15 Best Brunch in Prospect Heights (Foodie’s Guide)
Looking for the best spots for brunch in Prospect Heights to try? This guide is for you. There are so many options for such a small neighborhood that it will be hard to narrow down, each one being unique from all the others. Prospect Heights is also one of the best neighborhoods in Brooklyn to wander around in with great coffee shops, local bookstores, cute boutiques and a very close proximity to Prospect Park.
Whether you are a neighborhood local or just visiting, this guide will provide you with some amazing places to eat brunch in Prospect Heights! And while you’re here, check out the best things to do in Prospect Heights too.
Amazing Prospect Heights Brunch Spots
Olmsted
Address: 659 Vanderbilt Avenue
I don’t even know where to begin with my love for Olmsted and all of the restaurants by Greg Braxtrom, a chef who spent time in the kitchens of Blue Hill at Stone Barns, Alinea, and Per Se, among others. Olmsted was on my list for literal years and my biggest regret is how long it took me to make a reservation and go enjoy some of the best food in Brooklyn and one of my favorite places for brunch in Prospect Heights.
Olmsted immediately makes you feel at home the minute you walk in. The bar is a lovely place to sit with ample amounts of natural light during the day and the cozy, dark, candlelit vibe at night. The backyard feels like the backyard of a master gardener, with garden beds raising herbs they use in the restaurant, string lights and long wooden tables.
The menu is pre-fix and changes regularly but everything is delicious. While I know that bread is not what you would believe to be a standout item, the bread is one of the most incredible things I’ve ever tasted so make sure you order this. The butter melts in your mouth and the bread is so warm it truly feels (and tastes) like it just came out of the oven.
Olmsted accepts reservations and is open daily for dinner and lunch on the weekends. Everything is very reasonably priced and feels like a true neighborhood establishment, clearly making Olmsted one of my top choices for best brunch in Prospect Heights.
Patti Ann’s
Address: 570 Vanderbilt Ave
Patti Ann’s is another incredible, and the newest spot, from Greg Braxtrom. The concept is simple and perfect with a focus on family-style meals rooted in Southern classics, all of which they do very, very well.
The space is colorful, warm, very open and inviting and they have plenty of indoor and outdoor tables to enjoy. They also have a market at the front where you can pick up great goods to go and a coffee bar and delicious pastries if you don’t have time to sit.
Patti Ann’s is one of the best spots for brunch in Brooklyn and should be included on your list of go to Prospect Heights brunch immediately. They are open every day for brunch and do not accept reservations for brunch (but they do for dinner, which is also amazing).
R&D Foods
Address: 602 Vanderbilt Avenue
Another amazing bakery and spot for brunch in Prospect Heights is R&D Foods. Not only do they have delicious brunch, they also have amazing options for coffee, cute gifts, and local specialty grocery items and they are open 7 days a week, early to late.
One of my favorite things on the menu for brunch has to be the old-fashioned donuts, which are handmade and freshly baked every morning. Their sandwiches are also not to be missed as well as their other pastries.
R&D Foods is open every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and available for browsing every day for specialty items and gifts. They have an outdoor garden and are open for outdoor dining during Vanderbilt’s open streets, which happens on the weekends in the summer. R&D Foods has some delicious brunch and should be at the top of your list for brunch in Prospect Heights.
Caffe De Martini
Address: 609 Vanderbilt Avenue
Not only is this one of the top picks for best brunch in Prospect Heights, it is also one of the most beautifully decorated facades in the city. I’m sure you’ve seen it “trending” on Instagram just because of the florals that frame the door of a beautiful blue building.
Everything is great here but some of my favorites are the egg sandwich, veggie panini (panino veggie on the menu) and the arepas. As far as pastries go, they are all amazing so either start with one or take some to go! They also have a grain bowl that rotates seasonally and focaccias to choose from.
Caffe De Martini does not accept reservations but is open for brunch daily. It is a great place to catch up with friends, and while it doesn’t have boozy brunch options, it has the perfect cup of coffee to accompany your delicious pastry or breakfast sandwich. They have both indoor and outdoor seating available.
Cheryl’s Global Soul
Address: 236 Underhill Avenue
Cheryl’s Global Soul combines everything you need for a great brunch in Prospect Heights; friendly staff, Southern charm, and great vibes. The food is also some of the best in Prospect Heights, making Cheryl’s Global another delicious option for one of the best stops for brunch in Prospect Heights.
