Where To Eat In Vancouver 2024

Planning a holiday to Canada’s west coast and researching where to eat in Vancouver?

British Columbia’s largest city offers some of Canada’s most celebrated fine dining restaurants, a diversity of authentic global cuisine, cute artisanal coffee shops, fresh farmers markets, stellar steakhouses, friendly craft breweries and chic wine bars.

Our comprehensive Vancouver Restaurant Guide features our favourite places in the city to eat brunch, lunch or dinner. There’s a tasty suggestion for every budget, from award winning romantic restaurants to casual and affordable kitchens and coffee shops.

Save this story to Pinterest!

Where To Eat In Vancouver According To Mijune Pak

Vancouver’s food scene offers visitors endless opportunities to enjoy a memorable feast.

The city’s top culinary brass offer everything from elegant high tea, a craft beer bacchanal, award-winning fine dining restaurants and some of the best Asian cuisine in North America.

Mijune Pak is a local Vancouver restaurant expert, who launched her popular blog Follow Me Foodie in 2009. There’s no one better to talk to about the history of the Vancouver restaurant industry then Pak, who meticulously counts the number of restaurants she eats at each year. In 2019 alone, Pak ate her way through over 400 restaurants in Vancouver!

Pak’s culinary expertise was rewarded in a big way in 2017, when the Vancouver restaurant aficionado joined Top Chef Canada as a judge. Pak also judges The Canadian Grand Prix New Product Awards, Bocuse d’Or Canada National Selections, Air Canada’s enRoute Best New Restaurants, Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants, Taste Canada Awards, BC Product of the Year Awards and Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards.

I’ve traveled with Pak on culinary press trips to Israel and Hong Kong and can confirm she has an insatiable appetite for discovering new foods.

She’s the first person I call whenever I’m wondering where to eat in Vancouver right now!

Where To Eat In Vancouver: Restaurant Trends

Dobbernationloves sat down with Pak to learn more about where to eat in Vancouver.

Pak shared, “Vancouver has a huge Asian population, which is predominantly Chinese. Local restaurants used to be Chinese Cantonese (Hong Kong) dominated but now the Chinese restaurants are from Mainland China and cater to these tastes. Vancouver’s food scene also has access to awesome terroir, with nearby land, ocean and mountains offering a perfect farm to table cuisine.”

“I’m really impressed with how strong our restaurant scene stood during the pandemic, and how it continues to develop despite business challenges that came with Covid-19. The hospitality and restaurant industry was one of the sectors that was hit the hardest, yet we still have new restaurants to explore,” said Pak.

Pak continued, “Japadog started in Vancouver and there are lots of local chains here like Earls and Joey. The city is most famous for having the best Chinese food outside of China, which visitors can get a taste for at the popular Richmond Night Market. It is also arguable that the California Roll was created at Tojo’s, although some say it was a sushi chef in Los Angeles. Our “poutine” craving is usually sushi, best enjoyed with local BC wild salmon.”

One of Pak’s favourites for New Canadian and Pacific Northwest cuisine is Published on Main. Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson is one of the country’s rising stars and continues to push boundaries with sophistication, technique and style. Their natural wine bar which was meant to be a pop-up, Bar Susu, is the more casual sister and bites there are also fun and satisfying. 

Pak added, “Oca Pastificio is one of my favourite handmade pasta restaurants in the country. The pasta only tasting-menu shows the value of a chef who is truly dedicated to his craft. It’s a no reservations 15 seat restaurant, so plan accordingly and don’t miss out of the butternut squash rotolo, which is only available on the tasting menu.”

The Chinese food scene is always a must in Vancouver and Chef’s Choice is an excellent spot for dim sum or dinner. “The prawn toasts covered with sesame seeds and prawn dumplings at dim sum are delicious, and the sticky rice stuffed chicken is highly recommended for dinner,” exclaimed the Vancouver food expert.

Pak is also a huge fan of Japanese food and traditional edomae sushi (nigiri). “For something high-end I prefer Sushi Jin, Tetsu Sushi and Masayoshi. For mid-range, chef Hilary at Temaki Sushi is an industry fav, and for take-out only the 100% sustainable sashimi and sushi from Sashimiya by Taka-sanis solid,” said Pak.

Where To Eat In Vancouver & What To Order

We asked Mijune Pak what her favourite Vancouver restaurant dishes are. Rather than suggesting a restaurant to enjoy dinner, we were curious if there were any signature dishes worthy of a road trip.

If you’re wondering where to eat in Vancouver on your next visit, take Mijune’s advice and order these stellar dishes:

• Tourtiere at St. Lawrence
• Baked Oysters at L’Abattoir
• King Crab at Jade Seafood
• Roast Chicken at Elisa
• All the sushi at Tetsu Sushi Bar
• Whole Crispy Chicken Stuffed with Sticky Rice at New Fishport
• Sausage Stuffed Morels at La Quercia
• Sea Urchin & Ham Hock at Boulevard Kitchen
• Foie Gras Torchon at Botanist
• Crispy Pork Jowl at The Pear Tree

Where To Eat In Vancouver Right Now

I’ve been traveling to the city on restaurant research trips for over a decade. I wanted to publish a story that truly answered the question “Where to eat in Vancouver right now!”

On a recent trip in May, 2022 I visited over top 30 Vancouver restaurants in just 7 days!

This restaurant list does not just include expensive fancy fine dining restaurants. My food guide to Vancouver really showcases the diversity of the city’s culinary scene, to accomodate every price point.

Want to grab a cheap and cheerful brunch, skip on over to Havana or Granville Island Market. Keen to sip the city’s best coffee and pastries, stroll into Honey Doughnuts or Beaucoup Bakery. Or perhaps you want to empty your bank account in search of a sublime culinary experience, make a reservation in advance at Hawksworth or Elisa.

Without further adieu, here are our tried tested and true suggestions on where to eat in Vancouver!

NOTE: If there are any Vancouver restaurants you feel should be on this list don’t hesitate to leave a comment below to let us know!

Hawksworth Restaurant

801 W Georgia St, 604-673-7000

Chef David Hawksworth first opened his namesake restaurant in downtown Vancouver in May, 2011.

The award-winning chef from British Columbia is renowned for his take on contemporary Canadian cuisine. The west coast chef was selected as Air Canada’s first chef, designing creative menus for the country’s national carrier.

The 110-seat restaurant is located in Vancouver’s luxurious Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Skip inside Hawksworth Restaurant and you’ll find a series of intimate dining rooms and luxurious bar lounge.

The restaurant’s bartenders stir expertly-crafted cocktails that honour the mastery of pre-prohibition tipples. Fresh juices, herbs, house-made bitters, aromatic sprays, feature alongside an innovative barrel and bottle-aged cocktail program.

Chef Hawksworth’s culinary team are known for utilizing local Vancouver food products to create some of the pretties plates in the city.

If if you’re first time to Hawksworth Restaurant we suggest enjoying the BC Journey Tasting Menu. Diners are taken on a multi-sensory trip through the province featuring six courses showcasing seasonality and creativity through unexpected flavour combinations.

Beautifully illustrated the origins of each dish are mapped out on the menu itself, telling the story of British Columbia’s farms, forests and oceans.

• Foie Gras Torchon: duck confit, caramelized pear, lavash cracker 
• Albacore Tuna: jicama, kaffir lime, tamarind, puffed rice 
• Braised Rabbit Tortellini: wild mushroom, fine herbs
• Beef Brisket: potato rosti, cabbage, green peppercorn jus 
• Wild Mushroom Pappardelle: truffle, parmesan, hazelnut, chicken jus

Maenam Thai Restaurant

1938 West 4th Avenue, 604-730-5579

Maenam Vancouver is one of the best Thai restaurants in Canada. The award winning Asian restaurant in Vancouver’s Kitsilano neighbourhood specializes in serving authentic dishes from Thailand.

The popular neighbourhood restaurant near Kitsilano Beach was recently ranked in 26th place on Canada’s Top 100 Restaurants list by Air Canada’s enRoute Magazine.

Maenam restaurant’s chef and owner Angus An is a graduate of New York’s prestigious French Culinary Institute. It is here that he worked under the world’s culinary greats including Jacques Pépin, Alain Sailhac and André Soltner, and later apprenticed at Jean Georges Vongerichten’s legendary Jo Jo.

After graduating from the FCI, Angus trained under Chef Normand Laprise at Montreal’s Toqué before moving to London where he worked at Michelin starred restaurants including The Ledbury and The Fat Duck.

Now in Vancouver, Chef An has created a choir of dishes at Maenam based on traditional Thai recipes, with innovative twists that allow for local, sustainably harvested, organic ingredients whenever possible.

With inspiration found in frequent travel, the menu at Maenam restaurant is ever-changing but always served with a nod to its traditional context, be it family-style dining or riffs on Thai street food favs.

Traditionally, each dish in Thailand should contribute to the balance of four main styles: hot, sour, sweet, salty. Maenam’s culinary team offer a selection of dishes from each style, designed to enrich your Vancouver food experience.

