BC Living
You’ve Gotta Try This in November 2024
Thankful For BC Farmers This Thanksgiving
Gut Healthy Recipes
5 Tips to Prevent Muscle and Joint Pain When Working a Desk Job
Skincare Products for Fall
Exploring the Benefits of Cold Therapy
Inviting the Steller’s Jay to Your Garden
6 Budget-friendly Holiday Decor Pieces
Dream Home: $8 Million for a Modern Surprise
A Relaxing Getaway to the Sunshine Coast
Exploring Vancouver’s Top Wellness Spas
Great Bear Rainforest
B.C. Adventures: Our Picks for November
Fall Movie and Book Recommendations for Cozy Nights In
Cirque Du Soleil
Shopping for Wellness: Essential Products for Relaxation
Local Finds: Cozy Fall Fashion for Your Wellness Journey
Fall Fashion Trends
Munch, crunch and brunch your way through B.C.'s capital city
There are plenty of reasons to plan a weekend getaway to Victoria: it has nice beaches, lush gardens, pretty architecture and now it can claim the title of Best Brunch in Canada. It earned the honour from the experts at the Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here in March, but it’s also something that locals have known for years. There are plenty of options, but we’ve collected the best of the best for your brunching pleasure.
Keep clicking for a guide to Victoria’s best brunch spots…
With daily lineups out the door, patience is definitely a virtue at Blue Fox Cafe. It’s worth the wait, though, when you’re rewarded with some of the best eggs Benny in town. Blue Fox serves 10 different types of Benny with toppings like smoked salmon, pulled pork and Moroccan-spiced chicken. It also sports an impressive list of breakfast cocktails, because nothing goes better with brunch than some bubbly. Treat yourself to a special spiked coffee, a bloody Caesar or one of their three mimosa flavours for a slightly unbalanced breakfast.
101 – 919 Fort Street Monday to Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a brunch with more character than the iconic Floyd’s Diner. Enjoy huge portions of diner-style grub like the Lumberjack, which comes with eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, and a biscuit, as well as twists on brunch classics like Pulled Pork Hash served with brie and a Caribbean fruit salsa.
If you’re the type who can never decide what to order, then Floyd’s has the solution. Ask your server to bring you The Mahoney and let the kitchen choose your meal. You never know what zany concoction you’ll end up with, and nothing is out of the question. The Mahoney also gives you the chance to flip a coin for your meal. If you win, it’s free, but if your server wins, then you pay double! Or you can just pay normal price for it… but where’s the fun in that?
866 Yates Street Monday to Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday: 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Jam Café is a must on any brunch tour of Victoria. This cozy café specializes in comfort food and a family-friendly atmosphere. It has all the classics: eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy, and waffles with fruit compote. You can take your brunch game to the next level with some decadent red velvet pancakes, or even indulge in the chicken-and-waffle craze. If you can’t get enough of Jam Café, try checking out the recently opened Vancouver location, which serves all the Victoria favourites.
542 Herald Street Open 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily
The Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here has given John’s Place their stamp of approval, and as the name of the show implies, it’s serving up a brunch that you won’t want to miss. John’s Place is the granddaddy of Victoria brunch hot spots and has been operating since 1984. It has a menu that’s very customizable, making it a great spot for picky eaters. Guests can create their own omelettes, and mix and match toppings for their waffles, pancakes and French toast.
723 Pandora Avenue Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Another You Gotta Eat Here alum is Mo:Lé, a trendy eatery that serves seasonal, organic food. It’s a great stop for anyone with a special diet as it has lots of options that cater to vegans, vegetarians and even gluten-intolerant foodies. Try pairing up curry tofu scramble with a vegan Chi-Chi (coconut milk, pineapple, and vodka) for a delicious, indulgent start to the day. And never fear, carnivores. It also serves up plenty of hearty breakfasts that bring the meat. Try out its Chinatown Ciabatta that comes with sweet Chinese sausage, or chow down on a smoked albacore tuna Benny.
554 Pandora Avenue Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Waffle aficionados, this is the place for you. West Coast Waffles has a selection of gourmet waffles that are guaranteed to have you coming back for more. It boasts dessert-worthy flavours like carrot cake, Nutella, strawberry basil and caramel apple. All of which, of course, come topped with either yogurt, real whipped cream or dairy-free coconut whipped cream. Don’t rule out the savoury options, though. There’s a selection of creative flavours like chicken Parmesan, smoked salmon and cream cheese and even pizza.
1235 Broad Street Monday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.; Tuesday to Thursday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Fol Epi Patisserie and its sister café, Agrius, are perfect spots for simple, high-quality breakfasts. Agrius serves up sophisticated brunches every weekend with options like croque madames, schnitzel and eggs and halibut cakes with poached eggs on top. In a hurry? Stop by Fol Epi for a delicious breakfast on the go. It serves up a selection of French-style breakfast pastries like croissants and Danish pastries. These are the freshest pastries in town, and it’s hard to go wrong with seasonal fruit toppings and flour milled right on site.
Both are located at 732 Yates Agrius brunch served is Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Fol Epi is open Monday to Friday: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
be love is hands down the healthiest option for food in Victoria. The menu rotates each season and features plant-based meals that are organic and free from wheat, gluten, dairy and processed sugar. It’s a great option for health-conscious breakfast fans, and is sure to impress regardless of your dietary preferences. Start the day right by fuelling up with strawberry-rhubarb buckwheat pancakes, or an unconventional brunch of kale seaweed Caesar salad. No matter what you order, you’re sure to feel nourished and ready to take on the day.
1019 Blanshard Saturday and Sunday: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This isn’t just your typical greasy-spoon diner. Spoons is something special. Whether you’re looking for something sweet or savoury, there are plenty of options to tempt your taste buds. Try out the Big Bad Breakfast Bake, a huevos rancheros/lasagna hybrid that combines eggs, beans, tortillas, salsa, sour cream and guacamole into one monstrous breakfast bake. If you’re looking for something a little more refined, then The Empress, a granola parfait with fresh banana bread, is the obvious choice for a classy breakfast treat.
2915 Douglas Street Open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Shine Café is a family-owned restaurant with two locations in Victoria. This breezy, sunny café prides itself on serving “gourmet versions of breakfast classics.” It’s one of the few places where you can find a full Scottish breakfast complete with eggs, bacon, grilled tomato, a potato scone and black pudding. Their selection of eggs Benedict is varied, and where else could you get a Benny that uses perogies instead of an English muffin?
1320 Blanshard: Monday to Saturday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.1548 Fort Street: Monday to Sunday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.