Quick Guide: Best Brunch Places in Toronto

Toronto is a brunch city. And locals know that it's not just about food and flavour, it's about the vibe.

Every weekend, the good spots fill up fast, the lineups hit the sidewalk by 10am, and the debate over where to go starts Thursday night. This guide cuts through the noise. One standout pick per neighbourhood, what to order, and when to show up. No fluff, just brunching done well.

How This Guide Works

One pick per neighbourhood, organized roughly west to east. All spots are consistently good, which matters more than being the most talked-about place this week. Save the full list to your Guide board at the bottom and skip the group chat debate next Saturday.

West End: Roncesvalles and Parkdale

Mildred's Temple Kitchen

85 Hanna Avenue, Suite 104 · Liberty Village

Mildred's has been the answer to "where should we brunch?" in Toronto's west end for years. The room is warm, the service is unhurried, and the food is genuinely good rather than just photogenic. The wild blueberry buttermilk pancakes are the move. Light, properly made, and topped with real fruit rather than the kind of syrup that arrives in a plastic jug. Eggs Benedict with house hollandaise is also excellent.

What to order: Mrs. Biederhof's Wild Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes or eggs Benedict on cheddar waffles. The Huevos Monty, black bean refritos and sharp cheddar topped with eggs, avocado, and fresh salsa, is a phenomenal hangover meal.

Timing: Walk-in only every Saturday and Sunday. Arrive before 10am or expect a wait. Reservations are available Monday to Friday for their weekday B'lunch service.

Vibe: Warm, neighbourhood institution. The kind of place you bring people who are visiting from out of town.

Quick tip: Hours and menu rotate seasonally. Worth a quick check on mildreds.ca before you go.

If you can't get in: Go to Old School, located close to both Parkdale and Roncesvalles. Their pancake stacks are legendary, but the best thing on the menu is their Halloumi Tunes plate.

Ossington and Trinity Bellwoods

The Drake Hotel

1150 Queen Street West · Queen West

The Drake has been many things to Queen West over the years. For Saturday brunch, it's home to the longest-running drag brunch in Toronto, hosted by Miss Moço of Canada's Drag Race. The performances run at 11am and 1:30pm, with rotating guest queens, and the energy is exactly what you want on a Saturday morning. The Sky Yard rooftop fills up quickly in good weather. The food is solid. The wild blueberry mini scones are a consistent order.

What to order: Wild blueberry mini scones, classic egg scramble.

Timing: The Saturday Drag Brunch is a $38 prix fixe plus a $15 performance ticket per person, reservations required. Walk-ins are possible for the regular weekday brunch and Sunday brunch, but the room fills fast by 11:30am.

Vibe: Lively, Queen West energy, good for groups or a long Saturday.

If you can't get in: Go to Union on Ossington for a more intimate dining experience: smaller room, gorgeous plates, farm-to-table cuisine, and get anything. If you want "don't have to think about it" ease, go to the Score on Queen.

Kensington Market and Chinatown

Gateau Ghost

974 College Street · Dufferin Grove

Gateau Ghost started as a pandemic-era home kitchen operation built around madeleines. Founder Jayden Park brings a Korean-French sensibility to both the pastry counter and the brunch menu. The brick-and-mortar opened in 2024 and has become a genuine destination. The space is a bakery, a small shop, and a bistro. Brunch runs from 9am on weekends, 10am Tuesday to Friday. The matcha-pistachio and black sesame madeleines are the signature menu items and worth the trip on their own. The savoury brunch plates are considered and carefully made.

What to order: Matcha-pistachio madeleines, the weekend brunch plates. Ask what's in season. The Korean-influenced dishes (KFC Sando, bulgogi steak frites) are worth ordering over the European classics.

Timing: Reservations available for parties of 6 or more (credit card required). Smaller groups should join the waitlist or arrive early. Closed Mondays.

Vibe: Quiet, thoughtful, good for a date or a solo brunch with a book.

If you can't get in: Go to Film Cafe in Kensington Market and ask for a table on the back patio. It's one of the best patios in the area, with a wicked smoothie bar and consistently great coffee.

Queen West and Dundas West

Gloria

1087 Queen Street West · inside The Great Hall

Gloria is a French-American bistro inside The Great Hall, a heritage building on Queen West. The brioche French toast is the signature dish that gets shared most: thick-cut, filled with blueberry compote, soaked in batter and pan-fried until golden, then topped with whipped vanilla cream, Biscoff cookie butter, pistachios, cocoa, and maple syrup. Executive chef Shivam Munjal trims the loaves and fills each cube before cooking. It is as good as it sounds.

What to order: Brioche French toast. Order it without overthinking.

Timing: Weekend brunch only. Book ahead or arrive when doors open.

Vibe: Beautiful, high-ceilinged heritage ambiance. One of the better-looking rooms in the city for a weekend morning.

Quick tip: Gloria operates inside The Great Hall, so the schedule can shift around private events. Check before you go.

If you can't get in: Go to Peter Pan Bistro on Queen West. It's a small room in a heritage space, so get there early or make a reservation. Their pancake stacks rotate weekly, but their menu is consistently great. Try the Croque Madame.

Downtown and King West

Ricarda's

134 Peter Street · Entertainment District

Ricarda's is a large Mediterranean restaurant in the Entertainment District that has become a reliable downtown Toronto brunch anchor. The Sunday jazz brunch runs from 11am to 2pm and includes live music. The beef short rib hash is the must-order dish. The room is big, family-friendly, and consistently well-reviewed. Good for groups who can't agree on what they want, because the menu covers enough ground for everyone.

