Robert WebbIt’s the weekend already and you’ve been wanting to hang out with a friend or a loved one. How about catching up over a cup of coffee and some mimosas?
If you’re roaming around the city for a brunch spot, fret not! We’ve got you covered with our best brunch places in Downtown Vancouver!
How much does a brunch meal in restaurants and café cost in Downtown Vancouver?
Brunch places are expected to have a huge variety of food in their menu. From egg dishes, omelettes, and sandwiches to waffles and pancakes, we give you a breakdown of complete brunch meal in Downtown Vancouver:
Getting your daily fix of caffeine is a must when visiting cafes, but what about the food?
The Best Brunch Places in Downtown Vancouver
Remember that some restaurants and cafés only serve their brunch menus at a certain time which is mostly from 11 AM to 3 PM.
Given the prices above, we hope that this may help you in setting enough budget for your lovely brunch. Now we present to you our criteria in creating this list:
Without further ado, we present to you the best brunch places in Vancouver
1. Glowbal
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Brunch menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Brunch time | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Affordability | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Glowbal is easily one of the most famous restaurants in Downtown Vancouver which offers West Coast, steak, and seafood dishes.
It is part of the Glowbal Restaurant Group which is composed of Coast, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria, Black+Blue, The Roof, and Nosh.
We considered Glowbal as one of the go-to places to enjoy your brunch places given its wide variety of food, a mix of posh aesthetic and refreshing vibe, and its early brunch opening which begins at 10:30 AM.
On top of that, Glowbal also offers al fresco dining which gives its guests a more welcoming vibe apart from serving delicious food.
Talking about its brunch menu, we highly suggest that you try its Truffled Spaghetti and Signature Meatballs and Steak & Frites.
Its spaghetti is made of tomato fondue, tête de moine, and shaved truffle. We think that it surely will leave a lasting impression.
Its signature steak, on the other hand, is a 7-ounce striploin served with double-fried parmesan frites. It’s deliciously topped with house steak aioli and fresh greens.
If those weren’t enough then we’re here to let you know that Glowbal also bagged TripAdvisor’s 2021 Travellers choice Award for being part of the Top 10% of Restaurants World Wide.
On the other hand, Glowbal’s menu has relatively expensive prices compared to other brunch places and their dessert options are limited too.
Pros
- Wide variety of food
- Overall aesthetic
- Open every day
- Early brunch opening
- Al fresco dining
- Reservations allowed
Cons
- Relatively expensive food
- Limited dessert options
Customer Reviews
For the liquor lover
“Global is a good restaurant If you are the type of person that likes cool drinks & different food then come here.
I had the steak tartare And it was actually pretty good. The bread that they served with it was pretty hard to chew and took a lot of effort to rip, overall meal was okay.
What made the meal Good was the drinks that I ordered. Their drink menu is actually pretty good. Just because they have out of the ordinary type drinks. If you are a drinker I recommend trying some.
Mushroom risotto was good
Spaghettini & meatballs are good
Truffle fries are amazing
I love how they came around with a shot cart where a server will come around with a cart full of liquor and you can order any shot you want from him.” – Romeo Dela cruz, Google Reviews
Memorable dining experience
“Highly recommending the multi-award winning Glowbal Restaurant a huge, posh, beautiful decorated restaurant for celebration lunch or dinner with good friends and loved ones! Delicious food, drinks and impecable service staff team! A memorable dining experience, everything perfect for my impromptu birthday lunch walk-in table of 4, having cancelled the celebration dinner there last week due to snowstorm in Vancouver! Really enjoyed the complimentary Holiday blueberry smoothie with fresh mini donuts made in house after we got seated, plus the surprised glass of sparkling for my birthday and refilling it also by our genuinely friendly server!” – Jeffrey Nguyen, Google Reviews
2. Café Medina
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Brunch menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Brunch time | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Affordability | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Café Medina is already featured in our Best Breakfast Cafés in Vancouver article. It lived up to its expectations as one of the best not only as a café but also as a popular brunch place.
Café Medina holds one of the widest varieties of food in its menu. We think you’d like to try its Wolves Breakfast which is a heavy and worthy dish good for two people.
