Guides / Spots

The Best Places for Brunch When You Don't Want to Wait

Christine Peddie

11 months ago

The best places for brunch when you don't want to wait will have you relaxing before you know it, faced with no greater challenge than powering through a menu of tempting plates. Blessed with enough space to host a throng of mellowed out merrymakers, a reservation system -- or both -- these spots fit the bill when lolling about on crowded city sidewalks isn't in the plans. Whether you lean toward breakfast pastries crowned with sweetened cream and syrups, or crave robust plates piled high with fortifying foods, there are plenty of brunch places in Toronto that can deliver.

Plan ahead, reserve your table and relegate stress to midweek, where it belongs. Unless you enjoy whiling away precious weekend hours standing in line, these are the best places for brunch when you don't want to wait.

811 Queen St W

Three Monks and a Duck

Reserve ahead of time, then head to Queen Street's Three Monks and a Duck for a menu of Asian-inspired brunch temptations every Saturday and Sunday morning. Enjoy traditional eggs and sausage, vegan avocado toast, or the Insta-worthy Three Monks Banana Split, made with pineapple-bun bread pudding, caramelized bananas, tapioca pearls, coconut ube sauce and iHalo Krunch ube ice cream.

129 George St

George Street Diner

Sure, it's not the biggest spot in town, but thanks to efficient service it's generally easy to snag a seat at The George Street Diner. Once inside, enjoy home-style, Irish-inspired fare.

1150 Queen St W

The Drake Cafe

Take the edge off with a weekend reservation for brunch at The Drake Hotel. Between the chill atmosphere and chef Laura Maxwell's menu of thoughtfully-prepared brunch musts -- including the kitchen's dreamy sugar-topped wild blueberry scones served with whipped honey butter -- you'll feel ready for whatever the weekend brings.

106 Broadview Ave

The Broadview Bistro + Bar

Bright and lively, The Broadview Hotel's Bistro + Bar is where you'll want to steer your bleary-eyed, weekend self. Since you won't be the only one, reserve beforehand and ensure access to the kitchen's casual, comforting menu of brunch staples.

77 Portland St

Shook

Head to Shook for King West's most colourful, vitamin-packed, vegetarian brunch. There, Breakfast Hummus, Shook Fry Up, Shakshouka, and other veggie-forward fare will put the pep back in your step no matter how trying of a week you've had.

100 Front St W

Reign Restaurant

Whether you stay the night at Fairmont Royal York or not, you'll want to head to the hotel's modern Canadian brasserie for a weekend brunch buffet that will make you feel a million miles away. Settle into the elegant surroundings and enjoy a choice of entrée, along with platters of fruit, cheese, charcuterie, seafood, and more, followed by enough dainty desserts to dazzle.

2131 Yonge St

Oretta Midtown

With a brunch menu of glorious Italian dishes, it wouldn't be surprising to see Oretta Midtown overrun come the weekend. Happily, thanks to a spacious room and patio, there's plenty of room for everyone to take part. Dig into Fritelle (featuring layers of lemon cake, seasonal fruit, and mascarpone), pizzas, pastas, and truffle-laced scrambled eggs and you'll applaud the team's expansive vision.

125 E Liberty St

OEB Breakfast Co.

True, Liberty Village's newest brunch base is sure to be overflowing come weekend mornings. Still, join the Yelp waitlist the minute you wake up and, once you're presentable, your table will be ready. Thanks to OEB's menu of upscale breakfast options -- from crêpes and duck pierogies to assorted breakfast poutines -- you may suddenly find yourself in Liberty Village more often than ever before.

550 Wellington St W

1 Kitchen

Brunch early, or late, with 1 Kitchen's bountiful menu of sustainably-sourced, local eats available on weekends from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. The zero-waste kitchen serves up plenty of bowls, egg dishes, and larger plates, including Croque Madame and Sweet Potato Waffles, with or without buttermilk fried chicken. With a reservation in hand, all you'll have to do is decide which dazzling dish to order.

115 Bathurst St

Northern Maverick Brewing Company

With an abundance of seats, and house brews, there's plenty to love about weekend brunch at Northern Maverick. Whether you crave breakfast staples, like Vegan Banana Pancakes, or hearty mains, from Huevos Rancheros to Beer and Cheese Chowder, Northern Maverick has you sorted.

