Those who say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day are undoubtedly the ones who have discovered the extraordinary brunch scene in Toronto.
From upscale establishments serving eggs Benedict adorned with caviar to cozy mom-and-pop shops offering hearty meals that keep you fuelled throughout the day, explore the city’s vibrant brunch scene with this curated list of the 30 best spots in the city.
1. Chica
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Bottomless sangria meets unlimited Spanish tapas every Sunday at Chica. The sister restaurant of Toronto’s Spanish mainstay Patria, this lively late-night destination transforms into a lovely brunch destination from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with delicious small plates taking centre stage like lamb chorizo empanadas, ham, black truffle and manchego croquetas and snacks like stracciatella with Serrano ham. Brunch including coffee and tea is $55 per person and you can upgrade your meal to include bottomless sangria for $45.
Since 1944, this Toronto institution has been serving up hearty sandwiches, all-day breakfast and made-to-order favourites like pancakes and french toast. It’s become such an icon in the fabric of Toronto’s history that many celebrities have come to dine at Avenue, and their autographed pictures line the walls. It’s been operated by Louis Klasios and his family since 1970, and they’ve kept the warm, retro vibe of the place alive and well.
Oretta’s weekend brunch menu is filled with incredibly delicious options for everyone in the family! From sweets like Italian stuffed donuts known as bombolone, to decadent options like scrambled eggs with burrata and black truffle. Exciting new offerings including the French toast topped with mixed berries, amaro maple syrup and tiramisu flavourings. For those seeking an extra touch of indulgence, Oretta also offers a bottomless mimosa option priced at $28 per person It’s the perfect way to enhance your brunch experience and add a sparkling twist to your meal.
Join Oretta every Saturday and Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to immerse yourself in a delightful Italian-inspired brunch experience. Indulge in a variety of summer plates, delectable desserts, and the opportunity to create your own bottomless mimosas.
If you need a brunch fix everyday of the week, Toronto’s amazing breakfast hub OEB is open daily to satisfy your deepest breakfast cravings. . Indulge in their mouthwatering offerings, such as delightful crostini served on rustic French rye bread. For those seeking something more decadent, OEB presents “blue plate specials” like Canadian lobster and shrimp crepes or pierogis and duck. Whatever your preference, OEB has an array of delicious options to satisfy your deepest breakfast desires.
Located inside the Windsor Arms Hotel, this seasonally-inspired restaurant offers weekend brunch from 11:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The menu features classic eg dishes and lighter fare like protein bowls and fresh fruits and berries.
At this Cabbagetown haunt, along with all the traditional breakfast fixins’ a duo of black and white pudding is on offer. Referred to as drisheen in Ireland, black pudding is a blood sausage made with pork blood and fate, cereal or oats wand herbs, whereas white is similar but without the blood. 221 Carlton St.
Good Fork offers the real good stuff. While this restaurant focuses on Middle Eastern cuisine for dinner, their breakfasts offer a traditional fare but with original twists. The “apply apple” pancake comes loaded with caramelized apples, cinnamon date swirls, and saffron custard. The stack is then sprinkled with a warm Hockley Valley maple syrup and crème anglaise. If that’s not inventive enough, The Good Fork’s “blueberry halva” version is cooked with orange blossom ricotta, lemony blueberry and halva crumble, then drizzled in maple syrup.
If you’re a Shawn Mendes fan, you might recognize George Street Diner from his “Life of the Party” lyric video. In it, Toronto plays backdrop as the Canadian singer sits at one of the vintage red leather booths found in this “wee” Irish-Canadian eatery. But, seeing it on screen isn’t enough. You won’t want to miss the chance to try the signature Ultimate Irish Breakfast, which wouldn’t be complete without Farrelly’s Famous Irish Soda Bread.
TOCA, inside the Ritz-Carlton, weekday brunch has something for everyone. Served daily from 7 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. the brunch menu is as elevated as the hotel itself. On the sweeter side, chose from lemon ricotta pancakes or bananas foster French toast. Healthy fare includes your choice of an egg white omelette or a blueberry banana parfait. On the menu you’ll also find a selection of frittatas and hash and heartier options like steak and eggs. Whatever your craving. TOCA’s got it and is ready to impress.
This no-frills, uptown diner is nothing if not old school. There’s the neon decor, red vinyl banquettes, and an open kitchen that screams retro. Come for the vintage vibes and stay for the food, where breakfast is served all day, and the food categories are given out-of-this-world names like satellite sides and planet poutine. Lunch and dinner fare, including burgers and hot dogs, are also available.
There’s a few Fran’s locations around the city, and the mini-chain is one of the most famous diner businesses in the city. Open 24 hours, the historic eateries offer up breakfast, lunch and dinner alike, with milkshakes, pancakes, steaks and salads all populating the menu. The first Fran’s was opened at Yonge and Dundas by Francis “Fran” Deck in 1940, and the place has been iconic ever since.
13. Pasaj
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You can order Istanbul-style brunch every single day from this Turkish cafe. The Pasaj Brunch Menu has been meticulously crafted to offer an extensive selection of delightful brunch dishes, encompassing both beloved classics such as Shakshouka and the Turkish Breakfast spread, as well as an array of homestyle favourites.
