Kitsilano Boathouse Views

Vancouver is a cosmopolitan city, and it shows when it comes to dining. The city has some amazing restaurants and excellent bars and pubs.

Top Places to Eat and Drink

Below is a sampling of the best places to eat and drink in the City of Vancouver. Our list of restaurants is sorted according to the following locations:

Click any of the above links to jump to a specific part of town, or continue reading to learn about all of Vancouver’s many best restaurants and places to eat.

(Note: Prices and other details may change, so see official restaurant websites for exact information.)

Restaurants in Chinatown

Located right downtown, Vancouver’s Chinatown is one of the largest and oldest in North America.

Bao Bei – at 163 Keefer, this diner is one of the better yet still very affordable Chinese restaurants in the area and serves excellent food.

Arc Restaurant at Fairmont Waterfront Hotel — Arc at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

Restaurants in Coal Harbour and Around Canada Place

Coal Harbour is the area of downtown Vancouver between Stanley Park and Canada Place.

Arc – the restaurant at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel at 900 Canada Place Way and across the street from Canada Place.
Botanist – another restaurant attached to the Fairmont, this one at 1038 Canada Place Way. It’s a building with a lot of natural light and plenty of cocktail options.
Cactus Club – has one of its flagship restaurant locations next to the Olympic Cauldron by the Convention Centre, at 1085 Canada Place. This is one of Vancouver’s most successful and popular chain restaurants.
Cardero’s – a good place for fish on the waterfront in Coal Harbour, at 1583 Coal Harbour Quay.
Five Sails – the award-winning fine-dining restaurant featuring Canadian cuisine at the Pan Pacific Hotel at 999 Canada Place. Open every day from 5:30 pm to 10:00 pm.
H2 Kitchen + Bar – at the Westin Bayshore Hotel at 1601 Bayshore Drive. The place specializes in rotisserie chicken, barbecued meats and local beers on tap. If you like smokehouse-style cuisine, you’ll love this place! (To learn more, see our article about the H2 Kitchen.)

H2 Patio at the Westin Bayshore — H2 Kitchen + Bar at the Westin Bayshore

More Restaurants Around Canada Place and Coal Harbour

Lift Bar and Grill – also located in Coal Harbour, at 333 Menchion Mews right on the seawall. Lift’s main dinner entrees range from around $30 up to $40 and more. Try to get a window seat!
Mahony & Sons – a great Irish Pub located at 1055 Canada Place on the outer deck of the Vancouver Convention Centre, facing Canada Place.
Miku Restaurant – at the very start of Howe Street just a few steps from Canada Place it offers excellent Japanese cuisine in a fine dining atmosphere.
Oceans 999 – another restaurant at the Pan Pacific Hotel at 999 Canada Place which is especially famous for its Sunday brunches.
P2B Bistro & Bar – a nice restaurant at the Pinnacle Hotel Waterfront. It has an outdoor patio in warmer months and live music a few times each week.
Tap & Barrel – a popular bar and restaurant at 1055 Canada Place in Jack Poole Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
Tetsu Sushi Bar – a relatively smaller restaurant and bar that offers a variety of sushi and sashimi dishes with drinks options. It’s located at 775 Denman Street.

Mahony and Sons at the Convention Centre — Mahony & Sons at the Convention Centre

Bars & Restaurants in Gastown

Located close to Waterfront Station, Gastown is the original old part of Vancouver.

L’Abattoir – one of the best casual restaurants in Gastown, located at 217 Carrall Street in a 19th century brick building that housed Vancouver’s first jail.
Guilt & Co. – a one-of-a-kind and very popular bar that features live music every day at 1 Alexander Street.
PiDGiN – a popular, trendy and casual restaurant offering Pan Asian cuisine at 350 Carrall Street.
Silk Lounge – launched in the spring of 2018, it’s a fancy Indian-French fusion restaurant at 132 Powell Street and open Tuesday to Sunday. All the walls are covered in silk, the food is organic and the entrance includes a 140+ year-old door from the Punjab!
Steamworks –at 375 Water Street it’s a great brew pub at the entrance to Gastown less than a block from Waterfront Station. Due to its location and atmosphere, it’s a popular meeting place.
The Old Spaghetti Factory – not a fancy restaurant, but has fairly good and very reasonably-priced pasta, plus lots of free bread. Located at 55 Water Street, it’s a good place if taking the kids.
Top of Vancouver – located just one floor from the Vancouver Lookout observation deck at 555 West Hastings Street. At 553 feet above street level, Top of Vancouver has the best 360 degree views of the city from its revolving restaurant.