What to order: Beef short rib hash.

Timing: Reservations strongly recommended for the Sunday jazz brunch. Saturday brunch is also busy.

Vibe: Big, warm, downtown energy. Not a place for a quiet morning but excellent for a table of six.

If you can't get in: Go to the Fox on John on John Street, next to the TIFF Lightbox. Arguably one of the best, busiest brunch spots in Toronto. Bottomless brunch, massive plates, great prices. It fills up quickly, but it's worth a waitlist. Try the smoked salmon Benedict or the chicken and waffles.

East End: Leslieville, Riverside, The Beaches

Lady Marmalade

265 Broadview Avenue · East Chinatown / Riverside

Lady Marmalade moved from Leslieville to a larger space on Broadview in 2019. The room, designed by Omar Gandhi Architect in collaboration with SvN, is bright, wood-warm, and better for it. High ceilings, modern materials, excellent light. The eggs Benedict on cheddar waffles is one of the best in the city. Rich, properly balanced, plated hot. The new menu rotates seasonally, but the quality is consistent.

What to order: Eggs Benedict on cheddar waffles.

Timing: No reservations for brunch. Lines build before doors open. Arrive before 9:30am or expect a wait. Going on a Friday is significantly less crowded than Saturday.

Vibe: Cosy, bright, east end crowd. One of the most reliable brunch rooms in Toronto.

If you can't get in: Go to the White Lily Diner. Retro vibes, fresh-made donuts, made in-house ingredients. Don't miss the hashbrowns. It's a popular place, but worth the wait if you can get in.

Rapid Fire: Honorary Brunch Mentions

• Christina's on the Danforth (Danforth Avenue): gorgeous room, great service, consistently good food. Get a caesar.
• Fran's Restaurant and Bar (College Street): a staple for a reason. Lines can be long, but it's worth checking out if you're in the neighbourhood.
• The Jason George (Front Street East): underrated, less busy, near St. Lawrence Market. Get the smoked salmon Benedict.
• Susie's Rise and Dine (College Street): retro vibes, featuring some of the best pancakes in Toronto. Start here then end up at Trinity Bellwoods for the afternoon.

Quick Tips for Toronto Brunch

• Best day: Saturday is slightly less crowded than Sunday at most spots. Friday morning is the secret weapon for a genuinely relaxed brunch.
• Reservations: Most Toronto brunch spots do not take reservations. The exceptions are noted above. Arrive early or be prepared to wait.
• Budget: $20 to $30 per person before drinks is standard at most of the spots in this guide. Add 20 to 25 percent for tip.
• Patio season: Most of these spots have outdoor seating available May through September. The Drake Sky Yard and Lady Marmalade's patio are worth specifically requesting.
• Coffee: Toronto's brunch spots are generally good at coffee. If someone at the table cares deeply about the espresso, Gateau Ghost is your best call from this list.

Save This Brunch List to Your Guide Board

All six picks, organized by neighbourhood, saved in one place. Open the board on Saturday morning and stop arguing about where to go.

[Save to Guide]

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best brunch place in Toronto?

It depends on the neighbourhood and what you want. Lady Marmalade on Broadview is consistently one of the most praised for food quality. Mildred's Temple Kitchen is the west end standard. The Drake is the best for atmosphere and weekend energy. That being said, Toronto takes brunch very seriously. It's hard to find a bad brunch in the city.

Where should I go for brunch in Toronto?

Start with your neighbourhood. Every area in this guide has a pick worth the trip. If you're visiting from out of town and want one recommendation, Lady Marmalade or Gloria are strong all-round favourites.

Do you need reservations for brunch in Toronto?

Most spots in Toronto do not take brunch reservations. Arrive before 10am at popular spots on weekends or expect to wait. The exceptions in this guide are noted.

What time is brunch in Toronto?

Most places serve brunch from 10am or 11am on weekends and Saturdays. Some spots like Gateau Ghost start at 9am on weekends. Brunch service typically runs until 2pm or 3pm.

What neighbourhood has the best brunch in Toronto?

The east end, specifically Leslieville and Riverside, has strong brunch options and shorter waits than Queen West or downtown. Queen West and Ossington have the most variety. Kensington Market is best for a casual, low-key morning.

What's the best signature brunch in the city?

While a lot of restaurants have a standout brunch dish, here are a few that can top your list. Gloria's brioche French toast inside The Great Hall is the standout. Thick-cut, filled with blueberry compote, soaked and pan-fried, then topped with whipped vanilla cream, Biscoff cookie butter, pistachios, cocoa, and maple syrup. It's the most ordered dish for a reason. A close second is Lady Marmalade's eggs Benedict on cheddar waffles, or Mildred's Mrs. Biederhof's Wild Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes are the long-running west end answer.

Are there good vegetarian restaurants that serve brunch in Toronto?

This guide focuses on Toronto's all-round brunch favourites, but most of the picks here have solid vegetarian options. Mildred's, Gloria, and Gateau Ghost have the strongest vegetarian sides of their menus. If you want a brunch built specifically around vegetarian or vegan cooking, see our full guide to Toronto's best vegetarian and vegan restaurants for spots like Planta Queen, Fat Choi, and Bellona.

Thumbnail image attribution: ayngelina via Flickr

website: http://www.baconismagic.ca