• Young Coconut Thai Cupcakes: caramelized palm sugar, coriander, makrut lime
• Crispy Soft Shell Crab Salad: fresh green mango, cashew nut, garlic oil, nam jim dressing
• Grilled Thai Sausage and Crispy Rice Salad: house made pork sausage, crispy curried rice puffs, coriander, lemongrass, ginger, fried shallots
• Southern Turmeric Curry with Seafood: halibut, mussel, prawn, seared scallop, young coconut
• 3 Flavour Ling Cod: caramelized chili, garlic, shallot, coriander ginger glaze, baby corn, peppercorn, banana peppers, thai basil

Nightingale Restaurant

1017 W Hastings St, 604-695-9500

After enjoying success at Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Chef David Hawksworth launched Nightingale Restaurant in May, 2016.

Chef Hawksworth’s second restaurant in Vancouver delivers fresh and vibrant modern Canadian cuisine in a relaxed social setting, with share plates leading the way.

The 139-seat dining room features a lively bar and Chef’s Table for up to 16 guests. The property was once the home of University and Quadra Clubs and has an eye-catching heritage façade with nods to its historic past incorporated into the design.

Hawksworth hired Studio Munge to create the interiors at Nightingale. The restaurant’s multilevel interiors pay homage to British Columbia’s heritage by bringing the late 19th century back to life. The space has a myriad of historical details such as institutional refurbished light fixtures, exposed copper pipes and remodelled library furniture.

Nightingale’s Chef Alan Tam prepares wholesome dishes that are designed to share family-style. Chef Tam’s menu is sectioned into raw, vegetables, pizza and small & large dishes.

Fresh, local Vancouver food ingredients are abundant throughout the menu with highlights including: daily market fish crudo, charred carrots, roasted mushroom pizza, burrata and anchovy toast, and grilled pork belly.

• Seared Albacore Tuna: red kosho, radish, lime vinaigrette, fried onion furikake
• Butter Lettuce: watermelon radish, smoked bacon, buttermilk ranch
• Baked Sweet Potato: jalapeño, saddler’s smoked bacon, crème fraîche, scallion
• Smoked Prosciutto Pizza: gorgonzola, walnut, arugula, eight year balsamic
• Buttermilk Fried Chicken: spiced maple syrup, sumac, pickles

Suyo

3475 Main St, 604-322-1588

The name Suyo is derived from a South American Indigenous word that means homeland, to honour Chef Ricardo Valverde’s family and country of birth. 

The award-winning Michelin-approved 50 seat restaurant first opened its doors in 2022, overlooking the hustle and bustle of Vancouver’s Main Street. 

Skip inside the popular Peruvian upscale eatery and you’ll find a colourful cocktail bar with tucked in stools and intimate seating around the walls, window and back dining room. 

The warm interior successfully channels a South American vibe through the use of natural wood accents, stylish banquette seating and plethora of tropical plants. 

Bar Manager Max Curzon-Price’s cocktail program has received top awards from Michelin and the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. It is considered one of the best bars in the city to enjoy a serious swirl and sip. 

Craft cocktails here are inspired by the versatile landscapes of Peru and the ingredients that weave cultures together. A testament to the restaurants ethos of giving back to the community, $3 from the sale of every Threads and Ritual cocktail is donated to DTES Women’s Centre. So you can feel good about sipping 1, 2 or 3 tasty tipples!

Wag your finger down the Suyo menu and you’ll find Chef Ricardo’s take on Modern Peruvian cuisine. Chef highlights many global influences in Peruvian cuisine, including Chinese-Peruvian, also known as Chifa; Japanese-Peruvian, also known as Nikkei; as well as Italian and Spanish. 

It’s a menu well-suited to a table of share-plates to feast upon, and diners can expect to see familiar South American ingredients (quinoa, dulce de leche) with the lesser-known (aji hot peppers, lucuma fruit), as well as a twist of the unexpected (crispy nori, quail eggs). 

Bar Susu

2650 Main St, 604-428-6711

Cody and Clay Allmin first launched Bar Susu in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood in March, 2022. 

Cody explained, “Bar Susu is an idea we wanted to do for a while, so we thought we’d try it out as a pop-up while finalizing a more permanent concept for the space. We’re keeping the vibe casual, with good food, natural wines, and craft cocktails.” 

Bar Susu boasts early accolades, taking home the Best New Restaurant – Vancouver Magazine Awards 2022 and Canada’s 50 Best Bars 2023 via Canadas 100 Best list. 

Wag your finger down the Bar Susu menu and you’ll find eye-catching dishes inspired by European technique and contemporary Japanese cookery. Highlights from our visit include Chicken Liver Rosette, Fried Cheese Bites, Susu Bread & Butter, Endive Salad and Snake River Farms Wagyu Tartare. 

Oenophiles in YVR should pair each dish with wine director Brittany Hoorne’s well curated natural wine list.

Five Sails

999 Canada Pl Suite 410, 604-844-2855

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver to enjoy a spectacular view?

The Five Sails is located inside Canada Place, which sits perched over Vancouver’s scenic harbour. The fine dining rooms floor-to ceiling windows offer the perfect perch to watch Alaskan cruise ships sail into the city and petite float planes fly away to Tofino, Victoria and beyond!

The restaurant name comes from the design of Canada Place, the Convention Centre that was built for the Expo ’86 – World Exhibition. Look up and you’ll find a white structure made of fibreglass that takes on the shape of five sails of a ship. 

At Five Sails, the culinary team loves to prepare locally sourced seasonal ingredients using elevated French technique. The menu features quality seafood from the Westcoast, excellent poultry product from Fraser valley, while Alberta provides world’s top quality beef & game products.

The beverage program consists of hand crafted, original cocktails, which use a myriad of techniques such as: milk clarification, infusing liquors and liqueurs with different fruits and herbs, and smoking cocktails. For a little pomp and panache we suggest ordering cocktails that are performed tableside such as the Café Diablo: a coffee cocktail, flambéed with cognac, orange liqueur, cinnamon, cloves, brown sugar, orange rind and lemon rind.

Highlights from Chef Alex Kim’s menu include table-side Canada Chateaubriand, Haida Gwaii Sablefish and Duck Bread served with pork wine jus and BC squash & apples.

Potluck Hawker Eatery

3424 Cambie St, 604-423-9344

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver for an authentic taste of Singapore and Malaysia? 

Potluck Hawker Eatery first opened its doors on Cambie Street in 2020, serving up traditional street food favourites from Southeast Asia. 

Co-owner and Executive Chef Justin Cheung shared, “Growing up, I enjoyed my mom’s Malaysian cooking and visiting my uncle’s char kuay teow stall in Penang, so opening Potluck Hawker Eatery as a homecoming of sorts. There was nothing more important than eating together. When we talk about the most intimate and organic gatherings, it’s always a potluck. Our dishes feature the bold, bright flavours rooted in the comfort dishes from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines.”

The colourful 35 seat restaurant was designed by Elisa Leung and Nathalie Koo of Vancouver’s Cutler. They bring to life the energetic ambiance of a hawkers market with iconic dishes, patterns, pops of colour, and fun wallpaper. Expect neon coloured chairs, tropical plants, and natural wood.

Scan the Potluck Hawker Eatery menu and you’ll find innovative dishes that respect the true nature of hawker markets from Cebu to Ho Chi Minh. 

Highlights from the mouth-watering menu include Crispy Chicken Wings tossed in fish sauce caramel, Char Kway Teow, and Crispy Pata.

Honey Salt

39 Smithe St, 778-370-8200

The first collaborative venture for renowned restaurateur Elizabeth Blau and her husband, award-winning Chef Kim Canteenwalla, Honey Salt is inspired by the couple’s passion for entertaining. 

Located on the main floor of the luxurious JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, the breezy and bright dining room first opened its doors in 2017. 

The spacious interior can seat 200 guests, from its casual long bar, intimate lounge, open concept dining room to covered outdoor patio. 

Stroll through and you’ll find wainscoting wall panels, refurbished woods, ceramic tiles on ceiling, throw rugs, and couches that create a “home away from home,” vibe. 

Chef Kim Canteenwalla shared, “Honey Salt is devoted to our community and we are committed to using the best quality ingredients from local and regional farmers, fishermen, and growers. Our chef-driven, seasonal menus are built around a core of opening-day staples, accentuated with a thoughtful variety of creative dishes that evolve with the seasons to ensure a diverse offering. Whether it’s our interpretations of classic comfort food or our lighter, wellness-based fare, our vegan options or our decadent brunch, Honey Salt’s product is always sourced, prepared, and served with love.” 

Highlights from Chef Canteenwalla’s menu include gochujang tossed Korean Crispy Chicken Bites, classic Tourtiere Quebecois, fennel adorned Burrata Salad, and famous Society Cake (an 11 layer chocolate banana cake featuring milk chocolate mousse and dark chocolate glaze). 

