You had a rough Saturday night on Granville Street – and by rough I mean you aren’t sure how you ended up in your own bed last night. While other Vancouverites are kicking off their New Year’s resolutions with a cool 15km on the sea wall, you’re making your first attempts at 1pm to get out of bed. All you are craving is grease, fat, and lots of coffee. Look no further, we have complied a list of 8 brunch places in the city to cure that hangover. Hey, the resolutions can start Monday – no need to be ambitious.
Tomahawk Restaurant, North Vancouver
This family run restaurant first started as a drive-in in the early 1900’s and has since been serving up massive portions of the perfect breakfast to Vancouverites from all over. The weekend lines are long but so worth it! Enjoy traditional breakfast items such as omelettes, pancakes, and eggs benedict. Their famous dish – which may just cure that awful hangover – is called “The Yukon”. This huge dish consists of five slices of bacon, two eggs done the way you like, a ton of hash browns, and two thick slices of toast! Now that’s a breakfast!
Havana, Commercial Drive
Sometimes, the only cure for a hangover to keep drinking! Stop by Havana on the Drive for mojitos, sangria, or mimosas! I bet you’re feeling better already. The brunch menu is Latin-inspired and you can expect to see items such as Huevos Rancheros, Chorizo Hash, and the “Latin Breakfast”. This consists of scrambled eggs, rice, tortilla, beans and all the usual fixings! The breakfast menu also offers omelettes, eggs benedict, and waffles with fried chicken. They if you can’t beat them – join ‘em! Your Sunday may be a little easier to get through with a Caesar to start.
The Templeton, Granville Street
You may as well return to the scene of the crime and head back to Granville Street for brunch to visit this popular “old school” diner! This restaurant offers something for everyone! From little boxes of Kellogg’s Special K to cinnamon raisin French toast and a wide variety of egg specials there is something to cure any hangover and satisfy any craving! Recommended is the “Huge Ass Breakfast”: 3 veggies, bacon, sausage or turkey bacon, cinnamon raisin French toast or blueberry banana pancakes, rosemary potatoes, and toast. Who needs Advil when you have all that? But, proceed with caution.
Red Wagon, East Village
Aaah! The good old Red Wagon. Since you’re hung over and it’s already 2pm, you’ve entirely missed the lineup for one of Vancouver’s hottest brunch places. May as well take advantage. Famous for their pulled pork pancakes topped with Jack Daniels infused syrup, this may just be the pick-me-up you need! With a large menu consisting of pancakes, the usual Trucker breakfast, and fabulous omelettes, you may even be thankful for your hangover as you walk in without having to wait for a table. Be sure to check out the specials board too – they are forever changing and are simply amazing.
Sun Sui Wah, Main Street
Changing directions completely, nothing is better for a hangover than greasy, oily, Chinese food. I say, take full advantage and go for dim sum. Shrimp dumplings, beef dumplings, sticky rice, and pork buns are all sure to help your stomach. Be adventurous as you like – although chicken knees may not be the way to go for your first time! Finish off the meal with something sweet such as mango pudding, or red bean balls. How I wish I could list all the times for you to order but I don’t know the names – only what they look like! Nonetheless, dim sum is a great hangover cure!
Jethro’s Fine Grub, Dunbar Street
The ultimate breakfast place! Seriously, if they don’t have what you’re looking for on the menu – it doesn’t exist. Choose from two menus – a sweet and a savoury – both being very extensive! With items like apple cobbler French toast, The Golden Rush – banana pancakes stuffed with caramel and pecans and topped with more of the above – you may just want to jump out of bed and run here! Yeah, okay not quite? Take your time then because brunch is served until 4pm!
Falconetti’s Eastside Grill, Commercial Drive
If meat is what you’re craving the morning after head over to Falconetti’s for some house-made sausages! Known for their sausages the brunch menu offers a bunch of different kinds. From chicken Thai, which consists of coconut and curry, or the sweet Italian with basil and fennel you will want to try them all! The guys over at Falconetti predicted this and I recommend you order The Sampler, three types of sausages, tons of dipping sauce, and fries! Yum!
Café Zen, Kitsilano
In operation for more than 25 years, this place has become a Vancouver breakfast must-try! Boasting itself as the “Best Breakfast in Vancouver” it possibly could be with an extensive menu of pancakes, crepes, and eggs benedict! Start the recovery process and fill up on their healthy juices full of anti-oxidants! Steps away from the beach and often full early morning yoga-enthusiasts or joggers, you may just get inspired to change your drinking habits and start on the New Year’s resolution. That is until next Saturday comes along…
We’re sure there are lots of hidden gem breakfast places to cure any hangover, this is just our list of the ones that would make us want to get out of bed on a Sunday morning, or afternoon, or evening. Hope you’ll feel better after your meal – now if the kid at the table beside you would just quiet down all would be good in the world. After being fully satisfied with grease and fatty foods, it’s time to sleep! Who knows? Maybe tomorrow you’ll be the one starting the resolution and running 10km around Stanley Park.
Written by: Micaela Monk