Garganelli with pesto verde; Photo Credit: Mark Yammine
While brunch is always the loveliest of meals, it becomes especially so with the celebratory mood of the holidays. Brunch’s bringing together of sweet, savoury, and bubbly (hello, mimosas!) make it the ultimate seasonal dining treat.
Vancouver has establishments aplenty that do brunch in delectable style.
Until January 8, 2021, in line with the public health order updated on December 7, non-essential travel into and out of BC is not recommended. BC residents, let’s do our part by continuing to stay local and support local with our immediate household or bubble, in accordance with the latest guidelines.
Special Christmas Brunches
Bacchus’ eggs benedict; Photo credit: Rich Won
If you’re looking for a lavish Christmas brunch, there are numerous options, all of them at Vancouver’s finest restaurants and hotels. The Westin Bayshore at H2 Rotisserie & Bar (1601 Bayshore Drive) has a multi-course Christmas Day brunch ($49 per adult, $24 per child), Glowbal (590 West Georgia Street) has a take-home Festival Brunch Buffet ($240, for 4-6 people) for pick-up on December 13, and Notch8 (Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia Street) is hosting a Christmas Day brunch with a la carte seasonal items, like a turkey and stuffing benedict.
In surroundings fit for the holidays, Bacchus Restaurant (Wedgewood Hotel, 845 Hornby Street) will serve a three-course Christmas Day brunch ($79 per adult, children 12 and under $40), with a selection of items, such as pan seared salmon crab cake with salata marouli, slow roasted AAA Alberta striploin with Spanish tortilla, and traditional Christmas pudding with kumquat compote and brandy sauce.
Five Sails (410-999 Canada Place) is pleased to offer an Eggs & Caviar brunch service on December 26 that is sure to be a sumptuous Boxing Day experience. The elegant options, each paired with eight grams of local Northern Divine caviar, include a truffle and cheese soufflé with sauce soubise, arugula, mixed nuts, lemon vinaigrette, and pommes dauphine; as well as a dish of soft boiled eggs, toasted brioche, arugula, mixed nuts, lemon vinaigrette, and pommes dauphine. Consider elevating your meal with the addition of Burgundy black truffles ($6 per gram).
Reservations required for all special holiday brunches.
Bottomless Brunch at ARC Restaurant at Fairmont Waterfront
Turkey stuffing benedict; sourced from ARC
Yes, you heard right. ARC Restaurant at Fairmont Waterfront (900 Canada Place) recently launched their all-inclusive weekend brunch to much excitement. For a very reasonable $35 per person, you can feast on a wide selection of endless brunch plates, including jerk fried chicken on funnel cake with maple syrup; braised pork cheeks with manchego polenta, and cilantro; and a harvest grain bowl with farro, roasted root veggies, squash, herbs, and a poached egg. On Christmas Day, they’re pulling out all the stops ($129 per adult; $89 per child, 6 to 12 years) with selections like slow roasted prime rib with Yorkshire pudding and caramelized onion jus; roasted turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, and traditional gravy; and chilled crab with goma dare tartare sauce. Needless to say, bring your appetite!
Hawksworth Restaurant
Avocado toast
Hawksworth Restaurant (801 West Georgia) is the embodiment of refinement, with expert crafting that balances the classic with the modern, the refined with the accessibly familiar. Weekend brunch seduces with a range of well-known and beloved brunch items, like a variety of eggs benefits to choose from (a west coast rendition with smoked salmon; a classic with smoked ham; a vegetarian version with avocado, tomato, and spinach; and one with sautéed mushrooms); brioche French toast with coffee and cinnamon dust, banana, and hazelnut; and avocado toast with sprouts, lime, chili, and toasted seeds.
A wonderful option is the $25 brunch prix fixe, that begins with potato and leek soup with thyme foam, chives, bread crisp, dill crème fraîche, followed by a BLT eggs benedict, and finished with a mascarpone and coffee coupelle with amaretto, lady finger, and cocoa nib crumble.
Ask for Luigi
Spaghetti all carbonara with a poached egg; Photo credit; Mark Yammine
Is it possible for pasta at Ask for Luigi (305 Alexander Street) to get even better? Well, add an egg, and it becomes a thing of brunch dreams. Especially lovely is the garganelli with pesto verde, peas, mint, and ricotta salata, topped with a poached egg; as is the spaghetti alla carbonara with a poached egg. Other non-pasta items include a frittata with potatoes and smoked sablefish and a hearty dish of pork belly with braised kale, beans, and fried eggs. A side of banana bread with cinnamon ricotta is a must to supplement your mains with a bit of sweetness.
Trattoria
Nutella and banana crêpes; Photo sourced from Trattoria
For another Italian spin on brunch, visit Trattoria (1850 West 4th Avenue) in Kits where you’ll find something to please everyone in your household. Choose from four delicious eggs benedict renditions (prosciutto cotto, braised lamb, smoked salmon, and Florentine), in addition to items like Nutella and banana crêpes with chocolate sauce, and Chantilly cream; and truffled scrambled eggs on toast with heirloom jam, and torta al mascarpone. Also available are Trattoria’s pizzas, such as a classic margherita with tomato, basil, and fior di latte, as well as their pastas, like their signature spaghetti and meatballs.
Café Medina
Paella; Photo Credit: Amy Ho
A brunch institution in the city, Café Medina (780 Richard Street) offers unique Mediterranean items that Vancouverites have come to adore. And oh, those Liège waffles topped with milk chocolate lavender are divine. For your holiday brunch out, opt for the paella with a sunny-side up egg, orzo, chorizo sausage, roasted vegetables, grana Padano, avocado, and spicy charred tomato salsa; or the harissa burger with two sunny-side up eggs, harissa spiced beef in a grilled pita, grana Padano, tomato salsa, hummus, baba ganoush, and organic greens.
