10 Best Brunch Spots On The Lower East Side Manhattan

Brunch is one of the few things that make Sundays worth looking forward to. Don’t blow this meal, which many New Yorkers regard as sacrosanct; waiting in long lines for mediocre food. Here are 10 of the best brunch spots on Manhattan’s Lower East Side that offer traditional as well as not-so-standard brunch fare.

1. Clinton Street Baking Company

Restaurant, American

A brunch institution, Clinton Street Baking Company‘s star dish has always been their stack of fluffy blueberry pancakes with warm maple butter. If savory food is more your speed, there are plenty of those options as well, such as their buttermilk biscuit egg sandwich with house made tomato jam, smoked salmon scramble, and for complete brunch autonomy, you can even build-your-own omelet.

2. Pig & Khao

Restaurant, Cocktail Bar, Asian

Pig and Khao is a Filipino brunch spot that is anything but traditional. As the name suggests, pork options are plentiful at this restaurant, and brunch is no exception. The sizzling sisig — cubes of pork head on a sizzling tray with a whole egg cracked in the middle — is a crowd favorite. Other typical brunch fare is peppered with island flair. Brioche French toast is dressed up with bananas, coconut whipped cream and genesee cream syrup, steak and eggs is served with a kiddie pool-sized bowl of spicy Issan sauce, and corned beef hash is seasoned with garlic, ginger and Thai chili.

Schapiro’s

If you’re looking for a weekend buzz, Schapiro’s is the place to go. Any of their brunch cocktails put the boring, old mimosa to shame. Try the breakfast cobbler cocktail made with sherry, amaro, lemon juice and orange marmalade or get your coffee fix with their morning jolt cocktail made with rum, chocolate liqueur and espresso. Schapiro’s self describes their food as having a ‘distinctive Jewish tilt,’ which means you can expect to find items like matzo ball soup, bagel and lox and a veal pastrami sandwich on the menu.

Schapiro’s, 120 Rivington Street, New York, NY, USA, +1 212 466 3360

3. Antibes Bistro

Bistro, Restaurant, French

No one knows how to do intimate brunch better than Antibes Bistro. Exposed brick walls and French country knick knacks give this place its rustic charm. Though the French fare is simple, it is expertly executed with highlights being the omelet du Antibes, which comes with wild mushrooms, goat cheese, truffle oil, roasted potatoes and mixed greens, and the simple baguette served warm with homemade jam and butter.

4. Dudleys

Restaurant, Australian

For all the avocado toast skeptics, Dudleys’ take on the dish will turn you into a believer. Thick slabs of grain bread get smashed with a buttery avocado and served with salsa verde and cherry tomatoes. If you’re in more of a lunch mood, try the behemoth Bronte burger served with mayonnaise, cheese and their special sweet chili sauce.

5. Root & Bone

Root & Bone

For a stick-to-your-ribs brunch that comforts the soul, look no further than Root & Bone. Leave a window for a nap after this meal because after eating hearty dishes, like waffle benedict made with pork belly bacon and lemon yolk sauce, shrimp and grits, or braised short rib meat loaf and eggs, you’ll need one. Their cocktails come with names that sound like characters out of an old western and even use homely ingredients like preserved peaches, black tea and orange blossom honey.

Root & Bone, 200 E. 3rd Street, New York, NY, USA, +1 646 682 7076

6. Spitzer's Corner

Gastropub, Restaurant, Pub Grub

Few restaurants on the Lower East Side have the space to accommodate large groups, especially during such a popular meal as brunch, but Spitzer’s Corner is great for a large gathering of friends and family. The restaurant has a beer hall vibe, complete with long communal tables where you and your party can chow down on an array of tasty brunch favorites. Try the lemon ricotta pancakes or a hickory short rib burger and wash it down with one of the 40 craft beers on tap.

7. Esperanto

Restaurant, American

Enter this Latin restaurant and you might think you’ve stepped foot into an island cabana with the walls boasting a vibrant shade of either yellow, blue, or green. Don’t expect your typical brunch fare at Esperanto either, many of the dishes have Latin accents and influences. Be sure to try the huevos loisaida — a dish named after Avenue C’s loving nickname — which features poached eggs atop a potato shrimp pie and doused in hollandaise sauce.

8. Mezetto

Mezetto

No one does Mediterranean brunch better than Mezetto. The za’atar flatbread with kalamata olives and olive oil is a great place to start and the perfect vehicle for delivering their hummus, eggplant or spicy feta spread. For something with a bit more sustenance, try the spanakopita omelet, the challah French toast with apples, figs and date honey, or the grilled chicken souvlaki sandwich.

Mezetto, 161 E Houston Street, New York, NY, USA, +1 212 933 4587

9. Black Tree

Black Tree

If brunch dishes like strawberry artichoke dip and eggs benedict made with kimchi and bok choy strike your fancy, then Black Tree is the place to go. Black Tree sources all of the ingredients from local purveyors for their seasonally changing menu. Brunch here is anything but boring, so an adventurous palate is encouraged!

Black Tree, 131 Orchard Street, New York, NY, USA, +1 212 533 4684

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.