Sunday Jazz Brunch on the Upper West Side at The Ellington
Brunch at The Ellington is not like anywhere else. We book a live jazz act for brunch every Sunday, and it doesn't cost anything extra to sit and listen. Brunch is 10am to 4pm on Broadway at 105th Street, and the band plays through the afternoon. No separate ticket, no cover charge. Glenda Sansone owns The Ellington, and Chef John Loughran leads the kitchen day to day with his culinary team. Sunday is the one morning each week we build around a working band instead of a playlist.
What makes it different
We treat the jazz set as part of the regular Sunday brunch service rather than something priced separately, so a table ordering coffee and a plate pays exactly what they would on any other Sunday. There's no ticket, no minimum spend, and no better seat you can pay your way into. The band plays the room itself, not a separate stage, so a table for two hears the same set as a table for eight, and walk ins get the same access as a reservation.
Where to sit for it
Our main dining room seats 130, close enough to the band that nobody needs to fight for a front row spot. The bar seats 40 and works well if you want to eat lighter and stay through more than one set without holding a full table. Once the patio opens for spring and summer, it adds outdoor seating on Broadway with sightlines back into the room, so the music carries outside on a clear day.
Our Ellington Benedict pairs tasso ham, portobello mushroom, pepper jack, and poached eggs with chipotle hollandaise on a whole wheat muffin. The Huevos Rancheros brings fried eggs, refried black beans, corn tortilla, cotija, pico de gallo, and tomato salsa if you want something more savory than sweet. The Steak and Egg Frites pairs an eight ounce flat iron with scrambled eggs, onion rings, and an au poivre sauce, good for a table splitting plates over a longer set. For something sweeter, the Chicken and Waffle brings buttermilk battered chicken with strawberry compote and maple syrup. We keep a full cocktail list alongside the food menu, including the build your own mimosa.
Who this suits
Some say it is the best it is the best Brunch in the Upper West Side with added Jazz to make up the morning. A couple wanting a slower weekend without booking a full dinner out, a family in from out of town who wants something more than a diner, a small group catching up over a longer meal, or anyone on their own who wants a good table and live music without needing company to enjoy it. Nobody is turned away for coming solo, and families with kids are welcome at any table in the room.
What People Say.
A five star Google review from two weeks ago sums up what keeps people coming back for brunch. Nema Katt, who says "The Ellington is my go to for Brunch whenever I’m in NYC. The food selection and preparation is excellent and the service is unmatched. Staff is always pleasant and attentive. The ambiance is elegant and there are several different options for seating depending on your vibe. The outdoor patio reminds me of a garden cafe in France. The drinks are spectacular and well crafted in the cutest glassware. I’ve been a regular here for over 3 years and they never disappoint. The manager Cherri is a darling and the server Nahid is irreplaceable!"
Questions people ask
Is the Sunday brunch different from Saturday brunch at The Ellington?
Yes. Saturday brings a live DJ and Sunday is the live jazz set. Both sit within the same 10am to 4pm brunch service and neither carries a cover charge.
Is the jazz brunch suitable for kids?
Yes. We welcome guests of all ages and have a dedicated kids menu alongside the main brunch menu.
Plan your visit
We are at 2745 Broadway, New York, NY 10025, between 105th and 106th Street, a short walk from the 1 train at 103rd Street and 110th Street. Sunday brunch is 10am to 4pm, with live jazz through the afternoon and no cover charge.
Reserve on Resy or call (212) 281 3011, and Sunday tables during the jazz set are the first to go, so it's worth booking ahead once the patio opens for the season. Walk ins are seated at the bar when space allows.
Book your table here.
Our sister bar, Ellington in the Park, sits a few hundred metres away in Riverside Park itself, fully open air and walk in only for standard visits, open through the warmer months for anyone who wants brunch outdoors on the river rather than on Broadway. Tara Mor, one minute from Penn Station, serves its own Sunday roast for anyone travelling in from that side of the city. Tara Rose in Murray Hill offers a bottomless brunch on Saturdays and Sundays for groups who want that format instead.
Other pieces about how great our Jazz brunch is:
Savory brunch with live music at The Ellington in Manhattan
Serving Delicious Food and Fun Cocktails - Glenda Sansone