Hundred Acres

This weekend is Mother’s Day! And if we know anything about being a mother, it’s that it isn’t always easy. Show your mom how much she truly means to you and use this day as an opportunity to spoil her — instead of the other way around.

Brunch is a great wait to spoil your mother! We’ve rounded up some great places Downtown to bring your mom as well as a few places Midtown.

Maman

If you can’t afford to take your mother to Paris, take her to Maman in TriBeCa instead. This cute French café will practically transport you to France with its classic décor, croque madames and croissants. Don’t forget to grab one of their sweets after your petit dejeuner: the nutty chocolate chip cookie is love at first bite!

Cookshop

Cookshop is a bright and buzzing restaurant in Chelsea, serving American fare based on seasonal availability. Their brunch menu offers many healthy options, including breakfast bowls, Cascun farm chicken breast salad and an egg white frittata. The pastries are great if you want to end your brunch on a sweet note. Take your mom for a walk on the Highline afterwards, and you’re set for the day!

The menu at Hundred Acres revolves around Mediterranean food, made with fresh and local ingredients. It’s an unspoken rule, but you’re not allowed to leave Hundred Acres without trying their Cinnamon rolls – or should we say cinnaMOM… yes, these were made for your mother (and you!).

Russ and Daughters Café

Mothers love smoked salmon right? And a café with the word daughters in it, it seems to be a no brainer for a Mother’s Day brunch. Russ and Daughters are experts when it comes to salmon, bagels and babkas. We highly recommend the classic board: gaspe nova smoked salmon, cream cheese, tomato, onion and capers, served with a bagel. Friendly staff and an open kitchen; your mom will love it here.

Catch

Catch is a seafood restaurant in the Meatpacking District (the irony) – it’s the perfect place if you’re looking for an upscale brunch experience. Treat your mom to oysters, truffle sashimi or the salmon belly carpaccio. Brunch here is always a great catch (sorry, we had too). Or look for their sweeter dishes, if your sweet tooth is onboard.

The Horny Ram

If you ask us, calories don’t count on Mother’s day. And while the name might serve up a good laugh with your mom, the brunch is no joke. The Horny serve our American favorites with a modern twist: pancake burger, m&m pancakes or a deep fried milky way bar. If you’re lucky and the weather is good, grab yourself a seat on their lovely outdoor terrace.

Coffeemania

Located just a few steps from Bryant Park, Coffeemania just launched their brunch menu this April. A perfect place to take your mom for a great brunch and a walk in the park afterwards. Their menu reads delicious options from light and simple to savory and sophisticated, including Avocado toast on grilled sourdough, Eggs Benedict with a choice of ham or salmon and Baked Apple crepes.

Photography by Siobhan Gunner, unless otherwise marked

When talking about breakfast or brunch (or even brinner!), pancakes are bound to come up! And New York City has no shortage of delicious places to enjoy a big ol’ stack of these golden rounds. Downtown put together a guide to some of the best spots to satisfy your pancake cravings.

Bubby’s

Bubby’s serves classic American comfort food, and the pancake portions are huge. The blueberry sourdough pancakes are thin and slightly crispy, whereas the James Beard pancakes with caramelized bananas and walnuts are super thick. If you prefer a savory breakfast–and don’t want to miss out—opt for the griddle special: a pancake, bacon or pork sausage and two eggs.

Locanda Verde

Locanda Verde is an Italian restaurant in TriBeCa, serving lemon ricotta pancakes for brunch on the weekends. The pancakes are topped with a thick, sweet lemon curd and fresh blueberries. Don’t be taken back by the small amount of blueberries on top, because you’ll find more warm blueberries inside the fluffy pancakes. Those are the kind of surprises we love!

The Smith

Forget fruit or chocolate chips, the Smith takes a different approach to the traditional pancake toppings. Their pancakes are topped with salted caramel sauce, whipped ricotta and toasted pecans; balancing sweet and salty flavors. Don’t worry, you still get a jar of maple syrup to pour over your pancakes!

Clinton Street Baking Company

There’s always a line at Clinton Street Baking Company, but the pancakes are worth the wait. Their famous pancakes are served with blueberry, banana walnut or chocolate chunks, and a side of warm maple butter. The thick, heartwarming butter tastes just as good as the fluffy clouds of heaven, and you’ll never want regular maple syrup again. If you want to avoid the line, go here for dinner – yes, they serve breakfast for dinner and we love them for it.

Hundred Acres

Sometimes the hardest part about choosing pancakes, is deciding which topping you want. Hundred Acres gives us a little bit of everything: lemon curd, whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings. The dark chocolate melts over the buttery pancakes, and the fresh whipped cream balances out the richness of the chocolate.

Sarabeth’s

Sarabeth’s has you covered if you’re looking for an upscale brunch experience. Their lemon and ricotta pancakes are topped with powdered sugar, fruit and a side of maple syrup. Attentive staff, classic décor and quality ingredients; you can’t really go wrong with eating pancakes in a restaurant like Sarabeth’s.

Boulton and Watt

The pancakes at Boulton and Watt are unique in every single way. The pancakes are made with buttermilk and oatmeal, giving them a slightly earthy, nutty flavor. The toppings include raspberries, robiola cheese and orange maple butter. The creamy, melted cheese pairs perfectly with the tangy orange maple butter and sweet raspberries.

Greenwich Project

The pancakes at the Greenwich project are lighter than the classic American pancakes. The pancakes have a golden-brown crispy outside, and are incredibly soft on the inside. These ones won’t leave you feeling too full or with a post-brunch food coma.

Virginia’s

Virginia’s serves a “Dutch” Pancake, which isn’t really how the Dutch bake pancakes. Dutch or not, the pancake is hot, puffy and delicious. It’s baked in a cast iron pan with caramelized apples, cinnamon and caramel. This one will definitely satisfy your sweet tooth at brunch!

Monument Lane

Rustic, charming décor and beautifully presented pancakes, what else did you expect in the wonderful West Village? The buttermilk pancakes are topped with a generous amount of sweet cherries and toasted pecans, making each bite sweet and crunchy! The big portion of pancakes is also a rare find in this area.

Café Orlin

Café Orlin’s pancakes are truly one of a kind: made with pumpkin and topped with cinnamon yogurt. The pancakes are extremely buttery, and it’s like you’re eating pumpkin cake for breakfast. The cinnamon spiced yogurt makes each bite as flavorful as the first. One thing’s for sure, you don’t have to worry about dry pancakes at Café Orlin.

Photos by Siobhan Gunner