Where to eat breakfast in Metro Vancouver? A restaurant review roundup

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It’s hard to wake up on the wrong side of the bed when the right breakfast is waiting.

Whether you prefer to keep it easy with a pastry or go all-out with a greasy spoon, Vancouver has so many breakfast, brunch and café options that you’ll need to hit snooze just so you have time to decide.

The Vancouver Sun’s restaurant writer, Mia Stainsby, has visited some of the city’s best diners and brunch spots, with the reviews to prove it.

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So we’ve compiled a selection of her reviews to help you decide where to go next time you need an early morning meal.

This roundup includes several years of breakfast-containing posts from our resident restaurant expert. Information such as hours and menu items may not be up to date, so please check with individual eateries for additional details.

We’ve also included the original publication date of each review, along with the original link, so you can read the full article.

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Mon Pitou

Where: 1387 W 7th Ave., Vancouver

“You’ll find a lot of French on the weekend brunch menu — eggs royale, croque madam, crepes aux poulet et duxelles, frisée lardon, French toast, onion soup — but during the week it’s baked goods, grab-and-go sandwiches with bread from Beyond Bread. As well, they sell everyday essentials like milk and eggs, fresh flowers and produce.”

Read the full Mon Pitou review, originally published March 31, 2021.

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Don at Kitsilano

Where: 1387 W 7th Ave., Vancouver

“I dropped by for a weekday brunch and noted the brunch and dinner menus are similar except for items like Hennessey French toast and the breakfast platter, both loaded.”

You’ll find the Hennessy French toast, with kaya jam — a favourite from Southeast Asia! — and yes, Hennessy maple syrup, as well a “Hangover breakfast”, with has the usual sausage, bacon, and eggs but also brown butter miso toast.

Read the full Don at Kitsilano review, originally published Sept. 20, 2023.

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Red Wagon Cafe

Where: 2128 East Hastings, Vancouver

“Breakfast and brunch dishes can be oil slicks if a cook just slaps them together as fuel food. But (chef and owner Brad) Miller’s got a very light touch and the food would be at home in much fancier digs. Although I kind of prefer breakfast in a kitschy hole-in-the-wall with music by The Clash and Neil Young.”

This East Van favourite moved up the block in 2020, just steps from their previous spot, and has added dinner service in recent years but continues to pull in brunch fans from across the city.

Read the full Red Wagon review, originally published Feb. 14, 2011.

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Yolk’s

Where: Broadway (546 West Broadway), Hastings (1598 East Hastings)

“I’m pathetic but eggs are what excite me to no end at breakfast places. Yolk’s not only has the right name, their egg yolks live up to what might be expected of a café called Yolk’s. They’re plumply, quiveringly orange and still oozing; and the whites are standup, not looking deflated and sad.”

Yolk’s has now expanded to three locations across the city of Vancouver so take your pick.

Read the full Yolk’s review, originally published March 26, 2014.

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Hunnybee Bruncheonette

Where: 789 Gore Ave., Vancouver

“Hunnybee Bruncheonette, as you’d expect, is a breakfast and lunch restaurant with a sunny, welcoming disposition. It has a simple and healthy menu with about a dozen items including breakfast sandwiches, rose and coconut muesli, poached egg and avocado toast, ricotta pancake, labneh and lemon curd on sourdough.

Breads (sourdough, focaccia and milk buns) are made at The Birds and The Beets kitchen. Specials often are toast with toppings like house-cured salmon and capers.”

Read the full Hunnybee Bruncheonette review, originally published Jan. 2, 2019.

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To Live For Bakery and Cafe

Where: 1508 Nanaimo St., Vancouver

“I’m a fan because firstly, it ticks seriously important boxes: vegan businesses walk softly on this planet, promote health, and spread animal compassion. Secondly, the croissants spoke. I’m a croissant snob and can’t help but judge a bakery by them.

I was surprised by this vegan contender. To Live For’s croissants have crisp shells that shatter, scattering messy pastry shards, have a structured inner maze of tunnels and taste great. I asked for jam and it, too, was fresh and first-rate.”

Owner Erin Ireland purposely left out the word “vegan” in all her marketing, as she wanted to ensure anyone and everyone could enjoy their offerings, without being turned off by other connotations attached to the word.

“We’re here to show that you can have amazing plant-based food,” she told Mia.

Read the full To Live For Baker and Cafe review, originally published June 11, 2024.

What’s your favourite Metro Vancouver breakfast or brunch place? Let us know in the comments!

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