The Templeton: Historic Diner on Vancouver's Granville Street

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The Templeton, a historic diner on Granville Street in Vancouver, Canada

The Templeton is a retro-style diner in Vancouver, Canada, known for its vintage décor and dishes made with locally sourced ingredients. The diner sits on Granville Street, nestled between thrift stores, smoke shops, bars, restaurants, and a few seedier spots.

The building dates back to 1908. Adele’s Cafe opened here in 1934, changed its name to Top Top Cafe in 1957, and finally became The Templeton in 1996.

Modern developments have replaced much of Vancouver’s history and historic buildings, but The Templeton keeps a glimpse of the past alive, preserving a bit of the city’s old-school charm.

On my recent visit to Vancouver, I stumbled upon The Templeton while looking for a breakfast spot on Granville Street near my hotel. Without looking up any reviews or photos, I decided to give the diner a chance.

Table of Contents

Arrival at The Templeton

Since it was a Saturday around noon, I figured there might be a long wait for a seat inside the small diner.

One person was ahead of me when I arrived, so I got in line behind her and waited.

It looked like there were open seats inside. I waited about five minutes until a friendly worker came out and brought me inside.

While I only waited for a few minutes, I read online later that the wait times can be long. It’s recommended to come early or during off-peak hours.

Interior of The Templeton

When I walked inside, I noticed how narrow and small the space was, yet it felt cozy, bright, and open.

The décor gave off a classic diner vibe. You had bright red booths, checkered floors, colorful walls, a black ceiling, neon lights, and jukeboxes at each table.

Many furnishings, including the soda fountain and jukeboxes, are original and date back to the 1950s. The mural at the far end of the room, dating to the 1960s, wasn’t revealed until after a renovation.

Against the left wall were a few small booths, each with enough space for four people at most but more comfortable for two. On the right side was a counter with booth seating with views of the service area.

The ambiance was lively but not loud, with kitchen sounds, guests chatting, and soft music playing in the background.

Another small table stood near the entrance, against the windows. While the table was small, it was more suited for small groups than the booths.

The Templeton Menu

The Templeton menu featured many classic comfort foods you would typically find at other diners, and some with creative twists.

You will find dishes from hearty breakfasts to gourmet burgers to handmade milkshakes. There were also vegetarian and vegan options.

While it’s a diner, the restaurant takes pride in using fresh, natural ingredients from local farms. They use farm-fresh eggs, bacon from nearby Fraser Valley, and old-fashioned Canadian pork sausages.

Breakfast dishes, served all day, are found on the menu’s first page. Here, you’ll find classics like French toast, buttermilk pancakes, and eggs Benedict, alongside more unique options such as the Hakai Omelette with wild smoked sockeye salmon.

Sandwiches, small plates, salads, burgers, and more

Next, you had sandwiches, including grilled cheese and BLT, small plates, such as poutine, gourmet burgers, a fried chicken sandwich, chicken strips, fish & chips and more.

The last page of the menu with drinks and desserts

The last page of the menu had drinks, desserts, and milkshakes, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic.

Non-alcoholic drinks included coffee, tea, juice, and soft drinks. Alcoholic options featured local craft beer, mimosas, and cocktails.

Milkshakes came in classic flavors like chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry. There were also unique flavors like key lime, root beer, and espresso. They also offered boozy shakes with rum, whiskey, tequila, or Frangelico.

Dessert options included a homestyle pie, chocolate brownie, and an ice cream float. There were also unique options like the deep-fried Wunderbar and the deep-fried Mars bar.

Pulled Pork Benny

I ordered the Pulled Pork Benny made with house made BBQ pulled pork. Rosemary potatoes were on the side.

There was so much bright yellow hollandaise sauce. I enjoyed this because other brunch spots I’ve been to tend to skimp on it.

Thick and creamy, the hollandaise sauce coated the eggs perfectly. It was buttery but could have used a touch of vinegar to balance its richness.

The eggs were large and fresh. When I cut into them, they were almost overcooked, but the yolks still flowed out. The golden yolk and rich hollandaise sauce complemented the smoky, salty pork below.

Hidden under the poached eggs and hollandaise sauce was a generous portion of house made BBQ pulled pork.

The pork had a tender, moist texture and a sweet, smoky, and salty flavor. Some pieces of pork were melt-in-your-mouth tender, while others had a crispy texture.

I’m not sure what process the chefs used to cook the pork, but it had a strong, smoky flavor reminding me of liquid smoke.

The final component, the toasted English muffin, had a buttery flavor. It held up well without getting soggy. Due to its thickness, I found it tough to cut through with my knife.

Served on the side were rosemary roasted potatoes. At first, they seemed simple, but I was surprised by how great they tasted when I tried them.

The potatoes were thick but not too thick. Some pieces were soft, while others were crispy, making the texture creamy. If you prefer crispier potatoes, ask for them well done.

Sprinkled on top was dried rosemary. I enjoyed the combination of potatoes and rosemary. If you don’t like rosemary, ask them to leave it off.

Service at The Templeton

From the moment I arrived at The Templeton until I left, the servers and staff, dressed in black, were friendly and attentive to me and other customers.

When I entered, the staff greeted me and handed me a menu as soon as I sat at the counter. A few minutes later, the server came back to take my order.

The servers were busy taking orders, serving food, making milkshakes, and delivering checks. Yet they knew when to stop by and check on me or just let me eat.

I appreciated the attention to detail from the servers. It was the kind of service you expect at a small diner but rarely find at big chain restaurants.

Conclusion

I’m glad I stumbled upon The Templeton. I hadn’t planned to eat here, but it was close to my hotel, and I was in the mood for breakfast.

These types of diners, with affordable prices, large portions, and homemade comfort food, are some of my favorite places to visit. Especially when I’m in a new city. They feel like the spots locals go to, not tourist traps.

While Vancouver has plenty of breakfast and brunch spots, I would return to The Templeton to try more dishes from their menu.