Di Beppe 

8 W Cordova St, 604-559-1122

Di Beppe is a casual Italian restaurant and cafe, which has a friendly neighbourhood vibe in Vancouver’s historic Gastown neighbourhood. 

The restaurant first opened its doors in 2017 with the mantra “a young Italian restaurant with an old Italian soul.”

Beppe is a short name for Giuseppe, which is the Italian name for Joe, to honour the predecessor of the restaurant, Joe Pizza.

Di Beppe is managed by the popular Vancouver restaurant group Kitchen Table Restaurants, which own other trendy Italian eateries like Ask For Luigi, Bacaro, and Carlino. 

Skip inside Di Beppe and you’ll find a cozy Italian cafe serving traditional espresso beverages, breakfast pastries and popular pizza slices paid for by weight and snipped with scissors during the lunch hour. 

The 24 seat dining room next door is decked out in Luigi’s family photos, soccer memorabilia, Italian Vespa and wooden tables constructed with bowling alley floors. 

Wag your finger down the drink menu and you’ll find classic Aperitif cocktails alongside a generous selection of Italian wines and craft beer. 

The kitchen specializes in Roman-style pasta and pizza with highlights including deep fried sausage stuffed olives, pizza al metro, carbonara, cacio e pepe and generous slabs of lasagna.

Beaucoup Bakery

2150 Fir St, 604-732-4222

Looking for the best French cafe in Vancouver to spend the morning sipping foamy lattes and munching through flaky croissants?

Beaucoup Bakery, located in Kitsilano, prepares exceptional French pastries and espresso based beverages. Skip inside the bright 16-seat French cafe and you’ll find a display case featuring drool-worthy sweet pastries, artistic cakes, seasonal tarts, nostalgic cookies and rich viennoiserie.

Sister and brother duo Betty and Jacky Hung realized their culinary dreams when they took over ownership of Beaucoup Bakery from its founder Jackie Kai Ellis in 2017.

We suggest popping by just before Beaucoup Bakery opens so you can get first dibs on some of the bakeries most celebrated pastries (which can sell out quickly). Highlights include Pain aux Raisin, Pistachio Croissant, Chausson aux Pommes, and Raspberry Brioche.

You May Also Enjoy These British Columbia Travel Stories…

• Best Victoria Breweries
• Best Vancouver Island Wineries
• Best Cowichan Valley Wineries
• Best Vancouver Island Cider Houses
• Best Saanich Peninsula Wineries Near Victoria
• Best Denman & Hornby Island Wineries
• Best Things to Do in Vancouver
• Best Vancouver Craft Breweries
• Salmon Run and Houseboat Fun in Shuswap British Columbia
• Travel to Tofino on Vancouver Island

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

777 Thurlow St, 604-669-1940

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver with a steak lover?

Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House has been a fixture in the Vancouver restaurant scene since November, 1985.

Joe Fortes Marketing Director Norma Cisneros shared, “Our name is inspired by a local Vancouver legend, Seraphim Joe Fortes. Joe was a former sailor and bartender, before being named as Vancouver’s First Official Lifeguard by the city. He was famous for his warm, welcoming nature, and we naturally believe that hospitality is a key ingredient in creating a memorable dining experience for our guests.”

Joe Fortes in downtown Vancouver can seat up to 300 guests during the warm spring and summer months when the Rooftop Garden is open.

The popular restaurant is modeled after a classic steakhouse with elements of mahogany wood, brass railings, horseshoe bar and tile flooring. 

Executive Chef Ryan Green classic steakhouse menu pairs perfectly with the Joe Fortes award-winning wine list, that boasts over 200 wines. Must-try signature dishes at Joe Fortes Vancouver include Miso Marinated Sablefish, Seafood Cioppino and Pork Chop. 

• Tomato Burrata Salad: heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, burrata cheese, basil, balsamic, olive oil
• Cajun Crab & Corn Fritters: old bay spice, roasted jalapeno aioli
• Miso Marinated Sablefish: sesame quinoa, mushrooms, edamame, kale, sweet soy
• Filet Mignon: cafe de paris butter gratin, potato pave, market vegetables
• Pork Chop: soy citrus marinade, apple compote, buttermilk mashed potatoes, market vegetables

Botanist

1038 Canada Pl, 604-695-5500

Botanist opened on the 2nd floor of the Fairmont Pacific Rim in April, 2017.

Designed by James K. Cheng, the architect whose green glass towers helped create the term “Vancouverism”, the Fairmont Pacific Rim soars 430’ high in the sky and is one of the largest buildings in the downtown area. The expansive waterfront location offers panoramic vistas of Coal Harbour, North Shore mountains and Stanley Park.

The restaurant celebrates harmony with nature, in an environment that is as rich and diverse as the terroir it represents. The experience reflects a new Pacific Northwest, one that has always been here, just waiting to be discovered. Its vibrant space features a collection of diverse venues: a Cocktail Bar and Lab, Garden, Dining Room and Lounge; all inspired by the principles of botany.

Stroll through the Fairmont Pacific Rim lobby and look up to the second floor and where light and dark spaces draw attention to the stairs.

To the left, perched above the clean, white aesthetic of the lobby lounge bar is a space surrounded by glass and wrapped by a planter filled with greenery from British Columbia’s backyard. The colour palette – shades of dusty rose, soft pinks and neutral tones provide the perfect backdrop for the Botanist Lounge.

Placed kitty corner to the Botanist Lounge, and in dramatic contrast, sits The Cocktail Bar, with its darker palette of Italian Terrazo. The bar greets guests at the top of the stairs and curves to run through to the entrance of the dining room; its pièce de résistance being The Cocktail Lab – a space dedicated to the creative science of cocktails.

Across from The Cocktail Bar and Lab, is The Garden. Its glass walls invite guests into a room over-stuffed with plant life, including a trellis, woven with plant material.

Enjoy a feast in the Dining Room and you’ll discover little cloistered areas that create intimacy for special celebrations.

Chef Hector Laguna manages the Botanist kitchen. His menu represents the abundant botany of British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest, where ingredients sourced from their natural landscape are coupled with contemporary techniques.

“I believe that food influences us emotionally; it can comfort, calm, satisfy and bring joy, all in one meal. It’s about watching someone take their first bite, and know that I’ve made their day even a little bit better,” said Chef Laguna.

• Root Vegetable Salad: green apple, goat gouda, mustard greens, caramelized honey
• Duo of Foie Gras: quince, madeira, savoury churro
• Peppered Beef Striploin: king oyster mushroom, heirloom kale, ricotta gnudi
• Butter Poached Lobster: charcoal risotto, puffed rice, enoki mushrooms
• Lamb Barbacoa: radishes, puffed grains, lamb consommé, tamale

Anh and Chi

3388 Main St, 604-878-8883

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver for authentic pho?

Vincent and Amélie Nguyen opened Anh and Chi, a popular Vietnamese restaurant in 2016.

Anh and Chi means “elder brother and elder sister.” The restaurateur siblings chose it to pay tribute to their parents.  

Amélie shared, “We had a vision to elevate Vietnamese cuisine, where authentic Vietnamese dishes are paired with tasteful cocktails in a sexy and vibrant space. Our parents had a mom and pop Vietnamese restaurant since 1985, and when our dad passed away in 2010, Vincent decided to drop out of medical school and follow his passion for food and design – and carry on our family’s legacy through food. We are lucky to be on the west coast where fresh produce and seafood is plentiful and can be incorporated into Vietnamese cuisine.”

Visit Anh and Chi and you’ll find spacious indoor dining as well as a heated and lush garden patio.

“Anh and Chi sits across from the old Jim Pattison car dealership, an iconic corner, where the sidewalk curves and used to be quiet in a working-class neighbourhood through the 1980’s-90’s. It now is a street filled with young professionals, artists, new families, walking to their favourite neighbourhood cafe, restaurant, home decor, and upscale consignment fashion shops,” said Amélie.

The interior was designed by House of Bohn, inspired by lush farmers fields in Vietnam. “We love our gender neutral bathrooms – diversity and inclusivity are values we hold deeply – and we love how the restrooms have evolved – and inspired the Parliament of Canada to call us for design inspiration,” explained Vincent.

Anh and Chi’s executive chef Lý Nguyên is also the matriarch of the family. Chef Nguyen’s menu celebrates fresh flavours of the Pacific Northwest sourced from local producers like Hannah Brook Farms, Fresh Ideas Start Here, and Windsor Meats.

If it’s your first time visiting Anh and Chi the Nguyen’s suggest ordering their 3 most popular dishes: street-side platter, beef and water spinach salad and Grandma’s crab noodle soup.

• Fresh Sausage Roll: dried shrimp, egg, lettuce, jicama, carrot, roasted peanuts, basil, peanut sauce
• Soft Shell Crab Salad: banana blossom, pickled daikon, carrots, red onions, roasted peanuts, mint, fish sauce dressing
• Beef Short Ribs Rice: grilled short ribs, jasmine rice, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, chili fish sauce
• Banh Xeo Crepe: mung bean, bean sprouts, rice flour coconut turmeric crepe, lettuce, herbs
• Bun Cha Hanoi: grilled pork, betel leaf, pork patties, pickled green papaya & carrots, fish sauce, lettuce, herbs, vermicelli noodles.