488 Wellington St W

Marben

Marben's farm-to-table brunch, available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., features seasonal dishes with intriguing twists. Enjoy the security of a reservation, then dig into Tikka Masala Shakshuka, a dish called "The Fry Up," featuring bubble and squeak hash and applewood smoked bacon, and Fried Chicken served with Japanese cabbage pancake and orange miso hot honey. Each, along with the menu's other stars, is the type of dish weekends were made for.

3300 Dufferin St Unit A

MADO

Visit any of MADO's three GTA locations and you're guaranteed the type of brunch that makes getting out of bed worthwhile. With a huge variety of options, you can feast on Turkish-style Grand Breakfasts, fried eggs with sujuk, simit, halloumi skewers and a host of other dishes before calling it a day.

1515 Gerrard St E

Lazy Daisy's Cafe

Head to Lazy Daisy's Café on a weekend and, chances are, you'll have to wait for a table. Still, since this east-end spot is open seven days a week, you have plenty of chances to secure a table the minute you walk in the door. With a menu of towering breakfast sandwiches, buttermilk pancakes, famous biscuits and more, you may be trying your luck more often than you should.

80 Blue Jays Way 44th Floor

Kost

Brunch at Köst is an elevated affair, not merely because the restaurant is on Bisha's 44th floor. From the view, to the reserved tables, to the people watching and vivid menu inspired by the West Coast, brunch at Köst offers the relaxation every weekend deserves but few ever get.

563 Bloor St W

Insomnia

Toronto's favourite Annex address for eggs benny, huevos rancheros, omelettes, and endless cups of coffee also happens to take reservations. Insomnia also offers its brunch menu seven days a week, meaning you never need to compromise when brunch beckons.

1190 Dundas St E

Gare de L'Est

With an expansive patio and modern room, there are plenty of places to comfortably lounge at Gare De L'Est. Reserve your spot and enjoy a menu of French favourites at the east-end brasserie's weekend brunch. From Crêpes Suzette to Benedict Classique, you're sure to find the dish your weekend self craves.

1627 Dupont St

Farmhouse Tavern

Head to Dupont Street for a taste of rural, seasonal cooking from the team at Farmhouse Tavern. A place that happily accepts reservations, Farmhouse is the perfect spot for an unpretentious, impeccable brunch made with the finest ingredients Ontario offers.

35 Tank House Lane

Cluny Bistro

Every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., travel to France via Cluny and its tempting menu of bistro brunch fare. Settle into the spacious, refined room and take your time deciding between decidedly elegant offerings, from Vol-Au-Vent Lobster Benny, to Chocolate Bread Pudding French Toast, Cluny French Onion Soup, and more.

161 Bay St

Chotto Matte

When ordinary brunch won't do, Chotto Matte's Jungle Brunch is sure to capture your mood. Reserve early and settle in for a parade of Nikkei dishes ranging from Chotto Ceviche, made with branzino and leche de tigre, to Fried Chicken "N" Matcha Waffles. With live entertainment and lively cocktails, it's the party you'll want to attend every Saturday from now on.

165 University Ave

Cafe Landwer

With five GTA locations and a convenient reservation system, you can always snag a seat at Cafe Landwer. On the comprehensive menu, guests will find a dish to sate any craving. From sweet and savoury egg-topped brunch staples, to sandwiches, an array of shakshukas, even Landwer's famous schnitzel, few cravings are left unchecked at Cafe Landwer.

60 Yorkville Ave

Cafe Boulud

Thanks to a menu of bistro classics and a reservation system that guarantees against surprises, it's easy to love Café Boulud. When brunch beckons, move toward the café's casual, elegant space and settle in for a meal of Steak Tartare, Tuna Niçoise, DB Burger, Truffle Mac and Cheese, or Eggs Meurette. Whichever you choose, you'll want to linger over every minute and every bite.

792 Dundas St W

Almond Butterfly Cafe - Dundas

Assuming you remember to book early, you won't have to loiter outside of Almond Butterfly Café longingly eyeing other patrons' plates. Instead, you'll be efficiently seated and served a host of gluten-free delights, from traditional breakfasts to towering stacks of pancakes bedecked with just the right amount of mixed berry compote.