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Ah Victoria, the provincial capital British Columbia. Beautiful in the summer, quiet in the winter. And if you’re a brunch lover, the best place to be. There are so many amazing places to have brunch in this city – a disproportionate amount it seems given the size of the city. On Sunday mornings when I lived in the city, you’d often find me at one of these places. Nothing cures a night out as well as a big stack of pancakes. Or maybe a big pile of bacon and eggs. Or a corned beef hash. The options are endless. It truly is safe to say: Victoria – a city of brunch.
Here are a few of my favourite places to grab brunch in the city of gardens. Would you believe I’ve been to these places so many times and yet, I barely have any photos? Shocking!
But be warned, if you want brunch you’re going to have to work for it. Lines are long, so go early or be prepared to wait. Smaller parties get seated first, large ones, good luck.
Blue Fox Café
Photo: Michelle Grimord Eggers
The Blue Fox Café is an institution in the brunch world of Victoria. It has been around for a long time and it’s popularity keeps on growing. They offer a large menu with many classics including 7 different types of omelets, and 11 different eggs benedicts. There are also tempting burgers and sandwiches on the menu as well.
This place is the hardest to get into so go early and not with a large group! It’s so busy that I’ve only been here once or twice as there are other places that offer delicious food, with a faster line.
Photo: Colin Pitcher
919 Fort St
www.thebluefoxcafe.com
John’s Place
Photo: Tony Sprackett
Another popular place in Victoria. I use to live just around the corner from this place and went a lot. The waitresses are super friendly and make you feel at home. My favorite things to order here are their eggs benedicts. That hollandaise sauce is the best thing ever. There are so many different kinds available you can eat for a week and not have the same thing twice. Or get their waffles with their cream cheese syrup. They’ve been featured on Food Network Canada as well as used as a film set.
Photo: Raul P
The best part of John’s Place are all the photos on the walls. Images of famous actresses and actors, plus plenty of memorabilia, all line the walls from floor to ceiling. It is endless and provides great entertainment to see how many you can name from afar. Be prepared to be squished though – they like to pack in as many people as possible. There is little more than an inch or two between you and the next table over. It’s all worth it for the food though.
Photo: Jason Horne
723 Pandora Avenue
www.johnsplace.ca
Cabin 12
This place is not fancy. It’s chill, and laid back, with simple yet tasty food as if your grandmother was making it. Like many of the other brunch places on this list, the furniture is a smattering of eclectic chairs and tables which added to the charm of the place.
Above is Willie’s Hash – a mix of hash browns, cheese, egg, sausage, and bacon. But it was the hashbrowns that stole the show. They’re perfectly crispy on the outside with a nice bite to it where you really taste the delicious potato-y-ness.
They also offer a lunch menu complete with a vegan poutine. Yes please! While they’re not located right downtown anymore (they use to be), they’re definitely worth making the trek to visit if you’re in town.
UPDATE: Cabin12 has unfortunately served its last meal and is now permanently closed. I’m sad to see it go, but maybe it will be resurrected again?
Floyd’s Diner
You know you’re at Floyd’s when you’re walking into a bright pink building. With mismatched chairs and tables of various sizes throughout the brightly painted room, you won’t know where to look. There are lots of framed images on the walls and the scribblings from previous patrons in between it all. The menu names are the best taking inspiration from classic movies and tv shows like Seinfield and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And if you’re feeling lucky, get the Mahoney. You get whatever the kitchen feels like and you can either pay the original price, or you can flip for it – Double or Nothing!
Photo: wyn ♥ lok
My favourite item is the BC Hash – get the full size and it’s a meal for two almost. The portions are massive! The service is friendly and you don’t feel the pressure to eat quickly. The place is bigger and they can get more people in. There are lines, but usually not as bad as some of the others.
866 Yates Street
www.floydsdiner.ca
Jam Café
My latest discovery on my most recent trip to the city. Jam Café is an all-day breakfast and lunch place location just on the outskirts of Chinatown. I love the look of the restaurant inside. It is decorated with a mishmash of collected items from snowshoes and skis to a gigantic chalkboard with the day’s specials.
The menu is awesome. How can you say no to red velvet pancakes or a fried chicken eggs benedict? Swoon. I ultimately went with the special of the day. I had a delicious pesto and prosciutto benny with a side of hash browns and sun-dried tomatoes. They also a great drinks menu if you need a little kick to get you started in the morning. Bourbon Caesar anyone? They also offer lollipops with the bill which is awesome.
Photo: Jen Arrr
542 Herald Street
www.jamcafevictoria.com
My top picks for brunch in beautiful Victoria, BC! So who’s coming with me?
Have you been to Victoria? Have you tried a brunch place?
If you’re new to Pack Me To, welcome!
