About Time x NYC: Five Breakfasts You Need to Eat in New YorkBy Angelica Malin
New York, New York. We were lucky enough to travel to New York with La Compagnie Boutique Airline and can happily say that we FEASTED in the city. This week, we’re doing a special New York takeover on About Time, where we’ll be discovering New York’s best breakfasts, lunches, fitness trends and boutique hotels. Nowhere on earth does breakfast like New York- here’s 5 of our favourite breakfasts we tried in the city:
Best Breakfast in New York: For Eggs
1. Scrambled Eggs & All the Sides: Five Leaves
What to Order: Big Breakkie – 2 eggs any style, hash browns, whole wheat toast and choice of 2 sides, including hash browns, avocado, homemade baked beans and grilled chorizo ($14)
What They Say: A chilled-out, cool Greenpoint bistro offering New American fare with an Aussie accent and great brunch options. The kind of place you’ll want to spend all day at.
What We Say: This is the place to come for breakfast in Brooklyn – just look at those buttery, creamy scrambled eggs for goodness sake. We absolutely loved Five Leaves – with its inside / outside feel, it’s a truly the perfect spot for summery brunch in the sunshine. There’s queues around the block for their ricotta pancakes, served with honeycomb butter, banana, blueberries, strawberries and 100% pure maple syrup – light, fluffy and totally decadent, you can see why there’s so popular. I personally adored their savoury breakfast bowl with freekeh, poached eggs and spinach – a warming, filling bowl that will leave a smile on your face. Don’t forget to order an iced latte, they serve some of the finest in all of NYC.
Where: 18 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11222, United States
Best Breakfast in New York: For Granola
2. Granola + Greek Yogurt: Langham Place Hotel
What to Order: Housemade granola with greek yogurt and mixed berries ($16)
Whey They Say: A sublime mix of captivating design, unique hotel signatures and warm service are a few of the things to expect at swanky Langham Place, Fifth Avenue. Come discover sharp metropolitan style that reflects the dynamic and vibrant spirit of The Big Apple; nestled between Bryant Park and the Empire State Building, this hotel’s location couldn’t be better.
What We Say: If you’re looking for a posh breakfast in the Upper East, this is the place to come. The hotel’s Ai Fiori restaurant is a Michelin-starred establishment – run by Chef Michael White, the restaurant celebrates the French and Italian Riviera in serious style. The breakfast here is top notch; their homemade granola is nutty and so delicious, whilst the Lobster Benedict is a truly decadent, delicious start to the day. Get involved.
Where: 400 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
Best Breakfast in New York: For All-You-Can-Eat
3. All-American Feast: The Rainbow Room
What to Order: Everything. Leave no bagel unturned.
What They Say: A truly special experience; offering a modern twist on classic old-world glamour, the Rainbow Room welcomes guests for the famously decadent all-you-can-eat Sunday Brunch, as well as legendary evenings of romance and magic at LIVE! from the Rainbow Room. The Rainbow Room legacy has endured the test of time, with an ever-changing menu, you’ll experience the magic of a quintessential New York City destination.
What We Say: Sure, it’s a bit touristy, but with killer views and the most insane, extravagant buffet you’ve ever seen, it’s a real one-off experience in New York. This is a Sunday brunch like you’ve never seen before: there’s grilled meats, a carvery, pancake station, dessert corner, chocolate fondue, omelette maker, salads, breads, pastries, fruit, yogurt. I mean, literally everything you could hope and wish for. Every meal starts with their warm, fresh-out-the-oven Monkey Bread, which is a real thing of beauty.
What’s more, you can order from the a la carte menu after you’ve feasted at the buffet (go on, I dare you) with a crazy indulgent menu. Sunday specials include carrot cake pancakes with white chocolate cream cheese and vanilla bourbon syrup, a million variations of Eggs Benedict, including a warm lobster and caviar sensation, and main courses such as black truffle macaroni cheese, short rib burgers and Nola shrimp and grits. We say: wear your stretchy pants.
Where: International Council-Shopping Center, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, United States
Best Breakfast in New York: For Vegans
4. Vegan French Toast: The Butcher’s Daughter
What to Order: 12-Grain French Toast, with almond milk batter, raspberry butter and pure maple syrup ($11)
What They Say: A chain of healthy, organic cafes in New York and LA, The Butcher’s Daughter pride themselves on the great quality food they serve. They treat fruits and vegetables as a butcher would meat – serving the best quality vegetarian dishes around. The cafe is committed to buying produce from local farms, helping to support the community’s sustainability – and you can really taste the difference.
What We Say: For a healthy pit-stop in New York, you must visit The Butcher’s Daughter. The white-washed, low-lit trendy organic cafes have such a quintessential NYC hipster vibe, you’ll feel like you’re in Shoreditch, but with more almond milk. There’s a reason these cafes are so popular: the food is damn delicious. In the morning, try the famous Petersen’s Buckwheat Pancakes with coconut-cashew Anglaise, berry compote and pure maple syrup and the ever-popular homemade coconut yogurt and granola. For something savoury, the farm eggs and toast soldiers is an old-school classic re-thought: we love it. Come lunch time, dine like a vegan king on spicy kale caesar salad and vegetable quinoa – their salads are the stuff of vegan dreams.
Where: 19 Kenmare St, New York, NY 10012, United States
Photo credit: Instagram – My Eat Drink Travel Guide
Best Breakfast in New York: For Pancakes
5. Sweet Lemon Pancakes: Kingside at Viceroy Central Park
What to Order: Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with berries and maple syrup ($18)
What They Say: Viceroy Central Park is a boutique hotel occupying one of the most energetic locations in Midtown Manhattan; the fusion of business and leisure on West 57th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. Viceroy Central Park’s boasts some amazing foodie options, including The Roof, a paramount rooftop lounge in addition to Kingside, a signature restaurant located off 57th Street. Helmed by celebrity chef Marc Murphy, Kingside features a small plates menu of New American cuisine and is home to a killer brunch, too.
What We Say: This hotel restaurant is so, so cool. Full of American charm and an amazing, retro look, you’ll be forgiven of wanting to Instagram everything in sight. The American-diner style bar and checkered floor gives Kingside a low-key, all-American feel, with a wicked brunch menu to match. Your traditional American pancakes are given a fancy touch with the additional of lemon ricotta – so light and delicious, these pancakes are incredibly moreish. Their avocado on 7-grain toast is also a real beauty; with the addition of thickly-cut cured salmon, it’s an elegant take on a classic brunch dish, showing the real class and refinement of the chefs in the kitchen. If you’re feeling crazy, they also do a Breakfast Pizza with aged cheddar and maple bacon, which is a local favourite. A must-visit.
Where: 120 W 57th St, New York, NY 10019, United States
La Compagnie operates twice daily flights from Paris CDG to New York from 700 euro return – see more here. For more information on New York, visit the official NYC Go website here.
