The best breakfast NYC has to offer

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When you’re on holiday or travelling, there’s nothing you need more than a decent breakfast to set you up for the day. While many of us barely get time to grab a coffee on our way to work, travel allows you slow down your schedule and indulge in the things that normally we don’t have time for. If you’re passing through New York and not sure where to get the most important meal of the day, or just overwhelmed by the amount of choice in the city, here’s our pick of ten of the best breakfasts the city has to offer.

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1. Pies ‘n’ Thighs 166 South 4th Street, Brooklyn

August donut specials are here! Blueberry cornmeal cake and the much anticipated LONG JOHN. Both are #firsttimers !

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If you want traditional, Americans-style cooking, you have to head to Pies ‘n’ Thighs. The Southern style cooking is a must-try for visitors to the States, and while they are known for dinner, their breakfast is especially good. Go traditional and try the chicken and waffles, their grilled cheese sandwich or their pulled pork box and if you have a sweet tooth, you have to try their blueberry cream cheese doughnut. Delicious, but not a place to go if you’re on a diet.

2. Rustic Table, 504 West 42nd Street, Manhattan

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Rustic Table is located only minutes from Times Square but sometimes it's the most central or famous locations where it’s hardest to find a good bite to eat. Head west along 42nd Street, past the Port Authority bus station and you’ll come to this oasis of calm serving great coffee and Mediterranean style food that’s a light and a healthy way to start the day.

3. Iris Café, 20 Columbia Place, Brooklyn

Spring magic last year with @maheimerman

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A sun-kissed venue that serves cocktails from 8am to midnight can’t be anything but good but Iris Café offsets the hedonism by serving some delicious, wholesome brunch dishes in a setting that will make you feel like that cool breakfaster you’ve always wanted to be. Try the French toast and the obligatory bloody Mary to set you up for the day.

4. Jack’s Wife Freda, 224 Lafayette Street, Manhattan

Colors of Jack's wife Freda with @coffeecupsoftheworld

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Situated in the hip, Nolita neighbourhood, Jack’s Wife Freda is an all-day café that has really nailed breakfast: everything from pancakes to sausage and bacon breakfasts and their particularly Instagramable green eggs. And the best part? They serve breakfast until 5pm so you can get your egg fix whenever it suits you.

5. Enid’s, 560 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn

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Enid’s between Manhattan and Driggs Avenues in Brooklyn and an uncomplicated breakfast menu with a nod towards their Mexican neighbours. Much like Iris Café, Enid’s is the kind of place you could come to for breakfast but stay all day with a laid back atmosphere as well as some retro arcade games to keep you occupied. The huevos rancheros here are particularly good.

6. Russ & Daughter’s Café, 127 Orchard Street, Manhattan

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In the heart of the East Village, Russ & Daughters is a family-run business that originally started as a shop (which still exists) on East Houston Street. Their café around the corner however opened 100 hundred years after the store but has been making up for lost time with their delicious sit-down offerings. Their traditional Jewish cuisine, in particular the bagel boards (the Yum Kippered taste as good as its name) are worth the trip alone, but try the matzo ball soup and their great selection of sodas too if you get the chance.

7. Okonomi, 150 Ainslie Street, Brooklyn

Ichijusansai @nickdierl

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If all these egg and bacon options don’t really do it for you then try something a little different and head to Okonomi, which serves a traditional Japanese-style set breakfast called ichiju sansai. There is a strong emphasis on locally-sourced seafood here but if that doesn’t appeal to you, you can always drop by for the ramen later in the day.

8. Aurora, 70 Grand Street, Brooklyn

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Finding a quiet place to grab breakfast in the ever-trendy Williamsburg can be something of a headache, particularly at weekends where it’s not uncommon to stand in line and queue for an hour or more to get a table at the hippest brunch spot. Aurora however is not one of these places. Brunch is served from 11am so it’s not an early morning eaterie but the fusion of Tuscan tastes with egg-heavy brunch dishes served in their garden setting will have you coming back for more.

9. The Smile, 26 Bond Street, Manhattan

Hunukkah treats!

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You can’t help but like a spot called The Smile and naturally that’s what the food here will do. The cakes and pastries are delicious while the selection of breakfast sandwiches will fill you up all day. Drop in for a coffee in the afternoon and if the weather is too hot, ask for an affogato to cool you down.

10. Sugar Freak, 36-18 30th Avenue, Queens

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If indulgence is what you’re after then head to Sugar Freak in Astoria. While the name does suggest sugary, syrupy breakfasts, the menu in fact is much more accommodating with po’ boys shrimp and creole gumbo popular among regulars. For $15 you can also get unlimited mimosas and with the portions here particularly generous you may find yourself in a delicious food coma before you even start you day.


Do you want to take a bit out of the Big Apple for breakfast? Browse our New York listings to find the host that's right for you.


Main image courtesy of Alex Correa.

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