Breakfast in New York
Looking for breakfast in New York? Real New Yorkers eat breakfast on the go. Between the subway and the office, there are countless carts where lots of different things are sold. Going for coffee? Always order your coffee without milk! Otherwise, you will be served a cup with low-fat milk, which is very watery and will make your coffee tasteless. When ordering from one of these carts, beware that they are often impatient and hate when people take too long when ordering. However, it’s much nicer to eat in a diner. These can be found in every part of the city. I recommend eating at a diner at least once during your New York trip for the ultimate American experience.
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Breakfast in Diners
Breakfast in diners is cheap. You can get two eggs with toast, potatoes, bacon, coffee, and juice for around US$10. Tipping is important when eating at a diner. For paying the tip: give about twice the amount of the tax (found on the receipt). A normal tip is about 15% to 20% of the bill, without the tax. Check your receipt to see if the tip has been included or not.
Ellen’s Stardust Diner
If you are looking for something special, go to Ellen’s Stardust Diner on Broadway and 51st Street (near Times Square). The unique feature of this restaurant is that all of the waiting staff sing. This also makes for a free Broadway show! Most of the waiters and waitresses leave after just a few months in order to perform in real musicals in New York, so this diner is just a stepping stone for them.
The best time to arrive at Ellen’s Stardust Diner is around 08:00. After that, it will be very busy. They usually start singing around 08:00. Breakfast at Ellen’s Stardust Diner is more expensive than your regular diner.
Westway Diner
Westway Diner was established in 1988 and is open daily from 8:00 to 21:00. It’s a typical diner: the food is simple and served very quickly. You really have to know what you want to order before you order as the waiting staff are always in a rush. Don’t order a la carte at this place but a ‘menu’ that includes coffee and orange juice, which is much cheaper. You can only order one of those menus Monday through Friday though.
Hector’s Cafe & Diner
Hector’s Cafe & Diner (1949) is one of the last real ‘old school’ diners in New York. It’s an oasis in the hip and touristic Meatpacking District. Hector’s is raw, ugly and cheap. Something that’s hard to find in Meatpacking these days. Martin Scorsese used Hector’s as a set for Taxi Driver and they’ve also filmed at Hector’s for the tv-series Law & Order. Go visit Hector’s to feel like the meat processors, drug addicts and dealers that claimed this area for ages. Choose Hector’s instead of the nearby Bubby’s, because Hector’s hasn’t been created for tourists. Or actually, don’t go to Hector’s! Let Hector’s remain the raw diamond of the city.
La Bonbonniere
This West Village diner is, contrary to what the name might suggest, truly New York. In accordance with American custom, you can have breakfast here cheaply and quickly. There are a few tables outside, so you can take a seat there when the weather is nice. But there is also plenty of room inside to enjoy the tasty pancakes, burgers and sandwiches that are on the menu.
Bubby’s
For an American breakfast or brunch, head over to Bubby’s in TriBeCa. The photogenic restaurant has been here since 1990 and is well-known in the city. Using fresh products, Bubby’s wants to make you feel at home. For example, you can order one of their pancake specials, and if you are in the mood for it, the Mimosa Flight, which includes small glasses of all their mimosa flavours.
Tom’s Restaurant
Tom’s Restaurant is a family-owned restaurant that has been open since the 1940s and is located in Morningside Heights. A lot of locals come to dine here, and here and there you’ll spot a Seinfeld fan as it was the diner that was used in the show. That’s also the reason I like to go to this diner. Order one of the classic menu items, especially the sausages are good here.
USA Brooklyn Deli in Times Square
If your hotel is located on Times Square or you want to have breakfast in the area, the USA Brooklyn Delicatessen is a fun place to start your day. In this iconic American diner, you can enjoy one of the items on the crafted menu. This prix fixe breakfast deal also includes taxes and gratuities!
Book the breakfast at USA Brooklyn Deli in Times Square here
Breakfast at Food Carts
In the morning, many food carts can be seen on the streets. They are everywhere, especially at busy intersections, subway stations and near offices. Many of the food carts have been in the same place for years, so New Yorkers have their go-to carts for breakfast or coffee. Getting breakfast here ‘on the go’ in the morning is very New York, and it’s cheap too.
There are two types of carts: those with and those without a griddle. Coffee and tea are available in the carts without a griddle, but there is also a wide range of bagels, croissants, muffins, cakes, and fruit. In addition to the aforementioned things, if a cart has a griddle, you can also order hot sandwiches. Like an “Egg on A Roll”, with the option of adding cheese and bacon. This normally costs $2 to $3, with a coffee costing between $1.50 and $2.
La Parisienne
La Parisienne is a cosy restaurant in the French style. It’s located in the Financial District and therefore a great spot to have breakfast when you stay in Lower Manhattan. They open daily at 8.00, so you can start your day with for example avocado toast, a croissant or yoghurt. You can also come here for a lovely Parisian lunch or happy hour.
Buvette in Greenwich Village
Are you looking for a nice place in Greenwich Village? Then go to Buvette. A small, bustling, Parisian-style bistro. The staff works hard and has a passion for good food and French wines. Many mornings I order an espresso with a croissant and sit at the bar. In the tiny kitchen, they prepare typical French dishes. This bistro is a fine spot for a tasty breakfast or brunch. Choose waffles, toast with various generous toppings, a ham and cheese sandwich or a salad with a freshly squeezed juice on the side. If you prefer to sit outside, there is also a little garden. Buvette is open from early morning until late at night.
Gemma at The Bowery Hotel
In East Village, Lower Manhattan you can find the Bowery Hotel with its Italian restaurant: Gemma. Even though celebrity sightings are commonplace at Gemma, you can still eat breakfast here for a relatively low price. Start off your day with the ‘two eggs any style’ and for a few extra bucks you can even add bacon. If you have more of a sweet tooth in the morning, go for the pancakes or the french toast.
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