If you hate to see summer go, you’re not alone. But there’s a bright side to watching the dog days of August dwindle: Labor Day weekend is almost here. As the unofficial end to summer approaches, many New Yorkers are making plans to get out of the city for a final ocean plunge or woodsy hike. Whatever your plans are, you have to eat, and we’ve heard — true or not — that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Bid farewell to summer properly with a long, leisurely brunch, right in your own neighborhood. Here are our favorite brunch spots near the Upper East Side residences at The Kent.
 
Altesi Downtown | 200 Spring Street
Who says you can’t have pasta for breakfast? You can be sure no one at Altesi Downtown is saying that. Brunch at this upscale Italian restaurant isn’t short on hearty Italian staples, and no one will judge you if you want to start your day with fettuccine Alfredo or spaghetti carbonara. If you can resist the call of fresh, handmade pasta, there are lighter options like Toscana, a plate of baked eggs with pappa al pomodoro and grilled vegetables. The atmosphere is bright and modern, with white tablecloths, cheery orange chairs, and plenty of warm, polished wood. The dining room opens up to a chic, ivy-walled patio, where it’s quiet enough for the kind of meandering conversations best had over a crisp Bellini or a ginger mint julep.
 
Sant Ambroeus | 1000 Madison Avenue
Don’t let the quaint, salmon-hued storefront of Sant Ambroeus fool you. This Milanese outpost isn’t so much a cute little cafe as it is an upscale collision of classic Italian style and old-time New York elegance. You’ll find plush carpet, crystal chandeliers, and, of course, top-flight food. The espresso tastes like a European holiday, and the brunch menu is brimming with indulgences like scaloppine ai funghi — a serving of veal scaloppine with roasted porcini and wild mushrooms. The most difficult part of your brunch experience will be picking a desert from the extensive selection of mouthwatering pastries, cakes, and cookies. Allow us to help. We recommend the namesake chocolate mousse cake, the Sant Ambroeus, for its unforgettable chocolate custard center.
 
Sarabeth’s | 1295 Madison Avenue
Legendary, quintessential, iconic — these are the words commonly used to describe brunch at Sarabeth’s, and they’re not hyperbolic. The sunny, cheerful spot is a New York must, and most Upper East Siders have their own “usual” dish. The menu is refreshingly free of anything too quirky, and the classic eggs Benedict is, well, classic. Try the Four Flowers Juice, a mixture of fresh orange, pineapple, banana, and pomegranate juices. Or, get a little salty with the Spring 44 Bloody Mary, which comes with house-pickled vegetables. And if you happen to get a late start this Labor Day weekend, Sarabeth’s still has you covered: Late brunch runs on the weekends from 4 to 5 p.m., and there are few things as indulgent as having buttermilk pancakes and strawberries in the late afternoon. After that, you can lounge in Central Park — it’s only a few steps away.