109 Best Restaurants in Vancouver, British Columbia

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.

This faux fishing shack in Yaletown has one of the city's widest selections of oysters (up to 18 varieties), from locally harvested bivalves to selections from Ireland, New Zealand, and beyond—they're all laid out on ice behind the bar. Or try the clams, mussels, and other mollusks from the steamer kettles. If you're fishing for an afternoon snack, come in between 3 and 6 pm when a light menu of raw oysters, steamed clams, garlic prawns, and a few additional seafood nibbles are served. There's a second location in Gastown.

This casual eatery serves Mexican favorites like tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, and more—all for less than C$12. Whatever you order, make sure to try one (or several) of their flavor-packed hot sauces. A great spot for a casual lunch or dinner, and if it's nice out, bring your eats to the nearby Robson Park for a picnic. The Kingsway location is full of Mexican artwork. There are three other locales across the city.

Vancouver's ocean of Asian restaurants can be overwhelming so finding dependably great, authentic Thai cuisine is a treat. Sala Thai means "an open pavilion for gathering," so you can expect gracious hospitality and service, alongside seafood, noodles—pad Thai, pad see-ew to name just two---and curries with coconut milk, fruits, and spices. The diverse menu includes desserts like jackfruit, mango, and sweet sticky rice, as well as deep-friend bananas and homemade coconut ice cream. No wonder kids love the place.

Perched halfway up a mountain, this restaurant has stunning water and city views by day and expansive vistas of city lights by night. It's best known for its alder-grilled salmon, though the sablefish is also tempting. The seafood tower, prepared for two, gives you both chilled and grilled fish, along with a "seafood feast bowl"—salmon, clams, mussels, and prawns in a Thai coconut broth, served with a king crab leg. With a good selection by the glass, the wine list emphasizes British Columbia labels. The Northwest Coast interior is tastefully done, though it can hardly compete with what's outside the windows. The Salmon House is about 30 minutes from Vancouver by car. Head over the Lions Gate Bridge, follow Highway 1 west, then take the Folkestone Way exit.

If your idea of a perfect light meal revolves around fine cured meats, artisanal cheeses, and a glass of wine from a wide-ranging list, find your way to this sleek cellar space beneath the Irish Heather Shebeen gastro-pub in Chinatown. Salt's concept doesn't involve a kitchen, per se; it's all about assembling the selection of top-quality provisions—perhaps smoked beef tenderloin or British Columbian–made Camembert, with accompanying condiments—into artfully composed delights. The whole shebang is more like an upscale picnic than a full meal; however, a three-course set menu is well-priced. 

Inspired by the street foods of Rome, this cafeteria-style Italian bakery-café (pronounced "shoe-eh") starts the day serving espresso and pastries, then moves to panini, soups, and pastas. One specialty is the pane romano, essentially a thick-crust pizza, sold by weight. There can be lines out the door at lunch, so try to visit early or late. (Not too late, though, as it's only open until 5 pm.) There are additional Downtown branches with varying hours. If you're in Yaletown, look for the location at 126 Davie St.; it's open every day.

Conveniently located at the entrance to Bridgeport Station on the Canada Line, this upscale Chinese restaurant serves first-rate Hong Kong-style seafood, often plucked live from the tanks and cooked to the specifications of its well-heeled clientele. Ask for whatever fish is freshest, and try the distinctive pork with chayote squash. This is also a popular spot for lunchtime dim sum, both traditional and more contemporary. Although you won't be out of place in jeans, you could dress up a bit, particularly in the evening. Reservations are recommended.

A brigade of chefs is at work in the open kitchen of this popular restaurant that specializes in Shanghai-style fare, which is richer and slightly sweeter than more delicate Cantonese dishes. They're prepping the handmade dumplings, including the soup-filled xiao long bao and the panfried pork buns that are among the specialties here. Hand-pulled noodles, saucy braised eggplant, and fresh stir-fried greens are other good options. Book in advance or prepare to wait.

In a 1911 manor house, this bar and grill with a large patio is very family-friendly, with a menu of burgers, fish, soups, and salads, as well as sharing plates and vegetarian options. The location right in Stanley Park is great, especially mid-bike ride. It overlooks the Rose Garden and is steps from Malkin Bowl, where outdoor theater and concerts are held in summer.

This bustling Cantonese restaurant is best known for its excellent dim sum (served 10:30 to 3 weekdays and 10 to 3 weekends), which ranges from traditional handmade dumplings to some adventurous fare. Dinner specialties include roasted squab marinated in the restaurant's secret spice blend and king crab plucked live from the tanks, then steamed with garlic. If you can, come with a group, so you can sample more dishes. There's an additional location in Richmond.

Vancouver's first upscale vegetarian dining room, this barely bigger-than-an-acorn restaurant serves imaginative plant-based fare that does its vegetables proud. With a hyper-seasonal menu, dishes rotate weekly following shipments from local organic farms. Many menu items are vegan or gluten-free. If you have to wait for a table, pass the time with one of their signature cocktails.

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.

This little meeting place, tucked just off Granville Street on West 13th Avenue, has the feeling of a buzzy European bistro. Small plates are made for sharing, as are the charcuterie and cheese boards and the menu changes with the seasons. The extensive wine list features a selection of both local and wines from around the world. A four-course family style menu is also available. 

The former officers' mess at Ferguson Point in Stanley Park is a prime location for water views by day, and for watching sunsets at dusk. The Pacific Northwest menu is not especially innovative, but its broad appeal will please those looking for local fish, rack of lamb, steaks, and a host of other options, including gluten-free pasta. Various tasting boards—charcuterie, cheese, seafood, and vegetarian options—make for good grazing in the afternoon. In summer you can dine on the patio.

At this casually cool restaurant and lounge whose tagline could be "Asia's greatest hits," the sharing plates and fun cocktails have elements from Japan to India and everywhere in between. Start with a Banga, a cocktail in a jar, then choose Thai papaya salad, a Vietnamese banh mi (sandwich), or Indonesian nasi goreng (fried rice). Banga #2 blends tequila, mandarin, lime, agave syrup, and galangal, while #3 is a mix of bourbon, mirin, mint, calamansi, and ginger beer. Nonalcoholic drinks with flavors like coconut, ginger, and Thai basil are also delightful. More great food choices include sweet and spicy chicken wings, Cha Ca Hanoi (Pacific cod, rice vermicelli, and greens in a turmeric-herb-coconut milk broth), and spicy sambal green beans.