Read on for places where you’ll find the Best Brunch in West Village NYC!
West Village is not only one of the most idyllic neighborhoods in NYC, but it’s also home to some of the best brunch spots. Some of my favorite places can be found in Greenwich Village, which is perfect for taking a nice stroll around the streets after filling up on delicious food.
That’s my ideal weekend morning in the city—a West Village brunch followed by a nice, casual walk!
Best Brunch West Village NYC
1. Jack’s Wife Freda
The first time I visited New York City, my friend took me to Jack’s Wife Freda. They’re a cult favorite for a reason, as I would constantly get “Jack’s Wife Freda” as an answer when I asked my friends for brunch recommendations.
Jack’s Wife Freda is serving up food inspired by the owners’ Israeli and South African backgrounds, as well as New York’s Jewish culture. Once I saw the brunch menu, I knew exactly what I was getting. The Rosewater Waffles ($18) were calling to me because it was topped with lebanese yogurt, mixed berries, and honey syrup. If you know anything about me, it’s that I LOVE yogurt and floral flavors. The waffles were crispy
My friend ordered the Green Shakshuka ($16), which was interesting because shakshuka usually consists of a red sauce. She said she loved the freshness of the green tomatillo sauce. I’ve also heard that the Madame Freda ($24) is another popular item; it’s a pressed sandwich with duck prosciutto, cheddar béchamel, gruyère, and a sunny side up egg!
Jack’s Wife Freda is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for the quintessential NYC brunch experience. They have multiple locations across NYC, so there’s no excuse to not stop by…
📍50 Carmine St, New York, NY 10014
2. Little Ruby’s
I’ve already written about Little Ruby’s before, but I couldn’t leave it off an article about the best brunch in the West Village because it definitely fits that title. The West Village location is the newest addition for this Australian cafe and it offers a full bar and new dishes that you can’t get at their other locations.
This is one of my favorite brunch spots because everything on the menu is delicious. The airy dining rooms also provide a great atmosphere where you wouldn’t mind spending hours at. My friend and I got the Sweet Potato Fries ($8) to start. They came with a sour cream and sweet chili sauce that complemented the fries so well.
I had the Blueys ($16), which was a ciabatta sandwich filled with grilled chicken breast, tomato, spinach, swiss, sweet chili, and mayo. It was a simple sandwich, but SO GOOD. The grilled chicken breast had that grilled, charred flavor and was still pretty juicy.
My friend decided that he wanted one of their breakfast foods, so he ordered the Egg Sandwich ($14). It had a sunny side egg, bacon, cherry tomatoes, arugula, spicy relish, hash brown, and sesame bun. He also had nothing but good things to say about his dish.
I learned afterwards that Little Ruby’s West Village has espresso martini shots, so I would’ve ended my meal with one if I had known!
📍225 West 4th Street, New York, NY 10014
3. Breakfast by Salt’s Cure
Breakfast by Salt’s Cure is known for their oatmeal griddle cake. These griddle cakes are so good that there’s always such a long line (since they’re walk-in only). I went on a Saturday morning and waited about an hour and a half. If you don’t want to wait, you might have a better chance coming for weekday brunch or visiting their other location in Carroll Gardens.
Their menu is pretty limited, but that’s not an issue—just order the Classic ($18). It comes with 2 OG griddle cakes, 2 sausage patties (choice of chicken, pork, or garbanzo), and 2 eggs. I loved the texture of the griddle cakes because the oats added some chewiness and the edges were thin and crispy. The cakes were not as heavy as traditional American pancakes, which was a good thing because I could eat more of it without getting too full. They were topped with cinnamon molasses butter… MMM! The butter provided a touch of sweetness that really tied the whole thing together. I also really appreciated having the patties and eggs on the side for some savory balance.
On my recent trip back to LA, I found out that their original location is in West Hollywood. It made me happy knowing that I could get these pancakes whenever I visit home as well!
📍27 1/2 Morton St, New York, NY 10014
4. Dante
Okay… this is another place I’ve written about before, but it’s just THAT good. To be fair, last time I wrote about dinner—this is now brunch at their other West Village location. They have a few tables for outdoor seating. When the weather is nice, I love sitting outside because it’s a perfect spot to people watch (especially if there’s a drink in hand too!).
That being said, they have a good amount of brunch cocktails; I then have to mention that Dante was voted one of the best bars in the world before. That’s how you know whatever you order will be good. From their Breakfast Martini ($18) to the Cold Pressed Bloody Mary ($19), there’s no shortage of drinks you can order to accompany your food.
I was craving something sweet, so I ended up ordering the House Baked Cinnamon Roll with Yoghurt Icing ($18). It was topped with seasonal grilled peaches and pecans. Peaches are such a summer fruit and it was absolutely delicious paired with the cinnamon and icing; it was almost like a peach cobbler but in roll form!
It’s always such a good time at Dante—whether that’s brunch or dinner. Each time I go, the food and drinks never fail to impress me.
📍551 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
5. Banter NYC
I love brunch, but sometimes the food can be so heavy and filling after. To avoid that feeling, my go-to brunch order is avocado toast (since it’s usually the lightest choice there is). I don’t have that issue with Banter because they’re an all-day cafe with a few healthier brunch options!
I ordered the Banter Bowl ($18) topped with grilled chicken. The bowl also consisted of pickled carrot, cabbage, watermelon radish, cucumber, edamame, avocado, quinoa, and miso ponzu dressing. I’m not a huge fan of salads (I’m looking at you Sweetgreen…), so I loved how this bowl had the perfect balance of grains and vegetables. The quinoa acted as a solid base and the miso ponzu dressing added a nice acidity and flavor to everything.
