Going to brunch in Brooklyn, NY is one of the best ways to meet new people after moving to NYC. Although Manhattan gets a lot of attention for its abundance of trendy brunch restaurants, Brooklyn is a close second! In fact, you may find a few hidden gems here that are difficult to come across in larger parts of the city.
Brooklyn is a beautiful mix of cross-cultural ethnic backgrounds and religions, all within close proximity of each other. Some of the country’s most significant cultural icons, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Al Capone, and Barbra Streisand were all born and raised in this one-of-a-kind neighborhood.
As an expat moving into the city, you’ll be pleased to know that New York cuisine is as culturally rich and vibrant as its people. Check out the best weekend brunch spots in Brooklyn, NY below.
Best brunch spots in Brooklyn: All about the aesthetics
Celestine
Offering beautiful views of the Manhattan Bridge, this brunch spot almost feels like it should be overlooking the water off the coast of Greece. Serving Mediterranean-inspired cuisine, this waterfront diner has the city’s best brioche doughnuts! Other specialties include whipped labneh and muhammara.
Sisters
Located in Clinton Hill, Sisters is a local favorite for its calming, yet sophisticated ambiance. Plenty of natural light pours in through skylight windows, bringing life to its green plants and beautifully decorated bar. The savory French toast and breakfast sandwiches are solid food options that pair well with Sisters’ classic micheladas, bloody marys, or mimosas.
Claro
Placed against rustic-western decor, this traditional Mexican restaurant is as culturally rich as it is aesthetic! Visitors can kick back on its beautiful, spacious patio surrounded by trees and covered in string lights. If you prefer indoor dining, you can watch the chefs whip up homemade tortillas on the spot. Its three-course brunch menu and mezcal tasting fights have earned Claro a Michelin star for several years running.
Guevara’s
Created by the same people behind Mekelbergs, Guevara’s unique look is enough to make anyone stop right in their tracks. Covered in pink walls, homemade cards, and live plants, this homey, yet refined brunch spot makes you feel like you’re in an episode of Legally Blonde. Serving a completely vegan menu and some of the best chai in town, it’s certainly worth a visit!
Sunday in Brooklyn
Not every brunch spot in NYC is open seven days a week, but Sunday in Brooklyn is. This cozy diner might serve the most Instagram-worthy pancakes in the city. For those with a more savory palette, brunch items such as the maple cheddar biscuits and scrambles are available. Its light oak, wooden tables are set against white, exposed brick walls, creating a beautiful layout.
Sunday in Brooklyn is also one of the weekend brunch restaurants to visit on a seasonal basis. In the winter, the diner hosts a holiday pop-up bar and themed “Snow Day in Brooklyn,” serving festive drinks and comfort food. In the summer, visitors get to check out its beautiful, third-story rooftop garden.
Uniquely delicious brunch menu for every New Yorker
Ursula
Located in Crown Heights, Ursula Brooklyn is a laidback spot serving Mexican-style breakfast burritos, cheeseburgers and fried chicken. The “New Mexican Inspired Cafe & Bakery” as presented on its website served burritos, brioche egg sandwiches, and arroz con leche pudding in the mornings. A more ample menu is available in the afternoons.
The eatery’s brunch menu makes it easy to choose between chorizo, bacon, vegan, or vegetarian breakfast burritos. You can ask for either green or red chile on the side, or for the “Christmas” sauce if you want a mix of both. If you happen to arrive after 12pm, try the stuffed sopapillas, a New Mexican fried pastry dough stuffed with your choice of beans, chile, and rice or meat.
Leland’s
Leland’s is probably one of the few weekend brunch spots in the city offering trout rillette and charred lemon skillet mussels on its brunch menu. The diner’s unique selections also include babka French toast, crispy squid sandwiches, and SECs on Hawaiian rolls with pickled jalapeños. For those with a sweet tooth, sourdough cinnamon buns are available at the bakery.
Kokomo
Not only does Kokomo have some of the best weekend brunches in Brooklyn, but it also has some of the best bottomless mimosas, making it a great place for larger groups. The vibrant Caribbean-American restaurant has a spacious outdoor patio hosting a DJ on the weekends. Its menu showcases unique combinations such as the oxtail flatbread, stuffed sweet plantains, plantain pancakes, and egg frittata.
La Puerta Roja
Serving everything from Mexican chilaquiles to Dominican mangu, this Brooklyn diner is a strong representation of Latin American influence in the city. Authentic Latin dishes are mixed with savory brunch classics such as chicken and waffles and eggs benedict. Although the weekday brunch menu differs from the weekend brunch menu, bottomless mimosas are available for an hour and a half every day of the week.
Evelina
Walking into Evelina gives you that old-school NYC feel. Its exposed brick walls and mosaic tile floors create a layout that welcomes in sunlight throughout the day. Patrons can enjoy some of the best Italian food in Brooklyn at this beautiful restaurant. One of its signature plates is the Bavette steak, which is accompanied by mascarpone scrambled eggs, grilled spinach, and chimichurri. Another special choice would be the prosciutto di Parma eggs Benedict, prepared with burrata and truffle hollandaise. More traditional options such as french toast and breakfast sandwiches are also featured on the menu.
Biggest bang for your buck Sunday brunch restaurants
Alma
Located in Carroll Gardens, this Mexican diner serves four different brunch specials all under $20. The Chilaquiles con Huevos comes with two poached eggs, tortilla chips, tomatillo jalapeno sauce, and cheddar. The Huevos Oaxaca comes with two fried eggs served on a tostada with black beans, and ranchero sauce.
Both specials come with a side of jalapeno home fries, so the chances of leaving hungry are slim to none. The steak and eggs breakfast burrito and vegetarian breakfast burrito are just as filling.
Five Leaves
Previously owned by the late Heath Ledger, Five Leaves serves Australian-inspired dishes with a rustic, all-American aesthetic. Preparing some of the best ricotta pancakes in the city, the diner is popular among local Greenpoint residents and neighboring visitors.
Another popular dish is the Big Breakky which comes with eggs, hash browns, toast, and your choice of two sides. Everything on the menu is reasonably priced, even the house-cured Norwegian salmon, which is only $20.
Peaches HotHouse
Located in the historically black neighborhood of Bed-Stuy, this weekend brunch spot celebrates the best flavors of southern comfort food. Fried chicken, oven-baked grits, sausage gumbo, and po’ boys are all featured on the menu. Due to its longstanding reputation with the community, the diner has been able to keep its prices low without compromising on quality or taste. Nothing on the menu is over $18.
Walter’s
Taking standard American brunch to another level, Walter’s in Fort Greene offers classic brunch selections with excellence. The menu displays a wide array of items such as a traditional bacon, egg and cheese sandwich, eggs benedict, and oysters on the half shell. Serving six different brunch cocktails and six options of beer, there’s no shortage of drink variety, either. Beers are priced between $7 and $10, while all cocktails are evenly priced at $14 each.
Pilar Cuban Eatery
A family-run restaurant named after Ernest Hemingways’s beloved fishing boat, Pilar serves classic pressed Cuban sandwiches and cafe con leche. The eatery aspires to create “iconic versions of classic dishes by sourcing the ingredients that are traditional to Cuban food.” Everything on the menu is made in-house and affordably priced between $3-$17.
There’s a lot to discover and plenty to eat in Brooklyn. Take your time getting to know the area and try out all these hotspots at your own pace. If you’re a true foodie and prioritize food above all else, you may want to take a look at some of the coliving spaces available in Brooklyn.
