A nice brunch in New York City doesn’t have to destroy your budget for the week. These tips and tricks will help you enjoy weekend brunch without breaking the bank.
Apps and Websites to Earn Money Back on Brunch in New York City
There are many apps and websites that’ll help you earn money back when you book through them. These four — including two New York-specific options — will help you save major bucks.
OpenTable Points
Book ahead on OpenTable to earn points through your booking. Once you’ve accumulated enough points, you can redeem them for Amazon gift cards or OpenTable gift cards (which can then be converted into restaurant gift cards).
Groupon
This is the online deal aggregator that started it all. Search Groupon for meals at a discount, or for cash back offers at various restaurants. You’ll need to add a credit card to your profile in advance and use it to pay to get cash back — but it’s an easy way to get some money back when you eat out.
Pulsd
This website is like a hyper-local Groupon for New York City events. It has an extensive “Brunches” category that has bottomless brunches for two starting as low as $29 (at Parish in the LES or Pinks in the East Village).
Deals on this platform are short-term only, so if you see something you like, buy ASAP!
Seated
This app gives you rewards for booking restaurant reservations through it. You can earn up to 30% back on your reservations. Use the code LORELEI15 for an extra $5 on your first booking. Once you’ve earned rewards, you can redeem them for gift cards from Uber, Amazon, Madewell, Nordstrom, and more.
You can use this outside New York City, too: it also has Boston, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and Atlanta restaurants.
Cheap New York City Brunch Spots
In addition to the money-saving apps and websites above, these restaurants are great for diners on a budget.
Jack’s Wife Freda
This Jewish-inspired mini-chain (it has locations in SoHo, the West Village, and Chelsea) is one of my personal favorites for brunch. Here, you’ll find fantastic cantaloupe mimosas, delicious sandwiches, and an amazing green shakshuka.
Blank Slate
This sunlit spot in Midtown serves fresh, healthy-ish brunch classics. The toasts (there are a wild mushroom and avocado option) are delicious and very reasonably priced, at only $10.
Poco
This fun bottomless brunch spot in the East Village is a standby for Alphabet City residents. You get an hour and a half of Bloody Marys, mimosas, or white sangria. Your entire party has to be present to be seated, and you’ll need cash — so plan accordingly!
Local 92
This health-focused Mediterranean spot serves many Mediterranean-style brunch specials. It also boasts fresh-squeezed juice and many variations of chickpea spread.
Vanessa’s Dumpling House
While not strictly a brunch spot, this cheap dumpling spot is a great place to get a quick bite. The pork and chive is my personal favorite.
La Superior
Tacos are available at all hours at this Mexico City-style spot in Williamsburg. It also features a fantastic brunch menu that pairs well with its signature beverage, a tamarind margarita.
Penelope
This cute café in Murray Hill serves comfort food favorites. Its warm sweet potato biscuits with honey butter, Nutella French toast or chorizo-and-egg sandwich with sun-dried tomato pesto, cheddar cheese and peppers are all good options. You can order a la carte or as a prix fixe meal with a brunch cocktail, coffee, or juice.
The Smith
This mini-chain has locations in the East Village, Flatiron, Midtown East, and Upper West Side. It serves classic American brunch fare at reasonable prices. The menu is seasonal, so ingredients change year-round.
Square Diner
This throwback to traditional New York City diners is an escape to a simpler time. The menu is exactly what you’d expect, boasting omelettes, hot sandwiches, salads, French toast, bagels, and burgers.
Mother’s Ruin
This is a refuge from SoHo’s shopping-crazed masses. During the day, it’s sparsely populated and has a friendly neighborhood vibe. The cheap, but filling, dishes leave you with cash to spare for the well-crafted cocktails.
See also: NYC Vegan Restaurants that Should Be on Your Go-To List
Veselka
This East Village institution whose name means “rainbow” is well-known to NYU students, artists, club kids and other downtown dwellers. Its brunch food, which includes blintzes served with sweetened sour cream and seasonal compote, is worth waking up early for.
Egg Shop
This egg sandwich-focused spot features a number of delicious breakfast sandwiches. They’re generally priced at or under $15, and portions are generous.
Sweet Chick
This fantastic Southern-style restaurant serves chicken and waffles and chilaquiles that are worth the trip out to Brooklyn. If you’re brunching here, you’ll likely spend the rest of your day in a food coma.
Lido
This Harlem institution is a great neighborhood spot for brunch. It also does bottomless mimosas for $16. Finally, it donates 25 cents to Meals for Good to help fight food insecurity in Harlem for each meal sold — so you can feel extra-good about your meal.
