224 Best Restaurants in British Columbia, Canada

On a sunny day, there's no better place to grab a coffee and house-baked cookie or a light lunch than at the newish log cabin next to the bridge at the Emerald Lake Lodge entry houses. The patio with its bright yellow umbrella tables has stunning views of the lake, and the interior is equally stunning with sweeping cathedral ceilings, wood accents, and a grand river-stone fireplace. The seasonal menu has options like classic poutine, pizza, and bison bratwurst. Ingredients are local and the wild game is sourced from their own ranch in the foothills close to Calgary. The cafe is open from 12--7 pm daily and the window is open from 9 am--4 pm for hot and cold drinks, grab-and-go menu items and ice cream.

This see-and-be-seen at, two-floor seafood palace has a certain "wow factor." There's plenty of bling to be found here, from the shimmering lights to the sparkle-sporting patrons. Options include oysters, sushi, fish-and-chips, seafood towers, and any of the day's fresh catches. (And the kitchen also serves excellent steak.) Whether you're looking to sit at a table on the restaurant's heated and covered sidewalk patio or inside, reservations are recommended.

The Prestige Radium Hot Springs Hotel houses both these restaurants, with the added bonus that you can order from either menu in both the cantina-style Don Agave Mexican-theme room with a long bar, or the large, airy Conrad's Kitchen & Grill side with its magnificent mountain views. Conrad's dinner menu features favorites like pizza, pasta, and burgers, while the Don Agave menu is all about Mexican food, from tacos to fajitas. The breakfast menu is extensive, including dishes with a Mexican flair, like huevos rancheros and a Mexican omelet. The outdoor patio overlooking the Sinclair Creek Canyon is a locals' favorite hangout spot to indulge in appetizers and Mexican-themed cocktails on long summer evenings.

This lively restaurant is a favorite among locals and visitors alike for its rustic Italian food and charming ambience. Set right on the harbor, the lovely views complement the warm, cozy interior. Drop in for a great mocha milk shake, or go for nibbling food like jumbo shrimp cocktails or garlicky crostini appetizers served on homemade bread. Entrées include everything from grilled tenderloin to copious pasta dishes like seafood linguine or spicy spaghetti marinara. Desserts are not to be missed.

The lofty windows of this power station–turned–brewpub open onto one of Victoria's best waterfront patios, overlooking the kayaking and ferry action on the gorge. The casual, locally sourced menu runs from high-end pub snacks such as chickpea fritters, mussels with chorizo, short-rib tacos with dark ale, and crispy duck confit to flatbread pizzas and good old fish-and-chips. There are plenty of gluten-free options, too. Choose from the adults-only brewpub with several TVs tuned to sports, or the all-ages restaurant—both have water-view patios. And try the beer—the Dark Ale, Pale Ale, India Pale Ale, and other signature creations are brewed the old-fashioned way. There are 110 brews on tap. You can even see the vats from the pub. Reservations are accepted in the restaurant section only.

Located right in the heart of the Village, this deli has a great assortment of sandwiches, wraps and pre-made charcuterie boxes. The boxes are at the heart of what they do: they have an OG Box, with a selection of meats, cheeses, fruit, and vegetables, as well as a Brunch Box. Added bonus: they can accommodate any dietary restriction. Can't eat gluten, nuts, dairy, or meat? They've got you covered.

Watch the dumpling makers at work in the open kitchen, and you'll know what to order at this bustling Chinese eatery specializing in traditional Shanghainese and Taiwanese-style food. From xiao long bao (delicate pork-and-crab-filled soup dumplings) to freshly steamed vegetable buns, you'll find plenty of doughy deliciousness here. Handmade Shanghai-style noodles, fresh greens quickly stir-fried with garlic, and salted vegetables with pork and green beans are tasty options, too. Their original location in Richmond is larger and more upscale.

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.

