The Upper East Side is world-renowned for its swath of art museums and galleries (also known as Museum Mile; comprising of the Met, the Guggenheim, the Whitney and MCNY among others), its swank Fifth and Park Avenue townhouses once home to the Rockefellers, Whitneys and Carnegies of the world, and of course its current claim-to-fame – being the metropolitan playground of Gossip Girl characters Blair, Chuck and Serena. But did you know that the UES is also replete with some of the city's finest restaurants and eateries? Sunday brunch, in particular, is a tradition taken very seriously by many an Upper East Sider. Below, we've whittled down a list of only the best brunch spots that the UES has to offer. So, next time you make your way over to the Met on a Sunday, give yourself an hour or two to enjoy a luxurious brunch beforehand at one of the following hand-picked spots.
Park Avenue Winter
Though the name of this New York Magazine "Critic's Pick" restaurant changes four times a year (Park Avenue Winter turns into Park Avenue Spring come March 21, Park Avenue Summer come June 21, and so forth), you can always rely on this spot for a solid, hearty, if not slightly overindulgent brunch. Some may blanch at the $35-per-person prix fixe brunch, but for this neighborhood and quality of food – bread is freshly-baked, fruits and veggies are gloriously fresh – it's a fantastic deal. The maple French toast with butterscotch apples is just sweet enough and the applewood smoked bacon just crispy enough. Their rich breakfast risotto, crammed with tasty sausages and mushrooms, is also unreal. For those looking for slightly healthier brunch options, you can choose from an array of veggies and fruit-heavy dishes: salmon tartare with oven-roasted tomatoes, Greek yogurt with granola and honey, a garden salad with winter frost vegetables. But for those who don't care, get the fried chicken 'n' waffle sandwich.
Don't just take our word for it, though. Park Avenue scores an outstanding 25/30 Zagat rating and a 92% approval rating out of 919 reviews, makes the New York Post's "Best Brunch Spots in New York" list (it scores the "Best Brunch for Lingering" crown), makes Time Out New York's "Best Brunch in New York" list, scores a 4/5 on Menupages ("beautiful brunch spot...food was great, as was the service") and a 4/5 star average rating out of 270 Yelp reviews. It's also a Time Out New York "Critic's Pick" and gets an awesome rave review from foodie blogger Savory Bites, who has also taken some mighty good-looking pictures of their fare.
Cafe D'Alsace
This reader-recommended brunch spot has been dubbed a "Yorkville godsend" by Zagat for its unique Alsation cuisine, but what we love most about Cafe d'Alsace is its awesomely summery outdoor seating (pictured) and its impressive selection of libations ("I don't think any other New York restaurant combines this many Pilseners with food this sturdy," exclaimed The New York Times' former food critic Frank Bruni). Their brunch menu includes all the classic breakfast items like omelettes and pancakes, as well as non-traditional offerings such as a smoked fish platter, cheese plate and assorted sausages and smoked pork breast over sauerkraut. See their full brunch menu here.
Cafe d'Alsace scores a commendable 21/30 Zagat rating for its "extensive beer list and hearty Alsatian cuisine," a 4/5 star average rating out of 164 Yelp reviews ("Bloody Marys and Mimosas are great...Belgian waffles with strawberries and two croissants were delicious, Croque Madame was AMAZING"), a 4/5 star rating out of a whopping 603 Google reviews, and makes Yelp's "Best Brunch: Upper East Side" list.
Sarabeth's (East)
"None of us ever ate breakfast this delicious or we'd have eaten that meal more often. Those who market flour, yeast, eggs, and sugar should canonize Sarabeth Levine, for no one else does these ingredients so much justice," raves a blown-away New York Magazine of Sarabeth East's brunch menu. Yes, the third on our list is the obvious Sarabeth's; the iconic Madison Avenue bakery-cafe which any "Best Brunch" in the Upper East Side list would be incomplete without (note: this is not to be confused with Sarabeth's at 945 Madison at The Whitney, which is now closed). It makes every "Best Brunch" list around (Time Out New York, New York Post, Yelp, OpenTable).
Popular menu items include their "Fat and Fluffy" French Toast with fresh strawberries, lemon and ricotta pancakes with berries ("huge, soft rounds of goodness," rhapsodizes foodie blogger NYC Tastes), and a fritatta of mixed vegetables, gruyere and bacon (you can view their full menu here). The spot is also terrifically kid-friendly, offering up adorably-titled dishes such as the Baby Bear (hot porridge with milk and honey), the Big Bad Wolf (hot porridge with wheatberries and cream) and the Morning Crunch (granola with fruit and honey). Moms and Dads can sip on Sarabeth's famous Pickled House Bloody Marys and Four Flowers Mimosas ("you have not lived until you have tasted this drink," swears New York blogger Beauty Logic in a review of her brunch at the eatery).
Alice's Tea Cup, Chapter II
Alice's Tea Cup Chapter II is the iconic New York tea room's first Upper East Side outpost that's most famous for its amazing winter teas infused with alcohol (their lemongrass-jasmine lemon drop with Ketel One vodka is particularly good, a perfect pairing with one of their fluffy, fresh-baked scones). Their brunch menu includes fruit cornmeal pancakes served with butter and real maple syrup (reasonably priced for the Upper East Side at only $7 per serving), French toast bites infused with apricot brandy tea, and ham gruyere crepes.
Alice's Tea Cup Chapter II gets the thumbs-up from the masses and critics alike; scoring an impressive 4/5 star average out of a whopping 296 Yelp reviews, described as an Upper East Side "wonderland" by New York Magazine (who recommends their Mad Hatter brunch – a pot of tea, two sandwiches, two scones and a dessert item for $30), is a Time Out New York "Critic's Pick," and has been crowned by the New York Post with the title "Best Brunch With Your Mom."
The Best Brunch Spots in the Upper East Side
Park Avenue is located at 100 East 63rd Street, at Park Avenue.
Cafe d'Alsace is located at 1695 Second Avenue, at East 88th Street.
Sarabeth's is located at 1295 Madison Avenue, at East 92nd Street.
Alice's Tea Cup Chapter II is located at 156 East 64th Street, at Lexington Avenue.
