Whether it’s a quick bite between a morning run and an afternoon paddleboarding session or a more leisurely affair, Vancouver has many memorable brunch options. And it’s not an experience limited to weekends in this cosmopolitan Canadian city.
A glamorous downtown hotel lays out a breakfast buffet every day of the week. Vegan Middle Eastern dishes—falafel Benny, anyone?—are the attractions at a Mediterranean spot in Hastings/Sunrise. In Kitsilano, an eclectic diner serves its boozy milkshakes and brunch staples till 3 pm daily.
These brunch hotspots are essential for kicking off the day on a high note. Read on for a guide to 12 restaurants serving morning must-haves in Vancouver.
Aleph Middle Eastern Eatery (Hastings/Sunrise)
Aleph stands out for its completely vegan Middle Eastern menu. The plant-based morning spread here stars a falafel Benny on a zaatar oil-smothered pita and turmeric hollandaise—best paired with a pear cucumber juice or a tahini smoothie. Lunchier selections include lentil and tomato soups and an enoki mushroom shawarma. Enjoy it all in a cozy space that takes cues from a Levantine courtyard. And take home a gluten-free tahini brownie or a slice of olive oil lemon cake for a treat later.
Delara (Kitsilano)
Top-notch Persian dishes draw crowds to Delara. Credit: Violetta Kryak, Delara
This chic lattice-screened retreat scored a MICHELIN nod for its complex dishes, which feature all the MVPs of fine Persian cuisine: dried limes, fresh herbs, yogurt, and more. For chef Bardia Ilbeiggi (of acclaimed Vancouver spots including Farmer’s Apprentice and L’Abattoir), Delara serves as an homage to his Iranian roots. The soulful spot is also worth a visit for its scenic interiors, filled with hanging greenery and paintings by local artist Golnaz Kianipour. Early birds will be rewarded with the sought-after fesenjoon stew—a sweet and sour Iranian dish made with braised chicken and pomegranate molasses and walnut sauce. Or go all out with the full-fledged Persian Breakfast, complete with a soft-boiled egg, salad with barberry dressing, and flatbread with feta.
Zarak by Afghan Kitchen (Mount Pleasant)
Rev up your weekend brunch with mimosa flights or the Kapisa (a drink made with jasmine tea, white chocolate, and mango pulp) at this sophisticated Afghan space. Then make way for an enticing mid-morning meal that includes fusion fare such as French toast with chai-poached pear and orange blossom mascarpone, or the Full Afghan with lamb sausages, eggs, mushrooms, bolani (stuffed flatbread), and kidney bean curry. Or opt for another flight—sample all three of Zarak’s Benedict variations, including a zingy chutney hollandaise version. The result is a contemporary Afghan brunch you won’t find anywhere else in Vancouver.
Homer Street Café & Bar (Yaletown)
Top-notch comfort food that even the MICHELIN guide noticed awaits at this inviting bistro. Sidle up to the Chef’s Bar and order chilaquiles with ancho chiles and chicken, brined in a signature sauce overnight, then cooked on the fire-engine-red rotisserie. Or live large with the crowd-favourite Homer St. Big Breakfast, a hearty plate of house sausage, bacon, two eggs any style, plus crispy Russet potatoes and toast. If you’re not craving a nap after your extra-hearty AM feast, stroll the hip Yaletown surroundings.
Ophelia (Mount Pleasant)
A Pacific twist on tostadas at Ophelia’s, piled high with ahi tua and prawn ceviche. Credit: Nora Hamade, Ophelia
This swish Mexican restaurant (another spot on MICHELIN’s Best Brunch list) is an ode to chef Francisco Higareda’s mother and his experiences at MICHELIN-starred powerhouses in France and Spain. Come for weekend brunch offering superb tacos, ahi tuna tostadas, and huevos divorciados with refried beans and chorizo. Wash it all down with a cocktail from the dedicated brunch drinks menu such as the Call Me in the Afternoon, a potent blend of mezcal and cava, or sip on a refreshing cold-pressed apple and mint juice. For the grand finale, splurge on the ultimate Mexican sweet treat, tres leches cake—Ophelia’s exceptional version is crowned with housemade lime whipped cream.
Jam Café (Kitsilano and Stadium District)
Vancouver spreads its Jam traffic between two well-loved locations. The breakfast and lunch menus are hat tips to the Southern U.S., which means plenty of buttermilk biscuits and fried chicken. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, go for cinnamon bun pancakes or the ultra decadent Fat Elvis waffle piled with caramelized bananas, sugar-cured bacon, and peanut butter drizzle. Round out your stick-to-your-ribs brunch with a spiked-and-iced coffee or a vast selection of non-alcoholic drinks. Note that Jam doesn’t accept reservations, with the exception of early morning group bookings for the communal table by the fireplace in Kits.
