The best spots for Mother's Day brunch in NYC

Mom and spring's finest bounty will be equally celebrated at the multicourse Mother's Day menu on offer at this fine-dining destination inside a Sir Norman Foster–designed glass tower. Curated by Executive Chef Andrew Ayala, the holiday spread includes starters like grilled yellowfin tuna with yuzu crème fraiche, mains like Carolina Gold risotto with stinging nettles and baby artichokes, and "La Rose," a strawberry cheesecake mousse with chiffon cake and pineapple compote. Reservations can be made via Resy and ticket prices are $155 per person. 

Your mom has done enough coddling in her lifetime, so how about you pamper her with a luxurious meal from a star chef who's not just on the restaurant awning but in the kitchen and dining room, too—in short, a place like Daniel. This year’s Mother’s Day prix fixe (set at $275 per person, with a $135 optional wine pairing) will feature the elegant, contemporary French cooking that the restaurant is known for: plates includes a Maine sea scallop “rosette” with calamansi-passion fruit vinaigrette, Pennsylvania rabbit with green asparagus-stuffed  paccheri pasta, and a macadamia mousseline with cherry brandy anglaise. If you really want to go all out for mom, you can add a caviar starter: 50 grams of Royal Ossetra for $385 or 50 grams of Golden Imperial Ossetra for $485.

This waterfront 6,000-square-foot restaurant boasts floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the East River, but we’re partial to the 1,500-square-foot patio lined with white-oak tables and plush couches. Consider it a scenic spot to take mom to on May 12, with plenty of Mother’s Day specials on offer, including Maine lobster bisque, Scottish smoked salmon Benedict, braised lamb shank, coconut milk-poached Atlantic halibut and more. Reservations can be booked here, and find the full menu here.

Beautifully-lit and airy under high ceilings and Art Deco design elements, Lee Hanson and Riad Nasr’s (mostly) French effort is the marquee dining room of the recently revamped Rockefeller Center, which makes it a splashy spot at which to celebrate mom on May 12. The restaurant will offer a three-course Fête des Mères menu for $110, complete with pastries from sister restaurant Frenchette, appetizers like pâté maison and leeks vinaigrette, entrées such as French Toast Supreme and Fluke Meunière, and an assortment of petit fours and other sweet confections to finish things off. 

The progressive Korean tasting menu at this intimate chef’s counter was recently awarded its first Michelin star. And in a special treat for Mother’s Day, the dining room will extends its hours to offer its exquisite $275 omakase—which includes 11 courses highlighting seasonal ingredients and modern interpretations of Korean traditions—during lunch service at 12:30pm, in addition to its two regular seatings at 5pm and 7:30pm.

Sitting outside on the patio, quaffing giant steins of beer might not be your immediate idea for a Mother's Day brunch but Loreley's heated outdoor beer garden is lovely for mom's special day, especially all covered in pink blooms. Along with the whimsical Insta-ready flower wall, the venue will be treating all moms to a complimentary glass of rosé bubbly at brunch, which they can enjoy alongside à la carte plates like buttermilk pancakes with fresh berries, eggs Benedict Royale with smoked salmon, and chicken schnitzel and waffles, all available from noon to 4pm.

An oasis in the city, The Rockaway Hotel feels like a beachy, remote retreat even though it's just over an hour's subway ride from midtown. Decorated in natural blue and tan tones, the hotel evokes relaxation from the moment you step inside and with an on-site spa, rentable cabanas by the pool and yummy food options, it's a great setting for an all-day Mother's Day celebration. The hotel will host a brunch  buffet in its sun-filled Harbor Room for groups of six or more ($65 per adult, $25 for kids 12 and under), complete with an omelet station, a carving station, a cheese-and-charcuterie station and a variety of brunch selections. You can make things even more special for mom by purchasing a bouquet from Nolia Florals. Tickets can be purchased here.

Bring mom to the the glowing grand atrium at the Financial District’s Beekman hotel—a ritzy restoration of the late-19th-century landmark building known as Temple Court—for a jazzy Mother's Day brunch that will include tunes from a live quartet as well as a three-course meal ($85), available in the Temple Court Dining Room as well as the Bar Room. Among the festive offerings are burrata with rhubarb and pistachio, white asparagus “cacio e pepe” with a hen egg and parmesan, and a chocolate-peanut trifle with fudge brownie and pretzel.  Reservations can be made through Resy.

Nobody does chill quite like Standard hotels, and the East Village iteration is no exception. It’s the embodiment of low-key luxury, reflecting the grit and cool factor of its home with just the right amount of understated finesse—the perfect combination for guests in search of a true contemporary New York experience. On Sunday, May 12th, you and mom can luxuriate in that very experience in The Garden, the property's outdoor dining space, where, along with brunch items like croissant French toast, duck fat hash browns and orange-blossom waffles, you can treat your parent to a free sketched portrait by artist Zac Crawford.

The downtown brasserie from chef John Fraser is offering live music and a special gift for moms: a complimentary bouquet of flowers with any purchase of an exclusive Mother’s Day cocktail, crafted with The Botanist Gin. Additionally, with a purchase of a $200 gift card to La Marchande, moms will also have the opportunity to receive a bonus gift from Tea Forté. And that’s not to mention the brunch repast, available from 10am to 3pm for $95 a head (or $45 for children 12 and under), which includes endless house-made pastries, raw bar items, pâtés and cheeses, a Bloody Mary bar and champagne buffet, and more. You can make a reservation here.