new york city guides: where to brunch

For over a year now, I've been thinking about blogging my favorite things to eat, see, and experience in New York City -- my own NYC guide of sorts. After 6 years of living in Downtown Manhattan, I'm finally ready to get started! (Better late than never right?). As a huge foodie, I think it's only appropriate to kick off with my favorite meal of the day: Brunch (a meal so important to New Yorkers, it deserves a capital "B"). Here are some deliciously eggy, cozy, and chic brunch spots I love and hope you'll enjoy as well.

Clockwise from left: You can't go wrong with eggs benedict at Calliope; dinner at Paprika is great, but their whipped green eggs for brunch is worth an extra trip; B Bar gets extra points for their complimentary banana bread baskets; San Marzano's $18 pizza, coffee + unlimited mimosa brunch is unbeatable, and you know my thoughts on breakfast pizzas. 

Clockwise from left: Gemma is delicious and inside the fancy Bowery hotel; Veselka is everyone's go-to Ukrainian, 24-hour diner-restaurant with family-style portions (love their pancakes & corn beef hash); Cafe Minerva's french press coffee is decadent and brunch portions are perfect; Zoe is underrated but I remember everyone's meal looking so good and really enjoying my shrimp & sunny eggs on grits.  

Clockwise from left: I've been going to Cafe Mogadore for years and have tried almost everything, but the Moroccan Benedict is a stand out (the omelette pictured above is great too); while Corner Shop Cafe is in the smack dead center of busy Broadway Street in Soho, the food and great prices are worth a visit; newly opened Tinks is already known for their chicken and waffles; Prima has cool industrial decor and is generous with the hollandaise sauce on their eggs benedicts :)

Other very popular brunch places that are worth mentioning but have longer waits:  Extra Virgin in the West Village, Clinton Street Baking Co. in LES, and Cafe Orlin in the East Village. For drunk brunch options (unlimited drinks), see this list. Feel free to add your favorite brunch places in the comments section!

(Instagram photos by Helen Hearts)