Do you enjoy day parties and Sunday brunch? Read this blog post about the best 10 gay brunch spots in NYC.
Washington DC is the holy grail for brunch. But in New York City brunch is very popular especially among the LGBT community. Brunch traditionally is a meal after breakfast but has become more of a social experience. During Pride festivals and even on normal occasions “brunch” is a thing for the gay community. Here’s a list of awesome brunch spots.
Gay brunch spots in NYC
1. Cecil of Harlem
Cecil of Harlem is an upscale venue in Harlem. It became a hot spot for the black gays when major black gay event producer Joe Morris hosted his Sunday brunch parties, “For the Culture” prior to the coronavirus outbreak. If you’re looking to connect with the trendy, fashionable black gay & bisexual men and want to catch a good vibe then Cecil is the spot to be at on Sundays.
Prior to COVID-19 Hundreds of fine men come from all over the city and elsewhere come to this luxurious space. I even spotted Christopher Milan and other gay black influencers at this venue. During COVID-19 influencer Aaron Chavis has been hosting a drag brunch on the patio with entertaining performers. As far as the menu there is a good selection of food and drink including steak & eggs, chicken and waffles, sangria, and nutcrackers. I really like their nutcrackers. Just don’t drink more than one pouch. You can get an entree and unlimited mimosas for about $50 (tax and gratuity) not included.
2. Harlem Food Bar
Harlem Food Bar is a small and intimate spot in Harlem. The decor is artsy and trendy. Even in a city like this finding, a cluster of black gay men can sometimes be hard to find but you’ll often see gay black men here. I’ve been here a couple of times and always enjoyed the vibe. The space is small but gives an intimate feeling. The bartenders are cute and friendly. The food is ok and the prices won’t hurt your wallet. If you come here for Sunday brunch make sure you get the bottomless mimosas.
3. Angel of Harlem
Brunch at Angel of Harlem is the true definition of a lit brunch. The venue is walking distance from the West Harlem-125th train, a major transportation hub, so it’s easy to travel to even if you’re unfamiliar with the area. It’s one of the most popular spots in Harlem and is always packed on the weekends. DJ Max Damian, a popular DJ within the party and social scene, plays here on Sundays and knows how to move to the crowd by playing some of the best and the latest hip hop, r&b, pop, and reggae tunes.
What’s best is that it’s a safe and fun space for all groups of people, including the LGBTQ. The crowd mostly consists of people from their mid-twenties to 30s. The only drawback to Angel of Harlem is that it doesn’t have a large dancing area. Despite that fact expect a grand time here. You’ll find people dancing and twerking on the dance floor and couches. As far as the menu selection I can say that the food is ok and reasonably priced. My suggestion for brunch is chicken and waffles. http://www.angelofharlemnyc.com
4. Cafeteria
Cafeteria is a popular diner in Chelsea, a popular neighborhood full of gay men. It’s different from your normal diner in that it’s very trendy. The awning has a modern look that resembles other fancy restaurants in the area. Inside the restaurant, there is a nice, sleek seating area and a clean bar with bottles perfectly placed on the shelves. Even the bathroom has nice decor which resembles a hotel bathroom.
I’ve been here for brunch with my fraternity brother and have enjoyed myself. The meatloaf is good and will fill you up. The food prices are decent for Manhattan prices so you shouldn’t break your arm and leg for the bill.
Cafeteria doesn’t have a party atmosphere but is a good spot to socialize and meet other people. What I like best about Cafeteria is that you’ll find some very sexy and attractive men here.
5. Boxers
Boxers is a gay bar with locations outside of New York. It’s one of the most popular gay bars in New York. You’ll find gay men of all backgrounds and ages come to Boxers. I’ve been to all the locations in New York and I enjoy going to the Washington Heights location. Popular influencer DJ Max Damian recently started hosting a day brunch party at that location. He attracts an urban crowd with his wonderful mix of afro beats, hip hop, reggae, and dancehall tunes. The location in Hells Kitchen serves brunch. If you want a taste of Latin flavor come to Boxers in Washington Heights.
6. Elmo
Elmo is another fancy restaurant in Chelsea, a popular gay neighborhood. I love the way the restaurant is set up!! Elmo has a top floor and a bottom floor which can be reserved for private parties. On both floors, there are regular seats and comfortable sofas to eat. The food is ok and the drinks are good.
If you’re looking to meet other gay men this is definitely the spot to go to! You’ll see crowds and crowds of gay men here. There are a lot of gay bars and gay lounges in Chelsea so if you decide to party Elmo is a good place to eat and pregame.
7. Lips
Lips is a franchise with locations all over the country, including Atlanta, Chicago, and New York City. The restaurant is famous for its drag brunches. A drag brunch is a type of show where drag kings and drag queens perform in front of an audience during brunch time. At a dag brunch, you can expect comedy, dance routines, and lip-synching.
I remember my Delta sandz invited me to Lips years ago. At that time I didn’t know what the restaurant was about until the day of and heard those drag performers would be there. I was livid and I didn’t want to see any drag performances and was didn’t want to be in sight of any drag queens. I matured and learned to accept them and see how creative and talented many of them truly are.
8. Kings Bar
Kings Bar is a cute brunch spot in Queens. I was looking for a gay brunch near me and happened to find this spot. Kings Bar is located on Roosevelt Avenue, a popular strip in Queens. The best part about the place is the high energy. I came here before COVID0-19 for Sunday brunch and there was a drag show.
The drag queens put on a good show and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Kings Bar has a heavy clientele of Latin gay men but you can expect to find black gay men and men of other backgrounds and ethnicities. The food is ok. I had burgers and fries which you can’t go wrong with. The food and drink prices are decent and not like high Manhattan prices that you could even pay for mimosas and bloody Mary’s. What stood out is that the waiter brings your meal to the table in a metal covering like a King.