Restaurants on Granville Island

Granville Island is a touristy area with restaurants, art studios, theatres and a public market.

Dockside Restaurant – a casual yet fancy restaurant at the Granville Island Hotel at 1253 Johnston Street on Granville Island. The place has an outside patio in warmer months and is well-known for its seafood.
Granville Island Brewing – at 1441 Cartwright Street it’s a good place to find some of Vancouver’s best local craft beer.
The Keg Steakhouse – on Granville Island it can be found at 1499 Anderson Street and is famous for steaks and prime rib.

For a more comprehensive list of places to eat and drink in this neighbourhood see our article about Granville Island Restaurants.

Restaurants in Granville and West Broadway Region

Granville and Broadway are two of Vancouver’s main streets. Both are known for their restaurants.

Stages Bistro & Lounge – the restaurant at the Holiday Inn at 711 West Broadway is well-known for its lunch buffets.
Tojo’s Restaurant – high-end sushi dishes and other Japanese cuisine at 1133 West Broadway. It’s expensive, but high-quality.
Vij’s – arguably Vancouver’s finest East Indian restaurant. It’s not cheap, and you’ll likely have to wait in line before getting in, but it’s worth the effort. At 1480 West 11th Avenue, just off Granville a few blocks from West Broadway, it’s not right downtown, but still in a very vibrant part of the city. Vikram Vij, the owner, is a Dragon on the CBC’s Dragon’s Den TV show.

Restaurants in English Bay

English Bay is the large open body of water between Kitsilano and Point Grey, Vancouver’s West End and Stanley Park, and West Vancouver. English Bay Beach, meanwhile, is Vancouver’s beautiful urban beach and home to a number of great restaurants.

The Cactus Club – it overlooks the beach and has one of the city’s best water views, with wonderful sunsets from late March to late September.

Restaurants in Kitsilano

Kitsilano is a trendy neighbourhood that’s home to numerous restaurants and Kitsilano Beach.

AnnaLenna – a highly-rated restaurant at 1809 West 1st Avenue.
The Boathouse Restaurant – a nice restaurant with beautiful views right at Kitsilano Beach.
Burgoo – a great place for soups and stews, especially in the winter when “comfort food” seems especially satisfying. It can be found at 2272 West 4th Avenue.
Dark Table – a truly unique and highly-rated restaurant at 2611 West 4th Avenue. Dinners here last about 90 minutes, the lighting is indeed dark and the servers are blind! Cell phone use is not permitted. Nor are flashlights!
Fable Kitchen – at 1944 West 4th it’s a great restaurant with an open kitchen concept that prides itself in using local ingredients.
La Quercia – a reasonably-priced Italian restaurant at 3689 West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano, just a few blocks from Jericho beach.
Maenam – a great Thai restaurant located at 1938 West 4th Avenue, about 15 or so blocks south of Vanier Park and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.
Octopus’ Garden – a highly-rated Japanese restaurant at 1955 Cornwall Avenue in Kitsilano. Its prices are in the middle-to-higher range.
The Wolf and Hound – a popular neighbourhood pub at 3617 West Broadway. Reservations are accepted Sundays to Thursdays. On Fridays and Saturdays it’s just first come, first served.

Boathouse at Kitsilano — Boathouse Restaurant at Kitsilano

Restaurants Near Robson Street

Robson Street is a trendy and fashionable street full of clothing stores and restaurants.

