CENTRAL NEW YORK, Easter brunch in CNY isn’t just a meal, it’s an event. From lakeside buffets in Skaneateles to a brunch where your kids can meet the Easter Bunny and a red panda, Central New York does Easter Sunday like nowhere else.
We dug into menus, traditions, and local favorites to find the five best spots for Easter brunch this year. Whether you’re looking for white-tablecloth elegance or a family-friendly experience with a view, these are the places worth reserving a seat.
1. The Brewster Inn, Cazenovia
If you want Easter brunch with a side of Gilded Age grandeur, the Brewster Inn delivers. This 1890s mansion on the shores of Cazenovia Lake was originally built as the summer estate of Benjamin Brewster, a Standard Oil executive, and the dining room still feels like you’re eating in a chapter of The Great Gatsby.
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The Easter buffet runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features their famous Crème Brûlée French Toast alongside carved prime rib, a seafood station, and a dessert spread that takes up an entire table. They also offer a take-out option for families who want the food without wrestling a toddler into a high chair in a historic mansion.
What makes it special: The Brewster Inn has hosted Easter brunch for over 25 years in the same dining room overlooking Cazenovia Lake. Regulars say the view of the lake in early spring, still half-frozen, with the first green starting to show on the hills, is part of the tradition.
Reserve: Call ahead, they fill up weeks before Easter. 6 Ledyard Avenue, Cazenovia.
2. The Sherwood Inn, Skaneateles
The Sherwood Inn has been feeding Skaneateles since 1807, making it one of the oldest continuously operating inns in New York State. Their Easter brunch buffet (9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) is a lakeside institution.
The spread is serious: a smoked salmon station, carved leg of lamb, eggs Benedict, a raw bar, and a dessert table anchored by their house-made pastries. The dining room overlooks Skaneateles Lake, and the inn has won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence, so the mimosa game is strong.
What makes it special: The Sherwood has a tradition of creating an elaborate ice sculpture for the buffet table each Easter. It’s one of those details that makes you realize this isn’t just a hotel brunch, it’s a production.
Reserve: Reservations go fast. 26 West Genesee Street, Skaneateles.
3. Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Syracuse
This one’s for families with young kids, and honestly, for anyone who’s ever wanted to eat pancakes near a penguin habitat. The Rosamond Gifford Zoo hosts its annual Easter Brunch on Saturday, April 5th, with three seatings at 9 a.m., 11 a.m., and 1 p.m.
Tickets are $50 for adults and $32 for kids (ages 3-11), and that includes a full brunch buffet, zoo admission for the day, and photos with the Easter Bunny. The zoo has used this event as a fundraiser for years, and it routinely sells out.
What makes it special: Where else can your kids do an Easter egg hunt and then go see red pandas? The zoo’s brunch is the only one on this list where the entertainment includes actual animals, and that’s hard to beat when you’re trying to keep a five-year-old interested in sitting at a table.
Reserve: Tickets at rosamondgiffordzoo.org. One Conservation Place, Syracuse.
4. Heritage Hill Brewhouse, Pompey
Heritage Hill is the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve driven out to the country for the day, because you have. Set on an active farm on top of Pompey Hill with views that stretch across eight counties on a clear day, this farm-to-table brewhouse does Easter brunch as an all-day affair from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The buffet leans into their farm roots: house-smoked meats, locally sourced eggs, fresh-baked breads, and seasonal vegetables from their own fields when available. They brew their own beer on-site, and the kids can explore the farm while the adults enjoy the views (and maybe a second pint).
What makes it special: Heritage Hill is home to “The Brewseum,” a collection of brewing history artifacts that the owners have assembled over years. It’s part restaurant, part agricultural education, part local history lesson, and the Easter buffet puts all of that on one plate.
Reserve: Walk-ins welcome but reservations recommended. 3149 Sweet Road, Pompey.
5. Craftsman Wood Grille, Fayetteville
Craftsman has quietly become one of the best restaurants in the eastern suburbs, earning a 4.3-star rating on OpenTable and a reputation for wood-fired dishes that punch well above the typical suburban restaurant weight class. Their Easter brunch buffet runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The menu features their signature wood-grilled items alongside traditional brunch favorites, think smoked brisket next to Belgian waffles, with a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar that regulars swear by. Voted best restaurant in Fayetteville multiple years running.
What makes it special: Craftsman sources as much as possible from local farms and purveyors, and the wood-fire cooking gives everything a depth of flavor that you don’t get at most brunch spots. If you want food quality over atmosphere, this is your pick.
Reserve: Book on OpenTable. 7300 East Genesee Street, Fayetteville.
The Bottom Line
Easter brunch in Central New York ranges from zoo brunches with the Easter Bunny to Gilded Age mansions on frozen lakes, and that range is part of what makes this region special. Whatever your family’s vibe, fancy, farmhouse, family-friendly, or just great food, there’s a table waiting.
Just don’t wait too long to book. These five spots all have a history of filling up before Palm Sunday.
CNY Signal researched menus, availability, and local traditions for each restaurant. Contact venues directly for current pricing and reservation availability.
