SoHo is one of the most stylish neighbourhoods in New York City, which makes it one of the city’s great brunch & cafe hotspots. After living next to SoHo (in Nolita) for nearly two years, I’ve put together this guide to the best cafes, brunch spots, coffee & bakeries in SoHo, based on my own personal experience. I’ve included some old school institutions like Balthazar (fancy) and Landmark Diner(no frills!), as well as new wave cafes and coffee shops like Jack’s Wife Freda (a favourite!), La Mercerie and Matchaful.
Read on for the complete lowdown on the best brunch & cafes in SoHo, as well as the best places to get good coffee, and excellent baked treats!
Planning a trip to New York City? Check out my SoHo Neighbourhood guide for a complete & succinct guide to the highlights of the neighbourhood, including the best things to do in SoHo, best shopping & best places to eat and drink.
Best Cafes & Brunch Spots in SoHo
Balthazar
Balthazar is a SoHo institution, which opened in 1997 and one of the most legendary of Keith McNally’s hotspots. Balthazar is a French brasserie, yet it’s got an unmistakable New York City vibe – perfect for your first trip to New York City.
Balthazar does brunch on weekends, and it’s arguably even more of a scene than it is at dinner! Balthazar’s brunch menu pulls out all the stops, with classic dishes likes eggs benedict, omelettes and croque madame, as well as an oyster bar, and restaurant-style starters and entrees (mains), like goat cheese & onion tart, steak tartare, chicken paillard, macaroni au gratin and the classic Balthazar cheeseburger.
Jack’s Wife Freda
Jack’s Wife Freda is one my favourite cafes in all of New York City, and one of the best brunch spots in SoHo. It’s a charming SoHo cafe with a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern inspired all-day menu, featuring fresh takes on brunch classics, like rosewater waffles and green shakshuka, along with sandwiches, salads and mains. It’s a quintessential New York City brunch spot, with locations in SoHo, West Village and Chelsea. It was my go-to brunch spot when we lived nearby.
La Mercerie
La Mercerie is one of the best brunch spots in SoHo, and the chicest cafe in New York City. With interiors by legendary New York City design studio Roman & Williams, La Mercerie is a gorgeous French cafe, helmed by classically trained chef Marie-Aude Rose. La Mercerie has a boulangerie, as well as classic French brunch dishes like crepes, salmon tartine and ouefs cocotte. Don’t miss the adjacent furniture & interiors store, before you go.
St Ambroeus Lafayette
St Ambroeus is a stylish Milanese restaurant with a handful of locations across Manhattan and the Hamptons. The SoHo outpost, St Ambroeus Lafayette, has a tightly curated breakfast and brunch menu, and is the perfect spot for an elegant start to the day in downtown Manhattan.
Best Diners in SoHo
Diners are a dying breed in New York City, but you can still find a couple of diners in SoHo. One is a no-frills, old school institution Landmark Diner, and the other is the new-school, retro glam SoHo Diner. Two very different diner experiences!
SoHo Diner
SoHo Diner is one of the most Instagrammable brunch spots in New York City. Located in the SoHo Grand Hotel, SoHo Diner is a glam diner with a retro flair and serves an extensive menu of brunch classics. It’s a bit of a scene, especially during fashion week, but it’s a fun spot.
Landmark Coffee Shop & Pancake House
Step back in time at Landmark Coffee Shop & Pancake House, a genuine, no-frills New York City diner. This is a New York City diner of yesteryear, serving simple diner classics like grilled cheese, corned hash and chocolate chip pancakes. This is probably one of the only places in SoHo that you’ll find a meal under $10.
Best Coffee Shops in SoHo
As an Australian living in New York City, I made it my mission to find the best Aussie-style coffee in the city. Luckily, good coffee can be found all over SoHo!
Ground Support Cafe
Ground Support Cafe does some of the best coffee in SoHo, and has been a neighbourhood hangout for over a decade. It has a welcoming, laidback vibe which can be a breath of fresh air in high maintenance SoHo. It was my go-to coffee spot in SoHo, when I lived nearby.
Matchaful
Off the coffee? Matchaful is a trendy matcha cafe in SoHo, offering ceremonial-grade Matcha lattes, along with a range of health bites and snacks. It’s one of the best spots for a healthy bite or take out in SoHo.
La Colombe
La Colombe’s outpost on Lafayette St is a reliable spot for great coffee in SoHo.
Best Bakeries in SoHo
It might seem surprising, but SoHo is full of excellent bakeries – something that isn’t exactly easy to come by in New York City. Of course, being SoHo, all of the best bakeries are fairly luxurious.
Balthazar Bakery
I can honestly still remember the moment I first tried a chocolate doughnut from Balthazar Bakery, TEN YEARS AGO. This tiny bakery is adjacent to the restaurant, and you’ll be able to spot it by the queue winding out the door and down the block. It’s worth the wait, and the line moves quite quickly – be prepared with your order before you get to the front. The pastries, baguettes and the doughnuts are divine.
Vesuvio Bakery SoHo
Vesuvio Bakery is the most charming bakery in SoHo, with old world Italian vibes. This gorgeous SoHo bakery has a hundred years of history on Prince Street in SoHo, and has been brought back to life by new owner by Adam Block, who has restored the bakery to its original glory. So cute!
Dominique Ansel
Try the world-famous cronut at the source, at Dominique Ansel. Even today, you’ll still face a lengthy queue to get your hands on the buttery, flaky, croissant-doughnut hybrid. Beyond the cronut, find French pastry classics like financiers and Kougin Amanns, and new innovations like Dominique Ansel’s kiwi sorbet bar.
Laduree SoHo
Laduree is an iconic Parisian patisserie, with luxurious outposts all over the world – including SoHo. Stop by the pretty salon & tea room for a sweet treat after a morning of shopping in SoHo.
Summary
In summary, the best cafes and brunch spots in SoHo include Balthazar, La Mercerie, Jack’s Wife Freda and St Ambroeus. You can still find diners in SoHo, whether at the old school Landmark Coffee Shop or glam, new SoHo Diner. There are a number of great bakeries in SoHo, including historic Vesuvio Bakery, viral Dominique Ansel, Balthazar Bakery and even an outpost of Laduree. Ground Support Cafe has the best coffee in SoHo, but you can find alternatives like matcha, at Matchaful.
More NYC Guides you might like:
- SoHo Neighbourhood Guide
- Itinerary: 5 Days in New York City
- Where to stay in New York City
- The Best Bagels in New York City
- The Best Bars in New York City
Hello! I’m an Australian travel blogger, living in Melbourne, Australia. I grew up in Brisbane, studied in Paris, lived & worked in New York City and now live in Melbourne, Australia.
I love sharing specific and useful recommendations, itineraries and guides for the most beautiful things to see, do, experience & eat wherever I go.
My favourite travel destinations are Australia, New York City & surrounds, France, Greece & Japan, but I’m always excited to explore somewhere new!
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