The Top 10 Brunch Spots In Morningside Heights For Scholars

Morningside Heights has long been known as a quiet New York City neighborhood, home to a number of academic institutions, including Columbia University, Barnard College, and the Manhattan School of Music. Here’s our guide to best places for brunch in the area.

Community Food and Juice

Cafe, Restaurant, American, Healthy, Vegetarian

Community Food & Juice is a Morningside Heights Sunday staple. This bright, airy cafe specializes in New American cuisine with a range of seasonal, local, and organic foods. Brunch highlights include the veggie or tofu scramble – served with whole wheat toast and fresh avocado – and carrot hash browns.

Pisticci

Market, Restaurant, Bistro, Italian

Pisticci was the first restaurant in New York City to gain Carbon Neutral status. This Italian bistro crafts creative dishes from scratch using homegrown ingredients, and even invites local artists and musicians to showcase their work. Brunch comes with the taste of Italy, including uova contadine – poached eggs in spicy pepperonata – and pancakes drizzled in Pisticci’s signature lemon ricotta curd and fresh berries.

Kitchette

Kitchette is a petite, cheerful spot on Amsterdam Avenue, perfect for a relaxed weekend brunch of home-style comfort food. Chef’s picks include scrambled eggs with tomatoes topped with herb sour cream, and four-grain pancakes with mixed berries.

Deluxe

Diner, American

This classic American diner is located just two blocks down Broadway from Columbia University. Although open until midnight and good for breakfast, lunch and dinner, brunch is where this popular college joint truly shines. Deluxe offers a variety of organic egg dishes and fresh-squeezed juices at reasonable prices. However, its most delectable highlight is French toast stuffed with almonds and apricots, covered with caramelized bananas and rum brown sugar.

Flat Top

Flat Top impresses with traditional brunch fare as well as steak and eggs – served with home fries and pico de gallo – and blueberry buttermilk ricotta pancakes laden with roasted strawberry butter and maple syrup. If variety is what you’re looking for, look no further than Flat Top.

Regional

Though new to Morningside Heights, this little Italian eatery has already made a big impression. Regional specializes in the cuisine of the many different districts of the Italian peninsula. Try the potatoes seasoned with red pepper and baskets of miniature muffins dusted with powdered sugar.

Crepes on Columbus

Creperie, North American, French, Dutch

This delicious crêperie serves both sweet and savory meals just minutes from Morningside Park. Crepes on Columbus’s menu is dedicated to the delicious fusion of French and Spanish cuisine, with crêpe and omelet fillings that range from jalapeños and spicy salsa to smoked salmon and ratatouille. Patrons are free to experiment and craft their own unique crêpes.

Artopolis Espresso

Artopolis Espresso offers exceptional Greek and Mediterranean dishes coupled with an airy and almost regal atmosphere. Try the frittata or omelet crêpe bursting with specialty cheeses and ripe vegetables. Artopolis also serves sweet crêpes filled with berries, banana, and Nutella.

Toast

Cafe, Northern European, North American

Toast has a menu divided into ‘eggs’ and ‘not eggs’ that includes eggs Norway (smoked salmon with poached eggs) and smoked BBQ pork, as well as mimosas and bellinis (peach nectar with champagne). Burger at the Harlem Tavern | © SignorDeFalzo/Flickr

Harlem Tavern

Bar, American

A neighborhood bar and grill that embodies the brilliant crossover between Harlem and Morningside Heights, Harlem Tavern serves upscale American cuisine. Featured dishes range from croque-madame with gruyere and spiced mahi-mahi salad, to cornflake-crusted french toast with brioche, dulce de lèche, and seasonal fruit. The highlight of Harlem Tavern brunches is the live jazz played every weekend.