Black + Blue – an upscale steakhouse at 1052 Alberni Street. Expect to pay $30 to $50 for most dinner items, or closer to $20 for a burger. The place has a rooftop patio, which is heated in the winter and especially popular in the summer.
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar – a highly-rated upscale restaurant that’s known for its seafood at 845 Burrard Street.
Cincin – an upscale Italian ristorante open nightly from 5:00 pm to midnight at 1154 Robson Street. Average dinner cost is around $75.
Forage – located at 1300 Robson Street beside the Listel Hotel, this place specializes in food made with local and sustainable ingredients.
Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House – at 777 Thurlow Street it’s just off Robson. Special three-course dinners are close to $40 and entrees range from about $20 to over $50.
Kirin – an award-winning upscale Chinese restaurant located at 102-1172 Alberni Street in downtown Vancouver.
Kobe – a great Japanese restaurant at 1042 Alberni where your dinner is cooked in front of you. It’s not cheap, but the food is excellent and the culinary performances at the table are an entertaining experience. (The restaurant actually claims that its “Godzilla” steak is the most expensive steak in Vancouver – other menu items are still expensive, but much more reasonable).
Le Crocodile – at 909 Burrard Street just off Robson, it’s an upscale restaurant that serves French cuisine in a West Coast style. A five-course chef’s tasting menu costs about $85.
Memphis Blues Barbeque House is a great chain specializing in southern BBQs, with locations at 1465 West Broadway, 1342 Commercial Drive and 430 Robson Street.

Restaurants in Yaletown

Yaletown is a trendy neighbourhood located near BC Place Stadium and False Creek.

Blue Water – at 1095 Hamilton Street it’s a popular trendy place with exceptional seafood, which the restaurant ensures is always wild and sustainably sourced. With entrées starting at about $30, it’s not cheap, but definitely worth it.
Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill – at 1133 Hamilton Street is a fancy place with an extensive wine list. Although not cheap, Cioppino’s is highly recommended.
Cactus Club – at 357 Davie Street it’s very popular, as are all its other locations.
Earls – at 1095 Mainland Street it’s another great and very successful chain restaurant.
Lupo – a nice Italian restaurant at 869 Hamilton Street.
Minami – located at 1118 Mainland Street and one of Vancouver’s best high-end Japanese restaurants.
Provence Marinaside – a highly rated restaurant specializing in seafood that faces the water at False Creek at 1177 Marinaside Crescent.
Tasty Indian Bistro – a reasonably-priced place that serves remarkably authentic East Indian food (or at least that’s what we’ve been told) at 1261 Hamilton Street.
Tutto – a fancy Italian restaurant with great food and fabulous atmosphere at 901 Homer Street.

Yaletown at Davie — Yaletown on Pacific Boulevard

Restaurants in the Olympic Village

The Olympic Village is located near the eastern tip of False Creek not far from Science World.

Brewhall – a casual beer hall-style pub at 97 East 2nd Avenue (so just south of Olympic Village). The place features over 20 craft beers and ciders on tap.
Craft Beer Market – at the Salt Building at 85 West 1st Avenue near the Olympic Village in False Creek close to Science World in an amazing historic building. The prices are a bit high, but the atmosphere and decor are excellent, and it’s big. The establishment is an excellent place to visit with a group of friends if you like craft beer – it has the city’s largest selection.
Tap & Barrel – a popular bar and restaurant at #1 Athletes Way near the waterfront in False Creek. The chain has other locations as well in North Vancouver and downtown by the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Tap & Barrel at Olympic Village — Olympic Village Plaza and the Tap & Barrel

Restaurants in Stanley Park

Stanley Park is Vancouver’s world-famous urban park.

Prospect Point – a nice place with a patio, ice cream and bar-style food.
The Teahouse – found at Third Beach which is a great place to admire sunsets most months of the year.