A local institution, this seafood market and restaurant serves the freshest seafood with a no-frills attitude. Nothing gourmet here, just straightforward, well-prepared fish and (crispy) fries, along with other deep-fried favorites: halibut, shrimp, scallops, and smoked salmon. For those who don't like it fried, the crab cakes and chowders come highly recommended. They even offer gluten-free selections. Although there are one or two pricier options, like a whole Dungeness crab at $39.95, most prices are reasonable across the board, with a $5.95 children's menu that's hard to beat. While early dinner is served, the restaurant closes at 8 pm.

This family-owned and -operated coffee roastery and café, just off the Trans-Canada Highway, is popular with locals. Their coffee is also served in many cafés around Vancouver Island.

Offering a unique take on Japanese specialty dishes, the cuisine here can be paired with the largest sake selection in Canada—so diverse it is curated by two sake sommeliers. In addition to classic temaki, bowls, and charcoal aburi oshi, the big faves are small-portion plates paired with sake sangria, and the much grander Omakase Shokado, a showcase of nine different dishes (C$59/person). Try the sake tasting flights or for nondrinkers, the philosopher's tea, a blend of lemongrass, citrus peel, rose hips, and lavender blossoms. Nubo, the sister restaurant next door, is more casual and equally admired (but for its sushi tacos), as is the third location in this family of restaurants: Nubo near Johnson Bridge.

Relax, you're in Spain—or at least you'll feel like it when you enter this narrow West End nook, a traditional Spanish tapas bar that serves classic (and not so classic) small bites and daily variations of paella. Order a sherry or a glass of Spanish bubbly, then graze on anchovies on toast, crispy squid with mint yogurt and jam, or fried zucchini flowers stuffed with potato and salt cod. As in the best Iberian tapas joints, you can come in for a nibble or three, or keep ordering more dishes as you linger into the evening, often accompanied by flamenco guitar.

This quintessential Commercial Drive spot sells all-organic groceries and vegan food in a small café. Their smoothies, bowls, and sweet treats are all must-tries. We recommend the Incredi-bowl. Choose pan-fried tempeh or roasted veggies, and quinoa or brown rice, and it'll come mixed with miso ginger dressing, avocado, sprouts, and sesame seeds. Perfect for a quick bite or yummy picnic fare.

The name doesn't have to do with fairy tales. It's about the farm-to-table movement, which encapsulates the philosophy of this bustling Kitsilano bistro. The idea is creative comfort food. And while the menu looks straightforward, with dishes like wild British Columbian salmon and smoked duck breast, it's full of surprising twists. The Spaghetti and Meat Ball turns out to be tagliatelle topped with a single oversized duck meatball that spills out the sauce when you cut into it, while zucchini "tagliatelle" contains no pasta at all. The moral? Don't judge this always-entertaining book by its cover (and order dessert when the lemon meringue parfait is available).

Victoria's "big production line" and most elaborate afternoon tea (C$89) is served, as it has been since 1908, in the ornate lobby of the Fairmont Empress. The tea is the hotel's own blend, and the cakes, scones, and crustless sandwiches are prepared by some of Victoria's finest pastry chefs. As you face the bill, remember that tea here is more than a snack; it was, historically, a way to keep civilization alive in this farthest outpost of the empire. Seatings are daily from 11 am to 5:30 pm. Children under 12 pay half price.

Neighboring farms supply much of the fare at this bistro, tucked down a country lane at Merridale Ciderworks. The bistro, part of the gambrel-roofed cider house, showcases local art on whitewashed walls within, and orchard and forest views from the wide, covered veranda. You can match house-made ciders to the casual comfort food featuring local ingredients and bread freshly baked in the brick oven onsite. Locals flock here for live music on the covered patio.

It would be easy to miss this tiny luncheonette and grocer nestled off Main Street on a residential street, but locals know this is a place to go for pastries, sandwiches, coffee, and specialty groceries perfect for a picnic. Their cakes and cupcakes are particularly divine. There's a small area for seating, but if it's a busy afternoon, take your snacks to go, and head to a local park for a picnic.

