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While the interior’s natural hues and organic textures embody the tranquillity of the Aegean coast around the clock, the room is beautiful in the daylight. Something we hadn’t witnessed during our prior evening visit.

Diners will settle into the room, which feels like a serene escape from the city, and find the menu broken down into sections: Meze, Half Moon, and Full Moon.

The brunch selection was carefully crafted by Selene’s co-head chefs, Adrian Nate and Arish Dastoor.

Every dish we tried felt laid-back yet polished. Its clear plates were thoughtfully curated with Vancouver’s preferences in mind, and most items are perfect for sharing.

Not every brunch needs to start with a cocktail, but we’d recommend it if you find yourself at Selene. There are ample boozy sips and zero-proof options up for order.

Our first round of picks was the Aegean Kipos, a dangerously crushable beverage made from lime-infused nodo tequilana blanco, sweet cucumber, basil, and mint, alongside the Krema Kafe, a combo of makedonias tsipouro, coffee liqueur, Irish cream, espresso, green cardamom, and clove.

We were also keen to check out a true Canadian brunch essential — the Caesar — here. Selene’s version, the Kaisaras, is made from house pickle-infused vodka, harissa spice, Clamato, and janissary salt. It was solid.

From there, when it comes to food, you can choose your adventure, from smaller plates to larger ones. Whatever direction you go, ensure you include the Patatokeftades on your table.

These melt-in-your-mouth potato croquettes feature kefalograviera cheese and are served on a bed of fresh tzatziki. The family recipe was passed down generations and has luckily landed on this menu. You’ll instantly want a second order but save room…there’s a lot more where that came from.

We also opted for the Loukaniko, a basil & fennel sausage with sumac red onions and ladolemon. Selene’s Cilbir, a combo of soft poached eggs, baharat chili crunch, tzatziki, and pita bread, will make a lovely addition to your brunch spread.

Another can’t-skip item, in our opinion, is the Pistachio Honey Toast. This sweet treat is made with pistachio whipped ganache and toasted coconut and drizzled with cynar and orange blossom syrup.

It’s a toast worth talking about, and the pillowy pistachio ganache offers the perfect level of sweetness.

There’s plenty more to devour than just these highlights. From feta-stuffed olives to shakshuka with green olive focaccia, the brunch menu here offers a delicious array of fresh coastal flavours in a relaxed atmosphere.

Selene Aegean Bistro’s brunch is offered on weekends and holiday Mondays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome, but you can also make a reservation.

Selene Aegean Bistro

Address: 360 Penticton St., Vancouver

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