The Best Family Brunch Spots in Toronto

Brunch—it’s the best meal of the day, right? Afterall, not only does it offer all the deliciousness of breakfast, but it can also include sandwiches, salads, even pizza! This makes it easier to find something for your picky kids to eat. And then there’s the timing. Not too early, not too late and it can be worked around nap time. What’s not to love? Okay, okay, sometimes brunch gets a bad rap: long lines, overpriced dishes, and restaurants filled with customers who aren’t cool with kids and the uh, noise they can bring to a room. So we’ve asked around and done a bit of research, including some in-person, to track down these spots for family brunch in Toronto that prove just why brunch is the best meal to enjoy out with your kids.

The Best Spots for Family Brunch in Toronto

BOCA
488 Cosburn Ave., Toronto

Standing for Brunch on Cosburn Avenue, this new spot for family brunch in Toronto takes over the old Paul’s Spaghetti restaurant and brings classic brunch food to one of Toronto’s more kid-packed neighbourhoods. To cater to all those families, BOCA offers a kids’ menu that doubles as a colouring sheet (and yes, crayons are also provided). All the usual suspects are offered here, as well as some harder-to-find items including strawberry cream cheesecake crepes, salmon omelettes, and buffalo chicken poutine. BOCA is a small space but there is a nice-sized outdoor patio that’s perfect for those who prefer to dine al fresco. BOCA can also be fully booked out, in case one of your kids dreams of a brunch-themed birthday party.

Cafe Landwer
33 Bloor St. E. & 165 University Ave., Toronto

Does your family need a downtown brunch destination suitable for meeting up with a bunch of people? Then Cafe Landwer might be your place! It has space, it takes reservations, and it has an extensive menu that caters to almost everyone. While that menu has plenty of Mediterranean flair (choose from one of six kinds of shakshukas), there are also pancakes, Belgian waffles, and even burgers. And for the kids, there’s a special menu that includes eggs, pizza, and chicken tenders (that turns into an activity sheet). Cafe Landwer also has four other locations in and around Toronto.

Dirty Food
3079 Dundas St. W., Toronto

This Junction spot is small (leave the stroller at home and try to get there early) but is huge on taste with options such as deep-fried pickle grilled cheese, a chicken and waffle sandwich, and — for those who are vegan and/or gluten-free — chocolate chip sweet cakes (essentially sweet potato pancakes). Kids can pick from the main menu or get some from their own list, which includes grilled cheese, apple johnnycakes, or eggs and toast. Oh, and parents? This place has top-notch (and morning-appropriate) cocktails.

Emma’s Country Kitchen
810 St. Clair Ave. W., Toronto

The self-proclaimed “little slice of breakfast heaven” is famous for its delicious buttermilk biscuits. And that’s just the start of Emma’s carb-heavy menu. This awesome spot for family brunch in Toronto offers options that are sure to satisfy your family including cinnamon bun pancakes, buttermilk doughnuts, and breakfast poutine, There’s also a fried chicken platter that, for $50, will feed a family of four. Not able to dine inside? Then order Emma’s for delivery! This service is only available on the weekend and covers a specific slice of west central-ish Toronto. Want more good news? Emma’s is also a certified living wage employer; no wonder the service is so great.

Fran’s
200 Victoria St. & 20 College St., Toronto

Of course, we must include this Toronto classic! Fran’s has two downtown locations that are great for grabbing brunch before a play, a game or if you’re meeting up with friends or family who are staying in the core (the Victoria Street location is particularly good for larger groups). These restaurants can get a little loud but that’s all the better for drowning out any noise made by your kids. Fran’s all-bay breakfast includes pancakes, omelets, and benedicts. There’s also a wide selection of non-breakfast items and let’s not forget about Fran’s amazing cakes and milkshakes. Can’t make it into Fran’s? It also offers delivery.

Good Fork
1550 Dundas St. W., Toronto

The menu at this Middle Eastern-themed spot isn’t your traditional bacon and French toast, but if your kids have a diverse palate this west-end diner is worth a visit. Pancakes are available, including one option that has orange blossom ricotta, but so is a hummus bowl that you can customize, and something called the anatolian delight platter, which features pomegranate, whipped feta, and a simit and red lentil soup. Good Fork takes reservations and is also quite spacious with, dare we say it, room for a stroller.

Lakeview Diner
1132 Dundas St. W., Toronto

At the time of publication, this Toronto institution is closed for renovations. But its owners have promised that when it reopens, things won’t have changed too much. With its large space, casual vibe, and kids’ menu that comes with crayons and options such as pancakes, chicken fingers, and mac and cheese, the Lakeview has historically been a great spot for west-end families, so long as you arrive before the late morning rush. Fingers crossed that the Lakeview remains a go-to- destination for families and that those delicious milkshakes make a return!

Lazy Daisy’s Café
1515 Gerrard St. E., Toronto

The train table might be gone but Lazy Daisy’s is still a family-friendly spot for family brunch in Toronto that embraces the presence of children. It offers fast, warm service and cute décor that’s also kid friendly. This spot is also home to some of the best buttermilk biscuits you can find in this city (and which come in a few different flavours). There’s a dedicated kids’ menu that features grilled cheese and various pancake options, among other choices. For adults, the menu offers breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon pancakes, baked goods, and more.

Ok Ok Diner
1128 Queen St. E., Toronto

This place has been around since 1952 so you know it must be good! The décor and atmosphere are what you would expect of an old-school diner, and this isn’t a big space—though come the warm weather, the patio provides more seats—but it’s a relaxed restaurant that offers classic brunch options at very reasonable prices. It also serves up some not-so-classic dishes, such as Elvis Is King, which is French toast with peanut butter and bananas (and you can add Nutella for an extra charge). If you’re looking for something a little lighter, we highly recommend the California chicken club sandwich, which features generous slices of avocadoes.

Stacked Pancake House
425 Danforth Ave., Toronto

The first Toronto location of this pancake-focused chain is known for its family-friendly atmosphere and massive portions. Even the kids’ meals are huge! And while pancakes, which come in such fun variations as white chocolate Oreo, strawberry cheesecake, and birthday cake, are the star here, lots of other options are available. Think omelettes, sandwiches, and French toast. As a nice bonus, this spot will also give your kids crayons and a colouring sheet that doubles as the kids’ menu.

Sunny Morning
1392 Yonge St. & 1602 The Queensway, Unit E2, Toronto

Plus other locations around Ontario…

This is a made-in-Ontario success story that got its start right here in Toronto! Sunny Morning lives up to its name by brightening mornings (and afternoons) with an extensive menu packed with fresh and delicious food. Enjoy pancakes, Belgium waffles, and French toast in classic styles or enhanced with caramel sauce, strawberries, or other tasty additions. There’s also a wide selection of eggs, burgers, sandwiches, and more, meaning everyone in your family will find something to eat.

Thrive Restaurant
3473 Lake Shore Blvd W., Toronto

Need a family-friendly brunch spot that also accommodates vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free diets? Then Thrive will have your family, well, thriving! The food here is fresh, healthy, and delicious. Think coconut Caesar salad; breakfast dishes and wraps that include eggs, and even pizzas. There are also lots of juice and smoothie options, some of which are essentially a meal in a glass. The atmosphere is quite mellow and there’s also lots of space; you could likely even maneuver a stroller up to your table.