-
$$ | |
This floating fish-and-chips stand, the original location of the popular local eatery, draws crowds all summer long.
12351 Third Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, V7E 2Z1, Canada
Known For
- Fresh fish
- Fun dining experience
- On the water
-
$$$$ | |
A perennial favorite with locals for special occasions, this restaurant boasts spectacular views overlooking the city and mountains from its perch at the highest point in Queen Elizabeth Park. Service is excellent in the white-tablecloth dining room, and the menu showcases regional West Coast cuisine. Weekend brunch and Sunday night Prime Rib dinner are popular. Valet parking is available for lunch and dinner. Once in the park, follow the signs to the top of the hill to the restaurant.
West 33rd Ave. at Cambie, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Y 2M4, Canada
Known For
- Panoramic views
- Special occasions
- Fine dining
-
$$$ | |
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!
1535 Johnson St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3R9, Canada
Known For
- Made-to-order sushi
- Quintessential Vancouver location
- Sunday night seafood boil
-
$$$$ | |
Hidekazu Tojo is a sushi-making legend in Vancouver, with thousands of special preparations stored in his creative mind. The first to introduce omakase (chef's choice) to Vancouver, he is also the creator of the "Inside out" Tojo Roll, now universally known as the "California Roll." In this bright, modern, high-ceilinged space, complete with a separate sake lounge, the prime perch is at the sushi bar, a ringside seat for watching the creation of edible art. The best way to experience Tojo's creativity is to order omakase. The chef will keep offering you wildly adventurous fare, both raw and cooked, until you're full. Budget a minimum of C$80 per person (before drinks) for five courses. Tabs topping C$120 per person for six courses or more are routine. Cocktail hour runs from 4 to 6 Monday to Saturday.
1133 W. Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 1G1, Canada
Known For
- Omakase
- Top-notch sushi
- Sake lounge
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch, Reservations essential
-
$$$ | |
Long lauded as Vancouver's most innovative Indian restaurant, this dining destination, run by genial proprietor Vikram Vij and his ex-wife Meeru Dhalwala, uses local ingredients to create exciting takes on South Asian cuisine. Dishes such as lamb "popsicles" in a creamy curry or British Columbia rainbow trout in coconut masala served with a wheat berry pilaf are far from traditional—but are beautifully executed. Vikram frequently circulates through the room, which is decorated with nods to India's diverse cultures, greeting guests and suggesting dishes or cocktail pairings. Expect to sip chai or an aperitif in the lounge while waiting for a table if you walk in, or make a reservation—they're now accepted. In the summer, head to the rooftop patio for pre-dinner snacks and a collection of inventive tropical cocktails.
3106 Cambie St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 2W2, Canada
Known For
- One of the best Indian restaurants in North America
- Rooftop patio
- Warm, welcoming service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
-
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
-
$$$ | |
This is one of the most authentic restaurants in town when it comes to Syrian Lebanese flavors. And its waterfront location doesn't hurt either, although in winter, you may want to wear a sweater if seated next to the window. Enjoy stuffed grape leaves, smoked eggplant with pomegranate molasses, and a signature hummus. Shish tawouk (yogurt-marinated chicken) is a winner, as is the mashawi, a mixed grill of eight kebabs (C$110) geared for sharing. Burgers (lamb, of course) get the nod, too. The small bar is elegant and the cocktails imaginative. It's one of the few place to enjoy imported arak. The wine list is decent, too.
550 Denman St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6G 3H1, Canada
Known For
- Knowledgeable staff on food and culture
- Waterfront views
- Authentic flavors
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch
-
$$$ | |
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.
750 Hornby St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2H7, Canada
Known For
- Fresh, organic food
- Private patio amid glassy high-rises
- Eggs Benedict
-
$ | |
Stop for an espresso on the airy enclosed patio at the West 4th location of this local coffee roaster, where delicious doughnuts are made on-site.
2198 W. 4th Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6K 1N7, Canada
Known For
- C$6.50 coffee-and-doughnut combo
- Gluten-free and vegan options
- Lively and bright sunroom
-
$$$ | |
Start with an eclectic Chinatown storefront, stir in funky Asian-flavored cocktails, then add a creative take on traditional Chinese dishes, and the result is this hip and happening hangout. Load up your table with nibbles like Chinese pickles and steamed prawn, scallop, and chive dumplings, or tapas-size dishes like shao bing (sesame flatbread with cumin-scented lamb, pickled red onion, cilantro, and chilis), mantou (steamed buns stuffed with pork belly and preserved turnip), or steelhead trout with kabocha cumin gnocchi, rapini, and shiso butter clam sauce. To drink, perhaps a Mr. Miao (bourbon, Martini Bianco, beet juice, rosemary, and lemon) or a Plum Flower Paw (rum, sherry, plum juice, peppercorn, bitters, and dark lager). Old Chinatown may have been tasty, but it never cooked up anything this fun.
163 Keefer St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1X3, Canada
Known For
- Asian-inspired cocktails
- Creative Chinese tapas
- You tiao (donuts)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch, Reservations not accepted
-
$$$$ | |
Whether inside the terraced dining room or on the heated beachside patio, almost every table at this 1912 seaside house has views over Burrard Inlet and Stanley Park. The Pacific Northwest menu focuses on unpretentious seafood dishes, such as sea bass or roasted salmon, along with steak, burger, and pasta choices. Lunch is a particularly good option here, followed by a stroll along the pier or the seaside walkway.