If you’re in the mood for a benny, Ramona’s Kitchen has got you covered. Located at 7355 Bayview Avenue in Thornhill, Ramona’s Kitchen serves up traditional breakfast with a non-traditional twist, including 11 unconventional renditions of Eggs Benedict, omelettes, frittatas, French toast, pancakes, breakfast poutine, and an especially intriguing breakfast hotdog dubbed the Morning Frankfurter. Most dishes come with a side of their signature tri-coloured home fries, made up of sweet, Yukon, and Chilean purple potatoes.
Located in Liberty Village, School Restaurant is where you want to rush to on a weekend morning, the name notwithstanding. Recognized as one of Toronto’s favourite brunch spots, School keeps people coming in year-round with its refreshed and cosy industrial interior in the winter and its patio during the summer.
If the name alone sounds like warm summer days, that’s exactly the kind of wholesome atmosphere this diner offers. White Lily Diner displays the best in the region by working with local suppliers and offering a beer and wine list that comes entirely from Ontario. At White Lily, the bread is fresh, the donuts are made daily, and the meats are smoked in-house. The all-day breakfast means you can get the customer-favourite hash browns every time your cravings kick in.
Justin Bella and his team are cooking up some of the city’s tastiest Filipino food at BB’s Diner, a fun, multi-faceted space in Parkdale. rom Friday to Sunday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., BB’s Diner takes over the basement. There, Bella and the team serve elevated Filipino staples on a first-come-first-serve basis. More than that, the restaurant doesn’t advertise a phone number or digital menu, but posts weekly specials on Instagram to prepare guests for the meal. The fare includes mouth-watering dishes such as sizzling Longanisa and picturesque portions of T-O-C-I-N-O Silog, a play on the classic breakfast item.
18. Sunny Morning
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This GTA breakfast and lunch chain now has four locations to serve up the best in brunch fare. Sunny Morning prioritizes using fresh and local ingredients to make all their dishes, which is why these pancakes are so irresistible. On the menu, customers will find the Sweet Dreams pancakes, made with fresh strawberries, banana, and toasted almonds, and drizzled with Nutella, and Freddy’s Caramel Pancakes which are topped with banana slices and pecans. The stack wouldn’t be complete without Sunny Morning’s own sweet Milk Caramel glazed over top. Freddy’s Sandwich Special includes two fried eggs, bacon and Swiss in a toasted bagel with cream cheese.
Every Saturday from 12 p.m. you can enjoy Fiesta del Sol, a brunch party at Chotto Matte. Soak up the sun on the restaurant’s new, reimagined patio and enjoy an array of Nikkei plates, free-flowing sips and vibrant entertainment, inspired by the Peruvian festival of light. Priced at $65 per person with sips an additional $50, the menu features an array of seafood heavy dishes like sea bass ceviche, salmon tostada and spicy tuna crispy sushi. There are also vegetarian options
The red leather booths, checkered floor print and large front windows definitely show off the retro style of Flo’s Diner. This Yorkville hotspot is the kind of place you stop by for a coffee and end up chatting with the cook all morning. Flo’s is known for making a mean eggs benny, which can be enjoyed while taking in the city views from the rooftop patio.
The name for this eatery in English is “fluffy fluffy” and one bite of their Japanese-style pancakes will tell you exactly why. Fuwa Fuwa is North America’s largest souffle pancake café, and might just be one of the best. Their creations are soft, airy and combine elements of a traditional pancakes with a souffle pancake, making a one-of-a-kind texture. Customers can select a signature fruit option for toppings or choose something more inventive like tiramisu, crème brulee, blueberry and cheese, matcha red bean, cookies & crème, or Nutella banana.
This all-day brunch spot has it all, but one of the menu favourites is the cinnamon bun pancake. Caramelized brown sugar, butter and cinnamon work together to compliment these buttermilk pancakes, which are then topped with a touch of whipped brown butter and maple syrup. The sugar is enough to keep your heart pumping all day long. For something a little tamer, Emma offers classic buttermilk pancakes, banana pancakes with walnuts and toffee, and the Elvis pancake stuffed with walnuts, toffee, chocolate chips, and house-cured bacon.
Long-time Irish pub Tara Inn’s full Irish includes centuries-old quintessential Irish sausage —the banger. Made with lean and fat pork that’s ground and tossed with herbs and spices, it’s then encased in hog casing and packs a hearty punch. The meal also comes with grilled Guinness brown bread, potato scone and is sure to be the only meal you need for the day!
MIA Brunch Bar is just south of Eglinton on Yonge and is serving up some seriously good breakfast. Open seven days a week, the morning and afternoon hangout is a bright and cheerful kind of space. The menu consists of some classic brunch staples with a twist, as well as a slew of great cocktails that are sure to rid patrons of the Sunday scaries.
In a city that loves brunch as much as Toronto, it takes a certain place to really be known amongst the masses. Chances are, you know of Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, the Liberty Village staple dedicated to locally sourced, seasonal ingredients, simply and sumptuously prepared. Perfection on a plate, Mrs. Biederhof’s infamous light and fluffy blueberry buttermilk pancakes are the focal point of the famous Sunday brunch.
