy, whether you opt the indoor dinning room or the outdoor patio, scoring a table to enjoy some of the best brunch in Chelsea is a great start to the weekend.
Local’s Recommendation. The Orchard Townhouse is a two minute walk from the High Line, one of the best parks in New York City. Make sure to check it out!
Motel Morris
Website. Motel Morris
Address. 132 7th Ave, New York, NY
Brunch Hours. Weekends 11am-3:30pm
At Motel Morris, Chef Bill McDaniel helms a seasonal American menu with an international accent. Warm and inviting, the restaurant is classy enough for a date but relaxed enough for solo dinning too.
Start with some smoked salmon deviled eggs before diving into the baked eggs shakshuka or classic eggs Benedict. Sweet tooth? The incredible buttermilk pancakes (with cinnamon swirl and cream cheese frosting) should fit the bill.
You can tell they put thought. Don’t overlook the most popular item here. Honestly, this spot has a special place in my heart. It’s where I go when I want to treat myself to something really good.
LouLou
Website. LouLou Petit Bistro
Location— 176 8th Ave, New York, NY
Brunch Hours.Friday – Sunday 10am-4pm
Named after the owner’s rescue dog, LouLou is a charming restaurant serving classic French fare. You couldn’t miss it if you tried, thanks to the outlandishly decorated facade. The biggest draw are the stunning craft cocktails churning out of the bistro’s subterranean speakeasy, but the food is nothing to scoff at either.
From hearty egg dishes like steak and eggs to unforgettable croissant french toast, it won’t take long to see why LouLou is considered one of the best brunch restaurants in Chelsea. Don’t sleep on the craft cocktails during your meal, served in custom-made glassware, you’ll be the envy of your instagram feed in no time.
Calle Dao
Website. Calle Dao
Address. 461 W 23rd St, New York, NY
Brunch Hours.Weekends 11am – 4pm
Fusing Chinese and Cuban cuisines, Calle Dao proves that New York City’s reputation as the melting pot of America is well earned. This popular Chelsea brunch restaurant was designed to pay homage to Havana’s once-prosperous Chinatown where the unique fusion of cuisines originated.
Start with one of the hot appetizers (I recommend the Cuban sandwich spring rolls and Ma-Po Maduros) before diving into the mains. My go-to order is the Cuban eggs Benedict, but my husband swears by the chorizo and garbanzo hash.
These days, the restaurant’s bottomless brunch offering seems to be the biggest draw. Offering one hour of unlimited drinks for $30 per person, choose from mojitos, margaritas, Cuba libres, sangrias, champagne, wine and beer.
Chelsea Brunch Spots (Post Summary)
In sum, these are the best spots for brunch in Chelsea NYC.
- Friedman’s (Chelsea Market)
- Empire Diner
- Citizens Of Chelsea
- Jack’s Wife Freda
- Cookshop
- Cafeteria
- The Orchard Townhouse
- Motel Morris
- Calle Dao
- LouLou
Chelsea Guides
- Best Bakeries in Chelsea. 12 Cheerful Chelsea Bakeries
- Best Bars in Chelsea. 12 Charming Bars in Chelsea NYC
- Things to Do in the Neighborhood. 20 Epic Things to Do in Chelsea
- Best Coffee in Chelsea. 15 Charming Coffee Shops in Chelsea
- Best Happy Hour Spots in Chelsea. 18 Satisfying Happy Hours in Chelsea, New York City
Map of the Best Brunch Spots in Chelsea
Based on our extensive local experience, we cover the top picks for brunch joints in Chelsea in this guide. Each spot has been personally visited and reviewed.
And there it is, best brunch in Chelsea NYC according to yours truly. Let me know if there’s any Chelsea brunch spots you think we missed.
This pairs perfectly with my 16 Charming Coffee Shops in Chelsea (Local’s Can’t Help But Love!). locals swear by it.
I want to hear from you. What’s the most underrated brunch spot I missed? Tell me and I’ll check it out.
Final Thoughts
After all the time I’ve spent exploring Chelsea, Cookshop and Citizens Of Chelsea remain at the top of my list. I hope this guide helps you find your new favorite spot. If you think I missed somewhere great, don’t be shy. tell me about it in the comments and I’ll check it out.
What would you add to this list?
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