15 places to find great brunch in Vancouver

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      It’s true that brunch is a popular weekend (or weekday) tradition in our city, and there are plenty of options when it comes down to who serves it best.

      From traditional hearty plates such as eggs benny to Southern-inspired dishes like chicken-and-waffles, Vancouver definitely has something to offer for each type of palate.

      Whether you enjoy waking up in the morning or not, the very thought of this fan-favourite post-breakfast-pre-lunch meal should be enough motivation to get you out of bed.

      Here are 15 places to find delicious brunch around town.

      Belgard Kitchen

      1. Belgard Kitchen (55 Dunlevy Avenue)

      Feast on steak and eggs or some gravlax hash in a beautiful, Instagram-worthy eatery. We like its appetite-waking Belgard Bacon: maple-bourbon pork belly topped with maple caramel. Its menu also features a Postmark stout sausage skillet, steak and eggs, and smashed avocado and sourdough (salmon and/or burrata can be added for an additional charge). If you're feeling like something sweet, we suggest its bread-pudding French toast served with blueberry compote and chantilly cream.

      Brunch availability: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

       

      Burdock & Co

      2. Burdock & Co (2702 Main Street)

      Tucked away in Mount Pleasant, this restaurant is known for its organic, farm-to-table creations in a fuss-free setting. Food-lovers will enjoy its small but focused brunch menu, which includes dishes like crispy fried chicken with potato-pickle mayo, gluten-free eggs benny with lemon hollandaise, and frittata & soda bread (with bacon-caramelized onion or hot smoked salmon). French pancake with seasonal fruits, cauliflower risotto, and vegan avocado smash are also served here.

      Brunch availability: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

       

      Catch 122 Café Bistro

      3. Catch 122 Café Bistro (122 West Hastings Street)

      Offering contemporary Canadian fare in a rustic-chic space, this Gastown eatery serves up brunch items that are consistently delicious. Its menu offers smoked pork-shoulder benny, steak-and-egg, the veg breakfast sandwich, and a Moroccan lamb stew. It also offers a variety of brunch cocktails that include everything from a mimosa to Caesar to rosemary maple-bourbon sour. Zero-proof beverages such as hot chocolate, butter beer, cold-press juice, and a variety of caffeinated drinks are also available.

      Brunch availability: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

       

      Chambar

      4. Chambar (568 Beatty Street)

      Wake up with paella (curried orzo, hot Spanish chorizo, and charred tomato salsa), steak and fried eggs with cornbread, or omelettes with roasted mushrooms and pesto. You can’t leave without digging into some decadent waffles at this Belgian restaurant, which offer toppings like milk chocolate lavender, white chocolate pistachio rosewater, and fig orange marmalade—drooling yet?

      Brunch availability: Saturday, Sunday, and holidays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

       

      Chewie's Steam and Oyster Bar

      5. Chewie’s Steam and Oyster Bar (2201 West 1st Avenue and 1055 West Hastings Street)

      This laidback seafood restaurant offers a hearty New Orleans brunch, with one specific dish that outshines most of the other brunch items: Southern fried chicken-and-waffles, topped with a Cajun honey-butter drizzle. It’s the perfect way to wake up on the weekends without an alarm, and once you taste it, you’ll wonder how you’ve lived without it. Other menu items include biscuit sandwiches, Bayou fried-shrimp eggs benny, and a beefcake hash, among others.

      Brunch availability: Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at its Kitsilano location, and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at its Coal Harbour location.

       

      Heirloom

      6. Heirloom Vegetarian Restaurant (1509 West 12th Avenue and 1390 Marine Drive, West Vancouver)

      Located in South Granville and Ambleside, this restaurant is a favourite spot not just among vegetarians and vegans, but also those who prefer healthy and clean dishes that still taste great. Some of the features on its brunch menu include a mouth-watering grilled cheese sandwich with local apples and arugula on cranberry sourdough, mushroom benedict with caramelized onions, vegan buttermilk pancakes, tofu ninja bowl, and smashed avocado benny.

      Brunch availability: Daily from 9 a.m.to late at its South Granville location, and daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at its Ambleside location.

       

      Justus Lowry

      7. Jam Café (556 Beatty Street and 2153 West 4th Avenue)

      This Victoria-born brunch hub has become a staple in Vancouver, and it still commands lengthy waits on any given day, even with two outlets in the city. Purely a breakfast joint, Jam Café is famous for its generous portions and comfort food. Popular items include green-eggs-and-ham (who doesn’t love some Dr. Seuss?), brioche Fresh toast, triple-stack red-velvet pancakes, and Farmer’s breakfast skillet (with sausage, bacon, eggs, hash browns, peppers, mushrooms, shredded cheddar cheese, and more).

