The Best Splurge Brunch in Toronto

The best splurge brunch in Toronto takes our favourite midday weekend meal up a notch or two. Beyond the basic pancakes and eggs, these brunches feature freshly shucked oysters, lamb bacon, duck confit, and more, all of which pretty much demand a freshly squeezed mimosa or glass of a signature house brunch champagne. Which all goes to say — leave your pocket change at home. These brunches certainly fall on the steep end of the scale, but for freshly baked biscuits, house-smoked meats, and, um, a chance to get out of those sweatpants for brunch, we'd expect nothing less.

Here is the list of the best splurge brunch restaurants in Toronto.

See also:

The best brunch in Toronto
The best new brunch restaurants in Toronto, 2012
The best new brunch restaurants in Toronto, 2011
The best all-day breakfast in Toronto
The best cheap breakfast in Toronto
The best breakfast sandwiches in Toronto

Origin King East

This is not your greasy spoon eggs and bacon breakfast. Far from it. The brunch at Origin on King East is mid-morning sophistication in the form of French toast paired with duck confit, egg white frittatas, and Origin burgers with chipotle aioli. Paired with a champagne cocktail or two, this is definitely a superior morning meal. But at over $20 per person, it's certainly a once-in-a-while treat. More »

Union

For a splurge brunch over on Ossington, few do it better than oyster-equipped Union. With a brunch menu that changes from one weekend to the next, Union consistently offers fresh twists on conventional (and colourless?) breakfast items. Lobster frittatas, BBQ rib benedicts, and steak tartare are just a few of the Union brunch must-try options. More »

Mildred's Temple Kitchen

This brunch could surely carry you through to Monday. Starting with Mildred's famous homestyle scones, this Liberty Village spot excels in the realms of hollandaise, flaky croissants, and rosemary-infused bacon. Mrs Biederhof's legendary pancakes are a Mildred easy call, best paired with a "Morning Mimosa" made with freshly squeezed orange juice. More »

Le Select Bistro

With a patio spot in the summertime and the revered Croque-Madame, Le Select Bistro attempts to offer a little taste of Paris in the heart of the rush by King West. Le Select's brunch menu features free-range egg omelettes, stuffed French toast, and various salads and sandwiches, most of which will arrive at your table only after a bit of a wait. It's worth it. More »

Beast Restaurant

Beast Restaurant does every carnivore's dream brunch. For a couple of bucks more than your average breakfast sandwich, the Beastwich will surely send you into an blissful afternoon food coma. Made with fried chicken thigh, pimento cheese, a fried egg, pork sausage gravy, all on a buttermilk biscuit, this mega sandwich is perhaps only rivalled by Beast's own egg scramble or duck confit French toast. More »

Toca at Ritz Carlton

Sunday brunch at Toca is indeed the priciest on this list, but it's also the most extravagant. For about $80 per person, diners can explore a brunch wonderland of lobster tails, shucked oysters, a live carving station, omelette station, charcuterie and more, plus access to an all-inclusive mimosa and bellini bar. And if that wasn't enough, a chocolate fountain, creperie, and French pastries for dessert. More »

Frank Restaurant at The AGO

Call it one of the most culturally diverse brunch menus in Toronto, Frank Restaurant offers everything from huevos rancheros (naturally) to butter chicken. Most plates here ring in around the $20 mark, with the daily omelette and smoked salmon benny standing out above the rest. Frank's signature black currant scones are a necessary side. More »

Cafe Belong

Cafe Belong changes its brunch menu depending on the season, but you can usually count on some variation of a country-style feast. Hosted at the Evergreen Brick Works, anything with Belong's homemade buttermilk biscuits is pretty much a win, along with its breakfast martini made with fresh lemon and orange marmalade. Most mains range between $12 to $20, with duck eggs holding strong through most of the cafe's seasons. More »

Weslodge

Bison pastrami, duck bacon, and provimi schnitzel galore. As long as you don't mind forking over a couple of extra bucks, Weslodge will treat you to brunch tastes that are totally unique to this King West spot. Many of the menu options are prepared in house through and through, including the house smoked turkey that goes into its sandwich, and the freshly baked English muffins served with Beppino Occelli butter from Italy. More »