It’s prepared with two poached eggs, flatiron steak, Medina Bacon, Saucisson de Paris, andouille and merguez sausages. All this is served with roasted potatoes and grilled focaccia pickles on the side.
Café Medina also has plenty of beverages and liquor to choose from!
You might want to take a sip of its signature Medina Iced Tea as well as Mimouna No. 1, a cocktail mixed using Chandon sparkling wine, orange juice, Amaro Montenegro, and saffron spiced honey.
What we really liked about Café Medina is that it’s open to serve every day. Brunches are always special on the weekends but this is something to consider especially for brunch lovers out there.
Since Café Medina doesn’t have an allotted waiting area, we highly suggest that you book reservations ahead using its website.
Pros
- Wide variety of food
- Wide selection of beverage and liquor
- Reservations allowed
Cons
- Relative expensive food
- No waiting area
Customer Reviews
Simply, very nice
“Very nice brunch place near Vancouver downtown. Need reservations to get table at this place. Servers were very good and service was quick. Many good options for the main course dishes with good portion sizes. Many dishes could be made vegetarian. Coffee was good too. Ordered waffle for dessert and they had many options for toppings.” – Nidhi Gupta, Google Reviews
Unique menu
“Very unique menu. The quality of food and service is amazing. The only problem is that usually there is a line up. Other than that 5 stars… definitely try it if you love breakfast like me” – Lily Beigi, Google Reviews
3. Homer St. Café & Bar
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Brunch menu | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Brunch time | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Affordability | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
If there’s one word to describe dining in at Homer St. Café & Bar it would be: comfort.
Yes, if you’re looking for a brunch place serving the kind of comfort food you’re looking for, then look no further.
While it has a lean brunch menu, it still has a wide variety of food from its egg dishes to toasts, chicken wings, and burgers.
Homer St. Cafe & Bar has over 10 options to choose from when it comes to their egg-based dishes. We particularly liked its smoked salmon and classic omelette.
Not only does it provide one of the best comfort foods but it also gives off a refreshing and classic vibe. It has a modern motif filled with unique knick knacks and decorations.I
You also don’t want to miss out on its brunch cocktails. Its signature Homer St. Mimosa and All-Canadian Caesar are definitely a must try.
While Homer St. Cafe & Bar are open every day, take note that its brunch menu is only available on weekends and holidays. We were also disappointed to learn that brunch is only served until 2:30 PM.
Nevertheless, its prices are reasonable enough when compared to other places and we think is well worth setting aside time for on the weekends. That said, Homer St. Cafe & Bar is still one of our top picks for brunch places in downtown Vancouver.
Pros
- Wide variety of food
- Open every day
- Reasonable price for brunch
- Reservations allowed
Cons
- Limited brunch menu
- Shorter brunch hours
Customer Reviews
Good compensation
“Spent our NYE here and we had a great time. The place was packed and the service was good. Our meals were a tad late but they gave us free white wine to compensate for the wait. We ordered their Full Monty and it was great. We loved the chicken and the ribs. Meal is good for 3-4. I particularly loved their Cheesecake and Line Margaritas. We will be back and next time with the kids.” – Marnie Eudela-Umlas, Google Reviews
Repeat customers
“Quality food and service. Homer St Cafe has been above and beyond every time we have been here with friends. This time tried their burger, it was perfect! Service here is very attentive and spot on. Kitchen is open so you can see how food is prepared with great care. Thank you!” – Mahbod Biazi
4. 1931 Gallery Bistro
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Brunch menu | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Brunch time | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Affordability | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
19391 Gallery Bistro is one of our top picks for brunch places in downtown Vancouver for a few reasons.
For one, it’s located just above the lobby of the Vancouver Art Gallery along 750 Hornby Street.
And secondly, its name pays homage to the founding year of the Vancouver Art Gallery Association which was established in April 1931.
1931 Gallery Bistro offers one of the unique dining experiences given its al fresco option. Its patio space actually overlooks Robson Square, a landmark civic center and public plaza in Downtown Vancouver.
While 1931 Gallery Bistro has a limited brunch menu focused mainly on variations of classic eggs benedict, we do particularly like its smoked salmon take on the staple.
