Best List, What To Eat & Where To Eat It

13 Best Restaurants To Kick Start Your Morning

Lingering over coffee and eggs in a sunlit café with a pal or the paper is a certain, simple pleasure and Winnipeg is spoiled when it comes to delightful daybreakers.

Bernstein’s Deli 

Bernstein’s Deli hosts a delish selection of Jewish specialties for the most important meal of the day. The ‘Not Your Typical Israeli Shakshuka!’ features basted eggs on a bed of kale and chickpeas, smothered in a tangy and aromatic zaatar spiced tomato sauce – with a side of toasted challah.

Location: 1700 Corydon Ave, 204‑488‑4552

Clementine Café

Clementine Café, the hip Exchange District spot from the minds behind Segovia, brings creativity and global flair to breakfast and lunch dishes. The fried chicken on toast is a crowd favourite that is consistently spectacular. Also make sure to try the crisp potato cakes topped with smoked arctic char, horseradish creme, and pops of salmon roe.

Location: 123 Princess St, 204-942-9497

The Falafel Place

The devoted flock from afar to bustling River Heights joint The Falafel Place, famed for its namesake falafel breakfast. Not for the timid, this bold daybreaker delivers eggs, soft-centred Israeli-style falafel balls with tahini, a golden, crisp potato pancake and cheese blintzes.

Location: 1101  Corydon Ave, 204-489‑5811

Kawaii Crepe

Inspired by Japanese street food, these made to order sweet and savoury crepes are served fresh with scratch-made sauces and cute names. A dedicated breakfast menu is an egg lovers dream. These hand-held breakfast treats are fun to eat in the pop art-inspired interior of Kawaii Crepe

Locations: 201-99 Osborne St, 204-415‑28331220 St. Mary’s Rd, Unit D, 204‑691‑3700; 4-1385 McPhillips St, 204-694-0986

Marion Street Eatery

Cozy and casual St. Boniface café Marion Street Eatery is the perfect spot to grab an early breakfast during a busy work week or a laid back brunch on the weekends. Although there are tons of options to choose from, buttery toast, eggs, bacon and fluffy hashbrowns, cheekily named “The Usual”, is a classic spread that checks off all the boxes when it comes to morning cravings.

Location: 393 Marion St, 204-233-2843

The Nook Diner

The all-day brekkie at this West Broadway hangout requires the tough choice between a handful of eggs Bennie renditions all smothered in sinful, satin Hollandaise sauce. At The Nook Diner, the soft poached princess, which swaps back bacon for crunchy green asparagus is a standout.

Location: 43 Sherbrook St, 204-774-0818

The Oakwood

Every neighbourhood has their go-to breakfast spot, and South Osborne is lucky enough to claim The Oakwood as theirs. Available all day, the long breakfast menu includes everything from eggs benny, buttermilk waffles and omelettes, to zesty huevos rancheros (guac included!).

Location: 4-660 Osborne St, 204-475-4250

 

The Original Pancake House

No breakfast list would be complete without The Original Pancake House. This legendary restaurant and Winnipeg institution offers fruit-filled pancakes dusted with icing sugar, a signature giant apple pancake to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth, and hearty dishes with bacon and eggs.

Location: The Forks Market, 204-947‑5077; 2220 McGillivray Blvd, 204‑489-2885; Clarion Hotel, 1445 Portage Ave, 204-775‑9035

Park Café

Tucked beside the picturesque duck pond in Assiniboine Park, the sunlit Park Café serves breaky all day in a bright, open space. Pork belly eggs benedict, rich with buttery hollandaise, provides fuel to motivate a (long) jog around the park.

Location: Qualico Family Centre in Assiniboine Park, 330 Assiniboine Park Dr, 204-927-6080

Promenade Brasserie

Promenade Brasserie serves a perfect petit déjeuner with stunning downtown city views. Sip on a coffee fresh from the French press while diving into creton mushroom toast or chicken & waffles (weekends only).

Location: 130 Provencher Blvd, 204-237-6414

Smith

Imaginative, hunter-farmer influenced fare is right at home in the sleek yet rustic interior of Smith, the Inn at the Forks restaurant. Snuggle into a Hudson Bay blanket-striped banquette seat and tuck into breakfast classics like eggs, French toast, and buttermilk pancakes. The weekend brunch menu includes decadent Smith Eggs, a mound of hash browns, poached eggs, and pulled pork smothered in maple smoked cheddar gravy.

Location: Inn at the Forks, 75 Forks Market Rd, 204-944-2445

Stella's Café and Bakery

Cilantro sauce, guac and housemade salsa add a zesty olé to Stella’s Mexican breakfast. Two sunny side eggs on soft corn tortillas, accompanied with hash browns, green onions, refried beans, and shredded cheddar, add a full plate of hearty fuel for the day. The banana blueberry French toast is another longtime favourite. 

Locations: Plug In Gallery, 460 Portage Ave, 204-772-1556; 340 Provencher Boul, 204-477-8393; 1895 Grant Ave, 204-488‑7810; 1463 Pembina Hwy, 204-275-2001; 1795 Henderson Hwy, 431-478-1377; 1699 Corydon Ave, 204-783-1453; 20-2727 Portage Ave, 204-897-0567

The Tallest Poppy

Feast your eyes and palate on tempting southern treats like the crispy buttermilk fried chicken on Belgian waffles, cornbread with coffee, or layered chilequiles (egg nachos), in the laid-back atmosphere at The Tallest Poppy.

Location: 103 Sherbrook St, 204-219-8777