As the capital of Canada, Ottawa is filled with outstanding restaurants to discover. To start your day off right, there’s nothing like a good brunch, and with its mix of cultures, Ottawa’s culinary scene is sure to meet every expectation. From family-friendly spots to elegant gems for celebrating special occasions such as birthdays, the best brunch in Ottawa can be found at these stellar restaurants.
A cozy French bistro serves truffled omelettes alongside peach mimosas. There’s a lively hangout spot featuring Turkish eggs and free-flowing mimosas. In Gatineau, a stellar brunch buffet complete with waffles, crêpes and stunning views makes the perfect destination for a memorable celebration. In Nepean and ByWard market, a neighbourhood gem offers breakfast and BBQ fusion dishes. Throughout the city, Canadian brunch menus boast bottomless drinks and pancake stacks topped with bacon maple syrup.
Read for the 10 best brunch restaurants Ottawa has to offer and book your next great meal on OpenTable today.
The best brunch in Ottawa – read on for 10 must-try restaurants to book ASAP
For one of the best family-friendly brunch spots in Ottawa – try Gezellig in Ottawa
With its name inspired by the Dutch adjective ‘gezellig,’ meaning cozy, the friendly atmosphere is paramount at Gezellig. Located in the bustling neighborhood of Westboro Village, this charming destination offers a complete brunch inspired by the best of Canadian cuisine. From cinnamon banana bread with spiced rum caramel to beef breakfast poutine with baked beans, to salmon gravlax with eggs benedict, the brunch menu is mouthwatering. Come mid-morning to enjoy a selection of artisanal cheeses served with honey and accompany it with a kir royal or a mimosa. For a family outing, the mini breakfast with eggs and homemade fries will delight the little ones. If you want to continue your tasting another time, this restaurant offers a delicious lunch and dinner menu and an extensive wine card.
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For a special occasion brunch at a French bistro – head to Cocotte Bistro in Ottawa
Open since summer 2022, Cocotte Bistro is a refined yet casual take on a French bistro. With its classic and contemporary approach to French cuisine, this establishment is open to welcome diners from breakfast to dinner. The brunch menu consists of numerous dishes reminiscent of Parisian specialties, such as the signature omelet with Périgord truffles, gruyère, and fine herbs. For lovers of French toast, chef Stephen La Salle offers the most traditional version: the pain perdu served with whipped cream, apple fondant, and salted maple caramel. With your meal, savor classic or signature cocktails, such as the peach and rose mimosa, a colorful variation of the famous brunch drink.
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For a festive brunch with a group – visit Social in ByWard Market
For over 20 years, this brunch restaurant has been focused on innovative Canadian cuisine paired with the loveliest experiences. In addition to boasting an extensive wine selection and service for lunch and dinner, Social offers the weekends a fancy brunch menu for small and gourmand appetites. Inspired by bistro-style cuisine, you can enjoy the soup of the day, made with locally sourced ingredients, avocado toast on sourdough bread, and smoked salmon and crispy capers served with two sunny-side-up eggs. Other highlights from the menu include a must-try brunch burger with aged cheddar, peameal bacon and fried egg, and a mariposa duck confit prepared with local mushrooms, braised red cabbage and dressed in winter berry agrodolce. With its gluten-free and vegetarian options, Social will satisfy all food lovers.
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For a brunch world tour with unlimited mimosas – reserve your spot at Belmont in Ottawa
Lovers of tapas and tasty small plates—here’s your next late-morning destination. Humble and with simplicity and friendliness, Belmont offers a brunch experience that highlights sharing and good vibes. In this welcoming and modern setting, it’s impossible not to enjoy the diversity of culinary cultures offered on the menu. Turkish eggs with garlic, sumac yogurt and chili oil, French toast enhanced by cardamom cranberry and candied pecan, bacalhau à Brás, a Portuguese recipe of salted cod accompanied by olives and chile-garlic oil, but also the delicious ropa vieja, beef stewed with poached eggs, salsa, and tostones, a dish inspired by the best Spanish recipes. Belmont offers you a true culinary world tour. On the drinks side, you won’t lack anything: you’ll have the opportunity to have unlimited mimosas throughout your brunch.
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For one of the best Italian brunch places in Ottawa – try Mati in Little Italy
Having brunch the Mediterranean style means — above all — sharing a gourmet and convivial moment where the pleasure of the table and good spirits take center stage. And Mati understands this very well. In its ambience combining comfort, style, and elegance, this local gem warmly invites you to try a modern take on Mediterranean-style crudo dishes and charcoal-grilled foods. Every Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm, come to Mati to experience a delicious brunch with numerous sharing options and touches of Mediterranean sunshine. On the sweet and savory side, the maple-grilled bacon is an absolute yes. The freshly baked croissants served with homemade jam and brown sugar butter are the perfect way to start the day, but whether you fancy something more consistent, tuck into the Italian tradition with the cacio e pepe, pecorino, and toasted pink peppercorn on a bed of linguine. Don’t forget to accompany your brunch with the signature Mati spritz, a subtle blend of martini fiero, lychee liqueur, and prosecco.