Neverland Tea Salon

3066 W Broadway, 604-428-3066

Researching where to eat in Vancouver for afternoon tea?

Neverland Tea Salon is one of the best places in the city to enjoy the classic British culinary tradition of high tea.

Located a short stroll from Kitsilano Beach, Neverland Tea Salon first opened on in 2013. The Kitsilano high tea room was founded by childhood friends Terri Tatchell and Renee Iaci.

With backgrounds in film (Tatchell is the Oscar-nominated co-writer of District 9) and theatre (Iaci is an original founder of Shameless Hussy Productions), they built Neverland Tea Salon with an eye for excellence and an emphasis on the experience.

Tatchell shared, “The inspiration for the Vancouver restaurant came to me for two very specific reasons. First, she wanted to create a space in the community for people to celebrate their milestones and their relationships in an experiential way. She wanted to bring tradition and carefree wonder to Kitsilano families. Secondly, as a mother to a daughter with dietary restrictions, I wanted to make that space for as many people as possible. No pre-ordering for dietary restrictions and no sub-par food.”

Skip inside the adorable Vancouver afternoon tea hotspot and you’ll find a cute dining room that seats 48.

Terri’s inspiration for the interior design came to her after a trip to Paris and London. The high tea research trip had her visiting as many tea houses as possible. She came home with a clear vision that was a bit of a mash-up of the two cities.

Teacups were lovingly gathered from thrift stores by Terri’s Grandmother and Renee’s Grandad. “We are lucky to regularly have people lovingly donate their teacups. Our inspiration has always been to have the salon feel like you were visiting your very eccentric aunt for tea,” Terri said.

Executive Chef Gordon Kuang has been with Neverland Tea Salon since it opened its doors. Chef Kuang keeps changes the menu throughout the year to reflect the seasons.

The Cider House

1602 Yew St, 604-558-1975

Are you a cider fan looking for where to eat in Vancouver?

Head to Kitsilano and arrive at The Cider House moments before they open as the patio seats here get filled in a flash.

The trendy cider-centric restaurant is wildly popular with Kitsilano residents for its thirst quenching cider flights and healthy vegan fare.

The Cider House offers rotating taps of local BC cider along with a few rotating beers. Craft ciders can be enjoyed in a tasting flight, glass or, to-go. You’ll also find local BC wine and various types of kombucha.  

The Cider House produces its own ciders at a facility a short drive from downtown Vancouver in the Fraser Valley.

Cider fans can have a lot of fun sampling creative flavour options like Blackberry Cardamom, Blueberry Basil, Honeysuckle Rhubarb and Mango Mint.

If you’re feeling peckish wag your finger down the kitchen’s vegan menu featuring guacamole and chips, maple chili bites, roasted mushroom poutine and jackfruit tacos.

Boulevard Kitchen

845 Burrard St, 604-642-2900

Wondering where to eat in downtown Vancouver for a romantic dinner?

Skip inside the Sutton Place Hotel and you’ll find a chic dining room at Boulevard Kitchen.

Executive Chef Alex Chen’s seafood-focused menu is grounded in classical technique and training, while artfully infusing casual West Coast flair and creative hints of his international influences.

Chef Chen spent time working in NYC with Chef Daniel Boulud and was a member of the opening team in the kitchen when Cafe Boulud first opened at the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto.

In the Spring of 2022 Boulevard Kitchen was awarded 9th place in the Canada’s 100 Best Restaurant list.

From the stylish dining room, seated oyster bar and craft cocktail and champagne bar to the vintage lounge, luxurious private dining room and wrap-around patio, Boulevard offers romantic couples the perfect perch to celebrate a special occasion.

• Seafood Tower: pacific white prawns, albacore tuna tataki, read island mussels escabenche, dungeness crab louie, snow crab legs, local oysters
• Brant Lake Wagyu Beef Carpaccio: soy lime vinaigrette, herb emulsion, pickled shiitake, crispy shallot, garlic, seasoned rice paper
• Roasted Hokkaido Scallops: roasted parsnip, brussel sprouts, tiroler bacon, bbq cabbage sauce
• Lamb Duo: charcoal grilled lamb chop, merguez, pine nut, smoked eggplant puree, sicilian caponata, lavash
• House Made Casarecce: charred asparagus pesto, toasted pine nuts, shaved pecorino, burrata, parmesan crisps, chili oil

Mott 32

1161 W Georgia St, 604-861-0032

Looking for the best Vancouver restaurant to indulge in otherwordly fine dining Chinese cuisine?

Mott 32 opened in January, 2017 and is one of Vancouver’s poshest Chinese restaurants, perfect for a special celebration.

Mott 32 is owned by Maximal Concepts from Hong Kong. The hospitality group owns award-winning concepts all over the world. Mott 32 is a franchised brand with other locations in Las Vegas, South Korea, Singapore, Dubai, Thailand and the Philippines.

Mott 32 pays homage to 32 Mott Street in New York, where the city’s first Chinese convenience store opened in 1891. The store served as the nucleus for what is now a vibrant Chinatown in one of the most dynamic cities.

“Our chefs utilize the latest in modern and innovative cooking techniques from around the world to create our dishes, which are principally Cantonese with some Beijing and Sichuan influences. Our food aims to bring the best out of time-honored recipes passed down from generation to generation; it is this particular level of modernity, combined with a respect for tradition, that makes Mott 32 so spectacularly unique,” said a Mott 32 representative.

Step inside Mott 32 in downtown Vancouver and you’ll find a spacious dining room that seats over 150 guests. The interior aesthetic offers a modern eastern meeting with industrial western theme. The feel is rusty and deep in Chinese culture reflecting an old Hong Kong in the 1920s.

Sustainability is the key focus for Mott 32’s Chef Le Man Sing. Each location around the world serves a twist on classic recipes using local sustainable ingredients. The Vancouver Mott 32 menu serves Fraser Valley Peking Duck and a wide selection of sustainable Pacific seafood. 

• Barbecue Pluma Iberico Pork: yellow mountain honey
• Shredded Peking Duck Salad: almond, wild mushroom
• Black Truffle Siu Mai: soft quail egg, iberico pork
• Crispy Lemon Chicken: garden green, lemon sauce
• Wok Fried Flat Rice Noodles: canadian beef, bean sprouts

Blue Water Cafe

1095 Hamilton St, 604-688-8078

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood?

Blue Water Cafe is a staple in the Vancouver fine dining scene, brought to you by the award winning Toptable Group.

Located in the heart of historic Yaletown, Blue Water Cafe is located in a heritage warehouse space and famous for its sun-soaked patio and sustainable seafood menu.

Stroll through the doors at Blue Water Cafe and you’ll be greeted by a handsome cocktail bar, stylish Japanese raw bar and elegant dining room.

The striking dining room provides active views of the “East meets West” kitchen as well as the restaurant’s celebrated sushi chefs.

Considered one of Vancouver’s premier seafood restaurants, Chef Frank Pabst’s disciplined technique showcases local fin and shellfish, as well as his legendary Seafood Tower. Chef Pabst’s culinary repertoire also delves deeper, with his critically-acclaimed “Unsung Heroes” menu which features other delicious but often overlooked fish.

• Smoked Sockeye Salmon Terrine: watercress, green apple, pumpernickel, dill, horseradish whipped ricotta
• Pork Cheek Milanese: cauliflower couscous, golden raisins, hazelnuts, lemon caper butter
• Yellowfin Tuna: pepper piperade, crispy potato nest, grilled gem lettuce and scallion, romesco sauce
• Kobe Shortribs: roasted pear and carrot, broccolini, hazelnut gremolata, parsnip puree, coffee ancho chili demi glace
• Lobster Roll: mango, avocado, lobster salad in an omelet crepe

Elisa

1109 Hamilton St, 604-362-5443

Elisa is located directly across the street from Blue Water Cafe in Yaletown and is also managed by Toptable Restaurant Group.

It’s one of the newest restaurant concepts by Toptable, expanding their culinary offerings into the steakhouse space.

Their reimagined steakhouse has a distinct feminine quality. Skip through the front doors and you’ll find a sky-high cocktail bar and moody lighting that illuminates the intimate dining room.

Diners can peak over their menus to watch a burst of flames via the open kitchen that features a Grillworks Infierno wood-fired grill.

Elisa’s Executive Chef Andrew Richardson’s menu features prime beef cuts from all over the world, sustainable seafood and locally-sourced produce.

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver to feast on the city’s most expensive steaks? Elisa’s knowledgeable servers can walk you through a steak map from Alberta’s finest beef farms to Japan, Australia and beyond.

