As lifelong Torontonians who have grown up taking advantage of the city’s diverse and delicious cuisines, we love that brunch in the city is so varied and so good. We consider brunch partly a reward for the week of hard work behind us, and also a lovely way to slow down on the weekend. While it’s difficult to choose the best brunch in Toronto, it’s great to have so much selection.

We still remember when the only options for brunch were the Golden Griddle, open 24 hours a day near the old Maple Leaf Gardens, and a few sticky-floored diners scattered throughout the city that served runny eggs alongside questionable coffee. Toronto has come a long way, and the amazing brunch places is proof of that. The only problem now is figuring out how to choose the best place that suits your taste for that day.

We’ve spent some time going on our own taste-testing adventures in the city, so we thought we’d love to share our findings with you. While there are many amazing brunch options in Toronto, we narrowed it down to our 10 best brunch spots in Toronto.

10 Brunch Spots Toronto

Toronto is a super busy city and a great place to try different foods. Because of this, expect long lineups, especially on the weekends, so be sure to plan accordingly. Each restaurant has their own policies regarding reservations, so be sure to check with them prior to your visit. Ranging from casual to fancy, these are all excellent, and most importantly, serve delicious brunches.

1. Lady Marmalade

A brunch spot as adorable as its name, Lady Marmalade is located in the East End, but is still easily accessible by car, as well as subway/streetcar to those coming from outside the neighbourhood. The restaurant is inside a two-story house, and has a modern, fresh feel to it. While the space is large, it fills up, especially on weekends. They take walk-ins only.

Known for their Eggs Benedict, you can’t go wrong with any of their selections. The B.A.B. Benny ($23.00) with brie, avocado and bacon is mouth-watering and filling, as is the Salmon Benny ($23.00), which includes house-cured salmon and herbed cream cheese. Mmmm. Comfort food at its best.

Many Eastenders, who’ve been longtime fans of Lady Marmalade, name the Crepe Croque Monsieur ($20.00) as one of their current favourite dishes in the city. A crepe made with ham, cheddar cheese, and scallion cream. So simple, so good.

Address: 265 Broadview Ave.

2. Sisters & Co.

An understated brunch spot, Sisters & Co. is well worth a visit. There are two locations: one in Markham and the other on Dundas Street West. We’ve only been to the Toronto location, but the menus are the same at both places. In Toronto, the space is small, but is efficiently run. The servers are also very friendly. Influenced by Asian cuisine, you’ll find some interesting menu items mixed in with the more traditional fare.

Amongst the Asian-inspired dishes you’ll find Bulgogi Beef Benedict ($22.00) highlighted with bulgogi beef. A more traditional and still delicious dish is the Two Peas in a Pod ($23.00) made with smoked salmon. Home fries and salad are usually served on the side and the home fries are plentiful and delicious. Another favourite are the Earl Grey Pancakes ($19.00), topped with Earl Grey Mascarpone made in house. Their latte ($5.50) was amazing.

Address: 887 Dundas St. West

3. Dirty Food Eatery

Serving a mix of Southern-inspired comfort food, Canadian breakfast staples, Dirty Food Eatery, is a favourite in the Junction neighbourhood. Don’t be fooled by the name of this restaurant. Many of the items here are made in-house, including their biscuits, hot sauces, and pickles, and everything is fresh.

They have variations on Eggs Benedict, including the Eggs Jenny ($21.50) that uses peameal bacon, collard greens, served on a buttermilk biscuit and covered in hollandaise sauce. We’re not huge fans of fried chicken for breakfast, but their Chicken ‘n’ Waffle ($24.00) dish is popular, as are their Apple Jonnycakes ($18.00 – $21.00), which are cornmeal pancakes with cinnamon apples. If you want to try a few different items, they have a generous selection of side dishes, including home fries, which are baked before being fried, buttermilk biscuits, sourdough toast, and more.

While they do not accept reservations, they do have a same-day wait list via Yelp and they try to give you an estimate of how long your wait for a table will be and hold your table for ten minutes from notification. Perfect for strolling through the Junction while you wait.

Address: 3070 Dundas St. West

4. Maha’s Restaurant

A family-run, Egyptian restaurant that has become a favourite for brunch, Maha’s Restaurant serves food that is truly unlike the usual fare, but worth trying for its authentic, flavourful, and filling dishes. It is a small space, but the decor fills it up nicely. They do not take reservations and since it is growing in popularity, be prepared to wait in line during the weekends. They are open for brunch and lunch only.

Start with their honey-cardamom latte (9 oz $5.75. 12 oz $6.95), which you can have while you wait in line. Other must-try’s include the Cairo Classic ($22.00), which includes fava beans, falafels, boiled eggs, and pita bread. The other loved dish is Maha’s Mind Blowing Chicken ($22.00), which is a sandwich with marinated chicken breast covered in a house-made garlic sauce, tahini, and mayo.

Maha’s Restaurant is quite unique and it delivers.

Address: 226 Greenwood Ave.

