Must-see restaurants in Vancouver

  • Exterior of Purebread bakery

    Purebread

    Gastown & Chinatown

    When Whistler's favorite bakery opened here, salivating Vancouverites began flocking in en masse. Expect to stand slack-jawed in front of the glass panels…

  • Save On Meats exterior

    Save on Meats

    Gastown & Chinatown

    A former old-school butcher shop that's been transformed into a popular hipster diner. Slide into a booth or hop on a swivel chair at the super-long…

  • Exterior of Meat & Bread sandwich shop

    Meat & Bread

    Gastown & Chinatown

    Arrive early to sidestep the lunchtime line-ups at Vancouver's favorite sandwich mini-chain and you might snag a seat. If not, hang with the locals at the…

  • A typical dosa at Davie Dosa Company

    Davie Dosa Company

    Vancouver

    Specializing in perfectly prepared South Indian dosas – huge, satisfyingly crisp rice-and-lentil crépes crammed with fillings such as butter chicken or…

  • Uprising Bakery, Commercial Drive.

    Uprising Breads Bakery Cafe

    Vancouver

    Part of a local bakery minichain that's been satisfying the city's treat cravings for four decades, this bright-painted East Vancouver storefront is where…

  • Spade exterior

    Spade

    Vancouver

    A sunny oasis routinely animated with chatty, laptop-wielding locals, Spade is more than just another Drive coffeeshop. Alongside the breakfast bowls and…

  • Umaluma exterior

    Umaluma

    Gastown & Chinatown

    A bright, pastel-hued nook serving rich, utterly delicious dairy-free gelato. There are usually 10 or so housemade flavors to choose from here. The…

  • Tacofino Oasis exterior

    Tacofino Oasis

    Vancouver

    Brilliantly funky but fiendishly well hidden in an office-district back alley, this small satellite of BC's homegrown taco purveyor is worth hunting down…

  • Templeton exterior

    Templeton

    Vancouver

    A chrome-and-vinyl 1950s-look diner with a twist, Templeton serves plus-sized organic burgers, addictive fries, vegetarian quesadillas (plus vegan options…

  • Dutch Wooden Shoe Cafe

    Fairview & South Granville

    A homestyle Dutch-themed breakfast and lunch hangout lined with wall-mounted clogs and a huge collection of beer glasses (despite there being no liqour…

  • Yolks

    Fairview & South Granville

    The no-reservations policy at this often clamorously busy breakfast and brunch spot can mean a long wait. But it's worth it to sate your eggy cravings for…

  • Ask for Luigi

    Gastown & Chinatown

    Consider an off-peak weekday lunch if you don't want to wait too long for a table at this white-clapboard little charmer; reservations are not accepted…

  • Rain or Shine

    Fairview & South Granville

    You might have to queue under the gaze of a cone-crowned purple cow on the wall at this finger-licking ice-cream emporium. That will give you time to mull…

  • AnnaLena

    Vancouver

    An elegant-but-casual resto-bar with some serious foodie chops, this elongated lounge-like room (think monochrome decor and brushed concrete floors) is…

  • Prospect Point Bar & Grill

    Vancouver

    A sparkling renovation has transformed this historic wood-beamed cafe into a full-service bistro and bar serving elevated comfort food from burgers to…

  • Provence Marinaside

    Vancouver

    There's a serious seafood fixation at this elegant, French-approach restaurant just across from Yaletown's False Creek waterfront. But if you're not in…

  • Fish Counter

    Vancouver

    Main's best fish and chips. This busy spot combines a seafood wet counter and a bustling fry operation. Order from the cashier, snag a spot at the stand…

  • Bishop's

    Vancouver

    Behind its anonymous exterior, Bishop's pioneered West Coast 'locavore' dining long before the farm-to-table movement arrived. Legendary chef-owner John…

  • Deacon's Corner

    Gastown & Chinatown

    This lively, no-nonsense diner lures hungry locals to an otherwise grubby city corner. They come for the hulking, hangover-busting breakfasts (biscuit…

