224 Best Restaurants in British Columbia, Canada

Noodles, whether Indonesian-style with peanut sauce, thick Hokkien in teriyaki, or Thai-style chow mein, are scooped straight from the open kitchen's steaming woks into bowls or cardboard take-out boxes. Malaysian-, Singapore-, and Thai-style curries run from mild to scaldingly hot. Gluten-free, vegan-, and kid-friendly options are all available. There are half a dozen "boxes" around town; most are loud and busy spots.

Because Vancouverites don't live by coffee alone—they're also tea drinkers—look for this tiny Yaletown tea bar that serves 60 of its own blends, including rich, milky "Lat-Teas." If you're feeling under-the-weather, order the "Cold Blaster," a rejuvenating blend of tea, orange juice, honey, ginger, and cayenne pepper.

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.

The classic alpine-chalet lodge exterior and interior of this restaurant provide the perfect backdrop to enjoy traditional Austrian dishes like schnitzels and bratwurst. The menu also includes a variety of steak dishes and a B.C. salmon filet. A stone fireplace adds ambiance in the cooler seasons, and the front patio is the perfect place to enjoy an ice-cold pint of on-tap Austrian Stiegl beer when the sun's shining.

This contemporary eatery at Quails' Gate Winery is open throughout the year, making it a good choice for off-season visits. When the weather is fine, you can dine on the patio overlooking the lake. Menu choices are a balance of seafood, meat and options for vegetarians, too. The staff is attentive and knowledgeable about wine pairings.

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.

For a Pacific Rim twist on the tea tradition, try this window-lined restaurant in the Hotel Grand Pacific (C$58). You can choose from an assortment of Asian-style teas, like the cherry haiku or dragon tears (green tea with jasmine), while you nibble on Dungeness crab cakes, tuna tataki, scones with clotted cream, and lemon meringue tarts. Tea is served from 2 to 4:30 daily. Reservations must be made 24 hours in advance.

Crowded, frenetic, and buckets of fun, this New York–meets–Victoria trattoria has trumpeted showbiz since it opened in 1979, from the signed photos of owner Howie Siegal's movie-star friends plastering the walls, to the live jazz, swing, blues, or Celtic music playing several nights a week. The tables are so tightly packed that you'll be eyeing your neighbor's food from a menu that runs from the "Mae West" (veal with artichoke hearts) to a number of à la carte fresh, handmade pastas and gluten-free rice bowls to the "Prawns Al Capone" (shell-on butterfly shrimp sautéed in butter and white wine). The fun and the food isn't set to break the bank either. Sunday brunch is equally good.

On a lovely terrace looking out over the vineyards at Nk'Mip Cellars, this restaurant offers shady respite from the desert heat. The menu includes salads, cheese plates, and other light meals, and dishes sometimes feature Indigenous influences, such as wild salmon or bison steak. Like many winery dining rooms, this one is outdoors and closes when the weather turns. Although it's primarily a place for lunch, it serves dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings in July and August.

A seat at this beautifully landscaped patio is one of the hottest tickets in town, so plan on an early lunch if you hope to get a table. Among the wine-friendly dishes, you might find smoked trout, or a duck burger topped with slaw. Or simply spend the afternoon sharing a charcuterie plate. The tables are outdoors, meaning the restaurant closes in inclement weather. Reservations are accepted for groups of six to 12 people.

Authentic Northern Chinese dishes are the specialty at this friendly storefront restaurant. Particularly good are the hand-pulled noodles that the cooks knead and stretch in the open kitchen and the popular spicy dan-dan noodles. Vegetarians have plenty of options, including many of the dumplings. Dim sum dishes are also on offer, and the helpful staff is happy to guide you to more authentic Mandarin fare. There is another West Side location at 2394 West 4th Ave. in Kitsilano.

One of the city's first bubble tea stalls makes for a refreshing break at the busy Richmond Public Market. 

Located in downtown Vernon on the main drag, Phoenix Steak House is owned by a husband and wife team, and serves excellent steak, alongside plenty of seafood options (the crab cakes are divine), pasta, salads, and more. The vibe is cozy, intimate, and romantic.