9. B2 Harlem
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 beautiful decor.
If you’re a member of the LGBTQ community you would definitely feel at this brunch 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 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.
10. DL
The DL(no, not down low) is a venue in the Lower East Side. The spot is very spacious and takes up 3 floors. The top floor has a rooftop where you’ll usually find most of the crowd. The spot was closed right after the corona outbreak but recently reopened. One of the biggest queer black promoters Frank Watson start hosting a rooftop brunch party “Crew Love” at the DL.
This black brunch is on Sundays and the cost is about $55 which includes an entree, appetizer, and a couple of drinks. I’ve been to Frank Waton’s events and have enjoyed myself. He knows how to attract a huge crowd of sexy gay black men. Unfortunately, because of COVID, he’s not able to pack out the DL. You can still go to the venue and see a good crowd which now has a capacity of about $100 due to COVID restrictions. Of all places mentioned on this list, the DL is one is the biggest venues.
11. Bogota Latin Bistro
Bogota Latin Bistro is a gay bar in Park Slope, Brooklyn, and is owned by a married couple, George Constantinou and Farid Ali. I’ve passed by this spot during Brooklyn Pride which is an annual pride festival that happens in June. As you can tell by the name the restaurant sells mostly Latin cuisines. Even though this venue sells Latin food the crowd brings all types of queer and straight persons.
For weekend brunch you can get paella, arroz con pollo, and other good Spanish dishes. The place is small but nice and cozy. I came here for Brooklyn Pride and let me tell you the place was lit. If you’re in Brooklyn during the weekend this is a spot that you should check out.
12. Charlies Bar & Kitchen
Other gay brunch spots across the country
California
Rocco’s
Rocco’s is a gay venue in heart of California which is West Hollywood, California. That area is California’s version of the West Village so most of the bars and clubs are LGBTQ. Los Angeles Pride takes place on Santa Monica Boulevard, which is the same boulevard that Rocco is on. Rocco’s is at the corner of the boulevard and it has a huge billboard so you can’t miss it.
The bar doesn’t have great brunch food but it has a nice vibe. The outdoor patio is spacious and there is enough indoor seating to sit at least 100+ people. The crowd is a good mix of blacks, whites, and Latinos.
Washington DC
Beacon bar & grill
Washington DC has a lot of brunch spots that black queer men frequent. U Street is a hub in DC for blacks and is known for its nightlife and entertainment scene.
One of those spots is the Beacon Bar & Grill. The venue is located on the ground floor of the Beacon Hotel. The brunch menu selection includes chicken and waffles, shrimp and grits, and a veggie burger. I went to this spot a few years ago and had the chicken and waffles which was pretty good. You can get unlimited mimosas with your entree which is pretty good.
Why is brunch so popular in the LGBTQ community?
The LGBTQ community loves brunch. In downtown DC, Philadelphia, West Hollywood, Miami, and other metropolitan are considered the most important gay meal of the day. There have been several articles written that even stated that brunch has a gay agenda. Brunch is popular with gay people for several reasons and here are the reasons why:
- A chance to socialize. There are really no gay diners and gay cafes. Historically, gay bars are common spaces for the LGBTQ community to get other. Outside of queer bars brunch spots are common places for queer black men to eat and socialize. During dinner, you’ll find groups of friends and families gather, especially if it’s a special occasion like a birthday or retirement. Breakfast time is the complete opposite. But during brunch, you’ll usually see more groups of people out. Brunch is popular in a lot of major cities, including New York, Orlando, and DC. I remember once going out for brunch in DC during DC Black Pride, a popular weekend celebration for the black LGBT community. On average there were about 6 people at each table (fine-ass men by the way). The whole restaurant was packed to capacity.
- Brunch lets you show your bougie side. Status is important for many gay men, including queer men of color. And the way we dress is also a sign of status. For the times I’ve gone to brunch here in New York and DC I feel like I’m watching a runaway. The gays come out and look very stylish and fashionable.
- An escape from reality. Many of us LGBT+ persons face homophobia on a constant basis. Brunch is a space for the LGBT community to get together and have any type of conversation with other gays. One of the most famous brunches is Effy’s Big Gay Brunch. The brunch was created by the wrestling figure, EFFY, and takes place in Tampa, Florida during Wrestlemania weekend.
Gay brunch alternatives
The are other options for brunch if you want to save coins and say socially distant during the pandemic.
- One idea is to host your own brunch at home. You can do this by ordering orange juice and Prosecco. A liter of Tropicana costs about $4 and a bottle of Prosecco could cost you as little as $4. This will cost you a lot less than buying bottomless unlimited mimosas at a restaurant. You can cook or have someone else cook eggs benedict, chicken & waffles, and steak & eggs. The best time to serve brunch is about 2 pm. If you’re a healthy eater cooking your own brunch would be the best option since you have the choice to select foods with the least amount of calories.
- If you don’t want to cook and prepare food another idea is to have a fork buffet. This is a special type of gathering where guests have a variety of food dishes to choose from.
- Another brunch idea is to meet at a friend’s house for brunch. Even if you don’t enjoy the food at least you’re not paying for a meal and you’re able to network with other people. So go purchase a brunch is gay mug and get ready to get lit on mimosas and bellinis.
Wrap Up
I just mentioned a few awesome brunch spots. Whether or not there’s a pride parade or pride festival so you’ll definitely find us at one of these spots. So, if you’re looking to connect with more queer men of color I recommend you to get your best brunch outfit, and if you have a kid leave them with a babysitter(you may see other men kissing or hooking up with others). Not only will you be able to have a good meal and good champagne but you’ll also feel a sense of comfort and belonging.
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