Brunch in Toronto: the best neighbourhoods and how to skip the line

Weekend brunch is practically a sport in Toronto. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, lines form outside the city's most famous brunch spots long before they open, and people happily wait for eggs Benedict, pancakes, shakshuka and strong coffee. Whether you love the ritual or hate the wait, here is how to brunch well in Toronto.

Which Toronto neighbourhoods are best for brunch?

Neighbourhood	What to expect
Leslieville	Often called Toronto's brunch capital, with famous lines on Queen Street East
Roncesvalles	Relaxed brunch spots near High Park
Ossington and Dundas West	Stylish cafés and creative menus
The Annex	Student-friendly diners and cafés
Kensington Market	Casual, eclectic brunch and global flavours
The Danforth	Greek and neighbourhood brunch spots
King Street West	Big, buzzy brunch rooms downtown

How do you avoid the brunch lines in Toronto?

1. Arrive before opening, or in the first half hour.
2. Go on a weekday, when the same menus are often available with no wait.
3. Choose a place that takes reservations, especially for groups.
4. Put your name down and walk while you wait; many places text you.
5. Go late, after 1 p.m., when the first rush has eaten.
6. Try the less famous place next door, which is often just as good.

What should you order at brunch in Toronto?

• Eggs Benedict, the classic, often with creative twists.
• Pancakes and French toast, from fluffy stacks to brioche versions.
• Shakshuka, eggs baked in spiced tomato sauce.
• A breakfast sandwich on a good bun.
• The peameal bacon sandwich, Toronto's signature, especially at St. Lawrence Market.
• Chilaquiles and huevos rancheros at Mexican spots.
• Fresh pastries from a good bakery.

Is dim sum a good alternative to brunch?

Absolutely. Dim sum is Toronto's other great weekend late-morning meal, and many Chinese restaurants in Chinatown, Scarborough and Markham serve it from opening until mid-afternoon. It is lively, affordable and good for groups and mixed ages, and the lines move faster than at the famous brunch spots.

What other brunch alternatives are there?

Alternative	Why
Dim sum	Fast, shareable, great value
Market breakfast	St. Lawrence Market or Evergreen Brick Works on Saturday
Bakery and coffee	Quick, cheap and no line, or a short one
Hong Kong-style café	Set breakfasts with milk tea
Halwa puri	A Pakistani weekend breakfast in Thorncliffe Park or Scarborough

Is brunch expensive in Toronto?

Brunch can add up, especially with coffee, fresh juice and cocktails. Ontario adds the 13 percent HST to restaurant bills, and tipping is expected at 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount. Dim sum, bakeries and market breakfasts are cheaper alternatives.

Where can you get brunch for a big group in Toronto?

Large groups should book. Choose bigger restaurants downtown or on King Street West that take reservations, or go for dim sum, where round tables are made for groups. Small Leslieville favourites rarely seat large parties.

Is weekday brunch a good idea?

Yes. Many brunch spots serve their weekend menus, or close versions, during the week with little or no wait, which makes a weekday off or a work-from-home morning a great time to try the famous places.

Is brunch good for kids in Toronto?

Yes, at the right places. Family-friendly brunch spots in Leslieville, Roncesvalles and the Danforth are used to high chairs and strollers, and pancakes and eggs suit most children. The challenge is the wait: a long line outside with hungry kids is nobody's idea of fun. Choose a place that takes reservations, arrive right at opening, or go for dim sum, where food arrives within minutes and children love choosing from the carts.

What makes a good brunch spot?

A great brunch spot gets the basics right: eggs cooked exactly as ordered, hot coffee refilled without asking, good bread and a kitchen that handles a rush without losing quality. A long line is a hint, but not proof.

What is a peameal bacon brunch?

Toronto has its own contribution to brunch: peameal bacon, the lean, cornmeal-crusted back bacon the city is known for. You will find it on many brunch menus, often in eggs Benedict or as a side, as well as in the famous sandwich at the St. Lawrence Market.

Other brunch dishes with a Canadian accent to look for:

• Pancakes or French toast with maple syrup.
• Back bacon or peameal on an eggs Benedict.
• A Caesar, the Canadian cocktail, in place of a Bloody Mary.
• Butter tarts or other Ontario baking for something sweet.

Can you get brunch outside in Toronto?

In summer, many brunch spots have patios, and some add curb lane patios through the city's CafeTO program. Patio tables fill fastest, so arrive early on sunny weekends.

On Mosey, you can rate the brunch places you tried and the dishes you ordered, with photos, and keep a list of spots to work through. Seeing what people actually ordered helps you skip straight to the dish worth the wait.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Business lunch in Toronto's Financial District: where and how
• Butter tarts in Toronto: Ontario's favourite sweet and where to try it

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.