• Shrimp Cocktail: gem lettuce, tomato, lemon, horseradish, tabasco
• Cured Hamachi: preserved lemon, coriander and soba, celery leaves, micro cilantro, thyme, olive oil
• Burrata From Puglia: blood and navel orange, roast hazelnuts, arugula, fennel, fresh herbs
• Ricotta Gnocchi Cacio E Pepe: black pepper, pecorino, crispy kale
• Beef Wellington For Two: pastry wrapped 8 oz beef tenderloin, herb crepe, burgundy truffle, potato fondant, roast heirloom carrots, red wine sauce

Café Medina

780 Richards St, 604-879-3114

Wondering where to each in Vancouver for weekend brunch? A local favourite is Café Medina, which owner Robbie Kane launched in 2008.

Kane explained, “After many years working for others I always wanted to create my own space. I wanted to provide an eclectic brunch option in a city that was only offering greasy spoon or hotel buffet brunch at the time. Also a place for all the hospitality folks to enjoy something different as we always worked nights and had few quality daytime options to go to in our free time.”

The Vancouver restaurants name has many connotations. Medina means radiant or enlightened city, which was the original inspiration. It is also the second holiest city in Islam and means “the state of” in Hebrew. In Morocco it is also the central marketplace.

“The best part of the name is serendipity though. Two weeks after we opened, a woman came in and told me her name was Medina. Our first encounter was a short one but she came back a couple of months later on what should have been my first day off in 7 months but one of our staff didn’t show up for work that day so I had to come in. She offered up her table to another couple for a seat at the bar as she was dining solo. She reminded me of her name and I gave her my number and the rest, as they say, is history. We have been together for 14 years and our son just turned 10,” said Kane.

Skip inside Café Medina and you’ll find a space dining room that seats 70 guests. “My brother Brian Kane designed the restaurant space as he is a production designer in the film industry. He used his film connections to source all of the material. Think Paris Bistro or Balthazar in New York City. We have a custom glass bar top and upcycled antique/industrial lighting fixtures. Leather banquets and weathered walls and table tops,” said Kane.

The popular Vancouver restaurant brunch menu is designed by Chef Christopher West. Café Medina has been the brunch darling of Vancouver since it first opened its doors in 2008. Georgia Straight Golden Plates, Vancouver Magazine and Where Magazine have all nominated Café Medina for best brunch and breakfast in Vancouver.

Wag your finger down the menu and you’ll find a cocktail program inspired by Mediterranean and North African flavours. The waffles are wildly popular for those with a sweet tooth while fans of savoury enjoy the the Fricassée and Harissa Burger.

• Sandwich Au Porc: sunnyside egg, confit pork belly, heirloom tomato, grainy mustard, spiced honey, pickles, grilled ciabatta
• Cassoulet: sunnyside egg, medina bacon, andouille sausage, saucisson de paris, white beans, red wine, roma tomatoes, grilled focaccia
• Coca: woodstone flatbread, braised beef, sun-dried tomatoes, pickled jalapenos, whipped feta, greens, sunnyside egg
• Harissa Burger: sunnyside eggs, harissa spiced beef in a grilled pita, grana padano, tomato salsa, hummus, baba ganoush, greens
• Liege Waffles: raspberry caramel, creme de fruit de passion, white chocolate pistachio rosewater

Ancora Waterfront Dining False Creek

1600 Howe St #2, 604-681-1164

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver in False Creek?

Ancora Waterfront Dining first opened along downtown Vancouver’s scenic seawall in 2015.

“The concept for Ancora was very clear since day one and it made designing and branding extremely fun and easy,” said the Vancouver restaurants Kelly Jordan-Hamilton.

The name reflects the restaurant’s seafood-focused menu and waterfront location while alluding to the harmony of their diverse cultural influences. Directly translated from Italian—influenced by the owner’s roots, Ancora means anchor, giving reference to the sea and highlighting our Japanese and Peruvian cuisine.

Skip inside Ancora Waterfront Dining and you’ll find seating for over 160 spread between a main dining room, private dining room and mezzanine.

“Ancora False Creek’s dining space was designed with soft modern lines that embrace the warmth and richness of the city’s waterfront landscape. The interiors feature a subtle mix of soft blues, sand-inspired neutrals and light woods to thoughtfully reflect a gentle, coastal feel, and a serene but sophisticated style. Gorgeous fishnet-inspired crystal chandeliers were imported from Italy, along with custom-colour premium leather furniture. The back feature wall in the lower dining room was enhanced with soft gold wall tiles that mimic the ocean’s waves,” said Jordan-Hamilton.

Peruvian Chef Sebastián Delgado Sánchez’s menu utilizes exotic flavours. Popular and inventive dishes on the Ancora Waterfront Dining menu at False Creek include Scallop and Lime Shooters and Sablefish Aji Panca.

• Toro Tataki: seared tuna belly, ponzu, wasabi mayo, yuzu kosho, spicy daikon
• Soft Shell Crab Taco: kaiso seaweed, mango salsa, rocoto aioli, ikura
• Lobster and Shrimp Risotto: cauliflower, preserved lemon, hazelnuts, edamame
• Duck: seared breast, leg croquette, arborio rice, aji amarillo, baby corn, fried quail egg
• Beef Tenderloin: aji panca glaze, chimichurri, sesame soy jus

JamJar Canteen

2290 Commercial Dr, 604-252-3957

Curious about where to eat in Vancouver for authentic Lebanese food?

JamJar Canteen is the city’s favourite casual restaurant serving fresh and flavourful Middle Eastern dishes.

JamJar Canteen’s flagship restaurant is located on Commercial Drive and features a cute cocktail bar, cozy dining room and petite outdoor patio. You can also visit JamJar Canteen concepts at UBC campus and in North Vancouver.

On weekends the place gets packed with brunch lovers who enjoy unique dishes like Halloumi Benny, Shakshuka and the Beirut Breakfast Wrap.

• Hummus Beyrouti: creamy hummus topped with minced beef, pine nuts & cinnamon
• Muttabel: roasted eggplant dip, tahini, lemon, garlic
• Cheese Rolls: markouk bread, za’atar, mozzarella, feta and spinach
• Shish Tawouk: yogurt marinated chicken thighs, oregano, garlic
• Makali: deep fried cauliflower, pomegranate molasses

Honey Doughnuts

4373 Gallant Ave, 604-929-4988

Vancouver’s most famous doughnut shop can be found in the cute town of Deep Cove, a short drive north east of downtown.

It’s a popular sweet stop for those who have exhausted themselves while hiking up to nearby Quarry Rock.

The local cafe is most famous for its doughnuts, which are thick, barely have a hole and offer a distinct dense cakey texture.

Since 1996, Honey Doughnuts has been a mainstay in North Vancouver, serving their ubiquitous donuts as well as breakfast and lunch dishes.

After a hike on a hot day we suggest ordering a large iced coffee and pairing it with an iconic Honey Doughnut. Flavours include Classic Honey, Maple, Chocolate, Cinnamon Sugar, Coconut Cinnamon Sugar, Maple Bacon and Chocoreo.

Tap & Barrel

75 Athletes Way, 604-685-2223

Looking for where to eat in Vancouver’s Olympic Village?

Our favourite patio in Vancouver to enjoy a scenic sunset view can be found at Tap & Barrel. The sprawling outdoor space features a double decker patio where you can dine at street level or on the second floor rooftop patio.

Located on the False Creek Seawall, Tap & Barrel in the heart of Vancouver’s Olympic Village offers diners a breathtaking views overlooking Science World, BC Place and the Rogers Arena.

Tap & Barrel serves contemporary pub grub with Pacific Northwest fare, local beer and craft cocktails. They’ve got 24 BC craft beers and 14 BC wines on tap.

Highlights from the menu include Hot Seafood Caesar, Green Goddess Halloumi Bowl, Truffle Onion Ring Burger and Fried Chicken Mac & Cheese.

AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint

325 E Broadway, 604-428-5805

If you’re a pizza lover looking for where to eat in Vancouver AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint serves the best pies!

For 20 years, New York native Anthony “AJ” Caridi searched high and low for a Vancouver pizza joint that would make him miss home. He never found it, so he joined his wife Theresa who took matters into their own hands. Tossing pizzas and making sauce in their apartment kitchen, the duo took over a lease in the Mount Pleasant hood in 2017.

The 1100 square foot space is cozy, with plenty of New York City charm. We arrived mid week at 4pm thinking we’d skip right in but found a line of local devotees. It’s worth the wait!

While offering the best New York style pies in the city, AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza Joint is successfully broadening Vancouver’s pizza scene. They’re also the first pizzeria in the city to offer Detroit and Sicilian style pizzas.

On the drinks menu you’ll find local craft beer and wine, craft cocktail classics like the Negroni, Spritz, Old Fashioned and Margarita.

Beyond pizza perfection you can order a trio of salads, meatballs and sub sandwiches.

Havana Vancouver

1212 Commercial Dr, 604-253-9119

The popular Vancouver restaurant simply named Havana originally opened its doors in 1996.

