6 Best Restaurants in Granville Island, Vancouver

Blue Parrot Coffee

$ Fodor's choice

Granville Island has several coffee places, but only the Blue Parrot provides sweeping views of False Creek. If you haven't eaten your fill elsewhere in the market, accompany your espresso with a sticky hot strudel or gooey cinnamon bun. Early birds, take note: you can perch at the Parrot starting at 7 am, before the rest of the market stalls open. There's a second location at Hillcrest Centre, near Queen Elizabeth Park.

The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant

$$$ Fodor's choice

With a seafood restaurant, a sushi bar, and live music nightly in the wine bar, this venue under the Granville Bridge has something for everyone. For dramatic views over False Creek, reserve a table on the rooftop patio, which is open year-round. Make sure to try their to-die-for crab cake!

Blue Hat Bistro & Bakery

$

This is where the culinary students of the adjoining Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts strut their stuff.  Standards are high and the artisanal breads, soups, wraps, and gourmet desserts are outstanding.

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Dockside Restaurant

$$$$

Overlooking False Creek and Yaletown, the Dockside's patio is the big draw, especially for owners of chic yachts moored alongside. Because it faces east, sunsets are behind the building, and cool shadows come early, so grab a table beneath a heater. Floor-to-ceiling windows make the inside feel like the outside with decor that exudes a modern vibe and includes a 50-foot aquarium. House-brewed ales and lagers are served from the adjoining casual brewpub.

Edible Canada

$$$ | Granville Island
At this contemporary bistro with a patio for people-watching, you can sample foods from BC and across Canada. Smaller appetites might gravitate toward the bison tartare, while hungrier travelers can sup on wild Pacific salmon with sunchokes, fennel, beets, and a butter sauce. Other great picks include the famous duck poutine (duck confit, Québec cheese curds, duck egg, crispy onions) and the bouillaisse (halibut, squid, shrimp, clams, celeriac, fennel, tomato, grilled bread). The adjacent retail store sells regional jams, chocolates, and other treats to take home.

Off the Tracks

$$

Tucked down a tiny alley in the middle of the island, this espresso bar and bistro offers a nice respite from the hustle and bustle of the busy public market. The ethos here is all about organic, sustainable, and local ingredients. Try a pistachio latte or lavender white hot chocolate to-go, or grab a seat on the garden patio or in the upstairs loft for a hearty sandwich or breakfast offering from the bistro menu. Everything is made from scratch in house.