The menu in this glossy white space draws inspiration from Asia for inventive sharing plates. From the ever-changing menu, you might choose chicken wings with gochujung and tosazu pickle daikon, a foie-gras rice bowl with chestnuts, daikon, and a unagi glaze, or the Korean rice cake with gochujang bolognese, and spiced hazelnut. Sake or one of the house-made cocktails stand up well to the bold food flavors.

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.

The newest outpost of this popular Victoria neighborhood pizzeria offers fire-roasted pizza, house-made gelato, and local craft beers and wine.

Former Wickaninnish Inn executive chef Warren Barr and his partner Lily Verney-Downey opened tiny Pluvio to up the culinary scene in Tofino's humble neighboring town. Thoughtfully prepared dishes are made from scratch with local, wild ingredients often foraged by Barr himself. Two dinner options are on offer: a three-course dinner menu for $91 per person or chef's tasting menu for $168 including wine ($111 without).  The property includes the 30-seat dining room with living art wall and also a four-room boutique hotel in the backyard next to the kitchen garden.

You can imagine yourself on the Provençal seaside at this airy, modern, Mediterranean-style bistro on Yaletown's waterfront, where the focus is on French and Italian takes on seafood. Among the specialties are a delicious bouillabaisse, grilled halibut, and garlicky wild prawns. The rack of lamb is also popular. The sunny marina-view patio makes this a nice spot for breakfast, lunch, or a summertime dinner. You can enjoy the views over a glass of wine (with both British Columbian and European choices) and a light bite at The Wine Bar next door.

This bustling little bakery is popular with tourists and locals alike. They serve delicious coffee, as well as plenty of sweet and savory goodies, from three-cheese sandwiches and vegan blackberry coconut scones to gourmet banana and chocolate brownies and more. The perfect spot for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack. There's a second location on Millar Creek Road.

This Whistler-based bakery offers its yummy handmade goodies and freshly baked bread at three locations in town, including this bright storefront café in Kits.

Vancouverites in search of fine Italian fare flock to the Pinnacle Hotel for warming après-ski meals. The dining room exudes a whimsical Venetian style with ornamental ironwork, picturesque tiles, and hand-painted chandeliers. For a splurge try L'Abbuffata, a five-course Roman feast that comes on family-size platters meant for sharing. Other popular dishes include spaghetti pescatore (with prawns, scallops, and clams), pistachio-crusted sea bass, pressed Cornish game hen, and a plate of five pastas for two to share for a reasonable fixed price. The cellar is filled with 900 wine varieties and an impressive grappa selection.

There are always lines out the door at this popular local family-run ice-cream parlor, one of three in the city (the others are on West 4th Avenue in Kits and at UBC—there is also a food truck at English Bay). The dairy products used to create the company's signature Philadelphia-style ice cream, using only 100 percent dairy and no eggs, are locally sourced from a farm in Abbotsford. Perfect for a pitstop—rain or shine.

Located inside the Pan Pacific Whistler Village Centre, The Raven Room is not your average hotel eatery: it’s privately owned by four renowned Whistler restaurateurs. The menu consists of both small plates (tapas) and larger mains and is sure to satisfy everyone, from carnivores to vegans. The burrata with pistachios, honey, and grilled ciabatta is a must. They also have a very innovative cocktail menu that uses fresh, local ingredients. And a cute tucked away patio, too.

Expect great food and lively ambience at this small Mexican restaurant. The outdoor patio is the perfect place to imbibe a margarita and watch the world go by in the summer, and in winter you can reserve an igloo for a unique experience. It's first-come first-served, and this place gets busy, so get there early, or be prepared to wait (or order take-out).

About 3 km (2 miles) south of the village, this restaurant is a perennial favorite as much for its cozy, unpretentious dining room as for its great seafood. Although seafood takes precedence on the menu—try the raw oysters with champagne—Alberta beef and local game will satisfy carnivores. If you want a booth or a coveted table near the fireplace, dine on the early side or make a reservation. Otherwise, be prepared to wait.

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.