Sophie’s Cosmic Café (Kitsilano)
This fun-filled Vancouver institution serves brunch daily until 3 pm, both on its covered patio and inside the eclectic diner chock full of pop art, signs, and vintage toys. Its menu is just as crowded, bursting with breakfast and lunch choices such as salads with wild Pacific salmon fillet, sweets from the griddle, and an abundance of BC free-run egg dishes (bonus points for the vegetarian and gluten-free sections). Don’t skip the signature milkshakes. They’re flavoured with everything from dark chocolate to rose petals and can be made with the liqueur of your choice.
Notch8 (Downtown)
The elegant interiors at Notch8 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver are reminders that this hotel was once a key stop during the glamorous era of 1930s rail travel. Credit: Notch8
Find one of Vancouver’s most elegant brunches at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Notch8’s interiors evoke the glamour of 1930s rail travel, most evident in the train car-inspired booths with chic grey curtains. There’s a breakfast buffet daily, plus an à la carte menu that tempts with fresh fruit, a cinnamon-spiced chia seed bowl, Benedicts, and omelettes. Weekends feature a more elaborate brunch buffet (bookable as an OpenTable Experience), decked with a chef’s carving station, egg stations, and a cavalcade of sweets and savouries that make for tough decisions. Brunch can also take the form of an afternoon tea at this luxe downtown hotel, thanks to ever-changing tiers of canapés, scones, and desserts.
The Lamplighter Public House (Gastown)
Fried chicken and waffles at the Lamplighter. Credit: The Lamplighter Public House
Exposed brick walls, crystal chandeliers, and stamped tin ceilings harken back to this pub’s 1899 roots: The Lamplighter received its post-Prohibition beer parlour licence on the first day they were granted back in 1925. It’s had a few restorations since and is now decked with a streetside patio, a wall of pinball machines, and once-a-month drag brunches headlining some of Vancouver’s most beloved queens. The brunch menu skews pub grub heavy but also serves dishes such as an avocado arugula sandwich with basil mayo. Add a steady flow of Caesars and mimosas and you’ve got one of the most easygoing brunch spots in town.
Honey Salt—Parq Vancouver (Stadium District)
Caramelized bananas on French toast sweeten the deal at Honey Salt. Credit: Honey Salt
Honey Salt at the JW Marriott is modelled after its mothership in Las Vegas. The Vancouver location is also owned by culinary power couple Elizabeth Blau and Kim Canteenwalla, and it celebrates British Columbian bounty via locally rooted farm-to-table menus. Settle into a pale green banquette or a perch on the covered terrace as you feast on morning fare influenced by Blau and Canteenwalla’s home kitchen. Breakfast leans healthy, featuring things such as an Okanagan berry smoothie and slow-cooked Irish oatmeal. Weekend brunch is a more decadent experience thanks to French toast stuffed with chocolate hazelnut spread and a Nova Scotia lobster galette. For a true taste of your surroundings, order the BC smoked salmon board, which is available daily.
The Story Café—Eatery and Bar (Richmond)
This nostalgic café was once a warehouse but is now popular for its procession of international dishes, quirky decor, welcoming staff, and live music nights. Brunch is churned out daily, featuring faithful favourites such as Egg in Purgatory (three eggs baked in tomato sauce with bratwurst and mozzarella), and several stellar Benny choices, available in crab cake or fried chicken versions. Grab a seat next to the garage door-style windows inside or on the heated and covered patio. Either way, you’ll be treated to a view of the handsome 1968 Austin-Healey convertible parked out front—ask staff about its story.
The Lobby—Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier (North Van)
West Coast-inspired fare draws crowds to this acclaimed restaurant in the lobby of a Shipyards boutique hotel. That theme is showcased prominently on its breakfast and weekend brunch menu—the former includes a spread of quintessentially Canadian back bacon, any-style eggs, and potato Lyonnaise. In the warmer months, sit on the patio and soak in enchanting North Shore mountain and downtown Vancouver views. Though the red leather banquettes indoors are also welcoming and are as suited to vacationers who want to linger as to those eager to explore the city.
Johanna Read is a Canadian freelance writer/photographer specializing in travel, food, and responsible tourism; follow her on Twitter at @TravelEater and Instagram at TravelEaterJohanna.