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Jess says
January 5, 2014 at 6:07 AMOoh, now I want a good brunch. I haven’t had brunch as a regular thing since I lived in New Orleans. I think the Jam Cafe looks like my favorite!
Adelina says
January 5, 2014 at 4:36 PMBrunch is good for the soul. True story. Come for a visit and we shall go!
Nancie says
January 5, 2014 at 6:18 AMI want to go to all of them!! I LOVE visiting new restaurants on my travels. I had poutine for the first time in Ontario and have been hooked. Thanks for sharing! I’m going to keep them in mind when I visit Victoria!
Adelina says
January 5, 2014 at 4:35 PMPoutine is amazing! Sounds disgusting, but so good. You definitely will need to come out to the west coast 🙂
frankaboutcroatia says
January 5, 2014 at 10:18 AMUnbelievable that lines for brunch are so long in Victoria. This really means that locals love their brunch. You made me really hungry this morning. Jam Cafe’s drinks menu sounds awesome.
Adelina says
January 5, 2014 at 4:34 PMIt’s pretty ridiculous but definitely well worth the waits.
Lunaguava says
January 5, 2014 at 2:16 PMDid anyone say brunch? I love a good brunch city (Berlin is a fave), and Victoria seems to be a pretty nifty choice. I’ll definitely keep it in mind if ever in the vicinities. Great roundup, congrats!
Adelina says
January 5, 2014 at 4:29 PMOooh! I didn’t have brunch at all when in Berlin. Any good places?
Emma says
January 5, 2014 at 3:01 PMI am starving after all of those gorgeous pictures! All of them look like lovely places to brunch! 🙂
Travis says
January 5, 2014 at 12:54 PMI should have eaten before reading your post! When I was going to school in Victoria my girlfriend would joke that she only came to visit for the food. Now that I’ve moved away for a few years it looks like a good time for a return visit! Thanks for the heads up on some new restaurants to check out next time we are in the area.
Adelina says
January 5, 2014 at 4:30 PMDid you go to UVic? I went there too and same thing – plenty of friends coming over for food.
Travis says
January 5, 2014 at 7:17 PMYes, I went to UVic when I was doing my first Biology degree. I loved it there – when my girlfriend was reading out the title of the post, I started shouting “Blue Fox! John’s! Jam cafe!” – I think everyone in Victoria eventually ends up finding these fantastic places (you only have to look for the lines out the door!). I used to love heading down to Red Fish Blue Fish for a fish taco (although you definitely have to know when to go to miss the lines there)…and definitely relished when people would come into town to show them my new finds! Safe travels!
Adelina says
January 6, 2014 at 11:54 PMI was a big fan of Red Fish Blue Fish too! Then they got discovered and the lines were crazy. Where was your favorite place for brunch? It seems like there are new ones cropping up every time I go back to visit.
Travis says
January 9, 2014 at 8:07 PMSorry for the belated reply…I can’t think of any specific place you didn’t mention. My favorites are definitely Jam Cafe and John’s. It’s definitely not too had to find good breakfast and brunch in Victoria – they take it seriously!
Adelina says
January 10, 2014 at 6:28 PMIt could almost be a sport for them. Mmm brunch 🙂
Samantha says
January 6, 2014 at 5:38 PMI love brunch! These all look delicious. I’m loving your food posts. Keep them coming! Hope we can grab brunch up there sometime 🙂
Adelina says
January 6, 2014 at 11:52 PMThanks Samantha! I have plenty of food related posts coming so stay tuned!
Conor walsh says
January 8, 2014 at 4:24 PMWoah. Every dish in this post looks incredible. The one thing I miss most living in Asia is food like this on a Sunday morning. Sometimes noodle soup just doesn’t cut it.
Adelina says
January 8, 2014 at 8:29 PMThanks Conor! I love my noodles in all varieties, but I’m not sure I could handle everyday. I would love to live in Asia for awhile to test this.
A Southern Gypsy says
January 9, 2014 at 3:54 PMOhhh my gosh…I’m foaming at the mouth over here haha. They all look really good. Red velvet is my absolute favorite kind of cake so the pancakes are very intriguing to me. I’m gonna come visit you asap, k? 🙂
Adelina says
January 10, 2014 at 6:13 PMSounds good! Let’s go eat 🙂
Sandra says
January 16, 2014 at 5:04 PMYou’re right, in most cities there’s max two or three good brunch restaurants. This city is crazy!
Adelina says
January 16, 2014 at 6:01 PMThis is why you need to come to the west coast 🙂
Angela Gilmore says
February 12, 2014 at 8:44 PMOMG this city of brunch sounds amazing and your pictures had me drooling on my keyboard! I’ve never been to Victoria, but it really looks like an awesome spot! Stopping by from #SITSBlogging.