Eyebrows were raised when this contemporary, rustic-style Italian restaurant opened in a hitherto sketchy part of town. But Campagnolo has lured locals and inspired a miniwave of other restaurants in the vicinity. Reserve ahead and dive into reinvented comfort dishes such as shrimp gnocchetti and a fennel sausage-topped pizza that may induce you to eat your body weight in thin-crust.

There are several great vegetarian options here. Save some room for a buzz-triggering after-dinner glass of grappa or consider heading to the hidden gem Campagnolo Upstairs bar. With a separate street entrance, this woodsy, comfortably hip haunt serves great cocktails, craft beers and its own food menu. Don't miss the famous 'dirty burger' here; it's arguably the best in town.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Gastown & Chinatown attractions

1. Science World

0.24 MILES

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3. Olympic Village

0.4 MILES

Built as the home for 2800 athletes during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, this glassy waterfront development became the city's newest…

4. Carnegie Community Centre

0.4 MILES

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5. Jack Chow Building

0.41 MILES

This unusual spot was known for decades as the Sam Kee Building until Jack Chow Insurance changed the name and spruced it up. Listed in the Guinness Book…

6. Chinatown Millennium Gate

0.44 MILES

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7. Rogers Arena

0.44 MILES

This large multipurpose stadium hosts the National Hockey League's Vancouver Canucks. On game nights, when the 20,000-capacity venue heaves with fervent…

8. Vancouver Police Museum & Archives

0.46 MILES

Illuminating Vancouver's crime-and-vice-addled history, this quirky museum has had a recent makeover, uncovering the former coroner's courtroom (spot the…