Brunch Spots Downtown

There are many great brunch spots scattered throughout the city, but you can usually find some within walking distance from one another in the downtown core.

5. Mildred’s Temple Kitchen

Located in Liberty Village, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen serves a good selection of brunch items. The space itself is bright and spacious, and even though it get busy, it doesn’t feel overly-crammed. As with many other restaurants in Toronto, particularly those serving brunch, the lineups and wait times can be long. Because they don’t accept weekend reservations, it is best to get there early or reserve a table during the week. We went there on a Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and were seated within five minutes, but by the time we had left, the line up extended beyond the front door.

One of their most famous dishes are the Mrs. Biederhof’s Wild Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes ($23.00), which come served as a stack of three fluffy pancakes, and pre-drizzled with maple syrup and a big heap of warm blueberries. If you want to try this dish, which we highly recommend, but don’t want so much sweetness, there is an option of ordering a side, which is one pancake ($9.00). This is a great option if you want to try more than one dish without ordering the full sizes.

Other dishes that are very good are the Veda’s Choice ($22.00) which consists of soft poached eggs on a croissant, with the option of adding smoked salmon, double smoked bacon, or avocado, topped with béarnaise sauces, and is served with mixed greens. The Huevos Monty ($21.00) is also very good, but not as filling. It’s black beans and cheddar cheese flattened and baked in flour tortillas, topped with two sunny side up eggs, fresh salsa, avocado smash and sour cream.

As for drinks, we tried the Maple Sea Salt Latte ($9.50), and asked for it to be half sweet since our server informed us that it was really sweet. It was good, but not amazing, so you might want to try one of their other offerings, such as a matcha latte or regular coffee.

Address: 85 Hanna Ave., Suite 104

6. SCHOOL

Another hotspot in Liberty Village, SCHOOL is always busy for brunch, and with good reason.

The theme of school is cute and runs consistently throughout the restaurant with its clocks on the walls and chalkboards with menu items listed. The space has an industrial feel to it, while still being comfortable enough for a meal. It is very much in keeping with the Liberty Village vibe. There’s also a nice patio if you’re visiting during the summer.

They have a weekday and a weekend menu, and while all the dishes are hearty and plentiful, there is more choice available on the weekends. During the week their famous and favourite items, such as the Black ‘N Blue Flapjacks ($23.00, and the Super Cheesy Bacon French Toast ($25.00) are on the menu, but on the weekend, they have these, plus more choice in terms of Sweet and Savoury and Salt and Savoury, where you can get their A+ Avo Eggs Benny ($25.00). Make sure to ask for their house-made hot sauce, which is A+ mazing ($3.00)!

Address: 70 Fraser Ave.

7. L’Avenue

Originally from Montreal, L’Avenue’s Toronto location opened in September of 2024, and has fast become one of the city’s most popular brunch places. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto at The Well, a large development consisting of a food hall, retail stores, and condominiums, it gets super busy with long line ups often extending down the sidewalk. They do not take reservations for weekend brunch. Get there early or make a reservation for a weekday to guarantee your spot.

Many of the dishes are as colourful and over the top as the decor at L’Avenue. There is a large list of menu items to choose from and this includes an elaborate drink selection. We recommend sharing dishes, so you can enjoy both sweet and savoury. Amongst the favourites are Bobby Does Dallas ($31.00), which is a casserole made up of three scrambled free-run eggs mixed with delicious toppings, the Truffle Duck Benedict ($29.50), also made with free-run eggs and a duck confit, and The Pancake Flight (Double Stack $42.00, Full Stack $64.00), where you can sample two of each of three different flavours – perfect for sharing. Their drink selection is also excellent, with favourites such as The Pistachio Latte ($7.00).

Address: 433 Wellington St. West

8. White Lily Diner

Referred to as a “Culinary Unicorn,” by Toronto’s Michelin Guide, White Lily Diner is a small yet mighty restaurant is a hotspot for brunch and not to be missed. Located in the East End, White Lily is a successful mix of fancy and diner, serving an all-day breakfast.

There is a focus on comfort food made fresh, which is why everything here is made from scratch, including all the bakery items, donuts, condiments and preserves and pickles.

Try the Hot Turkey ($25.50), which is their most famous signature plate, which has house-smoked turkey on French Toast drenched in rich gravy and maple butter. If you’re in the mood for comfort food, try the Southern Breakfast ($21.50), served with creamy corn grits, thick sausage gravy, a fluffy house biscuit, bacon, and fermented greens. If you want something simpler, try the White Lily Standard ($21.00), scrambled eggs, sausage, a generous slice of rye toast, and hash browns.

As a bonus, definitely try their Fresh House Donuts (Single $4.50). Flavours change daily, but are always fresh and tasty, and so beautiful to look at for a few seconds before eating! Be sure to also try their Crullers, which are glazed salted caramel flavoured, and so loved that they are often sold out early.

