
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the New York City area by diners
Highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the New York City area by diners
Breakfast holds a special place in American culture, serving not only as a source of nourishment to start the day but an opportunity to create traditions. It's a daily ritual for more than 290 million Americans and is often regarded as the most important meal of the day, according to data from the Department of Agriculture.
While staples like eggs, bacon, and pancakes are common nationwide, regional preferences showcase America's culinary diversity. In the South, biscuits and gravy are a staple, while the East Coast is known for dishes like eggs Benedict and bagels with lox. The Midwest often favors hearty skillet breakfasts, while the Southwest's spicy breakfast burritos and huevos rancheros reflect the region's Mexican influence.
There are a wide variety of restaurants that serve breakfast today. Traditional diners often feature laminated menus filled with pages of combo meals pairing eggs with a breakfast meat of your choice served alongside hash browns, buttered toast, and endless coffee refills. Then there are modern breakfast spots that embrace innovation, adding global influences and creative twists to traditional dishes. Avocado toast, kimchi fried rice, and churro waffles are some of the more recent popular offerings that reflect how multicultural flavors have become part of contemporary breakfast traditions.
American breakfast culture has evolved significantly over the years. In the mid-20th century, diners and coffee shops dominated the morning meal landscape, catering to workers and families with fast, affordable options. Then, the rise of fast-food chains in the 1960s and 1970s shifted breakfast trends, introducing convenient grab-and-go items like McDonald's Egg McMuffin. By the early 2000s, the brunch boom transformed weekends into social events, with restaurants offering elaborate dishes, bottomless mimosas, craft Bloody Marys, and vibrant atmospheres that encourage extended Saturday and Sunday morning dining experiences.
Today, breakfast culture continues to balance nostalgia with innovation as classic comforts meet modern trends in both casual diners and brunch destinations, ensuring that morning meals remain a meaningful and celebrated part of life.
Curious about where to head near New York City for your next breakfast or brunch? Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated breakfast restaurants in the New York City area based on diners' reviews on Yelp as of March 2025. Restaurants with at least 20 reviews tagged as "breakfast & brunch" on Yelp that are open at 7 a.m. and are within a 10-kilometer radius of New York City were included. Some restaurants featured may serve other food items besides breakfast food. Also, in an effort to highlight independent businesses and local chains, those with more than 15 locations nationally, based on the Yelp data, were not included.
Keep reading to discover new inventive egg-centric dishes or time-honored classics for your next leisurely morning!
#26. Under Pressure Coffee
- Rating: 4.4/5 (95 reviews)
- Address: 3019 31st Ave. Astoria, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#25. Ronnie's Sandwich Shoppe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (71 reviews)
- Address: 2300 Hylan Blvd. Staten Island, New York
- Categories: Sandwiches, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
#24. Fiction Bar/Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (119 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 308 Hooper St. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Cocktail Bars
- Read more on Yelp
#23. Love Cafe
- Rating: 4.4/5 (195 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 283 Pleasant Ave. 115 St. St 115 New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#22. 787 Coffee
- Rating: 4.4/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 66 Pearl St. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Empanadas, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#21. Safari
- Rating: 4.5/5 (247 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 55 St. Nicholas Ave. New York, New York
- Categories: Somali, Breakfast & Brunch, Juice Bars & Smoothies
- Read more on Yelp
#20. Der Pioneer
- Rating: 4.5/5 (180 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 737 Church Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#19. BTS - Bagel To Sandwich
- Rating: 4.5/5 (187 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 240 West 40th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, Bakeries
- Read more on Yelp
#18. Marcy & Myrtle Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (93 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 574 Marcy Ave. Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#17. Penny House Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (330 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 732 Washington Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#16. Best Bagel & Coffee
- Rating: 4.5/5 (5031 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 225 West 35th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Bagels, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#15. The Brothers Cafe
- Rating: 4.5/5 (138 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 43 47 40th St. Sunnyside, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Mexican, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#14. The Reading Room
- Rating: 4.5/5 (157 reviews)
- Price level: $$$
- Address: 16 East 46th St. New York, New York
- Categories: New American, Cocktail Bars, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#13. Liberty Bagels Midtown
- Rating: 4.5/5 (1843 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 260 West 35th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#12. Shepherd's Cup
- Rating: 4.5/5 (73 reviews)
- Address: 2123 Ave. U Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch, Desserts
- Read more on Yelp
#11. Pio Bagel West
- Rating: 4.5/5 (135 reviews)
- Address: 58 West 36th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Bagels, Breakfast & Brunch, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#10. Merrion Row Hotel and Public House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (71 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 119 West 45th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Hotels, Breakfast & Brunch, Pubs
- Read more on Yelp
#9. Nurish
- Rating: 4.6/5 (142 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 637 Washington Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Salad, Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#8. Suited
- Rating: 4.6/5 (181 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 45 John St. New York, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes
- Read more on Yelp
#7. Dell' Aria
- Rating: 4.6/5 (67 reviews)
- Address: 232 East 111th St. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee Roasteries, Coffee & Tea, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#6. Cafe Xochimilco
- Rating: 4.7/5 (65 reviews)
- Address: 3801 29th St. Long Island City, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Cafes, Mexican
- Read more on Yelp
#5. Simple Loaf Bakehouse
- Rating: 4.7/5 (102 reviews)
- Price level: $$
- Address: 310 5th Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bakeries, Coffee & Tea
- Read more on Yelp
#4. Reben Luncheonette
- Rating: 4.7/5 (53 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 229 Havemeyer Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Breakfast & Brunch, Bagels, Sandwiches
- Read more on Yelp
#3. Drip Drop Café
- Rating: 4.7/5 (84 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 98 Thompson St. New York, New York
- Categories: Coffee & Tea, Art Galleries, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#2. Yafa Cafe
- Rating: 4.7/5 (151 reviews)
- Price level: $
- Address: 4415 4th Ave. Brooklyn, New York
- Categories: Cafes, Middle Eastern, Breakfast & Brunch
- Read more on Yelp
#1. Florence Prime Diner
- Rating: 4.8/5 (77 reviews)
- Address: 40-13 82nd St. Elmhurst, New York
- Categories: Diners, Breakfast & Brunch, Burgers
- Read more on Yelp
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Cynthia Rebolledo, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 293 metros.