At this point in our lives, brunch in Vancouver is practically a religion… a weekend ritual where we hoist ourselves from the ennui of home office into the loving arms of an eggs benny with quintuple-cooked potatoes.
But where can you find the best brunch downtown? That is the question.
Luckily for your waistline, we’ve benny’d, mimosa’d, and caesar’d our way through some of the best brunch spots in Downtown Vancouver so you don’t have to. A noble mission with dire caloric consequences… but no worse than that time we set out to find the best happy hours downtown.
So, in this post, we’ll be sharing some of our picks for the best brunch places in downtown Vancouver. Treat it as a to-do list if you dare.
Help us improve this article! Here at Vancouver Tips, we only write about places we’ve personally visited, which is why some of our articles are fairly short. If you have any insider tips or recommendations for us to try out, let us know in the comments so we can expand our content!
Arc
While bottomless boozy brunches have yet to make their way to Vancouver, Arc at the Fairmont Waterfront has the next best thing: a bottomless brunch on weekends in the form of small plates that just keep coming.
For $49 a person, you can have your pick at an endless parade of brunch dishes, from salmon eggs benny and liège waffles to beef shortrib poutine and their iconic ooey gooey skillet. If it helps dull the pain of the price a little, their bottomless offer also comes with complimentary coffee or tea.
And if you can’t part with the idea of boozy brunch, they also have mimosa tasting flights here (not bottomless, sadly!), caesars and a handful of other brunchy cocktails.
If you’re looking for the best brunch in Vancouver to sample a wide variety of dishes and stuff yourself silly, this is the place to go.
Maxine’s Cafe and Bar
While a relative newcomer to Vancouver’s brunch scene, Maxine’s (located steps from the Burrard Street Bridge) has quickly cemented its position as one of Vancity’s top brunch spots thanks to its airy aesthetic interior and tasty brunch offerings.
Their brunch menu consists of brunch classics like Eggs Benedict and Brioche French Toast, alongside heftier fare for those on the verge of hanger – like their Crispy Chicken Sandwich or Maxine’s Burger.
For something a little different though, be sure to try the Smoked Salmon Rosti, made up of a crispy potato patty topped with smoked salmon, dill cream cheese, poached eggs, and hollandaise.
OEB Breakfast Co.
We first savoured the wonders of OEB at their original location in Calgary years ago, and when they opened up in Vancouver, well… we were pretty egg-cited.
OEB (Over Easy Breakfast) is now one of the most popular brunch places in Vancouver, with a bright location right on Yaletown’s Marinaside Crescent, along with a few other locations sprinkled around the Lower Mainland.
Eggs are (naturally) a big star of the menu here. You can order scram-blettes served with duck fat fried herb potatoes, fresh fruit & artisan toast, or a classic breakfast with bacon, ham, bangers, toast, and potatoes…
… But if you’re looking for a more unique brunch pick, why not tuck into their delectable range of breakfast poutines, which come topped with everything from lobster and shrimp to sous-vide duck confit?
Sorry – we’re drooling just thinking about it.
Catch 122
Catch 122 is a long-standing Vancouver brunch institution. If you love brunch in this city, odds are you’ve been subject to the rejection of this perpetually-busy brunch spot, which offers brunch dishes every day they’re open from 9am – 3pm.
And their reputation is well deserved!
With an eclectic brunch menu featuring unique dishes like Bulgogi Steak and Egg, and Cornflakes Crusted Hazelnut Babka French Toast, this is a spot we’d recommend if you’re getting tired of standard eggs benny for brunch… although they have that too – either topped with pulled pork shoulder or cauliflower, on a buttermilk biscuit base.
We’ll let this photo here do the talking:
Waffleland Cafe
With a name that sounds like an incredible premise for a theme park, Waffleland Cafe in Gastown is known for their specialty: pancakes.
… Just kidding. It’s waffles. They make waffles.
But not just any waffles! They have Liège Waffles topped with decadent cream and berries, Norwegian Waffles topped with smoked salmon and brie… and a wide range of options in between.