  • Guu with Garlic

    Vancouver

    One of Vancouver's best izakaya (Japanese pubs), this welcoming, wood-lined joint is a cultural immersion. Rice and noodle bowls are available but it's…

  • West

    Fairview & South Granville

    This sleek but never snobbish fine-dining favorite is committed to superb West Coast meals with ultra-attentive service and a great wine selection. Ideal…

  • Say Hey Cafe

    Gastown & Chinatown

    This corridor-like hole-in-the-wall eatery fuses a friendly hipster vibe with a menu of seriously satisfying, lovingly constructed submarine sandwiches…

  • Serano Greek Pastry

    Vancouver

    You'll find it impossible to pass this small, old-school Greek bakery where the aromas call like a siren song. Step inside and temptation increases…

  • Nuba

    Gastown & Chinatown

    Tucked under the landmark Dominion Building, this Lebanese restaurant attracts budget noshers and cool hipsters in equal measure. If you're not sure what…

  • Sweet Cherubim

    Vancouver

    Many Drive restaurants offer vegetarian options but Sweet Cherubim goes the whole hog with a full-on organic, vegan and veggie menu of hearty, well-priced…

  • Burgoo Bistro

    Vancouver

    Burgoo, an incongruous rustic-chic shack with a huge exterior wall mural and Main's best summer patio, has a warm, woodsy interior that matches its…

  • Observatory

    North Shore

    Crowning Grouse Mountain, the fine-dining Observatory serves sturgeon confits and AAA tenderloins alongside breathtaking views over Vancouver's twinkling…

  • Heritage Asian Eatery

    Fairview & South Granville

    Bigger than its Pender St sibling, this bright, cafeteria-style spot serves a small, well-curated menu of comfort-food rice and noodle bowls. Serving top…

  • Jam Cafe

    Vancouver

    The Vancouver outpost of Victoria's wildly popular breakfast and brunch superstar lures the city's longest queues, especially on weekends. Reservations…

  • MeeT

    Vancouver

    A hip vegan eatery that lures many carnivores with an array of meaty-seeming comfort-grub classics that emulate the flavors and textures of burgers,…

  • Naam

    Vancouver

    An evocative relic of Kitsilano's hippie past, this vegetarian restaurant has the feel of a comfy farmhouse. It's not unusual to wait for a table at peak…

  • Bodega

    Gastown & Chinatown

    One of several tasty dining options that have colonized this once-sketchy Main St stretch in recent years, this Spanish charmer is a sumptuous room of…

  • Argo Cafe

    Vancouver

    One of Vancouver's last genuine diners has been slightly souped-up, but it hasn't lost its gemlike, old-school edge. Tucked into a formerly gritty…

  • Gallery Café

    Vancouver

    The Vancouver Art Gallery's mezzanine-level cafe is a chatty indoor dining area complemented by one of downtown's best and biggest patios. The food is…

  • Dirty Apron Delicatessen

    Vancouver

    Avoid the cult of Jam, the lineup-heavy brunchery along the street, and slip into this friendly cafe with its gourmet soups and baguette sandwiches,…

  • Birds & the Beets

    Gastown & Chinatown

    A friendly, local-favorite hangout with a small menu of delicious, made-to-order salads, sandwiches and breakfast items (try the avocado-and-poached-egg…

  • Rangoli

    Fairview & South Granville

    This small, cafe-like satellite of Cambie St's landmark Vij's restaurant is a favorite among South Granville locals. Service is brisk and famously…

  • Flying Pig

    Vancouver

    A warm, woodsy bistro that has mastered the art of friendly service and saliva-triggering, gourmet comfort food. Dishes focus on seasonal local…

  • Timber

    Vancouver

    The startled stuffed beaver by the door (the googly eyes don't help) shouldn't put you off this fun resto-pub, combining a great BC-focused beer menu with…

  • Via Tevere

    Vancouver

    Just two blocks east from the Drive, it's worth the five-minute walk for what may be East Van's best pizza. Which is saying something, since the Drive is…

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