13 Top-Notch Brunch Spots in the East Village (Worth the Wait)

I used to think brunch was overrated. Two hours for eggs and an $18 mimosa? Pass. Then I found the places on this list and everything changed. These aren’t the Instagram-bait spots where you wait 90 minutes for a photo op. These are the East Village brunch spots where the food is genuinely, embarrassingly good. Let’s eat.

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Visiting New York City? If you haven’t decided where to stay (yet) check out our 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.

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Best Brunch in the East Village

Table of Contents. East Village Brunch Spots

East Village Brunch Spots

• Best Brunch in the East Village
  • David’s Cafe
  • Yellow Rose
  • Smør
  • B&H Dairy
  • Cafe Mogador
  • Ferns
  • Pardon My French
  • San Marzano 
  • Lil’ Frankie’s
  • Ladybird
  • Little Ruby’s Cafe
• Best Brunch Spots in the East Village (Post Summary)
  • Further Reading for the East Village
  • Iconic Spots in NYC Everyone Needs to Try
• Map of the Best Brunch in the East Village

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David’s Cafe

Website— David’s Cafe
Address. 110 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009
Brunch hours. Wednesday – Friday 12 to 3:45pm | Saturday and Sunday 11am to 4pm

David’s Cafe is a cozy French-American diner with large windows overlooking St. Mark’s Place, making it a prime spot for people-watching while enjoying brunch in the East Village. To the untrained eye, the relaxed vibes and well-executed meals feel like a stark juxtaposition, but there’s a reason for the madness.

A passion project of two famed NYC chefs, David’s Cafe is helmed by David Malbequi (an alum of Daniel Boulud) and Daniel Rivera (Les Enfants de Bohème). Chef Malbequi is responsible for the perfectly-executed French fare churning out of the kitchen, Rivera gets credit for the cozy vibes in the dinning room.

Churning out time-tested classics like french toast and pancakes alongside hangover poutine and burgers, David’s Cafe is a go-to East Village brunch spot for locals in the know.

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Yellow Rose

Website— Yellow Rose
Address. 102 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10003

If you’re in the market for great restaurants rumored to cure hangovers, consider swinging by Yellow Rose. This busy Tex Mex restaurant is known for toothsome breakfast tacos and mean margaritas (hair of the dog, anyone?).

The homemade flour tortillas churn out of the kitchen daily, perfect canvases for everything on the menu from the crowd-favorite tacos to migas.

The succinct brunch menu spotlights breakfast tacos, which come in eight variations (don’t sleep on the chorizo and egg). End your meal with homemade donuts to see why this one of the most popular brunch restaurants in the East Village.

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Smør

I’m quite reluctant about hyped up places because they seldom live up to expectations. However, one of my out-of-town guests suggested we visit Smør while she was in town. I’ve been working on going with the flow a bit more (blame the pregnancy), which is how we ended up at this cozy Scandinavian East Village brunch restaurant on a random Saturday morning.

First, I was really impressed by the kindness and attentiveness of the staff, automatic star in that department. Secondly, the restaurant had a bit of a wait, so we popped into the sister bakery next door to split a doughy cardamon bun while we waited, another perk.

So impressed by the cardamon bun, we were eager to peruse to restaurant’s menu by the time our names were called. I opted for the crepe-style danish pancakes (whipped cream, seasonal house jam, lemon zest) while my friend ordered the smoked salmon smørrebrød.

Everything was top-notch! I enjoyed the meal so much, I returned a week later with my husband for the Danish hot dogs (my sister raves about them after her trip to Iceland). I’m excited to try more on the menu, it seems like everything churning out of the kitchen is bound to impress.

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Brunch in NYC isn’t just a meal. it’s a competitive sport, and these spots are the reigning champions.

B&H Dairy

Dating back to 1938, B&H Dairy has been serving the neighborhood for more than eight decades. Known for legendary matzoh ball soup, this shoebox of a diner serves some of the best brunch in the East Village.

A safe haven for Yidish comfort food, you’ll find all the usual suspects. crispy latkes, oversized knishes, and soft pierogis. If you’re visiting for breakfast or brunch, the challah French toast is a non-negotiable order. A favorite with families and post-bar revelers in search of a hangover cure, it’s hard to imagine a better way to kick off the weekend.

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Local tip. Pro tip that most travel blogs won’t tell you. visit on a weekday afternoon for the most authentic experience.

Cafe Mogador

Website. Cafe Mogador
Location. 101 St Marks Pl, New York, NY 10009

Celebrating more than 40 years in the neighborhood, at Cafe Mogador you’ll find an exciting lineup of breakfast classics with a Mediterranean twist. If you’re playing it safe, stick with the eggs Benedict or buttermilk pancakes (both delicious).

Otherwise, go with the Middle Eastern Breakfast (eggs any style, hummus, tabouli and Arabic salad) or Moroccan Eggs (Poached eggs, spicy tomato, pepper sauce, house-made merguez sausage) for a punchy brunch meal.

Pardon My French

Website— Pardon My French
Address. 103 Avenue B, New York, NY 10009
Brunch hours. Saturday 11am to 4pm

Pardon My French is a quaint French bistro offering one of the best deals on bottomless brunch in the East Village. For $41 you’ll get one entree and bottomless horseradish vodka infusion bloody marys & mimosas for two hours.