Havana Vancouver’s Ksenia Dempster shared, “We have always loved the Commercial Drive neighbourhood, and the unique space that is Havana, including the doors, graffiti walls, and sun-soaked patio. The decor and menus are inspired by the colours and culture of Old Havana, Cuba.”

Visit Havana for weekday lunch, weekend brunch, dinner or their famous daily Happy Hour and you’ll find seating for 150, which includes a main dining room, outdoor patio and Havana Theatre.

“Guests have been carving their names and messages in the walls since the beginning of Havana, a super unique feature that we adore about the space. It’s also a jungle in here – we have over 50 plants in our space,” said Dempster.

Havana Vancouver is not just a restaurant, its intimate theatre seats 38, and has been alive with over 500 performances each year since 1996. The Havana event calendar includes an eclectic assortment of shows featuring award winning theatre, music, literary events, dance, and comedy. 

Andrew Hounslow is Havana’s Executive Chef and has created a menu that offers a hybrid of authentic Latin flavours combined with a refreshing Pacific Northwest style.

“We are definitely known for our fun and creative cocktail program led by our Bar Manager, Alexa Greenman. A must try is the Cuban Old Fashioned and we’re also a favourite for margaritas, mojitos and verdita shots. We love to support our local craft breweries, and sell a Havana Lime Lager, brewed by our sibling brand Settlement Brewing,” said Dempster.

If it’s your first time visiting Havana Vancouver we suggest tucking into the signature Cubano Sandwich and Mariquitas crispy fried plantain chips.

• Cheesy Poblano Corn Dip: herb, garlic oaxacan gratin, fried corn, flour tortillas
• Ceviche: serrano, lime cured pacific snapper, grilled pineapple, avocado, mint, cilantro, tomato, cucumber, jalapeno, coconut, crispy plantain
• Carnitas Tacos: slow roasted pork, guacamole, jalapeno, jack cheese, charred pineapple salsa, corn tortillas
• Mussels Espana: salt spring island mussels, chorizo, smoked tomato sauce, white wine, tomatoes, grilled organic sourdough
• Cuban Sandwich: house porchetta, honey ham, swiss cheese, dill pickles, mustard, cuban bun

Fat Mao Noodles

217 E Georgia St, 604-569-8192

Fat Mao Noodles opened its doors in the heart of Vancouver Chinatown in 2015.

The playful noodle concept is the brainchild of Chef Angus An, from the award-winning Thai restaurant Maenam.

Chef An explained, “Fat Mao Noodles is inspired by traditional Chinatown-noodle-joints—where you see the cooking action from the window. The name comes from Chinese culture: Fat means prosperous, and Mao means cat. Fat Mao has dual meaning: “fat” as well as “lucky” cat. We created a stray cat character along with the narrative that he travelled around the world in search of noodles.”

The intimate Vancouver restaurant seats 25 guests and was designed by Kite Studios and Marianne Amodio. Skip inside Fat Mao Noodles and you’ll find a lively open kitchen within an intimate space. The walls are covered in old-school Japanese anime and Chinese street market inspired elements. 

“At Fat Mao, we try to represent a classic Chinatown noodle joint with Southeast Asian influences. We don’t have a walk-in cooler so we buy fresh produce from our neighbouring Chinatown venders on a daily basis,” said Chef An.

If you’ve got a craving for noodles while researching the best Vancouver restaurants we highly recommend Fat Mao’s Koh Soi Chicken, Duck Noodle and Hot and Sour Pork.

• Mapo Tofu: sichuanese meat sauce served on house made tofu with rice
• Roti with Curry: southeast Asian style flatbread with curry sauce
• Khao Soi Chicken Curry Noodles: braised chicken leg, creamy northern Thai curry, pickled mustard greens, flat egg noodles
• Hot & Sour Pork Noodles: bbq pork, minced pork, vietnamese ham, asian celery, peanuts, crispy shallots
• Spicy Boat Noodles: beef and pork broth, sliced beef shin, meatballs, thai basil, fried pork crackling, vermicelli rice noodles

Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill

1133 Hamilton St, 604-688-7466

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver for the best celebrity spotting opportunities?

Actor Stanley Tucci wrote in his 2021 book “Taste: My Life Through Food,” that Cioppino’s in Vancouver was his favourite place to eat when shooting in the city.

Giuseppe “Pino” Posteraro is the Chef and Founder of Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill, ranked as one of the best Vancouver Restaurants for Italian food lovers.

Cioppino’s Restaurant first opened its doors in Yaletown in 1999. The restaurant’s name is a play on the word that indicates “Pino is here.”

Posteraro was born in Lago, Italy and at the age of 12 immigrated to Canada. Over the years he has honed is culinary skills at restaurants throughout Europe and Singapore.

Visit Cioppino’s Vancouver and you’ll find a spacious outdoor patio, open concept kitchen, romantic dining room as well as 7 private spaces you can book for a more intimate affair.

Oenophiles will reach nirvana while wagging their fingers down Cioppino’s wine list, which features thousands of bottles. The Italian restaurants wine program has won awards via Wine Spectator and the Vancouver International Wine Festival.

Swirl and sip a glass of vino while forking through Chef Posterano’s two signature pasta dishes: linguine with lobster and pappardelle with veal cheeks.

• Wild Prawns: piquillo peppers, garlic herb sauce, crispy artichokes
• Porcini Chestnut Soup: vanilla chantilly
• Burrata From Puglia: sicilian eggplants, eggplant puree, crispy artichokes
• Gnocchi Cacio e Pepe: potato gnocchi, black pepper, pecorino
• Scaloppine alla Pizzaiola: veal medallions, san marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala

Notch8 Restaurant

900 W Georgia St, 604-662-1900

Notch8 Restaurant opened in downtown Vancouver in April 2015. It was unveiled as the signature dining concept at Fairmont Hotel Vancouver after a 5-year multiphase $75 million renovation project.

The restaurants name is a throwback reference to the days of luxury travel by rail. Notch 8 is the final notch available to a train engineer and is the pinnacle position that could be achieved while in operation, requiring great expertise and experience. 

The Vancouver restaurant’s 240 seat dining room was designed by EDG Interior Architecture + Design, who sought to celebrate the iconic hotel’s history as a luxury hotel along the Canadian Pacific Railway. 

The restaurant boasts full height decorative metal screens. The thought was to create a repetitious pattern, as repetition is a common architectural occurrence in train stations, with train tracks and train cars. They began researching stylistic patterns of the 1930’s, many were Art Deco in style, but what stood out in the heavily geometric patterns was the integration of curved lines. Notch8’s décor is punctuated by evocative, contemporary blown glass chandeliers that enhances the sense of path. Key details in the lobby lounge include wood veneer marquetry wall paneling, leather and velour seating and period details. 

A speakeasy-style venue used for Afternoon Tea, located behind the bar and lounge, provides an intimate, social environment with patterns, fabrics and a design optimism that celebrates Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s 1930’s heritage. The lower level space is punctuated with tin ceilings, recalling the rum-running of Vancouver’s heyday. 

Chef Peckham focuses on ‘approachable sophistication’ when crafting share plate-style menus for Notch8. The culinary team partnered with Sawmill Bay Shellfish located on Read Island, to develop a sweet and plump Pacific Oyster varietal, only available at Notch8 Restaurant in Vancouver. Officially named the ‘Notch8 Oyster”, it closest resembles the Kusshi, with a slightly milder brininess, making it versatile and easy to slurp.

Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s best known and longest running menu item is its slow roasted prime rib, which has been on the dinner menu since the hotel’s grand opening on May 29, 1939!

• Gnocchi: chive, potato, roasted squash, sage, pine nut
• Wild Mushroom Tartine: caramelized onions, creme fraiche, tellagio cheese, basil, brioche
• Whole Trout: baby leeks, summer pole beans, charred radicchio, brown butter emulsion, almond crunch
• Duck: roasted duck breast, pickled black currant, beets, red cabbage
• Ravioli: yukon gold and mascarpone ravioli, bacon, gremolata, parsley puree

Como Taperia

201 E 7th Ave, 604-879-3100

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver for the best Spanish tapas?

Shaun Layton, Frankie Harrington and Justin Witcher are the owners of Como Taperia. The popular tapas bar initially opened in November 2018. In 2019 Como Taperia was ranked as one of the top 10 best new restaurants in Canada by EnRoute Magazine.

So what inspired the trio to open an authentic Spanish restaurant in Vancouver? Chef Justin Witcher explains, “Multiple trips to Spain made us fall in love with the food and drink culture there, and of course the energy of the tapas bars. We had nothing close to what we experienced in Barcelona and Madrid.”

Witcher continued, “The restaurants name means, ‘Come again?’ Or ‘What?!’ It is meant to catch you off guard, maybe put you a little bit out of your comfort zone, and hopefully have you experience something new and exciting.”

The 58-seat dining room is located in a new building in Mount Pleasant. Often considered a cultural hub in Vancouver, the neighbourhood is an old, yet, changing neighbourhood featuring boutiques, galleries, breweries and tech startups.