The wooden booths at the back of this dim, narrow room belie just how much fun this place can be with its upbeat mood and hop-to-it staff. Most of the arty-looking clientele are here for the oysters (served shucked, smoked, baked, breaded, or as shooters) and large portions of updated comfort food (try the sweet-potato fries; lamb, beef, or halibut burgers; or chicken-penne soup). The service is snappy, there's a small patio out back, and even the kids' menu portions would feed a linebacker. The evening-only, upstairs oyster bar with its black-granite bar and inviting sofas is even more intimate, and mains like prosciutto-wrapped lingcod are included on the pricier, more upscale menu.

Everything here is farm-to-table or items come from local bakeries and orchards. Sandwiches are piled high with flavor, pizzas come directly from the brick oven, and shelves are stacked with produce such as jams, jellies, canned fruit, and veggies. The farm of this outfit is in North Saanich at 1780 Mills Road where meals are a bit more leisurely in a very bright bistro. As you might expect, we're talking pasture raised, non-gmo ingredients from start to finish.

The two-level, bustling eatery never seems to lose its energetic vibe in the seasonal fare it presents or in the patron it attracts. Whether it's a seat at the bar beside the open kitchen, a gathering by the fire, a cozy meal in a booth, or joining the throng on the heated outdoor patio, this place rocks. It's no wonder, given happy hour starts at 2:30. The broad (and sometimes pricey) menu includes a mouthwatering and hearty seafood bouillabaisse, a delicious lobster paella, pasta, and poultry. Beef items run the gamut from a prime Tomahawk (C$149) or a 280-ounce prime rib eye double entrecôte (C$120) to a C$16 burger. The wine and cocktail list is just as diverse. For people watching, head to the mezzanine that overlooks all the action. Glowbal is in the TELUS Garden building, one of Vancouver's greenest buildings. Look up. The glass-ribbed canopy resembles a whale.

Serving small plates designed for sharing, this spirited Japanese tapas bar is known for the seared mackerel sashimi. Also worth trying are the ebi mayo (tempura shrimp with spicy mayonnaise), the ishi-yaki (a Korean-style stone bowl filled with rice, pork, and vegetables), and anything on the daily fresh sheet. Sake and Japanese beer are the drinks of choice.

The name means "working together" in Swahili, and the family that owns this welcoming restaurant does just that as it introduces guests to traditional Ethiopian fare. Savory stews are served atop platter-size pancakes of injera, a tangy, spongy flatbread used to scoop up every morsel. The bread does the job of cutlery, so you won't find knives and forks here. Order a combination platter to sample a range of flavors. The vegetarian version, which includes spinach, lentils, peas, assorted vegetables, and salad, is especially tasty. The space is colorful, and the walls are hung with Ethiopian artwork. Unlike some Ethiopian restaurants with traditional low seating, there are regular tables and chairs here.

This hip yet neighborhood-cozy Chinatown eatery is the sister restaurant of Burdock & Co. Enjoy health-conscious dishes that are delicious and hearty, like rice noodles with charred chili and almond-hazelnut sauce, ramen with squash and miso broth, and udon with sake kazu chicken, all of which incorporate the very best of seasonally available produce. Harvest is also a minigrocer, offering urban produce and small-production vegan and local foods.

Old Havana meets new Vancouver in this lofty, energetic spot, where the kitchen puts a west coast spin on Cuban classics. Start with ceviche, avocado tostones, or birria tacos, then try the Cubano (porchetta, honey ham, and Swiss cheese on a Cuban bun), the paella, or the grilled octopus. It's easy to make an evening of it. After dark, Havana morphs into a lively hangout, with mojitos, margaritas, and sangria, plus rum flights, craft beer, and signature sippers like the Hemingway Daiquiri. The patio is one of the best on the Drive, and there's even an intimate 60-seat theater in the back room hosting an eclectic mix of music, dance, theater, and comedy.