Brooklyn is one of the best places to find the best diners. Offering great American comfort food, laidback atmospheres, and a great neighborhood feel, a visit to Brooklyn is never complete without having breakfast, brunch, or dinner at one of these iconic haunts. While your apartment might be nice and cozy, sometimes you just have to get out and grab some grub.
Don’t know which diners to visit? Then this list will help you find the top diners in Brooklyn where to eat morning, day, or night.
Tom’s Restaurant
The first on our list is the iconic Tom’s Restaurant, whose facade is famously known as Monk’s Cafe on the hit TV sitcom, Seinfeld. Seinfeld tourists aside, though, the iconic diner has been in operation for more than 70 years, and it was even the inspiration behind Suzanne Vega’s hit song of the same name. With classic American comfort food, Tom’s Restaurant has been a local favorite since it opened, as well as of students from the nearby Columbia University.
Tom’s Restaurant is located at 2880 Broadway, New York, 10025.
Rosalu Diner
From one of the oldest to one of the newest players in the game. Rosalu Diner is the brainchild behind chef Matthew Hamilton, formerly of Prune and Lulu and Po, who opened the restaurant in 2019. Seating 50 customers within its indoor and outdoor seating area, diners get to enjoy Hamilton’s version of classic American comfort food. From burgers to French toast, Rosalu Diner offers a no-fuss, relaxed, and classic diner feel.
Rosalu Diner is located at 274 Hall Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11205.
Mirage Diner
Having been in operation for more than 20 years, Mirage Diner is a full restaurant and considered to be one of the best diners in Brooklyn. They have everything from burgers to seafood, to steaks, to lobster tails, and they even have a full bakery on site. A classic American restaurant with Mediterranean influences, this is the place where you can have an all-American breakfast and a full fine dining experience with steaks and gourmet dishes.
Mirage Diner is located at 717 Kings Highway, Brooklyn, New York, 11223.
Clark’s
Named after its location on Clark Street, the restaurant offers Greek and American comfort food in a casual atmosphere. Offering a great classic menu, they are more known for their original dishes, such as their avocado and scrambled eggs on brioche sandwich, banana walnut pancakes, and one should never leave the restaurant without indulging in their decadent chocolate fudge cake with a cup of hot cappuccino.
Clark’s is located at 80 Clark Street, Brooklyn, New York, 11201.
Anapoli
Another iconic diner in Brooklyn, Anapoli is both a family restaurant and an ice cream parlor. Like a time capsule, it is one of the only places in Brooklyn where you can still find soda-fountain desserts and a candy bar. They offer the usual diner specialties, such as burgers, fries, and wraps, but with all-time diner classics such as hot fudge sundaes.
Anapoli is located at 6920 3rd Avenue, #1351, Brooklyn, New York, 11209.
Denny’s
There may be Denny’s restaurant in almost every city in the US, but Brooklyn’s Denny’s is one diner that you can trust to stay open when all the other diners are closed. They are open 24/7, even on holidays, and are only closed when required by the government. If you’re looking for an all-American, reliable, affordable, and comfortable fast food goodness, then Denny’s is the spot for you.
Denny’s Brooklyn is located at 805 Granville Payne Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11207.
Neptune Diner II
This is Neptune Diner’s second branch in New York, with the main one found on Astoria Boulevard. It opened in 2011 and is also one of Brooklyn’s diners that are open 24/7, providing you with great American and Greek comfort food all hours of the day. They have a large selection of great food, from eggs and omelets to Greek wraps to breakfast burgers, you can find everything you need for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Neptune Diner II is located at 699 Classon Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11238.
George’s Restaurant
A staple in the neighborhood and another Brooklyn icon, George’s Restaurant has been serving locals and tourists for over 60 years. With a great menu and decent prices, it is a local diner with a great community vibe. Considered to be a piece of Brooklyn history, they serve everything from coffee and pancakes to pizza, seafood, steaks, and pasta.
George’s Restaurant is located at 753 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, 11218.
Mary’s Coffee Shop
From Greek to Mediterranean influences, and now, we’ve got Latin influences. Mary’s Coffee Shop is a mix of American and Latin American classics, from burgers to pancakes to Cuban sandwiches rolled into one cozy diner in Brooklyn. It’s a small diner but with big surprises, known for its laidback and casual vibe, and homecooked goodness. With decent prices and an approachable feel, they’re one of the earliest to open in the area, where you can get your breakfast as early as 6 am.
Mary’s Coffee Shop is located at 905 Dekalb Avenue, Brooklyn, 11221.
Junior’s Restaurant
And last, but certainly not least is Junior’s Restaurant famously known for its iconic New York cheesecake. The best place in Brooklyn to have a slice, it gives you that authentic American diner feels. Opened in the 1950s, the family diner kept its original structure and interiors. Dining at Junior’s, therefore, gives you that nostalgic or time capsule vibe, giving you a glimpse of what it was like to dine here in the 50s.
The restaurant made news in 2014 when the owners turned down an offer of a $45 million deal from developers who wanted to buy the famed downtown Brooklyn property.
With a great iconic diner feel, classic comfort food menu, and interiors that depict the epitome of American diners. Junior’s Restaurant is a must-visit in Brooklyn.
There you have it, 10 of the top diners in Brooklyn that offer great food, great prices, and of course, a great neighborhood vibe American diners are most famous for. From classic diners that have been around for decades, to the more adventurous ones that offer a fusion of different cuisines, to homecooked and family vibes, there’s a diner for every kind of customer in Brooklyn.
