Brunch is the perfect meal for those of us who prefer dining a little later in the morning. It is not breakfast and it isn’t lunch either – it’s a little bit of both. The word itself is a portmanteau generated when you put parts of two words together to create a new word. When you splice the “br” from breakfast with the “unch” from lunch, you get the word “brunch.” The word “brunch” first appeared in print in a Pennsylvania newspaper in 1896, so the idea has been around a long time. On a recent visit to Jasper National Park, we spent several days exploring the best spots to enjoy a Jasper Brunch.
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Sunhouse Cafe
This little cafe brings Australian coffee culture to Canada. It’s a great little spot for Jasper brunch. You can sit on the sunny second floor outdoor patio overlooking Patricia Street and just watch the goings on. Locals claim it’s the best coffee in town. The interior of the cafe is a dome-shaped glass structure, so the name Sunhouse Cafe really suits it. There are six kinds of coffee, organic teas, a variety of kombucha drinks and a variety of smoothies. The food is very fresh, healthy and sustainable. We enjoyed a delicious breakfast sandwich and a warm apple cider loaf and both were delicious. Canadians could learn something from Australians about coffee culture. Maybe it’s just enough to show up and enjoy it.
Jasper Brunch for Locals – Bear’s Paw Bakery & The Other Paw Bakery Cafe
When locals do Jasper brunch, Bear’s Paw Bakery is often the place of choice. Everything is baked from scratch daily and the smell that wafts from this place in the morning is bound to draw you in. It’s such an institution in Jasper that it was even recommended by Oprah Winfrey in O Magazine. Apparently, Oprah is rather fond of the raspberry white chocolate scones. I personally like the sticky cinnamon buns. They bake a wide variety of breads, cookies, cakes, pies and squares. You can also pick up freshly-made sandwiches to take on a hike or picnic. They serve a wide variety of coffees and teas at both venues. The Other Paw has more seating than the original Bear’s Paw Bakery does.
Related: Hit the slopes after brunch. Read our post Jasper Skiing – Marmot Basin.
Papa George’s Restaurant
Located inside the Astoria Hotel in downtown Jasper, Papa George’s Restaurant has one of the best breakfast menus in town and it is served until 11:30 am. The menu offers all the classic Canadian breakfast foods at a reasonable price. You’ll have to make the choice between omelets, eggs benedict, eggs and sausage, French toast, pancakes, skillet meals and more. There’s an espresso bar, a variety of loose leaf teas, juices and after 10 am you can enjoy Jasper brunch with a mimosa or a Caesar cocktail.
Fairmont Jasper Brunch – Great Hall Gastro Pub & Orso Trattoria
If you’re a fan of avocado toast, the Great Hall Gastro Pub at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge has a really yummy version. Avocado toast is such a simple thing to make, but some restaurants can’t seem to get it right. The version at this restaurant is made with fresh avocados, whipped cream cheese, garlic, arugula and heirloom tomatoes. There are also a variety of hot and cold breakfast bowls, smoothies, and traditional breakfast offerings like omelets, eggs, bacon, or sausages served with toast. There’s also a Great Hall continental breakfast that includes cheese and charcuterie meats as well as pastries, fruit and granola. If you have a sweet tooth, you’ll enjoy the strawberry cheesecake pancakes or the coconut French toast. There’s a children’s menu and a nice selection of coffee and teas. On Sundays, Orso Trattoria at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge offers a Sunday brunch tapas style with a variety of Italian-inspired breakfast and lunch classics.
All Day Jasper brunch – Smitty’s Pancake House
The thing about a franchise restaurant is you know what you’re getting. Smitty’s Pancake House in Jasper is a place to go for all day brunch, because they offer an all-day breakfast menu. This Canadian Franchise has been around since 1960. They serve all the Canadian classics – pancakes, waffles, French toast, bacon, sausages, eggs, omelets, skillet meals, home fries and more. You can also choose from a variety of lunch options like chicken Caesar salad, a BLT sandwich and other sandwiches, burgers and wraps. Prices are reasonable and there’s a kids menu for little people. This is not a coffee house, so the choice of coffee and tea options is limited, but what they offer is reasonably good.
Related: Burn some calories before or after brunch on one of these 10 Amazing Jasper hikes.
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