You’ll never find a shortage of breakfast and brunch options here in New York, especially when it comes to the art of pancakes. Fluffy yet firm, and soft with flavor, they’re the perfect sweet treat to start your day off with. Whether you’re looking for classic buttermilk pancakes, sprinkle-covered hotcakes or want to test your limits with mac n’ cheese pancakes (yes, they’re real!), there’s so many options to try around the city! In honor of National Pancake Day (9/26), we’ve rounded up some of our favorite restaurants to grab a warm stack of goodness. We proudly present, the best pancakes in NYC!
1. Clinton Street Baking Company, LES
First on our list is an NYC pancake staple, Clinton Street Baking Company, who focuses on tasty brunch and breakfast options. This spot offers so many of our favorite kinds of pancakes, giving you so many options! Our personal favorites are the Wild Maine blueberry, banana walnut, and chocolate chunk pancakes, which are available anytime. The best part though is their legendary Pancake Month that comes around every February! During the 28 days, they serve exclusive pancake flavors that you won’t find anytime else during the year. From raspberry jam to apple pie, Mexican chocolate to triple berry, and passion fruit to chocolate, they haul in over 10 flavors for the special occasion!
Where: 4 Clinton St
2. Bubby’s, Tribeca
Bubby’s oozes Tribeca culture and is a perfect spot to catch breakfast and maybe even a celebrity sighting. Their pancakes are out of this world and are completely customizable. Choose between their original fluffy pancakes or thinner sourdough pancakes and start adding toppings! From nutella to caramelized walnuts, there’s a decent amount of fruit toppings to pick from. What our tradition is though is getting the iconic pancake flight. A three pancake flight topped with an assortment of fresh fruits and sauces is the dreamiest way to start a morning!
Where: 120 Hudson Street
3. Shopsin’s, LES
Are you ready to step into Shopsin’s “Pancake Land?” Because you’re about to be in awe! By ordering their “Triple Play” deal, you get to choose your fair share of 3 pancake types that catch your eye. Whether you opt for something more tame like their blueberry or banana pancakes or want to step out of your comfort zone and go for something like the “Mac’n Cheese” or “White Chocolate” pancakes, this is the place to do it. And if you’re really feelin’ it, step up your game with a pancake sandwich (we love the “Mo’Betta”) or even a slutty stuffed pancake (try the “Egypt”)! This spot is located inside the Essex Market!
Where: 88 Essex St
4. Sunday in Brooklyn, Williamsburg
Sunday in Brooklyn is for sure one of our favorite brunch spots in NYC, and their trademarked “Sunday Pancakes” are a main reason! Pictured above, their fluffy golden brown pancakes topped with hazelnut maple praline and brown butter will surely have you drooling as they come to the table. Order a single, double, or triple stack of them alongside one of their signature brunch cocktails and you’ll have the perfect meal in front of you!
Where: 348 Wythe Ave, Brooklyn
5. CAFE LULUc, Cobble Hill
Regulars of CAFE LULUc rave that the pancakes here are some of the best pancakes in NYC! Served with mixed fruits and special Black Bear maple syrup, their style is sweet and flavorful. If you want a little extra with your pancakes, CAFE LULUc allows you to create a combo with two sunny-side-up eggs and sausages. Plus, a visit to CAFE LULUc is always a good one, thanks to their heated outdoor space, which is both beautiful and comfortable no matter the time of year.
Where: 214 Smith St, Brooklyn
6. The Wild Son Lunch Counter, East Village
The Wild Son Lunch Counter serves pancakes that can please even the pickiest diner! Their buttermilk pancakes are served with bananas, honey butter, and classic maple syrup, letting the breakfast staple speak for itself. Their straightforward yet savory pancakes are perfect with one of their unique drinks too. Whether you’re in the mood to pair it with one of their 8 styles of coffee or one of their signature beverages (we love the Wild Son Horchata), the drinks/pancake combo here is unmatched!
Where: 130 First Ave
7. Mom’s Kitchen and Bar, Astoria & Midtown
If you’re looking for the best place to feast on pancakes and some crazy comfort foods, Mom’s Kitchen and Bar makes sweet treats for all ages. For starters, pancakes here are cooked up in colorful styles worth trying! Their signature “Bedrock Pancakes” are covered in rainbows of fruity pebbles, topped with berries, whipped cream, and even more berries in the berry maple syrup. For a more savory option, Mom’s has a pancake burrito combining all sorts of sweetness and substance. If you’re in the autumn spirit, give their “Apple Cobbler Pancakes” a go.
