Vancouver is home to many good brunch spots. Those listed below are in a different category: they are outstanding. Determining who makes the list is easy. I’m either blown away or I’m not.
Each restaurant is to die for in its own way, though each offers 1) incredible, mainly local, quality food 2) great, friendly, timely service 3) a sense of aesthetic and/or ambiance.
Twisted Fork Bistro
1147 Granville St | 604-568-0749 $$ | Brunch
@TwstdForkBistro
A cozy, bustling brunch joint serving homemade-style dishes, often paired with their own freshly baked bread. Expect a line-up.
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Yew Restaurant + Bar
791 W Georgia St | 604.692.4939 $$$ | Seafood
@fsvancouver
The perfect seafood-centric special occasion spot (large groups welcome) offering a varied menu of rich and healthy options. Set within the Four Seasons.
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Café Medina
556 Beatty St | 604-879-3114 $$ | Belgian
@cafemedina
Perhaps the busiest (and most popular) brunch spot in Vancouver. Expect a line, killer lavender lattes and Belgian waffles.
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Secret Location
1 Water St. | 604-685-0090 $$$ | European
@slocation
An impeccably luxurious room fit for the queen – perfect for brunch with the girls. Try any of Pastry Chef Kira Desmond's, highly creative, unique desserts.
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Ask For Luigi
305 Alexander St | 604-428-2544 $$ | Italian
@askforluigi
Italian brunch done right in a small, simple room. The bread is made in-house, free-range eggs are luscious with near-fluorescent orange yolks and coffees are expertly made by Chris Giannakos of Revolver.
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Tuc Craft Kitchen
60 W Cordova St | 604-559-8999 $$ | Comfort Food
@TucCraftKitchen
A big room, great for groups, offering comforting meat dishes like Lamb & Eggs and Crispy Chicken and Waffles. Care where ingredients are from? Check their site for a list of suppliers (most local). Wash brunch down with a Lavender, Rosemary or Salted Caramel latte.
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Calabash Bistro
428 Carrall St | 604-568-5882 $$ | Caribbean
@calabashbistro
Cozy, friendly vibes and well-portioned, deliciously Jamaican brunch. Think egg bowls with coconut rundown hollandaise and Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.
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Jethro's Fine Grub
3420 Dunbar St | 604-569-3441 $$ | Breakfast/Brunch
@jethrosfinegrub
Wonderfully outrageous menu and portion sizes, as featured on Diner’s Drive-ins & Dives. Try the Chocolate Banana Bread French Toast.
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The Oakwood Canadian Bistro
2741 W 4th Ave | 604-558-1965 $$ | West Coast
@theoakwoodkits
Cozy cabin-style feel complete with an oversized fireplace – seafood is Ocean Wise, meat is local and hormone-free.
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Abigail's Party
1651-1699 Yew St | 604-739-467 $$ | West Coast
@_AbigailsParty
Tiny, hugely popular brunch-centric location that epitomizes the casual neighbourhood vibe.
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Aphrodite's Organic Cafe
3598 W 4th Ave | 604-733-8308 $$$ | Canadian
@aphroditescafe
A casual neighorhood bakery restaurant with an entirely organic menu. Health-focused brunch plates (gluten free, vegan options) are wonderfully sloppy, delicious and filling. But be sure to save room for pie -- they've got load of tempting flavours to choose from.
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Edible Canada Bistro
1597 Johnston St | 604-682-6681 $$ | West Coast
@ediblecanada
The perfect destination for your out-of-town guests. The eight-item menu is rich with Canadian classics and local ingredients. Try the Wild Mushroom Eggs Benny and sit on the patio.
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The Birds Nest
Secret | $$ | Brunch
@birdsnestdining
A most charming, off-the-radar brunch destination perfect for private occasions. This is real home-cooking (complete with fantastic home-made bread) set within an eclectic French-style apartment. Still hungry? Seconds available!
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The Farmer's Apprentice
1535 W 6th Ave | 604-620-2070 $$ | Local
Proof that a seriously good dinner restaurant can also be an excellent brunch spot. Expect feel-good music, a cozy room and real fresh-squeezed orange juice set out on the counter beside the breakfast pies. Menu changes weekly. Open for brunch on Saturdays only.
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Heirloom Vegetarian
1509 W 12th Ave | 604-733-2231 $$ | Vegetarian
@heirloomveg
A spacious, well-lit room designed as beautifully as its locally sourced vegetarian food. Try the chia bowl with vanilla cashew cream or an ‘Eggs Benedictish’ with whole grain tempeh instead of eggs.
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West Restaurant
2881 Granville St | 604-738-8938 $$$$ | Local
@westrestaurant
An exquisite fine dining brunch experience featuring a seven-item menu using high end, local ingredients. The kind of spot where ‘fresh squeezed orange juice’ actually means ‘fresh squeezed orange juice’ (done before your eyes at the bar).
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La Brasserie
1091 Davie St | 604-568-6499 $$ | Franco-German Bistro
@la_brasserie
A 35-seat Franco-German neighborhood bistro serving expertly-crafted French and German comfort food. Dark wood tables and chairs and a stained-glass Tiffany chandelier create
a warm and welcoming atmosphere.
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El Camino's
3250 Main St | 604-875-6246 $$ | Latin American
@el_caminos
A fun, casual joint serving generously-portioned Latin American dishes made with organic free range eggs, humanely-raised meats and sustainable seafood.
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Burdock & Co
2702 Main St | 604-879-0077 $$ | Local
@burdockandco
Chef Andrea Carlson’s relationship with local suppliers ensures that only the best arrives at the table, whether sourced from one of Vancouver’s nearby farms or a downtown urban garden. Burdock & Co. serves refined dishes crafted from organic ingredients.
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Thyme to Indulge
2858 Main St | 604-877-1760 $$ | Brunch
@thymetoindulge
A charming little joint with friendly service, local ingredients and indulgent brunch dishes, like Crispy Bacon Crusted Poached Eggs and Ocean Wise Smoked Salmon Bennies. Wash it all down with well-chosen Milano Coffee or Tea Forte.
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Chicha
136 E Broadway St | 604-620-3963 $ | Modern Peruvian
@ChichaVancouver
An extremely unique brunch menu offering excellent twists on Peruvian classics. Choose from huevos benedicts, veggie-centric hash bowls, house made honey quinoa bread, cassava fries and lots more.
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The Red Wagon
2296 E Hastings St | 604-568-4565 $$ | Breakfast/Brunch
@redwagoncafe
A neighbourhood joint famous for its large portions, Pulled Pork Pancakes (with Jack Daniels maple syrup) and an appearance on Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives - expect a line-up every day of the week.
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Roundel Cafe
2465 E Hastings St | 604-253-2522 $ | Breakfast/Brunch
Super friendly neighborhood spot serving great coffee (JJ Bean) and big-messy-delicious portions ’til 5pm on weekends (4pm on weekdays).
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Yolk's
1298 E Hastings St | 604-441-9655 $$ | Breakfast
@yolksbreakfast
All-day breakfast and brunch spot in the old "Brave Bull" location specializing in sumptuous free-range egg breakfast sandwiches, eggs benny and more. The orange juice is fresh-squeezed on the spot and all sauces are made in-house.
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