      Brunch availability: Daily from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

       

      Jules Bistro

      8. Jules Bistro (216 Abbott Street)

      You don't have to travel all the way to France for some good French food—this Gastown spot does it just as well. Guests can start off their first meal with a basket of freshly baked mini butter croissants served with butter and jam, before proceeding to heavier items such as sunny-side up eggs or a breakfast cassoulet (with beans, bacon, chorizo, duck confit, and a poached egg). For those with larger appetites, go for the ribeye steak, moules frites, and croque-monsieur.

      Brunch availability: Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

       

      L'Abattoir

      9. L’Abattoir (217 Carrall Street)

      This Gastown eatery serves up simple but delicious brunch dishes, with a French twist. Start off by choosing some baked goods from L’Abattoir’s famous fresh pastry basket, and go for the warm currant scone (with jam and clotted cream) by default. Try its poached eggs with smoked pork belly, full breakfast (with eggs, house sausage, pork and beans, and toast), and cured cockeye salmon tartine. If you want to make it a classy meal with the crew, skip the mimosas and go straight for the bubbles.

      Brunch availability: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

       

      Issha Marie

      10. Medina Café (780 Richards Street)

      You’ll find Mediterranean-inspired bistro fare at this downtown staple. Dishes such as Israeli cous-cous (with roasted eggplant and marinated beets), fricasse (with sunny eggs, braised short ribs, and applewood-smoked cheddar), and paella (with orzo, spicy chorizo, and seasonal veggies) are popular items. Of course, you can’t leave without trying its most famous offering: Liege-style waffles. Add a sweet topping like salted caramel or dark chocolate to your dessert—but it you really want to indulge, pair it with a scoop (or two) of Earnest ice cream. 

      Brunch availability: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

       

      Tammy Kwan

      11. Red Wagon Café (2296 East Hastings Street)

      This neighbourhood joint has an all-day menu that features buttermilk pancakes, breakfast sandwiches, omelettes, as well as classic eggs benedict topped with hollandaise and its signature homefries. We suggest heading there before you even get hungry, because the wait time can take a while—it’s very common to see people huddled outside its entrance. Don’t fret if you’re craving brunch even at 4 p.m., this East Van spot is open late.

      Brunch availability: Monday and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Wednesday to Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

       

      The Acorn

      12. The Acorn Restaurant (3995 Main Street)

      Guests will find innovative and photogenic brunch plates at this fan-favourite establishment, which cater to vegetarian and vegan palates around town. Featured items include Southern-fried artichokes (with house waffle and Bourbon maple syrup), fried poached egg (with squash, Honey-Crisp apple, and sun choke chips), and a skillet (with confit potato, seasonal veggie hash, and hollandaise). Pair your dish with organic cold-pressed juice and one of its brunch-friendly signature cocktails.

      Brunch availability: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

       

      The Oakwood Canadian Bistro

      13. The Oakwood Canadian Bistro (2731 West 4th Avenue) [closed]

      Enjoy your first meal of the day at this cozy spot, which has a charming atmosphere that can rival a rustic ski cabin on the slopes. Its brunch menu offers smoked ham-hock benedict, brunch poutine with braised beef shank and sous-vide eggs, steak-and-eggs, and roasted-mushroom-and-lemon-ricotta omelette. Be sure to save room for its biggest hit: cinnamon-bun French toast, complete with salted caramel and cream-cheese icing.

      Brunch availability: Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

       

      Tuc Craft Kitchen

      14. Tuc Craft Kitchen (60 West Cordova Street)

      Situated in the heart of Gastown, Tuc has won over the hearts of many food-lovers in the city with its hearty Canadian comfort food. Its rustic and seasonal fare extends to a well-loved brunch menu, which includes everything from crispy chicken and waffles to falafel-and-eggs, and from chorizo-and-spuds to spam-and-eggs. Order some sharable sides for the table, such as pork belly and house-cured bacon. Morning happy hour drinks (think mimosas and Caesars) are also available, which can be elevated with prosecco or bourbon.

      Brunch availability: Friday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

       

      Yolk's

      15. Yolk’s Restaurant & Commissary (546 West Broadway and 1598 East Hastings Street)

      This popular establishment (with two locations and a food truck) is arguably the go-to spot for brunch-lovers around town. It specializes in creating perfectly poached eggs, with customizable options that feature doubled-smoked bacon and hand-carved maple ham. Top it off with real hollandaise sauce and a side of truffle lemon hash browns for the ultimate eggs benedict dish. Chicken-and-waffles, beignets, and French toast are also on the menu.

      Brunch availability: Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and weekends and holidays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

      Follow Tammy Kwan on Twitter @ch0c0tam and Instagram @ch0c0tam.

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