150 25th St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V7V 4H8, Canada
Known For
- Pacific Northwest menu
- Seasonal fish dishes
- Exceptional views
-
-
$ | Kitsilano |
This local minichain, of the "Fuelled by Caffeine" slogan, runs a number of comfortable coffeehouses around town. If you like your cappuccino with no pretension (and perhaps with a muffin or slice of banana bread), head for "The Bean." In addition to this branch near Kitsilano Beach, their many Vancouver locations include 175 West Hastings Street (at Cambie) in Gastown, 1002 Mainland Street in Yaletown, 2977 Granville Street in South Granville, and on Main Street at No. 2528 and No. 3598.
1945 Cornwall Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6J 1C8, Canada
Known For
- Great coffee
- Laid-back atmosphere
- Fresh baked goods
-
$$ | |
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.
801 W. Georgia St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 3G1, Canada
Known For
- Great coffee
- Beautiful pastries
- Busy meet-up venue
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner
-
$$$ | |
Located on the pier next to Fisherman's Wharf in Steveston Village, this popular eatery's "canoe-sized" fresh local seafood platters, featuring snow crab legs, smoked salmon, and Salt Spring Island mussels, are designed for sharing. In summer, grab a seat on the deck overlooking the busy boardwalk, and watch the marina and river traffic sail by.
140-3866 Bayview St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V7E 4R7, Canada
Known For
- Fresh seafood
- Waterfront dining
- Local craft beer and wine
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
$ | |
This is where the culinary students of the adjoining Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts strut their stuff. Standards are high and the artisanal breads, soups, wraps, and gourmet desserts are outstanding.
1505 West 2nd Ave., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 3Y4, Canada
Known For
- Unique location at culinary school
- French-inspired baked goods
- Local favorite
-
$$$$ | |
Executive Chef Frank Pabst focuses his menu on both popular and lesser-known local seafood at his fashionable fish restaurant. You can dine in the warmly lit interior or outside on the former loading dock that's now a terrace. You might start with scallops with a parmesan crust; Dungeness crab salad with shrimp, mango, and pumpkin seed; or a seafood tower (ideal for sharing). Main dishes are seafood-centric, too—perhaps sablefish with a miso sake glaze, or Arctic char with braised leeks and fennel. Ask the staff to recommend wine pairings from the BC-focused list. The sushi chef turns out both classic and new creations. They're pricey but among the city's best.
1095 Hamilton St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 5T4, Canada
Known For
- Seafood-centric menu
- Top-notch sushi
- Great local wine list
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
-
-
$$ | |
The staff at this no-frills storefront explains that Bob is just an average guy. And if he likes the authentically prepared Thai fare, then so will you. The menu includes all the classics, from green papaya salad to laabmoo (minced pork with roasted rice, mint, fish sauce, and lime) to pad si ew (fried rice noodles with pork and egg). There's an assortment of curries, including fish with a creamy yellow curry. Some dishes are on the small side, so if you're hungry ask your server to recommend the right number of plates to share. For the best deal, come for the lunch specials. There's a second location at 1521 West Broadway in the South Granville neighborhood and a quick-service version at 1660 Robson in the West End.
3755 Main St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V5V 3N8, Canada
Known For
- Authentic Thai dishes
- Tasty curries
- Lunch specials
-
$ | |
This Vancouver institution is about 1 kilometer (½ mile) east of the main Commercial strip but is well worth the trek. Their famous breakfast—served with two eggs, toast, hash browns and meat—is just C$3. (And the price hasn't changed in years.) This place really showcases the East Side's gritty character: from the graffiti-covered walls to the no-frills, serve-yourself coffee bar. Weekend lines are long; get there as early as you can.
2451 Nanaimo St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V5N 5E5, Canada
Known For
- C$3 breakfast
- Distinctly East Van vibe
- Unlimited coffee
-
$$$$ | |
Settle into a deep cream-toned banquette or nab a sidewalk table for a seafood-centric meal at this stylish spot in the Sutton Place Hotel. Start with fresh local oysters or indulge in Canadian caviar from the nearby Sunshine Coast. Mains swim through the sea, too—perhaps lobster and local rock fish bouillabaisse; linguine with clams and tiger prawns; or roasted sablefish—but heartier appetites can dig into a steak or a heritage pork shoulder. Sharing dishes are also imaginative and include (market-price) caviar and seafood towers. For a special treat, reserve ahead to have select items cooked tableside. The wine list is strong on British Columbia labels.
845 Burrard St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6Z 2K6, Canada
Known For
- Strong BC wine list
- Local seafood
- Award-winning chefs
-
$$$ | |
Located adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, and within a few minutes walk of the city's Rogers Arena and BC Place, what better place for a pre-theater/pre-event meal? Choices are wide and varied, from social hour morsels (crispy cauliflower and parmesan garlic chips) to soups, salads, burgers, Asian-inspired bowls, pasta, and a decent kids' menu. Save room for house-made desserts. Bonus: there's underground parking.
675 Cambie St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V6B 2P1, Canada
Known For
- Expansive patio
- Pre-post theater
- Menu selection
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
$$$$ | |
Chef Andrea Carlson previously manned the stoves at locavore destinations Bishop's and Raincity Grill, and she's kept her focus on seasonal local ingredients at her own Michelin-starred storefront bistro. Though she changes the menu regularly, about half of her inventive sharing plates are vegetarian, like the squash cannelloni with chanterelle mushroom cream or the grain "risotto" with potato, miso, and quinoa. Set menu starts at C$89 per guest.
2702 Main St., Vancouver, British Columbia, V5T 3E8, Canada
Known For
- Locavore menu
- Vegetarian options
- Cozy space
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues.–Wed.