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For one of the best brunch places in Ottawa for steak and smoked meat – discover The Clarendon/The Hyde in ByWard Market
A little peaceful haven awaits meat lovers in the ByWard Market district. In its relaxed environment with welcoming staff, delicious food and drinks, and lively music, The Clarendon/The Hyde invites you to rediscover contemporary American cuisine. Serving farm-to-table comfort food, this spot is open from brunch to dinner, with late-night evenings on Saturdays. Don’t miss the famous weekend brunch and book your spot to try the Clarendon breakfast, a combination of eggs, home fries, and double-smoked bacon on sourdough toast. Enjoy the must-try Clarendon smash burger accompanied by a potato bun, cheddar cheese, and the house special sauce. If you’re more of a seafood enthusiast, the restaurant boasts several options for sea lovers on its brunch menu: smoked haddock fishcake, yellowfin tuna Niçoise salad and smoked salmon with cream cheese. You will find the perfect match with the delicious cocktails to pair, such as the sweater weather, a mix of bourbon and dry vermouth.
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For one of the best brunch spots in Ottawa to cure a hangover – book at Lexington Smokehouse & Bar in Nepean
You can’t go wrong with Lexington Smokehouse & Bar’s signature brunch burger, named B.E.C (bacon, egg, and cheese), the star of the house’s stellar menu of breakfast and BBQ fusion dishes. Whether you’re looking for a delicious meal after a long night out or craving an early morning breakfast, expect an atmosphere of shared enjoyment and culinary exploration. Brunch is hostedon Saturdays and Sundays, and a special recommendation goes to the breakfast at Tiffany’s, made with apples, smoked sausages, and the essential eggs for a great start of the day. Pump up the jam with a cocktail packed with dry gin, canton’s ginger, citrus and homemade blueberry jam.
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For a fun brunch with a group – don’t miss Milestones Grill + Bar in Sussex, Pinecrest and Kanata
With its three locations in Sussex, Pinecrest and Kanata, Milestones Grill + Bar could easily be the next culinary escapade. Available on Saturdays, Sundays, and during holidays, the brunch menu deliciously brings together the best of late-morning cuisine. Waffles, poached eggs, toast, beef, or cookies, whether you’re more into sweet or salty, you’ll find your happiness in the flavorful extensive selection. A franchise established in the Canadian landscape for thirty years, Milestones Grill + Bar quickly won the hearts of culinary adventurers by offering a casual fine-dining space and classic recipes prepared with a contemporary twist. In this style, enjoy the ultimate M classic breakfast, an authentic brunch reinterpreted with three eggs and the meat of your choice, enhanced with maple syrup and all accompanied by potatoes, waffles, or French toast. On the drinks side, expect creative and picture-perfect coktails such as the chili mango, a clever blend of tequila, clamato, cholula sauce, and acidulated chili mango lime.
📍 Sussex — Check availability
📍 Pinecrest — Check availability
📍 Kanata — Check availability
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For one of the best brunch buffets in Ottawa – book at Arôme – Casino du Lac Leamy in Gatineau
Every Sunday from 11:30 am to 2 pm, Arôme – Casino du Lac Leamy awaits with a stunning brunch buffet complete with extensive views of the lake and surrounds. Tuck into the cold and hot buffet filled with everything that makes the perfect brunch and enjoy it all with the magnificent views of Lac Carrière. With exquisitely prepared dishes and a decor that reinvents itself every season, this elegant gem is the ideal destination for celebrating a special occasion. In addition to the buffet, feast on eggs benedict with shredded bone-in ham, fluffy brioche bread, stacks of crêpes topped with everything from cheese to jams and berry compotes, alongside waffles and more brunch goodness.
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For one of the best brunches in Ottawa for a getaway to Tuscany – take a seat at Cantina Gia in The Glebe
A trip to the Mediterranean awaits right in the heart of Ottawa, with the Italian cuisine of Cantina Gia in The Glebe district. After the creation of North and Navy, Co-owners chef Adam Vettorel and Chris Schlesak bring flavors reminiscent of Tuscany to the city. Among the must-try dishes on the menu, make sure to try Cantina Gia’s signature brunch, the Gia’s farmer breakfast. Skilfully composed of mild Italian sausage with a poached egg and accompanied by blistered cherry tomatoes and broccolini served on house-made creamy polenta, this gluten-free brunch staple proudly recalls Italian classics with a personal touch. Other highlights include eggs on crispy porchetta, smoked trout on potato rosti, eggplant parmigiana sandwich, blueberry hot cakes and a stellar carbonara. Wash it all down with a signature immune-boosting tonic or a house mimosa made with freshly squeezed orange juice and a splash of Campari and prosecco.
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Brunch is definitely a true institution in Canada. With its relaxed weekend vibe, this meal between breakfast and lunch offers variations flavors from all over the world. The blend of recipes in the city’s culinary scene promises to impress you. The best brunch in Ottawa boasts everything from French, Italian, and of course Canadian inspirations, offering barbecues, tapas, grills, and buffets, Whether for seafood lovers, meat enthusiasts or vegan diners, the capital of Canada offers a brunch journey that will brighten up your late mornings.
