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$$$ | |
A summer visit to Vancouver isn't complete without an afternoon enjoying cocktails on this rooftop patio overlooking sand court volleyball matches at Kits Beach. At other times of the year, the views of the vivid sunsets and dramatic winter storms are exceptional through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the restaurant.
1305 Arbutus St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 5N2, Canada
Known For
- Views
- Inventive cocktails
- Lively atmosphere
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$$$ | Yaletown |
This chic dining room at the Opus, Yaletown's most stylish hotel, serves innovative interpretations of Italian classics. The pastas are homemade, the fish is freshly grilled, and dishes like Gorgonzola risotto or the 16-ounce veal chop would do any nonna proud. The best way to dine here is to choose the family-style chef's tasting menu, a multicourse parade of the kitchen's greatest hits (C$60 per person for five courses). Breakfast is a delicious option, too, particularly the buttermilk pancakes served with candied pecans and seasonal fruits.
350 Davie St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5Z6, Canada
Known For
- Family-style tasting menu
- Italian classics
- Great breakfast
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$$$ | |
There's a distinctly European vibe to Maxine's. In part, because of the central display of wines and spirits around which you can sip and savor. And in part, because of the menu that goes from croissants and cafe au lait in the morning, to a slow-cooked pork collar or risotto for dinner. And the brunches in between are legendary. Then there are the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that seem to bring the outside in, making the outside patio very much part of the eatery.
1325 Burrard St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 1Z7, Canada
Known For
- Brunch
- European vibe
- Service
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$$$ | |
About a 10-minute walk from Main Street and Broadway, this bright, high-ceilinged take on a classic osteria fills up with neighborhood families and fashionable young people dining on house-made pasta, inventive vegetable dishes, and rich meats cooked over a wood-fired grill. The menu changes daily to showcase what's in season but always includes staples, like roasted chicken and steaks, along with more inventive items—think meatballs with pine nuts, a veal chop with polenta, or corn and wild chanterelles risotto. Reservations are recommended, but the seating at the central antipasto bar, right in the middle of the action, is strictly for walk-ins.
615 Kingsway, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5T 3K5, Canada
Known For
- Wood-fired grill
- Eclectic decor
- House-made pasta
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$$ | |
This lively Shipyards District eatery juts like a pier into Burrard Inlet, offering 180-degree water, city skyline, and Stanley Park views from tables both inside and out. The covered, heated patio is open year-round, so alfresco dining is pretty much always an option. The vibe here is casual, with TV screens and upbeat music. While the menu favors local seafood, with shucked oysters, sockeye salmon, and a chowder, burgers, salads, and vegetarian options round out the offerings. Pier 7 is just steps from the SeaBus, so if you're staying Downtown, you can leave the car behind.
25 Wallace Mews, Vancouver, British Columbia, V7L 0B9, Canada
Known For
- Live music
- Near the Shipyards Friday Night Market
- Local seafood
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$$ | |
This cozy Italian restaurant in the heart of Yaletown is a fan favorite, thanks to the homemade pastas and tapas menu. Try the lobster and crab ravioli, the braised veal shank with saffron risotto, or the four-cheese gnocchi. They have plenty of Italian wines and classic cocktails on the menu, too. There are two other locations in Gastown and the West End as well. The West End location also serves brunch.
1127 Mainland St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5P2, Canada
Known For
- Wine options
- Cozy, family vibe
- Homemade pasta
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$$$ | |
This faux fishing shack in Yaletown has one of the city's widest selections of oysters (up to 18 varieties), from locally harvested bivalves to selections from Ireland, New Zealand, and beyond—they're all laid out on ice behind the bar. Or try the clams, mussels, and other mollusks from the steamer kettles. If you're fishing for an afternoon snack, come in between 3 and 6 pm when a light menu of raw oysters, steamed clams, garlic prawns, and a few additional seafood nibbles are served. There's a second location in Gastown.
