Almond Butterfly is known for making some of the best gluten-free muffins, cookies and cinnamon buns in the city, and they have lots of dairy-free, paleo and vegan options. 

This is their second location, and unlike the original in Harbord Village, here they’re licensed and serve brunch seven days a week.

The 30-seat space, designed by Tiffany Pratt, is distinguished by a large communal table at the front.

More intimate booths take up residence at the back. 

Vegan chocolate banana crepes ($15) successfully imitate the desired thinness and flavour of a typical crepe, made with coconut flour, sweet rice flour, brown rice flour, sorghum, tapioca, and organic cane sugar, plus vanilla and lemon extracts for that classic light, sweet taste. 

An order of three is topped with banana, berries, a coconut whipped cream and delicious vegan chocolate fudge.

Vegan tacos ($15) are another brunch item that’s not only gluten-free but totally vegan as well. A soft Good Hombres tortilla is topped with refried beans, thick slices of avocado and cherry tomato and a habanero hot sauce. 

A pancake stack ($15) sees three fluffy flapjacks made with coconut milk, sweet rice flour, tapioca, potato starch, sorghum and xanthan gum topped with a house local blueberry compote made with cardamom, black salt, pepper, lemon and vanilla, plus fresh berries, powdered sugar, coconut whipped cream and dark local maple syrup.

Though they’re extremely successful overall, gluten-free pancakes will never fully be the same as normal ones, these just slightly grainy and oaty, but the compote is really the shining star of this dish.

A Traditional AB Breakfast ($18) is essentially a gluten-free version of a typical breakfast with scrambled eggs, half of one of their popular gluten-free bagels with butter, amazing Cajun home fries and a creamy kale caesar, plus your choice of avocado, bacon or turkey sausage. Go for the latter, it’s house made.

Irish up a coffee (starting at $2.25 for drip by Social) with some Baileys and coconut whipped cream for an indulgent hot beverage that goes great with savoury brunch or one of Almond Butterfly’s famous baked goods.

Lattes with impeccable art start at $3.95, and there are also over half a dozen tea lattes on the menu.

Mimosas ($7) come in varieties like orange, grapefruit, orange passion fruit, or even experimental one-offs like watermelon chili lime salt.

Of course the cafe’s stocked with their beloved cupcakes, in varieties like vegan chocolate peanut butter, dairy-free “strawberry milkshake,” or their signature gluten-free “Almond Butterfly.”

Cinnamon buns are gluten-free, dairy-free, and most typically available on weekends, making brunch a perfect time to pick some up.

A butterfly motif throughout the space emphasizes the theme.