136 Best Restaurants in British Columbia, Canada

Neighborhood residents queue before opening to secure one of the 30 seats in this cozy Italian bistro serving up house-made pasta and Prosecco on tap. Antipasti like burrata, fried cauliflower and—of course—meatballs, are served family style, so bring some friends for the best experience. It can take up to two hours to get a table, so plan to head elsewhere for drinks; the friendly staff (none of whom are named "Luigi") will text when your name hits the top of the wait list, or come for lunch if time is of the essence. Regardless of the hour, don't miss the house-bottled Spritz.

The critically acclaimed Aura offers inspired west coast–Asian fusion cuisine and a drop-dead gorgeous backdrop of the Inner Harbour—arguably the best in town. Think BBQ sambal skate on banana leaf or crispy pork belly with peanut and bacon crumble, and carrot truffle mouse. Dining here is also a grazing adventure of small plates, so hearty appetites may need multiple plates, which can rack up the cost. The wine cellar is full of hard-to-find Vancouver Island wines and Okanagan labels; there's also a good selection of local craft beers and spirits as well as splash cocktails. Did we mention that Aura has the city's best waterfront patio, bar none?

Looking for a great steak? This two-level steak house has its own meat locker for dry aging, and the house specialty is certified Kobe ribeye and striploin. Several dishes include showy, table-side service. Vegetarians and pescatarians will also find plenty of options. If you can, head to the rooftop patio, a garden-inspired space filled with pergolas adorned with lights and flowers for a very romantic, happening space. Happy hour runs every day, all afternoon, so it's the perfect place to stop into after a shopping spree along Alberni and Robson Streets.

Located along the Songhees Westsong Walkway, adjacent to the new Victoria International Marina, the views match the food at this waterfront restaurant. Its bakery-café offers sweet and savory treats for walkers and coffee aficionados, and the restaurant menu is a combination of charcuterie boards and terrines for sharing, wood-fired-oven pizzas, raw options like scallop with pickled beet citrus vinaigrette, marinated octopus and ceviches, as well as pastas and imaginative takes on classics such as duck Bolognese. The entire space is bold and modern with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Inner Harbour from an outer harbor vantage—provided there isn't a multimillion-dollar yacht in the sightline. Late night munchies? This is the spot. Picnicking? Then order a Boom Box (for delivery or pick up) filled with culinary delights.

In this hip, brick-walled eatery, classic Belgian dishes are reinvented with flavors from North Africa and beyond. The moules (mussels) are justifiably popular, either steamed in white wine or sauced with exotic smoked chilis, cilantro, and coconut cream. Those seeking a more adventurous option might select the barbecued frog legs, curried mushrooms, or ostrich carpaccio. Unusual, perhaps, but definitely delicious. Meanwhile, a smartly dressed crowd hangs out at the bar sipping imported beer or delicious cocktails like the Blue Fig (gin infused with oven-roasted figs and served with a side of blue cheese). An easy walk to theaters and sports arenas, it's a good spot for a pre-event bite.

Chef/owner Konan Mar's passion for cultural diversity and his talent for fusing Canadian and Asian cuisine with a distinctly European flair shape this restaurant's regularly changing menu (think pork and kimchi potstickers and stout-braised duck shepherd's pie). Based in one of Golden's oldest houses and decorated with local art, the space is cozy.

Watch floatplanes take off and land at this buzzy pub on the Fraser River, near YVR's south terminal. A shuttle service runs from the main terminal.

If the weather's fine, head for this seafood stand on the seawall, overlooking the docks beside Granville Island. The menu is short—highlights include fish-and-chips, grilled salmon or tuna sandwiches, and fish tacos—but the quality is first-rate. It's hugely popular, and on sunny summer days the waits can be maddening both to order and to wait on its cooked-to-order delivery. So try to avoid the busiest times: noon to 2 pm and 5 pm to closing (usually around 7). Because there are just a few outdoor tables, be prepared to take your food to go.

With sleek white tables and sparkling chandeliers, Chef David Hawksworth's modish restaurant welcomes locals toasting new clients or celebrating a romantic anniversary. The food (and the crowd) is suave and swanky, too. You might start with hamachi tartare dressed with chili lime vinaigrette, or a simpler heirloom tomato salad with burrata and preserved cherries. Although the menu changes frequently, mains might include wild salmon with lobster agnolotti, or duck breast with turnip and loganberry jus. Everything is superbly presented, including, for dessert, the delicious mushroom ice-cream. Don't knock it until you've tried it.