Where:
Astoria – 33-01 31st Ave, Queens
Midtown – 701 9th Ave
8. Rule of Thirds, Williamsburg
Are you ready for some pancakes that are out of the ordinary? Rule of Thirds in Williamsburg is the spot to snack on some hottokeki, or Japanese-style souffle pancakes. Formed from fluffy hotcake, and served with honey maple butter and sesame, it’s a lighter yet no less flavorful version of our brunch favorite. Plus, with a full menu of healthy Japanese brunch options to pair with there pancakes, there are no bad options here. Going with a group? They also offer special brunch-sharing sets that you can enjoy with your friends or group!
Where: 171 Banker St, Brooklyn
9. Flipper’s, Soho
If you’re going to Flipper’s, it’s a right of passage to try their famous “Miracle Pancake.” Also made in the Japanese souffle style, their ultra-fluffy pancakes are one of the most well-known souffle hotcakes in all of NYC. Offering both sweet and savory pancakes, you can pair your puffy bites with coffee, tea, and even boba. Their most famous style is the signature Strawberry Flipper’s Pancake – which is so pretty in pink that you won’t resist snapping a photo before taking a bite! The Fresh Fruit Flipper’s Pancake topped with triple fruit is also very good, or for a more savory set, their Maple Butter Pancake offers you an extra drizzle of cream and nuts (that’s also very photo-worthy).
Where: 337 W Broadway
10. Eggscellent Pancakes, Flushing
Eggcellent Pancake in Downtown Flushing serves some of the best melt-in-your-mouth souffle pancakes around. They have fillings like matcha cream, fresh berries, yogurts, and red bean paste — plus they also have bubble waffles! If you’re in Queens we definitely suggest checking it out!
Where: 135-15 40th Rd, Queens
11. Chez Ma Tante, Greenpoint
We originally found out about Chez Ma Tante on TikTok, and after trying out their pancakes, we couldn’t keep them off the list. Taking the traditional pancake route with tons of maple syrup, their flavor-filled hotcakes are one of our favorite items on their brunch menu and are decently priced as well. Their pancakes in particular come on the more crispier side, so keep that in mind before you order!
Where: 90 Calyer St, Brooklyn
12. Breakfast by Salt’s Cure, West Village
Breakfast by Salt’s Cure is truly in a league of their own because they have their own unique take on pancakes: oatmeal griddle pancakes. Coming in a stack of three, you’re able to choose which griddle stack variation you’re in the mood for. “The OG” and “Blueberry” are popular favorites, but we got to go with the “Motsu Apple” topped with spiced brown sugar. These unique hotcakes bring a unique twist to a common brunch classic!
Where: 27 1/2 Morton St
13. Maialino, Gramercy
Maialino is getting ready to make its big return to NYC this fall, and we can’t wait to get a hold on their pancakes again soon! This Italian-style restaurant was originally open in NYC for a while before closing down. However, with a grand re-opening on the horizon, we can’t wait for the very first meal with them! As you can probably guess, they put an Italian spin on traditional pancakes, giving them a European flair! We suggest following them on Instagram to stay up to date with their grand opening!
Where: 30 E 30th St
14. Sarabeth’s, Various Locations
Sarabeth’s started as a bakery, so you know they have authority in the pancake-making space! Boasting a few locations around Manhattan, this spot has become an NYC landmark for people looking for the perfect mix of upscale vibes with traditional American food. When we go to Sarabeth’s for pancakes, we always suggest one thing, their lemon & ricotta pancakes. Served with blackberries, we’re not lying when we say they’re potentially the best pancakes in NYC. Their prices are on the expensive size, but it’s definitely worth it for the taste you’re getting!
Where: Locations here
15. Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge, Midtown
Are you ready to get “Pink AF?” Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge is proudly serving their “Pink AF Pancakes” on an unlimited basis on Monday, September 26th! For $45, we suggest going with a crew and chowing on their delicious and colorful flapjacks at an all-you-can-eat rate. The pancakes themselves are fluffy hotcakes infused with bananas foster, blueberries, and topped with hot pink cotton candy and apple compote. They’re taking pretty in pink to a whole new level!
Where: 485 7th Ave, 18th Fl
16. Good Enough to Eat, UWS
Last but not least on our list is Good Enough to Eat’s pancakes, who have been dominating the UWS breakfast scene for over 20 years. Made with oats, cornmeal, whole wheat flour, and white flour, their pancakes are traditional and extra fluffy. They have variations if you’re looking for some fruit including the “Banana Walnut” or “Seasonal Pancakes,” but our choice is always the “Peter Paul Pancakes” which come smothered in Belgian chocolate and toasted coconut!
Where: 520 Columbus Ave