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13 Brunch Spots in Downtown Vancouver That’ll Take You From Bacons to Mimosas!
As my friend group’s self-appointed planner, I’ve grown to appreciate the different brunch spots that Downtown Vancouver has to offer. They offer accessible locations, all-day breakfasts, and cocktails—the trifecta for a fun catch-up with your loved ones.
Sure, you can spend your nights at some of the most well-known live music venues in Vancouver, but what about those mornings when you just want to wind down? Well, that’s where this list comes in!
Listed below are some of our favourite brunch spots in downtown Vancouver. From all-day breakfasts to light meals, artisan coffee, and more, there’s a spot in our list that’ll pique your attention (and appetite!), so read on!
OEB Breakfast Co.
Media credit: oeb_breakfast
Address: 1137 Marinaside Crescent
Contact details: +1 604-423-3447
Operating hours: Daily from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM
OEB Breakfast Co. touts itself as the best breakfast and brunch spot in Vancouver, and they have every right to do so! Although it’s subjective, one can’t deny the quality of their freshly cooked all-day breakfast and brunch meals.
Their breakfast tacos perfectly showcase the freshness of their ingredients, from the corn tortilla to the smashed avocados, cilantro, and ground pork. However, what glues all these ingredients together is their homemade salsa verde.
If you’re feeling fancy in the morning, you can opt for one of their “Blue Plate Specials”. This part of the menu is where you’ll find their famous Canadian lobster and shrimp crêpe, which is drizzled with their delicious brown butter hollandaise.
Pro tip:
After filling your bellies with delicious breakfast meals, you can cross the street and burn those carbs by strolling along the waterfront! You won’t feel the exhaustion at all because you’ll be too busy admiring the stunning views!
Cafe Medina
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Address: 780 Richards St.
Contact details: +1 604-879-3114
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Medina Cafe is the place you visit for those times when you want to enjoy a fancy brunch, whether alone or with friends. It offers an elevated dining experience that puts little but impactful spins on breakfast favourites—case in point, the avocado toast that uses focaccia as the bread.
We want to commend them for their unique spins because they make sense flavour-wise and aren’t just done for gimmick purposes. For instance, their steaks and eggs sandwich features nuts, roasted red pepper and caramelised onions, which all make for an interesting bite.
If you’re just here for the vibes, however, you won’t be disappointed! The rustic interior of this cafe will allow you to take the most Instaworthy photos, with its low-hanging warm lights, wooden finishes and high ceilings.
Pro tip:
Don’t let the meaty aroma stray you away from this place! They offer various vegetarian dishes on their menu, and you can also substitute some of their meat-based dishes with something more green!
Jam Café
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Address: 556 Beatty St.
Contact details: +1 778-379-1992
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Jam Café is a Vancouver staple, acting as a haven for early risers and breakfast lovers in the heart of Downtown. Its cosy and welcoming space, combined with its wide selection of comfort food, make it a great spot to spend slow mornings and afternoons in.
Their offerings consist of both sweet and savoury brunch staples, so you can expect to find something to satisfy your morning cravings. You could go for the classic blueberry pancakes if you woke up with a sweet tooth, or the chicken sandwich if you’re craving something meaty.
They also offer a myriad of hot and cold drinks that cater to both caffeine and non-caffeine people. If you want our advice, however, go for their classic drum roaster brewed coffee because it’s bottomless!
Pro tip:
If you’re planning on commuting, one of the easiest things you can do is take the subway and depart at the Stadium Chinatown Station. From there, the cafe is only a 5-minute walk away.
Chambar Restaurant
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Address: 568 Beatty St.
Contact details: +1 604-879-7119
Operating hours:
- Monday and Wednesday: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Tuesday: 4:30 PM to 10:00 PM
- Thursday and Friday: 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Chambar Restaurant is a great Belgian spot located smack dab in Downtown Vancouver. Come the weekends, however, this place transforms into one of the best places to get brunch in the area because of its elevated dishes.
You won’t have to look further than their deconstructed burgers to get an idea of this place’s fanciness. Instead of your traditional breakfast burger, these sandwiches feature ingredients like venison patties, cave-aged cheese and marinated veggies.
Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something hearty that can fill your tummies til the afternoon, their delicious paella should set you right! Featuring a massive serving of rice, eggs, chorizos and homemade salsa, this dish will treat your tastebuds to a festival of flavours.
Pro tip:
Order their waffles if you’re looking for something that won’t break the bank but still packs tons of flavour. They also offer various sauces to complete the dish including dark chocolate sauce, maple syrup, yoghurt, bacon caramel, etc.
