We are going to be in New York City for the weekend in the beginning of April. My boyfriend wants to go to a nice upscale brunch somewhere on Sunday. We are staying in the Times Square area, but ideas for any area would be truly appreciated.

I'd add "good" to this list, on Greenwich Avenue.

http://newyork.citysearch.com/best/results/8476/

A good brunch is provided at the bridge café near southstreet seaport and
brooklyn bridge...
Occasion to have brunch and then to be in southstreet or to walk to brooklyn heights by the bridge...
Bread is delicious and the two times we were there the suggestions were delicious...
Erik and Anny.

Best brunch in NY is at Cafe Botanica at the Essex House, with beautiful views of Central Park.

Gekko's list is a great place to start. Five Points is my absolute favorite. Another place to consider for an upscale brunch is Sarabeths, either on the upper west side or inside the Whitney museum.

You have like a zillion great choices. Here are some of mine:

1. River Café
1 Water Street
Brooklyn, New York 11201
Telephone (718) 522-5200
http://www.rivercafe.com/

Great food and stunning NYC views.


2. Café des Artistes
1 West 67th Street
212- 877-3500
cafedes.com //cafedesartistesnyc.cest 67th 7-3500

Great brunch in a lovely romantic restaurant. No views, but the food makes up for it.

3. The Boathouse
Park Drive North and E. 72nd St.
Central Park
New York, NY 10021
212-517-2233

On the lake in Central Park. Great juxtaposition of trees and tall buildings behind.


Tavern on the Green in Central Park is another idea. I have not eaten there in many years, and people here have commented that the food is kind of mediocre. Its hard to ruin brunch, however, so maybe that would be OK. The Crystal Room is very pretty.

I think most hotels do a brunch as well, so look at the Four Seasons, the Plaza and other luxury hotels as well.

Prune: intimate, Lower East Side foodie place. Not touristy. (well, maybe it is, since I've been there)

http://www.nymetro.com/content/02/wk09/bites.htm

Check the site and see if it's your type of place.

NORMAS! - In the parker meridian (57th street) expensive but well worth it!

I never know when someone mentions brunch if they are thinking of ordering from a menu, or if they're anticipating a huge "stuff yourself" buffet? The great compromise to me is brunch at Aquavit. So quiet and civilized. Quite Scandanavian and wonderful. It is a sort of buffet, but one based on quality, not quantity. It's so refined and wonderful.

The All You Can Eat brunch thing really isn't done too much in Manhattan - more a Long Island thing - but ooohhh Patrick, you're dead on, Aquavit's is great - the only way to go . . . But for ordering off the menu, Norma's is really great . . .
if you talk to chefs about brunch they laugh - they tend to think of it as leftovers . . .

Near Times Square, but a really lovely location is Bryant Park Grill in Bryant Park directly behind the NY Public Library at 42nd and 5th Ave. The brunch is good -- prix fixe including an alcoholic drink -- service is good and the setting is beautiful.

Another vote for the Boathouse in Central Park. I just had brunch there on Sunday! It was fantastic. My brother is having his wedding reception there later this year so we went to check it out. We were there at about 1:30 and had to wait about 25 minutes. It was packed. The food was yummy and the setting is gorgeous right on a lake - have fun wherever you go.

the water club is lovely too. i had my college graduation brunch w/my family there. although, really the bridge cafe in brooklyn is the best view...this is kind of touristy, but for a real feel of new york, check out "the barking dog". there are a few locations.