Sometimes on a Saturday morning, the last thing you want to do is get all cozy with strangers in the entrance way of a bustling brunch hotspot.
Skip the line and try out one of these eight spots where you’ll have a caesar in hand and eggs Benny (or whatever your breakfast preferences may be) on the table in no time.
Big Fish/Open Range
Always reliable for great seafood and steak, this connected restaurant space offers up a brunch menu on weekends and holidays that includes brioche French toast, steelhead trout hash and much more.
(1112 Edmonton Tr. N.E., 403-277-3403, big-fish.ca, @rangefish)
Briggs Kitchen and Bar
This newer restaurant has become a lot more popular over the lunch and dinner hours, but is still relatively quiet on the weekend mornings. Lucky for you, you can enjoy mimosas, caesars, a variety of eggs Bennys and even some breakfast perogies – filled with eggs and bacon – without waiting for a table to open up.
(317 10 Ave. S.W., 587-350-5015, briggskandb.ca, @briggskandb)
Borgo Trattoria
This popular Italian spot has always been open in the early mornings throughout the week, but just recently extended its brunch menu for service from Tuesday to Sunday. The frittata here is always a good choice and a morning Negroni is just the thing to kickstart your day.
(818 16 Ave. S.W., 403-245-2202, borgo.ca, @borgotrattoria)
Cucina 500
This spot around the corner from Bite! Groceteria keeps things simple with a weekend brunch menu of only six items including poached eggs on toast with tomato sauce and a Cowboy Breakfast Pizza topped with fior de latte, brisket, jalapenos and an egg.
(1003 9 Ave. S.E., 403-460-0797, 500cucina.com, @500cucina)
Local on 8th
It’s no secret that the Stephen Avenue area is a little quieter on the weekends, so why not take advantage of that? Local on 8th has a straightforward brunch menu that will always cure what ails you, especially the crispy, salty, spicy fried potatoes that are definitely a step up from your standard hashbrowns.
(310 8 Ave. S.W., 403-264-7808, local8thave.com, @localon8thave)
Wurst
A bratwurst and bean skillet and a duck confit eggs Benny are just two of the dishes you can satisfy your hunger with at this popular bier haus on Saturdays and Sundays. Mimosas and caesars for only $5 during brunch service are the icing on the cake here.
(2437 4 St. S.W., 403-245-2345, wurst.ca, @wurstcalgary)
Yellow Door Bistro
The best thing about brunch here at Hotel Arts is it has a great breakfast buffet every single day of the week. Le Creuset crocks line the bar counter with anything from cassoulets to bacon (of course!). If buffet-style isn’t your thing, you can do la carte here too.
(119 12 Ave. S.W., 403-206-9585, yellowdoorbistro.ca, @yellowdooryyc)