Maxine’s Cafe & Bar
Media credit: maxines_cafebar
Address: 1325 Burrard St.
Contact details: +1 604-707-7224
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
Maxine’s Cafe & Bar is one of the few brunch spots in Vancouver that offers freshly shucked oysters—accompanied by delicious homemade mignonette and horse radish. As foodies and simple adults, in general, ordering these for brunch is our way of splurging.
You can also treat yourself to a hearty serving of their breakfast plate, which consists of thick slices of smoked bacon, toast, eggs, and crispy potatoes. If you’re bringing kids, we have a strong feeling that they’ll love the mini doughnuts, especially their vanilla-whipped mascarpone.
The place itself is worth highlighting because it doesn’t feature your typical brunch restaurant interior. It offers a more classy interior, one that’s worthy of being a destination for your next classy date!
Pro tip:
If you’re going on a date, but want to save money on entrees, we recommend ordering their Full Hardwood breakfast plate. It’s great for sharing and it comes with tons of dishes like roasted bone marrow, scrambled eggs and of course, their signature smoked bacon.
Belgard Kitchen
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Address: 55 Dunlevy Ave.
Contact details: +1 604-699-1989
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
Belgard Kitchen is the quintessential brunch spot, offering delicious comfort food, a welcoming ambience, and an Instagrammable interior. This interior is the reason why so many visitors intend on dining here, as it features a rustic brewery and winery.
However, the food remains the star of the show, as their menu offers brunch staples like avocado toast, breakfast wraps and burgers. If we could only order a single dish, however, we would choose their steak and eggs in a heartbeat because of its perfectly-grilled sirloin.
At the same time, you could always go for the sweet route and get yourself a plate of their blueberry French toast. Also, since there are no rules in brunch, you can order their most coveted strawberry cheesecake for breakfast!
Pro tip:
If you’re looking to do some day drinking with your pals, you can visit Belgard Kitchen from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM on weekdays to enjoy their happy hour special! They offer an assortment of house beers and ciders along with bar chows like pizza and roasted duck.
The Twisted Fork
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Address: 213 Carrall St.
Contact details: +1 604-568-0749
Operating hours: Wednesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
If you’re looking for a great hangout spot that offers fancy brunch meals, then The Twisted Fork should be on your radar. Their menu is impressively varied, featuring both sweet and savoury staples like eggs benedict and fruit salads.
However, their best brunch meal has to be the croque monsieur because of its delicious smoked gouda and cheddar. Plus, its combination of thick slices of ham, fresh greens and homemade tomato sauce is something special.
What makes this place such a great hangout spot, however, is its wide variety of alcoholic drinks. For instance, they offer a wide variety of beers and ciders on tap while also featuring bottled cocktails.
Pro tip:
If the flavour of their eggs benedict starts to overwhelm your tastebuds, we recommend ordering a side of their fresh fruits to cleanse your palate.
Greenhorn Cafe
Media credit: greenhorncafe
Address: 994 Nicola St.
Contact details: +1 604-428-2912
Operating hours:
- Monday to Friday: 7:00 AM to 4:00 PM
- Saturday and Sunday: 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
When it comes to variety, Greenhorn Cafe is among the best options in the West End of the Downtown area. It offers everything you can expect from a brunch restaurant, from egg florentines to avocado toast, salmon, bagels, etc.
They also offer an assortment of sweet breakfast items, one of which is their proven and tested waffle stack. This dish comes with different types of toppings like chocolate sauce, roasted but butter, blueberry drizzle and of course, authentic Canadian maple syrup.
We also appreciate their inclusivity, as they also offer various vegan dishes that feature the same levels of flavours. Their vegan tuna salad on sourdough is the perfect example of this, as its taste is elevated by various ingredients like tahini dressing, capers, and pickled onions.
Pro tip:
After filling your tummies, you can explore the Roedde House Museum located two blocks away from the restaurant. It’s a local history museum that features preserved Victorian-era architecture.
Waffleland Café
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Address: 32 Water St.
Contact details: +1 236-520-1533
Operating hours:
- Sunday to Thursday: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday and Saturday: 9:00 AM to 11:00 PM
As you may have gleaned from its name, Waffleland Café is the definitive spot to get this classic breakfast item. Entering this store will make you feel like a kid in a candy shop because of the sheer variety of waffle variations you can choose from.
There are solid selections for both sweet and savoury cravings, but the former takes the cake here. One of our favourite items to order here is the “More Bang For Your Nutella” waffle, which features strawberries, whipped cream, and a generous drizzle of the titular hazelnut spread.
