Your true friends will always arrive at your door bearing champagne and orange juice to kick start the day’s festivities. No basic Vancouver birthday is complete without a mimosa (or six): the pregame for birthday brunch is vital. Pick an aesthetic spot to insta-story your first beverages and head out to brunch.

photo by Bella Tang-Graham

Catch 122 Cafe Bistro

We chose Catch 122 and ordered an Espressotini (for the sleepy friend), a Bourbon Bellini (for the friend not willing to give up on the bubbles yet) and a Rosemary Maple Bourbon Sour (for the classy friend). All three were delicious and had us feeling warm, fuzzy, and ready to carb up. Try the breakfast sandwich, with thick cut bacon, folded scrambled eggs, avocado and caramelized onion goat cheese, or the lamb and eggs with braised lamb shoulder and polenta. Equipped with a brunch and a buzz, take on the day’s activities with the confidence of someone who is day drunk at two in the afternoon on a Monday.

photo by Bella Tang-Graham

The Flying Pig Gastown

After draining our savings accounts on Robson for a few hours, we headed to Flying Pig Gastown: the iconic Vancouver birthday dinner spot. Here, you can spoil the birthday girl (or boy) with bottles of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, gingery Moscow mules, a walnut old-fashioned that tastes like maple walnut ice cream and Burt Reynolds shots sure to make you feel fresh the following morning. Sober up with the decadent truffle mac and cheese, lemony, parmesan-topped crispy Brussels sprouts and the wild seafood pappardelle with brin fresh seafood and a spicy rose sauce. The Flying Pig also kindly provided us with a giant piece of vanilla-chocolate cake the size of the birthday girl’s (beautiful) head.

photo by Bella Tang-Graham

photo by Bella Tang-Graham

photo by Bella Tang-Graham

The Diamond

Finish a perfect evening heart-racingly close to the suave cast of Riverdale at The Diamond. Fan girl at the top of Jughead Jones’ toque-clad head, one booth over, as you sip your Gassy Jack’s Lady made with local crème de cassis, amontillado sherry, and lemon. Try not to trip down the Diamond’s stairs as you side-eye FP Jones and Kevin Keller on your way out. Get home safe to the loving embrace of your bed, head swimming with birthday friend-love, an unseemly amount of cocktails, and dreams of horseback riding into the sunset with Cole Sprouse. Till next year!

photo by Bella Tang-Graham