Are you a gay New Yorker who enjoys brunch and cocktails and in LGBTQ-friendly spaces? In this post, I’ll discuss black gay brunch New York spots.
Brunch is the most important gay meal of the day. In major cities across the United States including Los Angeles, New York City, San Francisco, and Orlando gay brunch is popular. Gay brunch allows the gay men to come together in a space where they don’t feel the need to be hyper-masculine and can be their true selves. Many New Yorkers, including myself, love going out to bottomless mimosas brunch spots. In this post, I’ll mention black gay brunch New York spots.
Black gay brunch New York spots
Gay brunch in Manhattan
Angel of Harlem is a very popular restaurant in Harlem. Prior to and during on weekends the place is packed. The bar is shaped like a U and the space is small so sometimes it’s hard to walk around freely when it gets crowded. But overall, the experience is great there.
The restaurant has a party atmosphere on the weekends. You’ll see a big mix of the black gay community and the straight community partying their life away.. The music is definitely on point. Pre-COVID DJ Max Damian would spin on Sundays and he would definitely have the crowd moving with his mix of r&b, rap, reggae, and pop. You would see people freestyling on the dance floor, dancing solo, and even dancing on couches. Yes, it got ratchet but people were peaceful.
The food was ok. Unlimited mimosas costs about $20 for 1 and 1/2 hours which was worth it.
The Row Harlem is a restaurant located on the popular Harlem strip, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. There is always traffic in this area so you’ll always feel safe and comfortable when coming here. What I like about the restaurant is the upscale atmosphere. The brick walls and the bar area which has a flat-screen tv gives the restaurant an edgy look.
Brunch at the Row Harlem is very popular. Many event producers including Frandy Napoleon, Joe Morris, Jamar Dun have hosted brunch day parties at the restaurant. You’ll see different crowds of people, including straights and black gay men. I first came here during NYC Pride festival and since that time fell in love with the place.
The brunch menu includes traditional American food like chicken & waffles, shrimp & grits, and steak & eggs. One of my favorite foods is the devil eggs. Even though it’s a small portion it is definitely worth getting. You can get an entree with unlimited mimosas and spend about $45 or so.
B2 Harlem is a restaurant in Harlem that used to be Billie’s Black. The place used to be a soul food restaurant but upgraded to a seafood/soul food restaurant. The upgrade is very obvious.
The restaurant’s interior looks sophisticated and stylish. The floor has beautiful ceramic tiles with a black and white pattern. The wooden chairs look new and there is a brown leather sofa where you can eat. Even the bathroom has a beautiful decor.
If you’re a member of the LGBTQ community you would definitely feel at this gay brunch New York spot. I’ve been here a couple of times, including during NYC Black Pride Weekend, an LGBTQ festival for gay communities of color.
The food at B2 Harlem is pretty good. There is a good selection of “gay brunch food” including chicken and waffles & steak & eggs. I’ve been there for a brunch a couple of times and have enjoyed myself. I’ve had the shrimp and grits which was decent. I like their pineapple mimosas which have a nice blend of juices and alcohol.
Poco is a restaurant in the Lower East Side. I’ve been here a couple of times, including during brunch. The brunch has a party atmosphere. Even during COVID a lot of people come to eat brunch at Poco. You’ll see a diverse crowd of adults, including straight and LGBT persons. The last time I came here there were plenty of cuties, including staff, so you’ll definitely enjoy sightseeing.
The restaurant has plenty of good food including lobster mac n cheese which Poco is known for. If you’re trying to get boozed up you can have an entree and the unlimited 1.5-hour drink special for about $50 (gratuity & tax included).
Gay brunch in Brooklyn
Rustik Tavern is another brunch spot that sells soul food dishes. As the name suggests the location has a rustic look. The chairs and tables are all wooden. The spot is small but is intimate. If you’re looking for a low key and cozy spot this is the place to go to.
The food at Rustik Tavern is ok. I’ve been here a couple of times and my favorite dish is the shrimp and grits; I’ve been able to cook shrimp and grits to my liking but I still won’t mind coming to Rustik from time to time for that same dish. The mimosas are ok which come in the classic flavor.
Artel Brooklyn is a restaurant inside the Hotel RL in Brooklyn. In the past the space has been used for many art exhibitions and creative events. Artel has an indoor and large outdoor backyard. I absolutely love the outdoor patio which is painted in tropical colors and contains creative murals. If you are an artist you will feel very welcomed at Artel Brooklyn.
The brunch at Artel Brooklyn is good. You have the option of getting an entree with unlimited mimosas for about $40(tax and gratuity not included) or a seafood broil with unlimited mimosas for about $50(tax and gratuity not included).
Gay brunch in Queens
Queens Bully is one of the most enjoyable brunch sports in Queens, NY. It’s located in Forest Hill, a nice quiet neighborhood. But when there are special events going on the turn-ups are real!
Chef Melvin “Boots” Johnson, a contestant on the Food Network’s cooking show “Chopped”, has been cooking dishes at Queens Bully. So you know it’s worth coming here for good dishes. I’ve had experiences going to certain restaurants in which the food could be tasty one week and the food will taste the bland the very next week. I’ve been to Queens Bully multiple times and never had a bad food experience there. The chicken and waflles is a a good dish. The waflles are made with zucchini which gives it a nice kick.
