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Calgary has a booming brunch scene with restaurants to fit your every brunch desire. Some feature international flavors. Others have your typical North American fare. A select few are elevating brunch to a new place entirely. Wherever you choose to go, you’re guaranteed to find a flavourful and unforgettable brunch at any one of these Calgary restaurants.
Satisfy your Sunday brunch cravings with these top 10 Calgary restaurants with the very best breakfast menus. While you’re at it, check out our other restaurant round-ups including the best restaurants in Vancouver for date night and our top picks in Toronto to enjoy a good patio!
The Best Calgary Restaurants for Brunch
OEB Breakfast Co.
Top Choice: Chunky Lobster Scramble Breakfast Poutine
OEB is a small chain of breakfast eateries with locations across Canada, including three restaurants in Calgary. What sets OEB apart is their commitment to making brunch an elegant and creative endeavor. They combine local ingredients with a passion for flavor and a whole lot of flare, making it a top choice for breakfast goers in the city.
If you find yourself at OEB for brunch, be sure to try one of their famous breakfast poutine. Duck fat fried herb potatoes are piled high with everything from beef short rib, to ahi tuna, to a lobster and shrimp scramble. Of course, a perfectly poached egg on top.
The Coup
Top Choice: Sumac Shakshuka
This ethical vegetarian restaurant takes their commitment to sustainability to the next level. They plant 36 trees a month, compost in their garden, power their café with renewable energy, and cook with organic, local and non-GMO ingredients. Not to mention their food is fantastic.
Nourish your body and your soul with a Vegan Benedict made with tofu, roasted seasonal vegetables, and corn hollandaise on a vegan croissant, or try the Sumac Shakshuka with poached eggs, pickled jalapeños, chermoula, and crispy tortilla. The eggs can even be substituted with chickpeas for a fully vegan-friendly brunch.
Pfanntastic Pannenkoek Haus
Top Choice: Black Forest Pannenkoek
This Calgary restaurant is famous for bringing pannenkoek, or Dutch pancakes, to Canada. What makes these pancakes different than their North America counterparts is they’re spread thin like a crepe, cooked in a cast iron pan, and can be either sweet or savoury. These pancakes are so deliciously authentic, they’ve been featured on the Food Network and written about in magazines around the world.
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, you can’t go wrong with the Black Forest Pannenkoek, topped with warm cherries, ice cream, whipped cream, Kirschwasser in a chocolate cup, and chocolate sauce. This one comes with a shot of liquor on the side, so you’ll have to be over 18 to enjoy it (or give it to your parents instead).
Native Tongues Taqueria
Top Choice: Chicken and Donuts
Native Tongues is consistently voted as one of the best restaurants in Calgary and it’s no secret why. Their food is flavorful, their atmosphere is fun, and their ever-changing menu assures there is always something new to try. Visit on a Sunday, for example, and you will be treated to a surprise dish inspired by a different region of Mexico, which changes every month.
Treat yourself to some typical Mexican brunch with dishes like Chilaquiles or Huevos Al Horno. You could also try something totally unique like their Chicken and Donuts, a creative take on chicken and waffles featuring buttermilk fried chicken, gravy, and avocado all on a glazed donas. It’s the perfect blend of sweet and savory for those days you’re craving a little bit of both.
The Beltliner
Top Choice: Weekend Ceasar Bar
The Beltliner touts itself as a “modern and casual interpretation of the classic diner”. That means taking diner fare you know and love, and elevating it with new takes, better ingredients, and modern techniques. Their coffee and décor will make you feel right at home, while their food will take you to places you’ve never been.
Here, you’ll find your typical diner dishes including Eggs Benedict and Country Fried Steak and Eggs, but you can also get Channa Masala and Grilled Grapefruit topped with spiced pecans. Whatever you order, be sure to grab an over-the-top and fully customizable Caesar at their weekend Caesar bar if you’re feeling really brave.
Monki Breakfast and Bistro
Top Choice: ‘Elvis’ French Toast
The mantra at Monki is to do brunch differently, and once you taste their food, you’ll know exactly what they mean. Served in an ultra friendly and eclectic atmosphere, their dishes are delightfully flavorful and immensely innovative. That’s because they source their ingredients from artisanal producers and sprinkle in a generous portion of love.
Their menu is full of new flavours and unique dishes like Breakfast Perogies filled with bacon, mushrooms, onion and garlic, and Brisket Poutine topped with truffle ricotta and smoked gouda. Our top choice however is the ‘Elvis’ French Toast stuffed with cream cheese and topped with peanut butter, caramelized bananas, and fried bacon. Yes…bacon.
Yellow Door Bistro
Top Choice: Eggs Benedict – Baby Shrimp BLT
This Calgary restaurant has a bright and beautiful space and a whimsical approach to food. The interior is sprinkled with some funky furniture and their food is tastefully simple. They even have a buffet option (though it’s closed for now due to COVID-19) for those days when you want to try a little bit of everything.
If you find yourself at Yellow Door Bistro for Sunday brunch, might we suggest the Kimchi Eggs in Purgatory featuring tofu, kimchi, and green onion salsa to satisfy your spicier side. Or you can’t go wrong with the Baby Shrimp BLT Eggs Benedict topped with prosciutto and baby shrimp and served on a homemade herbed biscuit.
Suzette Bistro
Top Choice: Poire Belle Hélène Crepe
This beautiful little bistro serves up authentic French comfort food using local and seasonal ingredients. It’s often acknowledged as one of the best restaurants in Calgary with a wide selection of classically French fare, including crepes and galettes to satisfy all of your sweet and savory cravings.
For those who aren’t familiar, a galette is a savory buckwheat crepe featuring ingredients like seared scallops and local farm bacon, while crepes are made with a sweet white flour and filled to the brim with chocolate, fruit, and more. Our favorite is the Poire Belle Hélène crepe featuring poached pear, chocolate sauce, vanilla ice cream and almonds. You can never go wrong with dessert for breakfast.
The Bro’Kin Yolk
Top Choice: Upstream Eggs Benedict
As a general rule, any brunch place with the word “yolk” in it is guaranteed to be good, but this Calgary restaurant exceeds all expectations. Owned by two brothers, the Bro’Kin Yolk is about bringing people together to enjoy Farm-to-Table breakfast fare. That means a friendly atmosphere, free-range eggs, and a restaurant built on an ethos of giving back to their community through local charities.
Fill your belly and your heart with any of the egg-centric meals on this menu, from breakfast poutine to open-face sandwiches. With vegan and low-carb options, you’re sure to find something for everyone. Might we suggest the Upstream Eggs Benedict served with smoked salmon and basil hollandaise all on a homemade Belgian waffle?
Blue Star Diner
Top Choice: Classic Breakfast
This diner is a favorite amongst locals for its positive energy and fun atmosphere. They may not take themselves too seriously, but that doesn’t mean they’re not committed to their craft. Their ingredients are locally sourced, their energy bill is carbon neutral, and their food is down-right delicious.
You won’t find anything too unusual here, just main-stay diner classics done right including buttermilk pancakes, brioche French toast, and breakfast burritos. That’s why our top choice is a no-frills classic breakfast complete with eggs, toast, hash browns and your choice and locally sourced protein, like apple chicken sausage or chorizo.
These Calgary Restaurants do Brunch Best
Treat yourself this weekend to an awe-inspiring brunch at any one of these Calgary restaurants and we promise you won’t be disappointed. From diner delights to French cuisine, there’s something to satisfy any of your brunch cravings.
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