If you’re not too fond of sweet treats though, you can’t go wrong with their proven and tested chicken and waffle combo. Aside from the chicken and the waffle, this dish also comes with eggs, bacon strips, and avocado!
Pro tip:
If you prefer a more traditional hearty breakfast, we recommend getting the Sunshine Morning meal. It comes with two fried eggs, fresh avocado slices, 4 thick bacon strips, and a side of their signature maple syrup.
Brunch Vancouver
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Address: 1147 Granville St.
Contact details: +1 604-423-9132
Operating hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
It doesn’t get as straightforward as Brunch Vancouver. This no-frills restaurant sits in the heart of Downtown, and it offers Vancouverites just about every Mexican breakfast/brunch item you could think of.
One of their bestsellers is the huevos rancheros, which consists of their freshly made tortilla shell, topped with an assortment of ingredients like refried beans and sunny side eggs. You can’t go wrong with their molettes as well, which are these open-faced sandwiches.
Don’t worry though, as they still offer Western staples, one of which is our favourite, the rib eye sandwich. Each bite out of this meaty sandwich bursts with flavour thanks to the addition of caramelised onions, bell peppers, and melted cheddar cheese.
Pro tip:
If you’re planning to come here with friends, you might as well check out the next-door escape room, i-Exit Vancouver and have fun being spooked out while trying to solve cryptic puzzles!
Homer St. Cafe and Bar
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Address: 898 Homer St.
Contact details: +1 604-428-4299
Operating hours:
- Monday to Thursday: 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM
- Friday: 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM
You have to be on another level to be considered THE brunch spot of a specific street, but Homer St. Cafe and Bar pulled it off. It takes up two equally iconic buildings in the Downtown area, and they’ve managed to transform them into one big homey brunch spot.
Enough about the place though, and let’s dive into their amazing selection of breakfast staples, which are divided into two categories: eggs and not eggs. The former features brunch favourites like our favourite smoked salmon, which comes with soft eggs and potato pancakes.
Meanwhile, their “not eggs” dishes consist of mostly sandwiches, burgers and their famous chicken wings. Their wings are perfect to order if you’re coming with a group, as they’re great for sharing—plus, their homemade buttermilk ranch is spectacular!
Pro tip:
If you want to get the party started early but want to stick to the breakfast motif, we recommend ordering the “Improved Breakfast Martini”. It consists of bitters, marmalade, beefeater and Cointreau.
The Templeton
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Address: 1087 Granville St.
Contact details: +1 604-685-4612
Operating hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 3:00 PM
The Templeton should be on your itinerary if you’ve always wanted to eat in those retro diners you see in movies and TV shows. It’s been around since the 1950s, so its retro designs like the bright red chairs, neon lights, and the jukebox aren’t fabricated!
It’s not just the vibes too, as the dishes all look like they belong in a classic diner like this—plus, they taste as great as they appear! For starters, they offer freshly brewed coffee by the pot, which can either come in medium brew or decaf.
You can’t go wrong with any of the brunch items here, but if you want to try our favourite, order their grilled cheese along with a side of poutine. To finish the breakfast experience off, you can order one of their authentic milkshakes!
Pro tip:
You can take the bus and depart at the Vancouver Holiday Inn Hotel if you’re planning on commuting! From there, you only have to cross the street to reach The Templeton—it’s hard to miss its brightly painted exterior!
Banter Room
Media credit: banterroom
Address: 1039 Mainland St.
Contact details: +1 604-565-1039
Operating hours:
- Monday and Tuesday: 11:30 AM to 12:00 AM
- Wednesday: 11:30 AM to 12:30 AM
- Thursday: 11:30 AM to 1:00 AM
- Friday: 11:30 AM to 2:00 AM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM to 2:00 AM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM to 12:30 AM
Banter Room is a great hangout spot regardless if you’re looking to spend a memorable nightlife or a peaceful brunch. This is because come nighttime, this place transforms into a chill hub where cocktails, good music and bar chow are aplenty!
However, we prefer its form in the morning because their decadent brunch selection are all hits! If it’s your first time here, we recommend sticking to the classics and ordering the “Late Riser”, which is a plate of any style of eggs, hash browns, sourdough, and sausages.
They also offer vegetarian-friendly dishes like their warm pear and blue cheese salad. As for drinks, they only offer americano, espresso and tea, but you could always order one of their cocktails if you want to start the party early!
Pro tip:
If you’re keeping a close watch on your calories, but still want to enjoy tasty flavours, we recommend ordering the chia pudding! It features flavourful ingredients like coconut milk, fresh berries, honey, and more.