1228 Hamilton St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 6L2, Canada
Known For
- Extensive oyster selection
- Happy hour specials
- Delicious clam chowder
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$$$ | Downtown |
House-made pickles and preserves line the walls of this bright and modern "farm to Downtown" hot spot, extending the availability of BC produce throughout the drizzly Vancouver winter. Don't let the old-fashioned diner-style counter fool you—the food here is seasonal and local with menus changing quarterly to showcase what's fresh. Bright vegetable dishes like summer squash with goat feta, tayberry, almonds, and basil complement house-made pasta (including gluten-free options) and hearty meat dishes like sweetbreads with broccoli, smoked peanuts, and oyster mushrooms or Berkshire pork with peach, black beans, pumpkin seeds, and cilantro. Even the drink list leans local, with plenty of BC beers on offer and cocktails that incorporate house-made tonic, hot sauce, and milk liqueur.
905 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1A8, Canada
Known For
- House-made pasta
- Gluten-free dining
- Local ingredients
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
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$$$ | |
Conveniently located at the entrance to Bridgeport Station on the Canada Line, this upscale Chinese restaurant serves first-rate Hong Kong-style seafood, often plucked live from the tanks and cooked to the specifications of its well-heeled clientele. Ask for whatever fish is freshest, and try the distinctive pork with chayote squash. This is also a popular spot for lunchtime dim sum, both traditional and more contemporary. Although you won't be out of place in jeans, you could dress up a bit, particularly in the evening. Reservations are recommended.
150-8888 River Rd., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6X 0E1, Canada
Known For
- Cooked-to-order seafood
- Dim sum
- Upscale dining
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.
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$$$ | |
A brigade of chefs is at work in the open kitchen of this popular restaurant that specializes in Shanghai-style fare, which is richer and slightly sweeter than more delicate Cantonese dishes. They're prepping the handmade dumplings, including the soup-filled xiao long bao and the panfried pork buns that are among the specialties here. Hand-pulled noodles, saucy braised eggplant, and fresh stir-fried greens are other good options. Book in advance or prepare to wait.
7831 Westminster Hwy., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6X 4J4, Canada
Known For
- Shanghai-style dishes
- Handmade dumplings
- Hand-pulled noodles
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$$$ | |
Dim sum aficionados make the trek to this upscale Cantonese restaurant for some of the tastiest tidbits in town, served daily for brunch or lunch. Order from the menu (there are no carts circling the dining rooms), or just point at what the other tables are having. In the evenings, Hong Kong–style seafood and other subtly seasoned southern Chinese dishes are the specialties. The multilevel restaurant, which is popular with Asian families, is in a shopping plaza, set back from No. 3 Road at Leslie Road.
4540 No. 3 Rd., Richmond, British Columbia, V6X 4E4, Canada
Known For
- Dim sum
- Cantonese–style seafood
- Popular with locals
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Credit cards accepted
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$$$ | |
Vancouver's first upscale vegetarian dining room, this barely bigger-than-an-acorn restaurant serves imaginative plant-based fare that does its vegetables proud. With a hyper-seasonal menu, dishes rotate weekly following shipments from local organic farms. Many menu items are vegan or gluten-free. If you have to wait for a table, pass the time with one of their signature cocktails.
3995 Main St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V5V 3P3, Canada
Known For
- Vegan options
- Gluten-free choices
- Creative cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch weekdays, Reservations not accepted
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$$$ | |
This little meeting place, tucked just off Granville Street on West 13th Avenue, has the feeling of a buzzy European bistro. Small plates are made for sharing, as are the charcuterie and cheese boards and the menu changes with the seasons. The extensive wine list features a selection of both local and wines from around the world. A four-course family style menu is also available.
1520 W. 13th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 2G4, Canada
Known For
- Weekend brunch board
- Excellent food and wine pairings
- Lively daily happy hours
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch Mon. and Tues., Reservations recommended