Ste Marie Design was responsible for Como Taperia’s interiors. Being good friends with the owners, they came along on one of their research and development trips to Spain. Witcher adds, “They understood the energy and use of small space to create a bustling room. Design was inspired by old and modern rooms mostly in Barcelona and Madrid.”

Como Taperia’s menu focuses on small plates meant to be shared. Guests can enjoy a range of Spanish classics and playful takes on modern dishes.

Chef Witcher shared, “We import conserves from the best parts of Spain. We have over 20 types of premium tinned fish, carve Iberico Bellota Jamon and import octopus and chorizo. We do work locally as well to source the best proteins and produce, companies like Legends Haul and Mikuni Wild Harvest.”

Vancouver’s best tapas restaurant is the only bar in Canada pouring Spanish Vermut and Sherry on tap. The wine list is mostly Spanish, food friendly, and always evolving. 

If you’re looking to indulge in the best Vancouver food products, we suggest ordering the Bikini Sandwich at Como Taperia. The restaurant’s octopus and Berenjenas con Miel from Seville are also big hits.

• Moorish Lamb Meatballs, Yoghurt
• Charred Octopus, White Bean, Chicharron
• Eggplant, Spiced Honey, Rosemary
• Chickpeas, Morcilla, Harissa
• Beef Carpaccio, Hazelnut, Potato

Minami Sushi Restaurant

1118 Mainland St, 604-685-8080

Researching where to eat in Vancouver for the best sushi?

Minami Sushi Restaurant first opened in Vancouver’s Yaletown in June, 2012. The district is known for having a rich local history dating back to the late 1800’s.

Owner Seigo Nakamura named Minami after his second daughter. The name translates to “beautiful wave” in Japanese. Minami’s interior design features the masterful artwork of acclaimed Kyoto muralist Hideki Kimura. One can find the whimsical, gold-trimmed imagery of swimming koi, leaping frogs, and calming lotus in the back dining room and Blue Wave room, as well as the stunning Dancing Ise Lobsters mural in the Blue Ocean private dining room.

Minami Vancouver’s Chef Alan Ferrer prepares upscale contemporary Japanese cuisine, combining traditional Japanese flavours with West Coast ingredients and influences.

Alongside Japanese-inspired craft cocktails and a premium sake selection, the venue also serves a dynamic and thoughtful wine list curated by Manager and Head Sommelier Tracy Marchischuk.

Looking to sample some of the best Vancouver food inspired by Japan? Jeremy Sawicz, General Manager of Minami Restaurant shared, “Our signature dish is a pressed and flame-seared Salmon Oshi sushi. It’s enhanced with premium toppings and garnishes like our Hokkaido scallop, Ō-toro, and Japanese Wagyu.”

• Asian Pear Salad with Bulgogi: sliced marinated beef, arugula, seasoned spring mix, asian pear 
• Tako Yaki: deep fried octopus balls, vegetables, bonito, Japanese mayo 
• Sea Bass Carpaccio: seasoned arugula, pickled mustard, wasabi sauce
• Minami Tempura Boat: lobster tail, salmon, shrimp, vegetable tempura
• Chicken Katus Donburi: deep fried pork cutlet, egg, vegetables, rice

Sun Sui Wah Chinese Restaurant

3888 Main St, 604-872-8822

Sun Sui Wah is one of Vancouver’s busiest and most iconic Chinese restaurants specializing in Cantonese cuisine.

While Sun Sui Wah Restaurant attracts many tourists with a Chinese and English menu (although many Chinese restaurants offer this in Metro Vancouver), it is still popular with the Chinese and non-Chinese locals.

Looking to feast on authentic Chinese food in downtown Vancouver? Sun Sui Wah’s operates two restaurants in Vancouver and nearby Richmond. The restaurant boasts award wins in three categories at the Golden Plate Award for Best Richmond Restaurant, Cantonese and Dim Sum.

Skip inside Sun Sui Wah Chinese Restaurant in Vancouver and you’ll find a spacious dining room. The interior is elegantly dressed and features glowing tanks filled with tropical fish.

Guests dine family style at large circular tables. The restaurant’s must-order signature dishes include roasted squab, singing chicken, jumbo crab legs and succulent sweet & sour pork with lychee.

• Steamed Crab Legs: garlic, egg white, chinese rice
• Stir Fried Prawn: green pepper, black bean sauce
• Chicken Fillet: cashew nut, spicy sauce
• Shredded Beef: peppers and vermicelli bird’s nest
• Sweet & Sour Pork: lychee and pineapple

Chambar Restaurant

568 Beatty St, 604-879-7119

Nico Schuermans and Karri Green Schuermans launched onto the Vancouver food scene in 2004 when they opened Chambar Restaurant.

The restaurant’s name means, “when the teacher is away the kids will play.” It perfectly describes the restaurant’s ethos, “an upscale dining experience in a casual comfortable room.”

Skip inside Chambar Vancouver and you’ll find a 180-seat dining room and 40-seat outdoor patio. The restaurant moved in 2014 into a heritage building that was constructed in two stages in 1909 and 1912. The restaurant’s interior still retains its original wood beams and brick walls.

Chambar’s chef owner Nico Schuermans’ main focus in the kitchen is sustainability and locally sourced ingredients. He gathers inspiration from everyday activities, traveling to different countries, and experiencing different types of cuisine though the lens of his foundation in French cooking.  

Chambar’s award winning menu is best paired with its craft cocktail program, platinum wine list or local craft beer. Beer lovers take note, there are at least 50 Belgian beer bottles at the bar at any time.

• Msemen et Artichaut: moroccan flat bread, artichoke, fried halloumi, roasted peppers, walnuts, labneh, dill, parsley
• Crevettes à l’Absinthe: butter poached prawns, cherry tomatoes, shishito peppers, fried basil, meyer lemon chips, charred focaccia, harissa rouille
• Tartare Sauvage: bison tartar, celeriac & watercress salad, parmesan & prosciutto crisps, tomato & onion jam
• Canard et Gnocchi: spice rubbed duck breast, gnocchi, goat cheese, celery & apple salad, hazelnuts, sauce bigarade
• Moules Frites Coquotte: mussels, white wine, cream, smoked bacon lardons, spring onion

L’Abattoir Restaurant

217 Carrall St, 604-568-1701

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood?

Owners Lee Cooper and Nin Rai first opened L’Abattoir Restaurant in Vancouver in July, 2010.

The name was inspired by the restaurant’s location next to Blood Alley in historic Gastown, where it is said that blood would flow into the alley from slaughterhouses back in the day. The heritage building was built in the 19th century and was the site of the city’s first jail.

Skip inside L’Abattoir and you’ll find an interior design that focuses on showing off existing natural wood beam work, exposed brick, glass and steel finishes, and classic French tiling. The work of local artists graces the walls and each space is lit with custom-crafted light fixtures and chandeliers.

Chef Lee Cooper is trained in classic French cooking, offering a unique West Coast cuisine, which is refined yet unpretentious. Cooper shared, “We use as many local farmers and producers as possible such as Hazelmere Organic Farm, Stoney Paradise Farm, Gindara Sable Fish and Fanny Bay Oysters.”

The popular Gastown restaurant is known for its multi-year platinum award winning wine program, thanks to the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Wag your finger down the beverage list or ask for suggestions by Wine Director Kristi Linneboe or   Head Bartender, Phil Karatsyupa.

Since its inception, L’Abattoir has helped transform and add flare to the Vancouver food scene. If it’s your first time dining at the downtown Vancouver restaurant Chef Lee Cooper suggests, “Our Steak Diane, Baked Pacific Oysters and our Sweet Breads are fixtures on our menu and are our most ordered dishes.”

• Sliced Albacore Tuna: meyer lemon, snap peas, horseradish
• Pan-Fried Veal Sweetbreads: toast, pickled shallot, sauce gribiche, veal tongue
• Steak Diane: glazed onions potato crisp, peppercorn condiment
• Roast Pork Chop: brassicas, spiced apple butter, sage, apple cider sauce
• Squash and Ricotta Dumplings: black trumpet mushroom, raclette cheese gratinee

Craft Beer Market

85 W 1st Ave, 604-709-2337

Craft Beer Market is located in the heart of Vancouver’s Olympic Village. It’s an absolute must for beer fans looking to sample world class craft beer in Vancouver.

The jaw dropping interior features a massive central bar serving up over 100 beers on tap – from classic lagers to obscure ales. It’s the perfect spot to kick up your feet and sample through the best brews produced across Canada and the world at large.

Craft Beer Market currently has 7 locations across Canada. We first experienced the restaurant concept at the Toronto Craft Beer Market location in the Financial District.

