You’ve probably spotted their avocado on toast on Instagram – local foodies can’t get enough of Nelson the Seagull and for good reason. With a touch of nostalgia, the café goes back to basics serving up great coffee and fresh bread baked from scratch in their open kitchen. The menu focuses on simple recipes, like toasted muesli and poached eggs on house bread, and their all-organic treats are a delicious surprise. As for drinks, their signature flat whites and house-made almond milk are a hit.
Smart Mouth Café
There’s nothing like a good chuckle to start the day. Spot the joke of the day on their outdoor sandwich board and then step inside for tasty handmade granola, gourmet sandwiches and baked treats. The coffee is locally roasted, but if you prefer something different, try their special house chai tea, brewed in-house using premium whole spices.
Pictured here – Smart Mouth Cafe’s signature handmade granola
Brioche is a cozy café nestled on Cordova, where almost everything on the menu is made in-house from scratch. Chef Eduardo Bilardello cooks up delicious comforts that combine West Coast classics with Italian flair. Known for their stellar breakfast menu, Brioche offers homestyle mains: French toast and custom omlettes with a fresh sourdough, bagette or focaccia toast. For a savoury dish, try their eggs paired with a house roasted New York steak over creamy mushrooms, or chilled smoke salmon over a bed of fresh scrambled eggs. And let’s not forget about their decadent pastries, also made fresh daily.
Gastown’s newest addition, Birds & The Beets, is a delightful café that has opened on Powell. The breakfast menu focuses on simple, house-made offerings with fresh options like chia bircher museli, brioche bun sandwiches and yogurt with granola & fruit. The team makes their own yogurt and pickled vegetables, and is working on crafting their own ginger beer and soda syrups. In addition to cold pressed juices, there’s Bows x Arrows and Matchstick coffee (a favourite with coffee lovers), as well as local beers and ciders. If you need a little snack, grab a jar of pickles to go.
Salty Tongue CafeThere are lots of locally sourced offerings to choose from at this eat-in café including homemade breakfast mains, sandwiches, and pot pies. The full Irish breakfast is a savoury must-have. Vegetarians can choose between a vegan pot pie or breakfast sandwich with mushroom ragout. If you’re on the go, try their hearty breakfast sandwich. With a 40-ft long communal table, there’s always a free seat waiting for you.
Going 15 years strong in Gastown, Bambo brings old-time charm in a cozy, café environment. Here, you can order organic fair trade coffee made to your liking and choose from an array of pastries, bagels, and omlettes served with house bread, fresh fruit and hashbrowns. Vegan and gluten free homemade Azizi soups are also available. Feeling parched? Pair it all with a banana milkshake or fresh squeezed juice.
A culinary love affair unfolds at The Baker & The Chef. Nestled beside the Cambie Hostel, this cafe and bakery creates homemade meals and pastries fresh from scratch. If you can’t kick the craving of eggs and bacon, they offer affordable all-day breakfast, along with on-the-go breakfast sandwiches and build-your-own omlettes.
Come down early and soak in some sporting action on a 40ft screen. The Blarney Stone is no stranger to breakfast, and you’d be hard-pressed to find heartier options elsewhere. Delicious standouts like the chorizo omlette, classic Belgium waffle and bacon butty breakfast sandwich, will surely fill your appetite. Pair it all with an Irish coffee, pint or mimosa, and you’re ready to conquer the day.
