The best brunch in Vancouver: 11 must try spots

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A post shared by Medina Cafe (@medinacafe)

Still the benchmark for Vancouver brunch, Café Medina has never lost its touch. The legendary Liège waffles remain essential, especially with salted caramel or lavender milk chocolate sauce, while the tagines, fricassées and shakshuka inspired dishes prove brunch can be deeply satisfying without relying on bacon and eggs. Even after all these years, it’s still worth the wait.

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A post shared by Botanist Dining (@botanistdining)

If brunch is an occasion rather than a meal, Botanist delivers. Seasonal British Columbia ingredients are transformed into elegant plates that might include Dungeness crab Benedict, freshly baked pastries and inventive cocktails inside one of the city’s most beautiful dining rooms.

What is it? An elegant Belgian-style restaurant with brunch on weekends.

Why go? You can’t go wrong with this edge-of-downtown mainstay for a classy treat on a special day. The menu includes a glorious chorizo paella and Ocean Wise mussels three ways. The fluffy Belgian waffles are a no-brainer add-on to your meal, and white chocolate pistachio rosewater makes a wonderful dipping sauce or an added shot of flavor in your latte.

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Come hungry. Jam remains the city’s undisputed champion of indulgent comfort food, with fried chicken Bennies, pulled pork pancakes, cinnamon French toast and portions that routinely spill over the edge of the plate. It is gloriously excessive in all the right ways.

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A post shared by Maxine’s Cafe & Bar (@maxines_cafebar)

Bright, stylish and cool-girl sleek, Maxine’s feels like a classic neighbourhood bistro with West Coast polish. Thick slices of French toast, crisp rösti, perfectly executed eggs Benedict and excellent pastries make it equally suited to lazy Sundays and business breakfasts.

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A post shared by northerncafeandgrill (@northerncafeandgrill)

Hidden above an industrial stretch near the Fraser River, Northern Cafe has become one of Vancouver’s biggest brunch success stories. Award winning comfort food, warm service and dishes like crispy chicken and waffles or loaded breakfast skillets have earned it a devoted following.

OEB continues to blur the line between breakfast and fine dining. Expect duck fat fried potatoes, lobster and shrimp crêpes, truffle scrambled eggs and beautifully plated classics made with premium Canadian ingredients.

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A post shared by Twisted Fork Vancouver (@twistedforkbistro)

One of Gastown’s longtime brunch favourites still knows exactly what people want on a weekend morning. Duck confit hash, fluffy pancakes, hearty Bennies and excellent Caesars are served in a cozy room that’s equal parts rustic and lively.

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A post shared by The Templeton Diner (@thetempleton)

For old school diner vibes without sacrificing quality, The Templeton remains hard to beat. Retro booths, bottomless coffee and satisfying breakfast hashes sit alongside thoughtful vegetarian options, proving greasy spoon nostalgia never really goes out of style.

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Set inside a converted warehouse, Belgard Kitchen offers one of the city’s most relaxed brunch settings. Seasonal ingredients, wood fired cooking and house made charcuterie elevate classics like eggs Benedict while sharing plates and local wines encourage lingering well into the afternoon.

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A post shared by Alouette (@alouetteyvr)

French technique meets West Coast ingredients at this polished downtown bistro. Expect buttery croissants, croque madames, fluffy omelettes and refined brunch cocktails that make it feel a little more Paris than Pacific Northwest.