If you decide to to do bottomless brunch you would have to pay an extra $25 to get unlimited mimosas.
I love Spanish cuisines so I’m always on the lookout for Latin restaurants. Mamajuana is one of those restaurants anyone would enjoy because of the variety and deliciousness of their dishes.
Mamajuana has several locations throughout the city. I’ve been to the locations in Woodside, Queens, and Washington Heights. I prefer going to the Heights location because you’ll find a sexier crowd at that spot and in the surrounding areas.
I’ve been to Mamajuana multiple times for brunch. It costs $20 brunch which is well worth it. The brunch is buffet style which includes many options including pancakes, pernil (roasted pork), white rice, and much more. There is even an omelet station where the chef cooks the omelet right in front of you. The mimosas are ok and will sneak up on you so take your time consuming them.
What I like about Mamajuana is their service. The waiters and hosts are nice and pleasant. If there’s something wrong with the food they’ll listen to you and do their best to work with you.
There are plenty of bottomless brunch spots in Astoria. One of those spots is Sugar Freak. It’s a New Orlean themed restaurant that’s known for its southern food and seafood. Astoria is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Queens and has become much more fast-paced. But once you go inside Sugar Freak, you’ll actually feel like you’re in a rural setting in Louisiana. The restaurant has a rustic setting and inside the bathroom, the sink is a metal bucket. The brunch menu includes cajun eggs benedict, shrimp & grits, etc. I love seafood so I’m always happy to come here. There is an option for a 1.5 hour of bottomless mimosas, creole bloody mary, or brunch punch.
Gay brunch in the Bronx
Charlie’s bar and kitchen
One of the best spots for gay brunch is Charlie’s Bar & Kitchen which is located it the Mott Haven section of the Bronx. I went to this spot during Bronx Pride a couple of years ago and enjoyed myself. Charlie’s is a small intimate spot and looks similar to a rustic tavern. The brunch menu includes regular brunch food like shrimp and grits and chicken & waffles. During the time I went to Charlie’s a drag brunch took place which was very entertaining. The only issue coming here is that it’s a little far from public transportation.
Best black gay brunch NYC spot
Cecil Steakhouse in Harlem is an amazing gay brunch NY spot. It is the prime spot for black gay influencers & socialites. Major gay event producer Joe Morris will be throwing his brunch day parties at that location. Prior to COVID 19 Joe Morris used to throw his brunch parties every Sunday at the Cecil. His brunch parties were the best brunch parties for black gay men in New York.
First, Joe Morris is approachable. I know him personally and can say that he treats EVERYONE respectfully. He’s not the type of person to gossip or talk down upon other people. And so at his events, you will feel included in the social experience.
Second, Cecil is a nice and elegant venue. Some of the streets in Harlem are a little rough. But as soon as you enter Cecil you feel like in a whole different location. Once you enter Cecil you’re on the dance floor which is right by the bar. The next room is the eating area which is filled with green modern seats and furniture. The floor looks newly renovated and very clean. Even the bathrooms are up to par.
Another reason why to go for Cecil is the crowd. If you’re in the gay social scene you’ll come in contact with so many different gay influencers including celebrities like Christopher Milan and Emil Wilbekin. You’ll also be among a sophisticated and sexy crowd. Joe Morris is a person of substance and thus draws quality guys to his events. If you’re one of those bourgeois black gays you’ll definitely enjoy coming to Joe Morris’s brunch day party at the Cecil.
Why is brunch so popular with the gay community?
As I mentioned earlier brunch is popular with gay men gay because it provides a safe and inclusive space. Most often you would see crowds of LGBT persons gather at gay bars. Gay bars like Stonewall Inn and Julius been places where you would see drag performances, vogue competitions, and gay pride events. Gay bar owners could place rainbow flags in front of their venue and show gay pride. Even though gay bars are popular meeting points for gay men not all gay persons enjoy going to bars. Gay brunch is an alternative We can dance, laugh, and speak freely without having to deal with homophobia. The gays love brunch cocktails including mimosas and Bloody Marys. The spots listed above seel bottomless mimosas which is a huge selling point for the gays.
Brunch meme
Gay brunch is so popular among the gay brunch community that many gay memes have been produced about brunch. Memes are visuals that make fun of pop culture or politics. In the “If your gay brunch could talk” meme there are brunch of glasses on top of a table talking with each other. The glasses are imitating queer men discussing different topics including hot guys and sex talk.
Wrap Up
Washington DC is most well known for brunch but in New York City, gay brunch is just as popular. As described above it’s common for gay people to meet up for brunch. At brunch, you can dress flashy & stylish, eat breakfast foods, and drink brunch cocktails like Bloody Marys, bellinis, and mimosas. Most importantly, brunch gives space for queer, trans, gay, and other persons of the LGBTQIA to come together without having to deal with homophobia. You can rock your rainbow flag and dress however you want without having to deal with homophobic assholes.
I’ve mentioned a few black gay brunch New York spots you can go to. There are so many more spots that you can go to. Subscribe to my newsletter and I’ll keep you posted of black gay brunch New York spots that I will be checking out.