If you’re wanting to do your at-home Christmas celebration Café Medina-style, they’re featuring Festive Brunch Kits ($125 for 2 people, $175 for 4 people), which offer a choice between their fricassée with eggs, braised short ribs, roasted potatoes, caramelized onions, smoked cheddar, and arugula; cassoulet with eggs, Medina bacon, Andouille sausage, saucisson de Paris, white beans, red wine, and Roma tomatoes; and fricassée champignon with eggs, cremini and blue oyster mushrooms, king oyster mushrooms, roasted potatoes, mushroom demi glace, chèvre, and arugula. The kit also comes with a six pack of their waffles, salted caramel topping and 8 oz of lavender syrup, focaccia, a 340g bag of 49th Parallel Old School espresso (whole bean), a mimosa kit, and a Medina matchbox. The Kits are available for pick-up or delivery on December 23 and 24 (good for 3 days after).
Chambar Restaurant
Photo credit: Jenna Low
If you’re in search of another place that serves stellar Liège waffles, look no further than Chambar Restaurant (568 Beatty Street) where you’ll find dreamy toppings like raspberry caramel and white chocolate pistachio rosewater. Brunch at Chambar always feels like a restorative pause with good food. An option beyond the usual is l’assiette marocaine, consisting of fried halloumi, du Puy lentil and bearberry salad, baba ghanoush, tahini yogurt honey, a turmeric marinated egg, and pita chips. Or, if you’re leaning toward something that speaks to hungry winterish eating, order the fricassé with two fried eggs, tender braised short ribs, balsamic cipollini onions, potatoes, watercress, and applewood smoked cheddar. Chambar’s iconic moules frites are available from 11:30am onwards, with three options, such as the Congolaise with tomato coconut cream, smoked chili, lime, and cilantro.
The Teahouse in Stanley Park
Duck confit with waffles; Sourced from The Teahouse
The raw west coast beauty of Stanley Park meets elevated dining at The Teahouse (Ferguson Point, Stanley Park), a memorable way to spend your holiday brunch. Start with flakey croissants with seasonal jam before your main, such as duck confit with Belgian waffles, lemon honey glaze, and arugula salad; or steak and eggs, featuring a 5 oz prime rib New York striploin with scrambled eggs, roast tomato, and breakfast potatoes. Share a side of truffle parmesan fries with roasted garlic aioli and end the meal with their chocolate Milano cake with light chocolate mascarpone mousse and almond wafer crust.
Provence Marinaside
Chorizo scramble; Sourced from Provence Marinade
With its Yaletown location, Provence Marinaside (1177 Marinaside Crescent) delights with a marriage of top-notch cuisine and spectacular waterfront views. Benedicts are available every day from 11am to 3pm. Choose between a croque monsieur benny with black forest ham and sundried tomato on foccacia, topped with hollandaise and served with provençal roasted tomato and provence breakfast tomatoes; a crab cake version; as well as a smoked salmon rendition with corn pancakes. Brunch also happens during the week and weekend (Mon-Fri 10-11:30am, Sat-Sun 9am-3pm) and includes other tempting items, like a chorizo scramble with piquillo peppers, marinated tomatoes, fresh herbs, gruyère cheese, toasted baguette, provençal roasted tomato, and provence breakfast potatoes; as well as a vegetarian omelet with spinach, marinated tomatoes, basil, goat cheese, provençal roasted tomato, and provence breakfast potatoes.
El Camino’s
Papas chorreadas con huevos; Sourced from El Camino’s
For a more casual, yet equally tasty brunch during the holidays, El Camino’s (3250 Main Street) specializes in items spotlighting Mexican ingredients and flavour combinations. The sopes divorciados features two thick fried corn tortillas topped with over easy eggs, black beans, salsa roja, salsa verde, crema, cilantro, and home fries while the papas chorreadas con huevos involves smashed nugget potato, red onion, tomato, feta and smoked paprika cream sauce, home fries, all topped with a fried egg.
Honey Salt
Sourced from Honey Salt
Honey Salt (Parq Vancouver, 39 Smithe Street) has become known for their excellent brunch. Amidst the pretty whimsy of their dining room, enjoy menu items such as a breakfast galette with scrambled eggs, honey ham, spinach, mushrooms, and gruyère cheese; and shakshuka with baked eggs in spiced tomato sauce with peppers, zucchini, and feta, accompanied with a toasted baguette. Diners come especially for the build-your-own drinks, such as the build-your-own Caesar with your choice of alcohol, juices, rims, garnishes (e.g. strawberries), and extra sauces.
The Belgard Kitchen
Salmon gravlax hash; Photo Credit: Tara Lee
Go for a tasting paddle of four beers on tap, or a bubbly mimosa (Stoneboat Bubble Boat sparkling with orange juice) to accompany your brunch at The Belgard Kitchen (55 Dunlevy Avenue). The salmon gravlax hash is particularly recommended, with house cured sockeye, crispy potatoes, avocado, pickled red onion, arugula, beet and IPA purée, poached eggs, and smoky onion and parmesan cream. Other delish items include the wagyu meatball skillet with arrabiatta sauce, grana padano, poached eggs, parmesan cream, and brunch spuds; and an emerald brunch bowl packed with the goodness of baby spinach, romaine hearts, snap peas, roasted rutabaga, pickled red onion, green chickpeas, quinoa, hemp and seed blend, jalapeño tahini, green goddess dressing, poached eggs, and parmesan cream.
There is definitely no shortage of options for a holiday brunch in Vancouver!
