Hearty Hangover Brunch for Beginners
When you went a little too hard the night before, an early breakfast might not be on the menu, but brunch is a gift from heaven. Brunch in the West Village has an entirely different vibe from the neighborhood’s famous nightlife. In the morning light, the abundance of trees and narrow streets make the area truly live up to its name, giving you a break from New York’s incessant big-city energy. It’s the perfect place to nurse your pounding head and soothe your hungover soul.
Brunch is the best hangover meal – with plenty of sweet and savory options, you’re guaranteed to find something that appeals even when you’re not at your best. As one of New York’s oldest bars, we’ve got the nightlife down to a fine art, but many people don’t know that we also put on a brunch fit for a hungover king (or queen, or non-binary ruler) – complete with a selection of crafted cocktails, draughts, and more. There’s never been a better excuse to day drink.
Dig In: Our Hangover Brunch Suggestions
Picking the perfect hangover brunch meal can be a challenge. Since brunch includes both sweet and savory foods, as well as foods associated with both breakfast and lunch, the sheer number of different options can be overwhelming. Making a food decision on a tender stomach can feel like a tightrope walk. On the flip side, sometimes everything just looks so good.
For those moments when you can’t decide what to order, we’ve narrowed down our brunch menu to a few top picks to help you out. We’ve included a little sweetness and a little saltiness so you can commune with your personal hangover vibes and choose what works for you. Most options also have some scientific backing, including one or more proven hangover-helper ingredients.
Goat Cheese Omelette
Your first port of call if breakfast is on your mind is our Goat Cheese Omelette. Eggs contain cysteine, an amino acid that helps to break down the alcohol compounds in your liver that cause hangovers. Our omelets come with a perfectly soft center, sprinkled with creamy crumbled goat cheese and the classic fines herbes for a pop of freshness. It’s light and easy on the stomach – a hangover no-brainer.
Fried Pickles
It may seem odd, but many people swear by pickled foods for easing a hangover. Alcohol can cause dehydration and an electrolyte imbalance, which in turn is one of the causes of your pounding head and churning stomach. If you’re brunching with the gang, our Fried Pickles are a great sharing appetizer, especially complemented by our Smokey Ranch Sauce.
French Onion Soup
Last but not least, you can always follow the French and indulge in some French Onion Soup. They swear by this potent combination of rich flavors, nourishing vegetables, and lashings of oozy melted Gruyère cheese, and who are we to argue?
Brunch & Cocktails – A Match Made In Heaven
Generally, the “hair of the dog” theory doesn’t work, but there’s nothing wrong with enjoying a light cocktail to take the edge off. Caffeine is a big no-no, so why not swap your morning coffee for something a bit more exciting?
Love Come Down
The refreshing Love Come Down is our first contender. This citrusy cocktail combines the tangy tartness of grapefruit with the zestiness of lime, softened by the sweeter, floral notes of the elderflower liqueur. It’s a boost for the day ahead, a way to shake off the stagnation that a hangover often brings.
Cowboy Killer
If you crave more bitterness and bite to soothe your stomach, then the Cowboy Killer might be up your avenue. Layering the complex flavors of mezcal, Averna, Cynar, Bénédictine, and sweet vermouth, this cocktail epitomizes a nuanced blend – smoky, herbal, sweet, and bitter, all in harmony. The richness of the goat cheese in our Goat Cheese Omlette would provide a perfect counterpoint to these bold flavors.
Bad Apple
Ginger has been known to soothe nausea, and the Bad Apple has plenty of its signature kick. Combined with Bacardi 8, Calvados, Amaro, and lemon, it creates a taste experience that’s bitter, citrusy, and just the right amount of spicy. Paired with the saltiness of our Pretzel Bites, it’ll help clear the hangover clouds and banish the cobwebs from your mind.
Refuel at the White Horse Tavern
It’s been said that brunch was invented to help the hungover ease into the day. While we always advocate for responsible drinking, sometimes a hangover just can’t be helped. When it hits, it’s always good to know that there’s a meal that won’t let you down: brunch in the West Village. No matter what symptoms you might be experiencing, you’ll find something to help you feel human again at the White Horse Tavern.
Join us for the best hangover meals at brunch – our signature combination of great food and an excellent selection of drinks you’ll want to stop and savor. Make a reservation or join us on the spur of the moment. We’ll always have a table waiting for you to help you recover from the latest celebration or friends’ night out.