• Nashville Hot Cauliflower: spicy cayenne glaze, lime avocado crema, cilantro
• BBQ Beer Can Chicken Sliders: naturally raised chicken, house made BBQ sauce, hot sauce, potato chips
• Mexicali Flatbread: ground beef, fresh avocado, pico de gallo, black bean sauce, avocado lime crema
• Grilled West Coast Salmon: quinoa, almonds, green beans, chili garlic vinaigrette
• Avocado Bacon Burger: 2 beef patties, avocado, bacon, house pickles, lettuce, tomato, red onion, chipotle aioli, jalapeño relish

Black + Blue Steakhouse

1032 Alberni St, 604-637-0777

Inspired by the classic steakhouses of Chicago, Black + Blue Steakhouse has reimagined the concept for a new generation.

Guests are greeted by a spacious double decker dining room built around a central bar and custom-built meat locker which pays homage to some of the finest in-house aged steaks being grilled in Vancouver.

Take a quick elevator ride to the restaurant’s third floor and you’ll find yourself at The Roof at Black + Blue. Ranked as one of Vancouver’s most popular outdoor restaurant and lounges, The Roof at Black + Blue is Vancouver’s largest rooftop patio.

Black + Blue is one of the rare restaurants alive today that still showcases the pomp and panache of table side service. If you’re looking for a romantic Vancouver restaurant, enjoy table side service featuring tossed caesar salad, sizzling jumbo tiger prawns and Crepes Suzette flambé.

Are you a beef lover looking for the best Vancouver food stop? Enjoy dinner at Black + Blue to gobble up fresh seafood and mouther-watering steaks.

• Tableside Beef Tartare: beef tenderloin, shallots, capers, gherkins, crostini
• Tuna Screamer: ahi tuna, serrano chillies, daikon, tobiko, ponzu
• Chilled Seafood Platter: fresh oysters, jumbo tiger prawns, half lobster, snow crab, mussels served with cocktail sauce, mignonette fresh horseradish, lemon
• Prime Rib: yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, seasonal vegetables, red wine jus
• Grilled Half Chicken: winter squash & black garlic cassoulet, truffle, pan jus, herb salad

Granville Island Market

1669 Johnston St, 604-666-6655

Researching where to eat in Vancouver for a cheap and cheerful breakfast or lunch?

If Granville Island is the king of Vancouver food destinations, then its Public Market is the jewel in the Island’s crown.

The island was historically used by the city’s captains of industry (factories and saw mills). Today visitors can enjoy a stroll though the islands past by noting an absence of curbs and sidewalks, a response to the need for unobstructed passage for trucks, trolleys and forklifts.

The city has embraced the old while celebrating the new, incorporating touches of the modern in one of Vancouver’s most historical hoods. The most photographed space on the island today is a colourful 21-metre outdoor mural, splashed across six Ocean Concrete silo’s by a duo of innovative Brazilian street artists, Os Gemeos, identical twin brothers from San Paolo.

Step in to the Granville Island Public Market and you’ll find a fascinating assortment of colourful stalls, showcasing unique homemade products and the very finest gastronomic delights. All fresh from the ocean, the oven or the field.

Celebrating over 30 years of all things fresh straight from the farm, Granville Island Public Market is the most established and oldest of its kind in Vancouver.

Looking to grocery shop for fresh and locally sourced Vancouver food? Granville Island Public Market offers pretty pastries, fresh seafood and photo-worthy berry pyramids, presented perfectly as if fruit could be an art of its own!

It’s also houses plenty of affordable Vancouver restaurant options, perfect for a “weekend shop and brunch.” Some of our favourite restaurants at Vancouver’s Granville Island Market include Sen Pad Thai, Sprig Contemporary Greek Kitchen, Granville Island Tea Co, JJ Bean Coffee, Bon Macaron and Stuart’s Bakery.

49th Parallel Coffee

2198 W 4th Ave, 604-420-4901

Known colloquially as “Kits,” the Vancouver neighbourhood of Kitsilano is named after Squamish chief August Jack Khatsahlano. It is located on Vancouver’s West Side along the south shore of English Bay and in the summer is best known for its beach, popular with tan fans and those keen to dig their feet into the sand.

One of the city’s most popular coffee shops is located a short stroll from Kitsilano Beach. 49th Parallel Coffee opened its first cafe in Vancouver in 2007. The flagship location in Kitsilano offers ample bike rack parking, covered patio and inviting interior.

49th Parallel Coffee is a popular haunt for local java junkies, where foamy latte’s and a selection of creative and quirky Lucky Doughnuts (highlights include apple bacon fritter, french crueller and chocolate hazelnut) offer a perfect pick me up.

R&B Brewing

1-54 E 4th Ave, 604-336-0275

R&B Brewing is one of Vancouver’s original microbreweries, which has been serving up hoppy, golden froth since 1997.

Located just off Main Street, you’ll hear punk rock, ska and folk music blasting out of their doors as you take in the sweet smell of boiling wart and the grinding roar of the mill out back.

The team have recently given the space a total makeover, offering thirsty guests a retail growler station, funky fireplace meets book nook and spacious bar. 

The popular Vancouver craft brewery is also home to the Ale & Pizza House. Pair freshly brewed beer with some of our favourite Vancouver food items such as salads, thin crust Neopolitan-style pizzas and sandwiches.

• Kale Salad: roasted chickpeas, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, shredded carrots, cranberry vinaigrette
• Jerk Chicken Pineapple Pizza: creamy jerk sauce, pineapples, shredded chicken
• Cajun Chicken Smoked Cheddar Sandwich: tomato, arugula, kettle chips or greens
• Pulled Pork Tacos: pickled onions, pico papaya salsa, roasted chipotle corn
• Ribs: braised baby back ribs, baked potato, arugula salad with sherry vinaigrette

The Cliff House Restaurant at Capilano Suspension Bridge

3735 Capilano Rd, 604-985-7474

Wondering where to eat in Vancouver with kids?

Native Vancouverite Nancy Stibbard purchased Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in 1983 and spearheaded the attraction’s development and phenomenal success throughout the past 30 years.

The world-renowned bridge borrows its title from a First Nations name belonging to the Squamish Nation and was originally spelled Kia’palano, meaning “beautiful river.” Kia’palano was the name of a great Squamish chief who lived in this area in the early part of the 1800s.

Capilano Suspension Bridge is one of Vancouver’s most visited attractions. Hungry tourists planning a visit between 11am and 4pm should make a reservation at the park’s family-friendly Cliff House Restaurant.

The Cliff House Restaurant overlooks the Capilano Canyon, suspension bridge and West Coast rainforest. It is housed in the first park owners 4-room cabin, which was originally built in 1888.

The 76-seat chic meets rustic dining room was built with Douglas-fir posts and beams. It boasts an indoor and outdoor river rock fireplace, 18-foot vaulted ceilings and 17-foot high windows, providing scenic views from every vantage point. During the warmer months of the year guests can enjoy an al fresco feast on a 74-seat outdoor patio.

Cliff House Restaurant’s menu focuses on local ingredients, Ocean Wise seafood products, BC wines and locally crafted Vancouver craft beers.

• Seafood Chowder: local shellfish, potato, crispy bacon
• West Coast Crab Salad: dungeness and rock crab, roast garlic lemon aioli, foraged greens, avocado, bacon
• Okanagan Quinoa Salad: apple, winter berries, crisp romaine, arugula, cherry tomato, candied pecans
• Maple Glazed Salmon: wild salmon, maple dijon glaze, baby potatoes, seasonal vegetables
• Cliff House Beef Burger: double smoked bacon, aged cheddar, caramelized onions, chipotle bbq

Vancouver Urban Winery

55 Dunlevy Ave, 604-566-9463

Researching where to eat in Vancouver to sample local BC wines?

Vancouver Urban Winery is located between Gastown and Japantown near the city’s scenic waterfront. It pours the best of British Columbia’s wine bottles, paired with culinary offerings from Belgard Kitchen.

Vancouver Urban Winery is a small batch urban winery that produces hand-crafted wines from 100% B.C. grapes in Railtown. The tasting room offers 36 wines on tap featuring in-house wines alongside a rotating selection from some of the provinces best winemakers.

Vancouver Urban Winery is located in the historic Settlement Building, a 100 year old historic property. The former steel foundry has been transformed into chic, urban eatery for oenophiles. Visitors can appreciate the buildings history thanks to a winch and pulley system that hangs from the ceiling, exposed steel and fir beams and stone fireplace.

Belgard Kitchen offers brunch, lunch and dinner menus, which we suggest pairing with a Vancouver Urban Winery tasting flight.

• Tiger Prawn Ceviche: grapefruit, cilantro lime salt, serrano, avocado, corn tortillas
• Roasted Mushroom Country Bacon Pizzette: caramelized onions, aged white cheddar, goat cheese, sunflower seed pesto
• Yam Gnocchi with Lamb Ragu: braised pork shoulder, brown sage butter, sweet peas
• Duck Confit Risotto: wild mushrooms, kabocha squash puree, crispy shallots, micro greens
• Shrimp Nero: chorizo, jalapeño pesto, spaghetti squid ink noodles, herbed bread crumbs

Review Our Travel Checklist When Planning Your Next Adventure! 

Some of the links in this story use affiliate links. This means that if you book through our site, Dobbernationloves will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your support helps us to produce comprehensive content.