Whether you’re looking for a sweet or savoury brunch, Waffleland has you covered.
per se Social Corner
Yaletown’s per se Social Corner is a chic place to visit for brunch in Downtown Vancouver, with a small but mighty brunch menu available daily.
This gorgeous space, known for its elegant interiors and high ceilings, is actually home to a unique concept that houses several entities under one roof: Ciclo Espresso, Water + Flour Pizzeria, Rosalinda Spanish Bar, and Neve Organic Gelato.
Personally, we think this is one of the prettiest spaces to eat in the city, making it a great pick for a girls’ brunch in downtown Vancouver, or even a nice date idea.
Jam Cafe
Are you truly a Vancouverite if you haven’t waited over an hour in line for the infamous Jam Cafe?
This popular Vancouver brunch spot near Stadium-Chinatown skytrain is known for its miles-long line-ups on weekends, an inevitable pain one must endure thanks to their no reservations policy.
But if you don’t mind rotting in line for a while, your reward is some of the best brunch that Vancouver has to offer – from decadent pancakes, waffles, and French Toast, to hearty breakfast bowls and bennys.
The generous portions here are guaranteed to put you in a food coma, so come hungry, and come early to avoid the perpetual wait.
Palate Kitchen
Housed in a gorgeous 1920s building, Palate Kitchen is another great pick for brunch in Downtown Vancouver if you’re looking for something in the Financial District.
This contemporary gem has all the classic brunch staples you’d expect from a Vancouver brunch joint, like avocado toast and eggs benedict, alongside more creative dishes like their Kefta Skillet and Mascarpone Hot Cakes.
Of course, it must be said: it’s pretty hard to resist their famous French Toast…
1931 Gallery Bistro
Tucked away in Vancouver Art Gallery, 1931 Gallery Bistro is a true hidden gem offering minimalist cuisine in one of the most famous spaces the city has to offer.
The brunch plates here are fairly standard, with classic dishes like Avocado Toast, French Toast, Eggs Benedict and Steak & Eggs… but there’s an assortment of larger lunch dishes too if you’re craving something more substantial.
All in all, this is a great downtown Vancouver brunch pick if you feel like you’ve been to all the classic spots on our list.
Plus, come on a nice day and you can even sit on the bistro’s airy terrace overlooking Robson Square.
Ladurée
If it’s one of the daintiest and prettiest brunches in downtown Vancouver you’re after, then Ladurée is a good choice worth trying at least once.
This iconic Parisian patisserie (best known for their macarons) first opened their doors in Vancouver in 2016… but the brand itself literally predates the Canadian Confederation, with its first Parisian location dating back to 1862.
Ladurée isn’t a place you’d necessarily go for just the food itself. Their tea salon menu is fairly traditional, with just a handful of dishes to choose from like omelettes, croque-monsieurs, and avocado/French toast. You can of course also order some of their signature treats like macarons, and various viennoiseries.
The main draw at Ladurée is the interior and atmosphere. If you want to feel like you’ve been transported to a cute little tea salon in Paris, then it’s well worth a visit. If you want to indulge in some gluttonous brunch eats filled with potatoes and fat, then perhaps one of the other Vancouver brunch spots on our list would be a better fit.
Earl’s
Ah, last but not least, we had to include an old reliable: Earl’s.
If you want an easy and affordable pick for brunch in Downtown Vancouver, Earl’s is always a great choice.
You’ll have no difficulty booking a table, and if you come for their Brunch Happy Hour on weekends from opening – noon, you can score tremendous deals like all their dishes for less than $15, and caesars/mimosas for only $6!
Earl’s is our go-to for a casual brunch downtown where you don’t need to worry about waiting in line for eons or paying 5 million dollars to have a few drinks. All in all, it’s a solid pick!
Did we miss any of your favourite brunch places in Downtown Vancouver?
Let us know in the comments so we can add more recommendations to our list!