We could all use a little glamour on our weekends. While Vancouver may be known more for its striking natural setting and myriad outdoor adventures than for its opulent eating, the city can surprise you with its celebratory weekend brunches.
We’ve rounded up five of our favorite destinations to enjoy when Saturday or Sunday calls for something special.
Classic Brunch at Notch8
When nothing but a classic brunch will do, head for Notch8, the glamourous dining room and lounge at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Vancouver’s “Castle in the City.”
At this traditional buffet, chefs stand by to cook eggs to order or carve the weekend roast. You can assemble your salad, dig into an ocean’s worth of chilled seafood or go sweet with the chocolate banana bread pudding. A peach bellini, a Canadian Caesar (a bloody mary with Clamato juice) or a simple glass of prosecco make excellent accompaniments.
High-Style Weekending at Botanist
From the sleek Asian-influenced design to the recently launched Nordic Spa experience, everything about Five-Star Fairmont Pacific Rim in downtown Vancouver says “high style.” And the multi-course weekend brunch at Botanist, the property’s flagship restaurant, is no exception.
Choose from two or three courses, with highlights ranging from mushroom toast with truffle aioli or burrata salad with smoked beets to fermented chili-torched salmon or decadently rich lobster eggs Benedict. While you can opt for a cocktail like Me Time (a blend of rum, blackberry, chai and crème de cacao), inventive alcohol-free drinks such as Raspberry Beret (raspberry, elderflower and black tea) or the spring-celebrating First Bloom (cherry blossom tea, Douglas fir, yuzu and soda) are great alternatives.
Add a sweet to wrap up your meal — perhaps almond crème brûlée or a fantasia of chocolate and cherries. It’s the weekend, after all.
Back to the ’80s at The Victor’s Disco Brunch
If you’re in the mood to kick off your weekend with a livelier scene, dance back to the ’80s at The Victor’s Disco Brunch.
All of the throwback buffet fun at The Victor — the restaurant sits in Parq Vancouver, the copper-clad complex housing Forbes Travel Guide Recommended properties JW Marriott Parq Vancouver and The Douglas — takes place on the third Sunday of each month.
There’ll be plenty of good times as you concoct your cocktail at the Bloody Bar. Or, for something fizzier, opt for a flight from a rolling mimosa cart where you’ll find bubbles blending with orange, blood orange, raspberry and pomegranate juices.
Seafood is a standout among the ample spread. There’s a raw bar with fresh oysters, tuna poke, a selection of sushi and steamed mussels and clams. Carnivores might head directly to the carving station while everyone else gravitates to the pastry table.
Upscale Dim Sum at Mott 32
You don’t have to wait for the weekend for an elaborate dim sum meal at Mott 32 at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Paradox Hotel Vancouver. In the octagonal dining room, where exposed concrete and other industrial components blend with traditional Asian design elements, the Vancouver branch of this luxurious Hong Kong-based restaurant serves upscale dim sum every day.
The kitchen upgrades classic tea-lunch dishes with luxe ingredients and inventive twists. Inside the shu mai, topped with black truffle, is a perfectly runny quail egg, while the shrimp-stuffed rice rolls balance smooth rice wraps with a satisfying crunch. The bright orange, hot and sour Iberico pork soup dumplings are made with carrot puree (for the vivid color) and moderately spicy broth.
Chambar, a Local Favorite
One of Vancouver’s most welcoming weekend spots is Chambar, where the chef mixes his Belgian heritage with North African flavors and plenty of local ingredients.
Get your morning going with Do It Yourself Mimosas, a carafe of fresh orange juice and a bottle of bubbly for the table. Foodwise, moules frites (mussels and fries) are a specialty, and the fricassee (a hearty plate with braised short ribs, fried eggs, caramelized onions and potatoes) is always a good choice.
Waffles are another favorite, starting with a simple version served with your choice of sauce, like berry compote, salted caramel or classic dark chocolate. But it’s hard to pass up the gaufre à la raclette, a sourdough waffle layered with prosciutto, mushroom ragoût, soft-boiled eggs, melted cheese, frisée and candied bacon salad.