Address: 678 Queen St. East

9. Susie’s Rise and Dine

A relatively new restaurant (opened in 2025), Susie’s Rise and Dine is a brunch spot serving comfort brunch food with an Asian twist. Located in the heart of Little Italy, the inside of the restaurant resembles a good old-fashioned diner, right down to the neon sign with their name on it, the checkered tile floor, and comfy booths. The wait time here can be hours long, but the good news is that they accept reservations. They also have a small patio out in front, so it’s great for extra seating during the summer months.

If you like pancakes that are crispy on the outside, while fluffy on the inside, then try the pancakes ($17.00), which are served with burnt maple syrup – it’s better than it sounds! The Big Trouble Breakfast Sandwich ($17.00) is quite decadent and flavourful. Served with scrambled eggs, sausage, crispy hash brown patty, cheese, on a scallion milk bun. It’s simply satisfying.

Address: 539 College St.

10. The Ace

Another Michelin-approved brunch spot on this list. The Ace is located in the Roncesvalles neighbourhood and takes reservations. Which is great since it is very popular and gets busy.

Do yourself a favour and try the Duck Confit and King Oyster Mushroom Toast ($25.00), which is served with two poached eggs, whipped ricotta cheese, hollandaise, and their perfectly spiced home fries. If duck isn’t for you, then try the French Toast ($21.00), served on a brioche bun, caramelized pears, whipped ricotta, topped with pistachios and maple syrup.

They serve a single slice of French Toast ($9.00), home fries ($8.00), and bacon ($8.00). This is a great option to try and sample different items.

Address: 231A Roncesvalles Ave.

Getting Around Toronto

Toronto’s traffic is bad. So bad that many celebrities have talked about it during their interviews. It’s not impossible to get around by car; however, you need to add waiting-in-traffic time to wherever you’re going. The other issue is parking. You can get lucky by getting street parking, particularly during non-rush hours, but if you are heading downtown, check to see where your closest GreenP is since it’s very likely you’ll need it. The TTC is an option as well since there are many stops along many routes. Always check ahead of time. Finally, if you are already downtown, it is pretty easy to walk from one spot to the other. If the distance is a little longer than you’d like, you can always hop on the streetcar until you’re closer to your destination.

FAQs

With so much choice, how do you decide what to eat? How do locals do it? What should you try if you only have a small travel window and you want to get the best of the best?

The best thing to do is to try a range of food items. Pick the popular restaurant you’ve been seeing all over Instagram, but then also try at least one casual, lesser-known place to eat to get a real, authentic food experience. You can start with some of the suggestions below.

What is a must eat in Toronto?

What if you want something other than brunch? Good news: There are so many options for dining in Toronto.

From grabbing a tasty pizza slice on the go to indulging in an elaborate meal of duck confit, you can find it all in Toronto. The diversity in this city is pretty remarkable, but if you’re looking for a must-eat dish in Toronto, we’d recommend something sweet and something savoury.

For something sweet: Andrea’s Cookies. Multiple locations through the city. The owner releases a new menu of six different cookies each week and you can see it on their socials and order online. The Blueberry Cheesecake and Chocolate Chunk are our favourites. We once ordered a box of cookies and the person behind the counter thought we were going to take them to a party. We weren’t 😉

For something savoury: J. San Sushi Bar. They use high quality fish and are known for being delicious and offering affordable take-away sushi. There are two locations, so you can pick from downtown or in North York.

Where do locals eat in Toronto?

Torontonians, in general, go out to eat fairly regularly or do take-out regularly as well. We, too, love the food culture here. Popular restaurants are often popular for good reason, since the competition here is steep, and restaurants that don’t deliver mouth-watering food often don’t last; however, lesser-known places, sometimes family owned, super casual are the city’s best kept secret.

These include exploring neighbourhoods, such as:

• Kensington Market for a variety of casual foods.
• Chinatown for authentic Chinese dishes.
• The Danforth nicknamed “Greektown,” for its variety of Greek dishes.
• Little Portugal for a good, old-fashioned Churrasqueiras, which is the BBQ chicken specialty.
• Baldwin Street is a small side street in downtown Toronto that has cute little shops and some great restaurants, such as Koh Lipe, that has been a Michelin recognized restaurant every year since 2022.
• The Annex, which runs along Bloor Street, has a mixture of student-friendly places, such as coffee shops and budget-friendly hand-held foods. East on Bloor St., you will find Korea Town, which offers many different dishes. Nearby is also home to one of our favourite Ethiopian Restaurants.

And many of the other immigrant neighbourhoods that serve traditional dishes.

What is Toronto’s signature dish?

The Peameal Bacon Sandwich is one of Toronto’s most popular and beloved signature dishes. You can find a great one at The Carousel Bakery located inside the St. Lawrence Market. Nothing fancy, just simple and tasty.

Final Thoughts

Brunch, and food options in general, are abundant in Toronto. There are so many amazing selections and you can have fun trying them as you make your way through the city.

You can also vary your experiences by mixing your choices to include casual fare with more elaborate fare. Either way, you are sure to try some amazing food.

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