Restaurant at Prospect Point — Prospect Point in Stanley Park

Other Downtown Restaurants

Bacchus at the Wedgewood – a fancy French restaurant at 845 Hornby Street in the Four Diamond-rated Wedgewood Hotel. Expect dinner to be around $70 without wine.
Bombay Kitchen + Bar – a reasonably-priced East Indian restaurant at 1018 Commercial Drive.
Cactus Club Bentall – at 588 Burrard Street right downtown it’s a very popular mid-range-price place with great food.
Chambar – one of Vancouver’s top rated casual dining restaurants, located at 568 Beatty Street. Chambar is a carbon-neutral Belgian restaurant.
Diva at the Met – at the Metropolitan Hotel downtown at 645 Howe Street by West Georgia it’s one of Vancouver’s best restaurants.
Kissa Tanto – a fusion of Japanese and Italian cuisine in a building that’s inspired by the “jazz cafes” of Tokyo. It’s located at 263 East Pender Street.
Gotham Steakhouse – downtown at 615 Seymour it’s probably Vancouver’s finest steakhouse. Want to impress people, then take them here.
Guu – one of Vancouver’s most highly-rated casual Japanese izakaya-style restaurants with a summer-time outdoor beer garden located at M101-888 Nelson Street.
Gyu-Kaku – one of our favourite Japanese restaurants, and it’s quite affordable (and especially during happy hour before 6:00 pm every day and all day on Mondays). The restaurant has two locations – one at #201-950 West Broadway and the other hidden down the steps at G3-888 Nelson Street at the corner of Hornby.
Hawksworth Restaurant – at 801 West Georgia Street (near the Vancouver Art Gallery) it’s one of Vancouver’s top-tier restaurants. Expect to pay from $16 to over $25 for an appetizer. Yes, it’s pricey, but worth it if you can afford it.

Restaurants on Main Street & Commercial Drive

Main Street and Commercial Drive are two of Vancouver’s better known streets for restaurants and interesting shops. They aren’t fancy neighbourhoods full of high-end restaurants and boutiques. They are interesting streets though, in some areas, and popular places for people wanting to eat out.

East is East – features Indian and Afghan cuisine in an exotic atmosphere at its 4433 Main Street with nightly live entertainment.
Havana – a popular Cuban restaurant at 1212 Commercial Drive that features a small 60-seat theatre in the back.
Oca Pastificio – an Italian restaurant at 1260 Commercial Drive with plenty of homemade pasta.
Published on Main – a smaller but also fancy restaurant at 3593 Main Street that focuses on local sources for its dishes. There is also a very extensive wine menu.
The Shameful Tiki Room – a unique dimly-lit 50-seat restaurant at 4362 Main Street. It’s decorated with all kinds of Tiki-style cloths, carvings and puffer fish lamps. It serves cocktails as well as things like samosas, tacos, ribs, curries and nachos.

Restaurants in Other Parts of Vancouver

Strange Fellows Brewing – a popular craft brewery that’s known for its unique, un-ordinary and “strange” brews at 1345 Clark Drive.
Boteco Brasil – a restaurant and bar that’s popular with Brazilians and non-Brazilians who like Brazilian food at 2545 Nanaimo Street.
Chongqing – at 2808 Commercial Drive and offering excellent Szechuan Chinese.
La Casa Gelato – at 1033 Venables Street, so not right downtown, but with hundreds of flavours of ice cream and gelato this is a place people drive to for dessert from across the region.
Dynasty Seafood – an upscale award-winning Chinese restaurant located at 777 West Broadway. Open for lunch and dinner every day, except for statutory holidays, it offers free parking (just let the staff know your stall number).
Osteria Savio Volpe – located at 615 Kingsway, this is a high-end Italian place with a bar included.
Seasons in the Park – a great place for lunch or dinner at the top of Queen Elizabeth Park. The food is very good and the views of Vancouver are even better from the restaurant than pretty much anywhere else at the park. Interestingly, this restaurant was where US President Bill Clinton and Russian President Boris Yeltsin had dinner during the US-Russian Vancouver Summit in 1993.

Vancouver View from Seasons in the Park — Seasons in the Park

Other Lower Mainland Restaurants

For the best places to eat and drink in other parts of the Lower Mainland, check out the following:

Vancouver’s Best Night Clubs

Looking for some night life after dinner? Click Vancouver Night Clubs for details.

Other Information

Other articles that might be of interest include the following:

Dine Out Vancouver Festival – special three-course menu deals at hundreds of restaurants in January.
Taste of Yaletown – special restaurant deals in Yaletown in October.
Vancouver Latin American Restaurants – check out our list of places to find Mexican and other Latin cuisine-serving restaurants.
Vancouver Premium-Casual Chain Restaurants – how do places like the Keg, Cactus Club, Boathouse, Moxies, JOEY, Earls, Milestones and the Tap & Barrel compare?