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.
On the hunt for a truly fantastic brunch in Downtown Vancouver? These spots are pretty much guaranteed to leave you tingling with satisfaction.
Twisted Fork Bistro
1147 Granville St | 604-568-0749 $$ | Brunch
@TwstdForkBistro
A cozy, bustling brunch joint serving ultra-delicious, homemade-style dishes and freshly baked bread. Expect a line-up.
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Yew Restaurant + Bar
791 W Georgia St | 604.692.4939 $$$ | Seafood
@fsvancouver
A seafood-centric special occasion spot set within the Four Seasons Hotel. Chef Ned Bell, a leader in the sustainable seafood movement, offers a 22-item brunch menu including gluten-free pancakes and lunch-style options like fish 'n chips. Wash it all down with half-price wine bottles on special during brunch. Private dining area available and large groups welcome.
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Café Medina
780 Richards St | 604-879-3114 $$ | Belgian
@cafemedina
Arguably Vancouver's most popular brunch spot specializing in Belgian waffles and Mediterranean cuisine from Chef Jonathan Chovancek. UBC Farm is just one of their local ingredient sources and coffee snobs will appreciate that 49th Parallel espresso drinks served here are executed as perfectly as those found at top coffee shops. Nectar cold-pressed juice is available on-tap, too.
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Looking for top brunch spots in the Gastown area? These cobblestone streets are home to some of Vancouver's coolest, off-the-radar destinations.
Secret Location
1 Water St. | 604-685-0090 $$$ | European
@slocation
An impeccably luxurious room fit a Sex-and-the-City-style brunch with the girls.
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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 $$ | Caribbean
@calabashbistro
Cozy, friendly vibes and well-portioned, deliciously Jamaican brunch. Think egg bowls with coconut rundown hollandaise and Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee.
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Belgard Kitchen
55 Dunlevy Ave | 604-566-1989 $$ | Fusion
@BelgardKitchen
The transition from your couch to brunch is made especially easy thanks to Belgard's oversized, super-comfy leather couch and comforting brunch dishes like the Salmon Gravlax Hash and the Health Nut Breakfast Bowl.
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Nelson the Seagull
315 Carrall St | 604-681-5776 $ | Lunch
@gastownseagull
Simple and perfect. Cozy up on a comfy couch or antique chair for a thick slice of sourdough avocado toast and a latte made with Nelson's own almond milk. The South African brother sister team running this joint have an especially good eye for style and flavour.
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Chambar
568 Beatty St | 604-879-7119 $$$ | Belgian
@chambar
Vancouver's beloved carbon-neutral Belgian eatery has nailed dinner service for years. Now, you can head to Beatty Street for outstanding brunch, as well. Their 11-item, meat-forward menu (including sausage-riddled Paella and a pulled pork hock omelette) is available on weekends from 8am-3pm.
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On a mission to find Kitsilano and Point Grey's very best brunch restaurants? This small list of spots outshines the other options in these laid-back, seaside neighbourhoods.
Jethro's Fine Grub
3420 Dunbar St | 604-569-3441 $$ | 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 $$$ | Canadian
@aphroditescafe
A casual neighorhood bakery restaurant with an entirely organic menu. Health-focused brunch plates (gluten free, vegan options) are wonderfully sloppy, delicious and filling. But be sure to save room for pie -- they've got load of tempting flavours to choose from.
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Looking for the best brunch on Granville Island? This touristy area is home to several brunch-menu-bearing joints, but only one is worthy of extreme praise and respect.
Edible Canada Bistro
1597 Johnston St | 604-682-6681 $$ | 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 $$ | Vegetarian
@heirloomveg
A spacious, well-lit room designed as beautifully as its locally sourced vegetarian food. Try the chia bowl with vanilla cashew cream or an ‘Eggs Benedictish’ with whole grain tempeh instead of eggs.
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West Restaurant
2881 Granville St | 604-738-8938 $$$$ | Local
@westrestaurant
An exquisite fine dining brunch experience featuring a seven-item menu using high end, local ingredients. The kind of spot where ‘fresh squeezed orange juice’ actually means ‘fresh squeezed orange juice’ (done before your eyes at the bar).
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El Camino's
3250 Main St | 604-875-6246 $$ | 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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Camp Upstairs
1020 Main St | 604-484-6018 $ | Bar / Snacks
@campupstairs
Through a discreet door you'll enter...up a flight of stairs you'll go. Up top, you'll discover a delicious world hidden to the masses featuring in-house baked goods, 49th Parallel coffee, craft cocktails, and the type of indulgent brunch dishes weekends were made for.
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33 Acres
15 W 8th Ave | 604-620-4589 $$ | Brewpub
@33acres
33 Acres proves that, when your brunch menu offerings are so fabulous, you really don’t need to serve more than a handful of items. Try the Avocado Smash on Nelson the Seagull sourdough or and Beer waffles topped with a poached egg, crispy bacon or a scoop of seriously good Earnest Ice Cream.
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The Red Wagon
2296 E Hastings St | 604-568-4565 $$ | 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 $$ | Breakfast
@yolksbreakfast
All-day breakfast and brunch spot in the old "Brave Bull" location specializing in sumptuous free-range egg breakfast sandwiches, eggs benny and more. The orange juice is fresh-squeezed on the spot and all sauces are made in-house.
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Graze
3980 Fraser St | 604-620-8822 $$$ | Vegan
@grazevegetarian
Some might call Chef Karen McCathy's 100% plant-based brunch menu a feat. With dishes like Carrot Cake French Toast, Breakfast Tacos and the Smoked Tofu Benny, she and her team disprove any and all vegan stereotypes. Add their house-made Rosemary Fennel Sausage Links for extra edible comfort. Brunch menu available weekends, 10-3.
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