While you’re at it, you may want to try its Steak & Eggs, which you can upgrade to an 8oz AAA Striploin for an additional CAD20.
They also serve two cocktails over brunch namely its Bistro Caesar and Mimosa for Munch.
Bistro Caesar is a vodka-based drink made up of lime, sriracha, worcestershire, clamato and mixed with bocconcini, pepperoni, stick, olive, spicy pickled bean, and togarashi rim.
Mimosa for Munch makes a fun drink since you can choose either orange, pink grapefruit, pineapple, or mango juice to blend with sparkling brut.
You may enjoy its brunch longer than usual compared to other places especially since reservations are allowed. All the food and drinks can be enjoyed at a reasonable price as well!
1931 Gallery Bistro also offers several perks when you’re a part of its membership. All Vancouver Art Gallery members are bound to receive a 10% discount except on alcohol.
Aside from the usual brunch and lunch hours, 1931 Gallery Bistro also holds special dinner events only booked via reservation.
It also offers catering services for both on-site and off-site private gatherings.
We’re here to warn you though that you’re missing out on a lot of things when you don’t try visiting 1931 Gallery Bistro at least once.
Pros
- Al fresco dining
- Longer brunch hours
- Reservations allowed
- Membership perks
- Holds special dinner events (for reservation only)
Cons
- Limited brunch menu
- No regular dinner service
Customer Reviews
Fresh patio vibe
“This restaurant at the Vancouver Art Gallery has a decent patio which we chose recently for a family brunch. Daughters birthday so we ordered Mimosas. She had the avocado toast, while we enjoyed Salmon Burgers, and the outdoor patio. Our server Keagan was a pro and was attentive with coffee refills. This is a decent place for after work drinks & appys or weekend brunch.” – Randy Vancouver, Google Reviews
Great dating spot
“just gonna say that it’s pretty pricey, but it’s so tasty!! the tuna poke is definitely one of the best pokes ive ever had. great way to start off or end a date at the art gallery :)” – flora michaels, Google Reviews
5. Heirs Pears
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Brunch menu | ★★★☆☆ (3/5) |
| Brunch time | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Affordability | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer service | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Simplicity is beauty. This old saying is very much applicable to the dining experience here at Heirs Pears.
It only opened in 2018 but has already made waves as one of the best brunch spots in Downtown Vancouver.
What we liked the most at Heirs Pears is that it opens its doors very early for its customers. It welcomes customers as early as 8:30 AM on a weekend for brunch.
Heirs Pears also has longer operating hours compared to other places. On top of that, it’s one of the more affordable brunch spots in Vancouver.
Its self-named dish “Heirs Peirs” is definitely a must-try here. We particularly like the addition of gluten-free sourdough toast which complements the savory flavor of sausage and freshness of avocado.
Two poached eggs, potato rosti, bacon, sausage completes the “Heirs Peirs” dish as it’s also topped with hollandaise sauce.
You shouldn’t miss Heirs Pears’ classic Pancake Stack too! You can either pick between blueberry or strawberry compote as the pancakes are also topped with fresh berries, whipped cream, and maple syrup.
What makes it different from other brunch places is that it doesn’t serve alcoholic drinks. So this might not be the best spot to go to if you want a mimosa for brekky.
Regardless, Heirs Pears’ is a great place to have an equally great cup of coffee! It outsources its beans from Vancouver’s very own local roasters, which means you’ll be helping out homegrown businesses as well.
On top of that, the best impression that heirs pears’ left is that it uses sustainable materials. Its packaging materials, straws, containers, utensils are all fully biodegradable and made up of plant-based plastics and sugarcane cardboard.
Pros
- Longer brunch hours
- Has the cheapest menu on the list
- Specializes in coffee
- Uses sustainable materials
Cons
- Limited brunch menu
- Doesn’t serve liquor for brunch
FAQs about Breakfast Cafes
This concludes our list of the best brunch places only in Downtown Vancouver. We hope that this helped you picking the best brunch out there whenever you’re in Downtown.
But wait, this list only covers Downtown Vancouver, right? Don’t worry since we also have an article on the best brunch places in Vancouver as a whole.
