Fresh lemon crepes, a glass of bubbles and a gorgeous space. What more could a gal be searching for in her next bucket list worthy NYC brunch spot? Wanderlust opened just this past summer in Midtown East and brings with it a refreshingly bright space and a globally inspired menu. It’s the kind of place you’ll want to sit and hang a while, either catching up with old pals or making new ones.


Photography: christiholloway

A Taste of All Places

Brunch is meant to be spent with the friends you adore, enjoying a meal that connects you to a time and place, even if that place is somewhere off the map from where you’re currently sitting. The menu at Wanderlust grabs the best bits of cuisine from around the world, paying particular attention to France when it comes to brunch. Start the meal right sharing a bottle of bubbly and lemon crepes, brioche French toast with banana, fresh gluten free hazelnut cake, or avocado toast with your crew before moving onto a lobster roll, a turkey sandwich with apricot, or a buckwheat crepe with ham, Emmental and egg. There may be a global spin on the menu, but everything you need is right here, right now.



Photography: Sanya Shahzad | Wanderlust

Your Friendly Local

There’s something familiar about every corner café in Manhattan – a comfortable, sunny space that’s cool enough for you to snap a few photos but not so glossy that you feel intimidated to step inside. Wanderlust is exactly that kind of cozy corner café. There are cool brassy chairs with furry cushions, and there’s a bright pink neon sign that reads, “Baby, this is what you came for,” and then there’s subway tile flooring to keep the space grounded and a bright blue bike hangs on the wall as a reminder to get out and wander.


Photography: thenycbartender

A Manhattan East Destination

Located on the corner of Second Avenue & E. 53rd Street, Wanderlust is easily walkable to some of the city’s best shopping. Hop on over to Saks, Louis Vuitton, Topshop or Anthropologie for a post-brunch shopping session. Or, if this is a bucket list trip to NYC, a visit to Rockefeller Center is just a few blocks away. That reminds us, happy hour at Wanderlust takes place daily from 4-7pm, which means you could probably squeeze in a couple of cheeky drinks prior to jumping in a taxi and heading to a show in the Theater District.

Explore more brunch bucket list worthy spots around the world →