Inside this stylish and cozy space you'll find mouthwatering Lebanese and Mediterranean dishes (think mujadra, labneh, tabbouli, and more) alongside inventive cocktails. They also serve a yummy weekend brunch. There are two other locations.

Chefs prepare classic Alsatian-inspired food—including the signature onion tart—at this long-established Downtown restaurant that sets the standard for French cuisine in Vancouver. Despite the white-tablecloth sophistication, the breezy curtains, golden yellow walls, and burgundy banquettes keep things cozy. Favorite dishes include a signature foie gras tasting followed by classics such as lobster with beurre blanc, veal medallions with morel sauce, and grilled Dover sole. Service is attentive and professional.

This is fusion sushi, so purists be warned. The restaurant introduced Vancouver to flame-seared aburi and also pressed oshi sushi to Canada. And its imaginative combinations since then have certainly made their mark. Try the Aburi prime platter of nine rice bites topped with everything from pressed prawn with a lime zest to jalapeño-spiced salmon to Japanese Wagyu. Or go for Raisu: a bamboo box containing 12 multicolored rice squares. Only 10 boxes are made each night, so get there early to snag one. The place can get noisy, but its location next to Canada Place gives unrivalled views of cruise ships coming and going.

A former gentlemen's club that has evolved into an upscale, tapas-style bistro, this restaurant turns shared dining (think generous small plates) into a deliciously classy experience. Roasted cauliflower, orange-braised fennel, and buttermilk fried chicken with spiced maple syrup come alongside oven-fired pizzas with toppings such as zucchini, mint lemon, and cashew béchamel. Save room for a dessert finale, especially if it's espresso cake. Large, full-plate options are available. But why choose one dish when multiple flavors await? Besides, this is David Hawksworth's second restaurant, and that endorsement alone puts it in the winner's circle.

You can make a meal of meze—appetizers like falafel, tabbouleh, or crispy cauliflower served with tahini—at this subterranean Lebanese restaurant. If you're looking for something heartier, the kitchen serves roast chicken, lamb kibbeh, and other meat dishes, but much of the menu is vegetarian-friendly. You'll also find Nuba locations in Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, and Yaletown.

This floating fish-and-chips stand, the original location of the popular local eatery, draws crowds all summer long.

If you like your fish both yummy and ecologically friendly, look no further than this former shipping container on the pier at the foot of Broughton Street. From the soil-topped roof and biodegradable packaging to the sustainably harvested local seafood, this waterfront takeout shop minimizes its ecological footprint. The chef offers a choice of local wild salmon, tuna, and oysters from the barbecue. Portuguese buns are baked daily for the seafood sandwiches, fish tacos come in grilled tortilla cones, and even plain old fish-and-chips are taken up a notch with a choice of wild salmon, halibut, or cod in tempura batter with hand-cut fries. And don't knock the "frikle" (battered pickle) 'til you've tried it. Be prepared for long lineups on sunny days and for variable closures during wet and cooler months.

A perennial favorite with locals for special occasions, this restaurant boasts spectacular views overlooking the city and mountains from its perch at the highest point in Queen Elizabeth Park. Service is excellent in the white-tablecloth dining room, and the menu showcases regional West Coast cuisine. Weekend brunch and Sunday night Prime Rib dinner are popular. Valet parking is available for lunch and dinner. Once in the park, follow the signs to the top of the hill to the restaurant.

Start with a picture-perfect backdrop overlooking the vineyards, add a contemporary market-driven menu, top it off with expert service, and the result is one of the Okanagan's finest dining experiences. With its high-beamed ceilings and wood floors, the interior is rustic, but the best seats are on the terrace looking out across the fields. The menu changes every year but you might find dishes like seared tuna with beets or duck breast with parsnip and sweet potato. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner daily from May through mid-October, but keeps more limited hours off-season.

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!

