It’s that time of year when we have to swap Sunday beach days for something requiring a little more clothing (unless, of course, you’re celebrating cuffing season).
Some of your pals may want to spend Sundays getting all dolled up and meeting up at a bougie brunch destination to gossip and people watch, while some of your other friends may want to pound beer and cheer on their favorite running backs all afternoon.
Herein lies the ultimate dilemma: Do we brunch or do we watch football? Obvs, we do both.
After working hard all week, and partying Friday and Saturday, Sundays should be stress free. We’ve made it easy on you, by pairing brunch destinations with nearby sports bars, so you can make everyone in your life happy.
Here are our fave combos for your new brunch and football routine:
1. Upper East Side
Brunch: Gracie Mews Diner (1550 First Avenue)
This UES establishment is everything a diner should be: tasty, affordable, and quick with coffee refills. Pro tip: Get the sausages. They are HUGE!
Bar: Bailey’s Corner Pub (1607 York Avenue)
Four blocks up and one block over from Gracie Mews is a spot perfect for any J-E-T-S, Jets! Jets! Jets! fan. Whether you’ll be cheering on the Green and White or commiserating with fellow disappointed fans, Bailey’s is a good spot to do it in.
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They have plenty of seating and TVs, tallboy PBRs, and the Sunday bartender makes a mean bloody (just don’t ask him to make it for the night games).
2. Midtown East
Brunch: Spoon Table & Bar (40 East 33rd Street)
If you live uptown and your brunch bud lives downtown, or if fried chicken and waffles or biscuits covered with gravy are your jam, then Midtown East’s Spoon Table & Bar might just be a good brunch pick for you.
Be forewarned, adding avocado to some dishes will cost you $3, adding fuel to the Hold My Avocado fire.
Bar: Slattery’s Midtown Pub (8 East 36th Street)
If you’d rather cheer against the Jets, you might want to check out Slattery’s. It’s a Dolphins’ bar, so when you sing: “Miami has the Dolphins, the greatest football team,” you’ll be in good company.
3. Cobble Hill / Carroll Gardens
Brunch: Bar Tabac (128 Smith Street – Brooklyn)
With a live jazz band during brunch, this buzzin’ bistro on lively Smith Street is a popular go-to on Sundays. The Parisian-style restaurant serves up eggs benedict, avocado toast, and French toast (naturally). Come prepared; it’s cash-only.
Bar: Angry Wade’s (222 Smith Street – Brooklyn)
Packers fans can head down Smith Street to Angry Wade’s, a sports bar with lot of character, free popcorn (with Old Bay seasoning!), and loud chants of Go! Pack Go! when the Cheeseheads’ team is doing well.
4. Lower East Side
Brunch: Essex Restaurant (120 Essex Street)
For a brunch that’s scene-y, scrumptious and seeped in mimosas, head to the LES. There are lots of options in this foodie-destination hub, but Essex wins our vote for its impossibly tall ceilings and consistently tasty grub.
Bar: Kelly’s Sports Bar (12 Avenue A)
Yes, New York has a third football team. They are called the Buffalo Bills, and you can cheer for them at Kelly’s Sports Bar.
5. Bay Ridge
Brunch: Cebu Bar & Bistro (8801 3rd Avenue – Brooklyn)
If you somehow catch Saturday Night Fever in Bay Ridge and find yourself there on a Sunday, you might as well get some grub.
With dishes like Crab Cake Benedict and Orange Ricotta Pancakes, Cebu is an easy lunch pick for #SundaysWithBae.
Bar: LoneStar Sports Bar & Grill (8703 5th Avenue – Brooklyn)
Three blocks away there’s a sports bar with some serious fans. LoneStar also has a patio with outdoor flat-screens perfect for watching pigskin during this unseasonably warm football season. There's also an all-you-can eat and drink tailgate option every Sunday.
6. Forest Hills
Brunch: Dirty Pierre’s (13
Station Square – Forest Hills)
In Forest Hills’ quaint Station Square there’s an eccentric little spot where you can get your fill of mussels before the athletes even take the field (#sorrynotsorry).
Bar: Tap House (72-07 Austin Street– Queens)
After brunch, head up to Austin Street. It’s brimming with restaurants and bars, but Tap House might be your best bet for catching the Sunday games. There’s beer and barstools, what more do you need?
Have a football-brunch routine you’re proud of? Hit us up at tips@spoilednyc.com
[Feature Image Courtesy Instagram]