For entrees, there’s more than ten options on offer. I’m partial to the Eggs Scandinavian (poached eggs with smoked salmon) but my husband swears by the Croque Monsieur. Hell, skip the bottomless brunch altogether and order from the a la carte menu instead. The PMF Burger and Moules Marinières are divine!

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Unpopular opinion. I’ll die on this hill. San Marzano  serves a better brunch than half the spots with fancy PR teams.

San Marzano 

Website— San Marzano
Address. 117 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003
Brunch hours. Friday – Sunday 11am to 4pm

San Marzano is a lauded Italian restaurant most famous for fresh pasta dishes. Shaking things up a bit, they decided to offer traditional American brunch during the weekends, and the neighborhood is better for it.

I’m guessing the lump crab Benedict (poached eggs, avocado, hollandaise) and Salmon Eggs (cheddar scrambled eggs, smoked salmon) might be enough to entice you, but if not, let’s talk about the bottomless mimosas on offer.

For a mere $14, you can add bottomless mimosas to your meal, which makes San Marzano one of the best bottomless brunch deals in the East Village.

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Lil’ Frankie’s

Website— Lil’ Frankies
Address. 19 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Ever wished for a leisurely boozy brunch without the pressure of downing endless mimosas? You’re not alone, and that’s precisely why Lil Frankie’s makes my list of great East Village brunch restaurants.

This cash-only establishment runs a generous “3-4-1 special” during brunch, giving you the option to enjoy three cocktails (mimosa, bloody mark, screwdriver, bellini or prosecco) for the price of one for $19. Drinks aside, the well-put together food menu is nothing to scoff at!

I’m partial to the applewood smoked BLT breakfast sandwich, but the spinach and goat cheese omelette has been known to make an appearance on my plate from time to time.

If you enjoy eggs but want to shake things up a bit, go for the baked eggs alla parmigiana (tomatoes and Parmesan cheese with eggs based in a 900 degree wood burning stove) or polpettine and eggs (baby meatball ragu with baked eggs).

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Ladybird

Website— Ladybird
Address. 111 E 7th St, New York, NY 10009

Perfectly posh, Ladybird is a popular vegan restaurant perfect for a girls brunch in the East Village, regardless of dietary restrictions. Food options rotate constantly because the cuisine relies heavily on in-season produce.

The BEC Buns (steamed bao bun, scrambled just egg, parmesan, mushroom bacon, chipotle aioli, cilantro crema) are a must-try, as are the chikin n’ waffles (oyster mushroom, chives, maple syrup, whipped cream).

The decor strikes that sweet spot between cozy and modern, and there’s always good music playing at just the right volume. If you’re feeling adventurous, ask the staff for their personal recommendation. they always steer you toward something great.

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Little Ruby’s Cafe

Website— Ruby’s East Village
Address. 198 E 11th St, New York, NY

If I had to name a quintessential East Village brunch spot, it’d be Little Ruby’s Cafe. Established in 2002, the charming restaurant blends traditional breakfast dishes with an Australian flare. Standout items include the popular avocado toast and spicy sausage breakfast sandwich. You can’t go wrong with either.

Ruby’s doesn’t accept reservations, it runs on a first come, first served basis only. Try to plan your East Village brunch date early to avoid long wait times!

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Best Brunch Spots in the East Village (Post Summary)

In sum, here are the best East Village brunch spots.

1. Yellow Rose
2. Smør
3. B&H Dairy
4. Cafe Mogador
5. San Marzano 
6. Pardon My French
7. David’s Cafe
8. Lil’ Frankie’s
9. Ladybird
10. Ruby’s
11. Ferns

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Further Reading for the East Village

Where to Eat in the East Village. 20 Memorable East Village Restaurants (Foodie’s Guide) 
Happy Hours in the East Village. 12 Epic Happy Hours in the East Village (You Can’t Help But Love)
East Village Bakeries. 10 Top-Notch Bakeries in the East Village
Best Bars in the East Village. 15 Exciting Bars in the East Village (You Won’t Soon Forget)

It’s got that perfect balance of lively without being loud, which is harder to find in this city than you’d think. Don’t overlook the go-to order here. It might not be the flashiest thing on the menu, but it’s consistently excellent. I’ve watched this place grow from a quiet neighborhood gem to a genuine destination, and they haven’t lost their touch.

Iconic Spots in NYC Everyone Needs to Try

Best Pizza in NYC. 15 Best Pizza Joints in New York City
Iconic Restaurants in NYC. 10 Iconic New York City Restaurants Every Local Needs to Try
Mouthwatering Bagels in NYC. 15 BEST Bagels in New York City
Unbelievable Brunch Spots in NYC. 18 Prime Brunch Spots in New York City Worth the (Inevitable) Wait

The vibe here is warm and unpretentious. the kind of place where you can settle in and lose track of time. If it’s your first time, I’d. Every time I come back, the quality is exactly the same, which says a lot about a place in a city where restaurants can be inconsistent.

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Map of the Best Brunch in the East Village

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And there it is, the best brunch spots in the East Village according to yours truly! Let me know if there’s any you recommend I try.

Hungry for more? Take a look at my 13 Charming Coffee Shops in The East Village (Local’s List). trust me on this one.

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

I could talk about brunch spots in East Village all day, but East Village Brunch Spots and David’s Cafe deserve special mention. They’re the kind of places that remind me why I love this city. Bookmark this page. I update. And if you have a recommendation, leave it below!

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