I’ll stay consistent and recommend the pancakes as one of my favorite options for brunch. You can order them as an entree, or the best part, you can order them as a side. They also have delicious egg plates, breakfast sandwiches and omelets.
Cheryl’s has both indoor and outdoor seating. They do not accept reservations and for those with kids, they have a great kids menu!
Alta Calidad
Address: 552 Vanderbilt Avenue
Alta Calidad is another great place for Prospect Heights brunch. With its minimalistic, cool and calming space, it is very aesthetically pleasing but it also has some of the brunch in Prospect Heights serving up innovative Mexican cuisine – and best dinner date night spots too.
Alta Calidad offers a delicious Prospect Heights brunch with incredible cocktails and entrees. I’m partial to their spicy pineapple margaritas but the classic is also always a great choice. As far as food goes, the chilaquiles are also top-notch. The breakfast burrito and breakfast quesadillas are also standout entrees. The Mexican street corn and sourdough pancakes as your appetizer should also definitely be included.
Alta Calidad offers both indoor and outdoor seating. Reservations are recommended, especially around brunch. They are open every day for lunch/brunch and dinner.
Tom’s Restaurant
Address: 782 Washington Avenue
Tom’s Restaurant is technically on the border of Crown Heights and Prospect Heights but it’s so good that it’s worth going a little outside of that invisible line separating the two for some delicious brunch in Prospect Heights.
Tom’s may be a “traditional” diner on the outside, but the food is better than a lot of those traditional diners you see in the rest of New York. They serve breakfast all day and really anything you want to order is going to be great. They have incredible lemon ricotta pancakes and an amazing variety of egg dishes, each time which seems to be better than before.
Tom’s does not take reservations but opens early. They offer both indoor and outdoor dining and should be included on your list of places for Prospect Heights brunch.
Leland Eating and Drinking House
Address: 755 Dean Street
Leland Eating and Drinking House is one of the best neighborhood spots around and also has one of the most incredible things I’ve ever eaten for brunch in Prospect Heights. It sits on the corner in between apartments, has great colorful murals on the walls, and is a great place for a large gathering, solo brunch or a place to take your out-of-town parents.
As far as ordering goes, do not skip the sourdough cinnamon bun. It is amazing and you should order two, one for now and one for later. For entrees, the eggs “fra diavolo” are incredible, combining the perfect combination of eggs, bread, and spice. They also have a great breakfast sandwich and babka french toast.
Leland Eating and Drinking House is open for brunch on the weekends and offers both indoor and outdoor dining. They accept reservations and offer one of the best spots for brunch in Prospect Heights.
King David Tacos
Address: 611 Bergen Street
What started out as a taco truck in Prospect Park, has now expanded to be served in grocery stores, coffee shops (including Blank Street and Joe’s) and now has expanded into its very own brick-and-mortar on Bergen Street.
If you’ve read any of my other articles, you know how I feel about the lack of good Tex-Mex in New York and once I discovered King David Tacos, everything changed. The owners and chefs are from Austin, Texas and all of their flour tortillas are handmade. They also have true queso, which o keeps me coming back again and again.
As far as tacos go, they are all amazing (trust me, I’ve tried them all), but my go-to’s are the potato, egg and cheese (PEC), the Queen Bean, and Mom’s Migas. They also have “lunch–ish” tacos including a delicious bean and cheese and pollo verde.
They have delicious horchata, Stumptown Coffee and wine and beer options at their brick-and-mortar. King David Tacos is one of the best brunch spots in Prospect Heights. They have both indoor and outdoor dining but they do not accept reservations. The best ones sell out early, so get there early for the best options and a delicious Prospect Heights brunch.
Lincoln Station
Address: 409 Lincoln Place
Another amazing spot for brunch in Prospect Heights is Lincoln Station. They offer a great space for meeting with friends, getting work done, and the best part, is they have one of my favorite breakfast sandwiches around.
Their menu focuses on great sandwiches and great coffee but they also have wine and beer available. For brunch, the egg sandwich and the avocado egg sandwich are my favorite things on the menu. If eggs aren’t your favorite, the rotisserie chicken sandwich and veggie avocado sandwich are also incredible.
Lincoln Station offers both indoor and outdoor seating. They do not accept reservations but have a large space and usually have space available for Prospect Heights brunch.
Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe
Address: 645 Vanderbilt Avenue
No brunch guide is complete without a good bagel shop and a great place for Prospect Heights brunch is the Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe. They have all of your classic bagels as well as omelets, avocado toast and pancakes if you aren’t feeling like a bagel.
Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe does great bagels and one of my favorites is the bacon, egg and cheese on an everything bagel. They also have a great rainbow bagel, which I enjoy from time to time with plain cream cheese.
Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe has both indoor and outdoor dining and offers call-ahead orders if you don’t want to wait in line for Prospect Heights brunch. And for more bagels, check out our guide to best bagels in Brooklyn.
Faun
Address: 606 Vanderbilt Avenue
Another Vanderbilt Avenue gem is Faun, a great and classic neighborhood Italian spot that also has one of the best brunches in Prospect Heights. The vibe is great from minimalist decor with wooden tables and candlelit vibes at night to a great back patio that feels like you’re in a friend’s backyard. Not to mention, they have some incredible pasta.
There are only a couple of pasta options listed on the menu for brunch but they are both worth ordering every time. If you want something more closely related to brunch, I highly recommend the french toast and the eggs in purgatory. Both are amazing and should both be ordered. Faun also has a delicious frittata and shrimp in grits.
Faun accepts reservations and offers both indoor and outdoor dining. They are both great options but the outdoor garden is best in the warmer months for your delicious Prospect Heights brunch.
Dough Doughnuts
Address: 646 Vanderbilt Avenue
I first discovered Dough Doughnuts years ago when I ventured on what seemed like at the time a very long walk to the original location in Bed Stuy. I was immediately hooked and continued to go back again and again.
While the location in Bed Stuy has now closed, the Prospect Heights location is open (along with Manhattan locations) and serving some of the best donuts in Brooklyn and some delicious brunch in Prospect Heights.
Dough takes on a very unique approach to donuts while also taking all the classics to the next level. Their cinnamon sugar doughnut is one of my favorites around, which they also offer as a vegan option. The lemon poppy seed is also incredible as well as their chocolate with cocoa nibs and the hibiscus.
Dough offers both individual donuts and donut boxes. They do not accept reservations and are a grab-and-go location. They are very close to Prospect Park so highly recommend grabbing donuts and heading to the park to enjoy some of the best brunch in Prospect Heights!
The Islands
Address: 671 Washington Avenue
The Islands is a great Jamaican restaurant (on the edge of Crown Heights) with no thrills and all the classic Jamaican food staples you crave including curry goat, jerk chicken and incredible plantains. The best part? It is BYOB meaning you can bring in your own wine and beer.
All of the staple items are beyond delicious and very affordable but I can’t stray away from the jerk chicken and fried plantains. The chicken is beyond flavorful and the plantains are so good you will want to order a second order for later.
The Islands is open for a late lunch during the week every day except Monday and open for brunch on the weekends. They offer both indoor and outdoor tables and some delicious brunch in Prospect Heights.
Natural Blend
Address: 769A Washington Avenue
Natural Blend is a healthy alternative to everywhere else I’ve listed on this brunch guide and while I tend to try to eat healthy, I usually sway towards the “not so healthy” options. Natural Blend is an exception to this rule and a great place for brunch in Prospect Heights.
I originally started visiting here when I lived in Bed Stuy because it was close to my apartment and the smoothies and juices are super fresh without paying the $12 price tag as you do at some other places. They have several options for smoothies and juices but my favorite is the Immune Booster smoothie with blueberries, raspberries, bananas and oat milk. They also have food items if you’re feeling hungrier including quinoa waffles and oats and porridge.
Natural Blend is more of a grab-and-go spot but does have a couple of tables indoors if you want to dine there. They are also super close to Prospect Park making it a great place to take your Prospect Heights brunch to go.
Best Spots for Brunch in Prospect Heights (Post Summary):
- Olmsted
- Patti Ann’s
- R&D Foods
- Caffe De Martini
- Cheryl’s Global Soul
- Alta Calidad
- Tom’s Restaurant
- Leland Eating and Drinking House
- King David Tacos
- Lincoln Station
- Olde Brooklyn Bagel Shoppe
- Faun
- Dough Doughnuts
- The Islands
- Natural Blend
Did we miss your favorite Prospect Heights brunch spot? Let us know in the comments below.
About Our Guest Author
Molly Royce – Originally from Oklahoma, I moved to NYC for grad school and have had a hard time wanting to leave ever since. There really is no better borough than Brooklyn where I live with my boyfriend and our black lab, Frankie. There’s no greater city in the world and I can’t wait to share my love of the city, eating, and drinking with all of you.