With an eclectic assortment of knick-knacks, most with a "pig" theme, this cute, bright bistro grabs your attention as soon as you walk through the door. Fiercely local, the wine/beer menu is totally BC-centric and dishes use fresh, local ingredients with menu selections ranging from burgers or crispy duck to ethnic fusion dishes like a Moroccan lamb shank. A kids' menu is also available, as well as lunch kits for hikers. Reservations are available only through the winter months. Summertime is first-come-first-serve, and note that people will drive from as far away as Calgary just to eat here, so there can be line-ups during the busy dinner hours.

Part of the swanky Watermark Beach Resort, this restaurant sits on the water and has terrific views. Guests from other resorts head here for a night out, grazing on appetizers like tuna tostadas and cheese and charcuterie antipasto. More substantial dishes, such as lobster ravioli, are offered for dinner. Many of the featured wines are limited editions from local wineries, so if you didn't taste them during your afternoon touring, you may find them here.

Tucked away inside the Vancouver Art Gallery, the 1931 Gallery Bistro and rooftop (weather-dependent) terrace are quiet retreats from the Downtown bustle. Food is very west coast modern-fusion as in Szechuan prawns with papaya slaw, coconut and carrot soup, and flavorful flatbreads. The poke bowls are excellent as is the selection of eggs Benedict. 

Half the space is a cozy café with soup, sandwiches, and amazing pastries from Fol Epi, one of the city's best bakeries; the other half is a tiny restaurant and bar. Either way, food is focused on organic locavorism and both are great to satiate hunger pangs.

Well-chosen antiques and original artwork create a vibrantly chic atmosphere for what has always been one of Whistler's top fine-dining restaurants. Local farmers grow produce exclusively for Araxi's chef, who also makes good use of regional cheeses, game, and fish. The food is fresh and innovative, best described as Pacific Northwest cuisine. Seafood is a specialty, so while you can certainly order a superbly prepared beef tenderloin, it's dishes like alder-smoked Arctic char or handmade pasta with wild prawns, scallops, and mussels that steal the show. The two-tier seafood tower is a must-try for seafoodies who love to graze and share. Wine aficionados take note: the wine list is 43 pages long. A heated patio is open in summer, and the lounge is a popular afternoon and après-ski spot, especially for its oyster bar.

Funky Barb's, a tin-roofed takeout shack, floats on the quay at Fisherman's Wharf, west of the Inner Harbour off St. Lawrence Street. Halibut, salmon, oysters, mussels, crab, burgers, and chowder are all prepared fresh. The picnic tables on the wharf provide a front-row view of the brightly colored houseboats moored here, or you can carry your food to the grassy park nearby. Ferries sail to Fisherman's Wharf from the Inner Harbour, or you can work up an appetite with a leisurely stroll along the waterfront. 

Run by the same team that oversees the adjacent Hawksworth Restaurant, this upscale little café at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia serves fine coffee, a few salads and sandwiches, and exquisite pastries, from colorful macarons to beautifully crafted fruit tarts. Downtown business types like to meet here, and both shoppers and sightseers stop in to recharge. It's opposite the Vancouver Art Gallery and just a short stroll from Robson Street's boutiques.

So much more than a specialty coffee shop, Radium's only café offers a full selection of grab-and-go soup and sandwiches, breakfast burritos, quiche, and baked goods for breakfast and lunch. A bright, spacious room with high, open-duct industrial-style ceilings contrasts nicely with the warmth of the custom-made Douglas fir tabletops, plants throughout, and a wall filled with locally made BC products. Free Wi-Fi is available, as well as charging stations if you need to catch up on work or research. The outdoor patio (with umbrellas) is the perfect place to enjoy a beverage and people-watch.

This slightly out-of-the-way, hip little burger joint elevates the humble patty with local ingredients and naturally raised meats, serving intriguing burger (and sandwich) combos like beef with chipotle-bourbon barbecue sauce, BC–raised bison with aged cheddar and fried onions, or chicken with bacon, Brie, and balsamic red onion jam. Vegetarians can substitute crispy tofu on any sandwich or opt for the chickpea, black bean, and goat cheese burger. Be sure to sample one of the house-made dips, perhaps curry aioli or lime-and-tomatillo hot sauce with the house-made fries. There's a kid's menu as well as drink choices that include creative cocktails, beer from island microbreweries, and house-made berry iced tea. Other lounges are in Langford and Nanaimo.