They also offer a Nutella French Toast ($19) for a sweeter option. The toast is stuffed with Nutella and topped with a nut crumble, seasonal mixed berries, banana, and maple syrup. It’s very sweet, but very worth it. Brunch is one of the few times where it’s acceptable to eat dessert for breakfast, so I would get it if I felt like treating myself to something decadent!
This is yet another Aussie cafe to add to your list! I’m sensing a theme here between Australians and great brunch food…
📍643 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014
6. Little Owl
Little Owl calls itself “a West Village corner gem with a big porkchop and an even bigger heart”. I thought that was a funny description, but “corner gem” is very apt! Chef Joey Campanaro is cooking up great Mediterranean food here (it happens to be under the TV show Friends apartment).
I went on a weekend morning and was lucky enough to make a same-day reservation right before! They had friendly service here and were able to get me seated and accommodated quickly.
I got the Smoked Salmon Scramble ($18). The eggs were perfectly scrambled to Gordon Ramsay’s liking and came over a piece of toast. The salmon had the right amount of smokiness to it, which went well with the eggs. My friend ordered the Poached Eggs ($14), which seemed like their take on a classic eggs benedict; two poached eggs were placed on top of breakfast patties and fontina biscuits with greens and hollandaise. My friend liked the breakfast patty a lot more than the typical Canadian ham in eggs benedict.
I would love to come back for dinner to try more of their Mediterranean dishes!
📍90 Bedford St, New York, NY 10014
7. Sadelle’s
Sadelle’s is an iconic place when it comes to NYC dining, as they’re known for their bagel tower. It’s nearly impossible to walk-in on a weekend for brunch and reservations go quickly!
People usually order the House Salmon ($27) or Smoked Scottish ($26) fish that are served with a bagel, tomato, cucumber, onion, and capers on a tower. The presentation is immaculate and makes for great Instagram stories! For an even more impressive spread, you can order Sadelle’s Tower ($125). That one comes with three tiers of toppings (fish, tomatoes, onions, and spreads) and unlimited bagels. If you’re able to get a reservation for a large group (5 is their max for online reservations), this would be the dish to order to eat to your heart’s content!
People also rave about the French Toast ($25) and how fluffy and soft it is. It’s dusted with powdered sugar and served with a side of maple syrup. I don’t usually opt for french toast when choosing between pancakes, waffles, and french toast, but I might have to reconsider based on how Sadelle’s toast is being described.
It might be hard to get a seat at Sadelle’s, but considering its popularity and reputation, it’s worth a try!
📍463 W Broadway, New York, NY 10012
8. Popup Bagels
Popup Bagels is a great reminder that sometimes all you need in life are the simple things. All they have are bagels and cream cheese spreads (not even breakfast sandwiches!); and yet, their bagels are so good that they’ve made a name for themselves as some of the best bagels in NYC.
There’s a minimum order of 3 bagels, so keep that in mind if you just wanted a single one. They hand you the bagels while they’re still hot and fresh, so you can see the steam escaping when you rip them open. The inside is soft and chewy, while the outside has a nice hard exterior—everything a great bagel should be. I’m partial to the Everything Bagel, but their Salt and Sesame Bagels are also great contenders. Their schmears change every few weeks (I believe) and they occasionally do collaborations for limited edition flavors!
Washington Square Park is super close by, so I would suggest taking your bagels to sit down and eat there. They’re also opening a new brick and mortar location on the Upper East Side, which I am SO excited for… I no longer have to make the trek to West Village.
For a quick but yummy brunch, stop by Popup Bagels!
📍177 Thompson St, New York, NY 10012
9. Roey’s
Roey’s is a neighborhood pizzeria with Florentine and Neapolitan influences. They blew up on TikTok for their happy hour deals (which I have to come back to try because they’re just THAT good). They have a wood-fire oven to cook their pizzas in, giving them that charred flavor.
For those looking for a great bottomless deal, they offer a Boozy Brunch ($25) with unlimited prosecco, bellini, or mimosa for 60 minutes with the purchase of any entrée. My friends and I all got the Rosemary’s Spritz ($16) and the Margherita Pizza ($18). The drink tasted similar to an aperol spritz, but I believe it had a wine base. The pizza had a thin, chewy crust and was the perfect size—not too big, not too small. The tomato sauce and the basil tasted fresh, making for a truly delicious bite.
Next time, I’m coming for happy hour because their spritz is only $5 and their margherita pizza $7. What a STEAL!
📍1 Perry St, New York, NY 10014
10. Mémé Mediterranean
Mémé is French Moroccan for “grandma,” a tribute to what the owners’ children call their mother. While their mother lives in Israel, she still continues to shop special spices directly to them to use in their dishes.
Their Mediterranean menus were full of different options; I liked how they offered a few traditional brunch dishes like eggs benedict and french toast, but the majority of their menu was Mediterranean inspired. The weekday brunch menu is more limited, so be sure to come on the weekend for more to choose from.
I got the Mediterranean Brunch ($20) that came with three eggs any style, chopped salad, feta and goat cheese, olive and pita. Mediterranean cuisine is full of really healthy ingredients, so I felt good eating this! The combination of the feta and goat cheese really elevated the salad.
My friend ordered the Steak and Eggs ($24), which seems to be one of their more popular brunch items. It was a grilled NY strip steak, scrambled eggs with cheddar, avocado salad, onion, peppers, and home fries. She said the steak was very flavorful and tender!
It’s a great place for some reprieve from traditional American brunch food!
📍6581 Hudson St New York, NY 10014
Best Brunch West Village NYC
Don’t miss out on these 10 spots offering the Best Brunch in West Village NYC!
- Jack’s Wife Freda
- Little Ruby’s
- Breakfast by Salt’s Cure
- Dante
- Banter NYC
- Little Owl
- Sadelle’s
- Popup Bagels
- Roey’s
- Mémé Mediterranean
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