Whether you love sushi or tacos, fancy seafood or messy BBQ ribs, Vancouver is the place to be if you like to eat. There are so many restaurants in so many neighbourhoods it can be hard to choose which ones to try.
If you're new to the city, then you're in for a treat. We've listed out a very important list of some of Vancouver's best restaurants that you have to try. If you've been a Vancouverite since day one, we've got a few spots that you may not have heard of... or at least you haven't tried yet. Some of them are local favourites and others are new kids on the block, but what do these OGs and newbies have in common? They serve drop dead delicious food.
Now sometimes the biggest problem when it comes to dining out is choosing which neighbourhood you want to be in. Maybe you're going on a night out after dinner and need a restaurant that's close by, or perhaps you're already in downtown but too lazy to transit to a place to eat that's on the other side of downtown, so to ease your stress, we've categorized these restaurants by neighbourhood.
So without further ado, here are some of Downtown Vancouver's best restaurants by neighbourhood.
West End
Coal Harbour
Central Downtown
Gastown, Chinatown & Railtown
Yaletown & Crosstown
Click "Next" for the best restaurants in West End.
Forage
Where: 1300 Robson St
Type: Casual, Comfort Food
Most popular item: Corned Bison Hash and Two Rivers Turkey Sausage Hash
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: If you're craving breakfast food but it's not the weekend yet, Forage has got your back. They serve breakfast every day of the week from 6:30 to 10 AM, and 7 to 10 AM on Saturdays and Sundays. The atmosphere is super cozy and the food is definitely comforting.
Hook Sea Bar
Where: 1210 Denman St
Type: Seafood
Most popular item: Oishi Sushi and Raw Oysters
Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸
Why you should go: If you're by English Bay and you just can't get enough of the gorgeous ocean views but you're getting hungry AF, you should definitely head on over to Hook. Located right by the waterfront, this seafood restaurant is serving up some tasty surf and turf and the space itself is very hip. Great for dinner, late night drinks or even brunch.
Zabu Chicken
Where: 1635 Robson St
Type: Korean
Most popular item: Spicy and Soy Fried Chicken
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: Zabu Chicken is one of my favourite restaurants to go to for beer pitchers and finger lickin' good chicken. The atmosphere is always bumpin' with booming loud K-Pop, I swear it's almost like the club in there... but with amazing chicken. If you're looking to have a good time with your squad, this is the spot.
Ritual
Where: 774 Denman St
Type: Farm-to-Table, Comfort Food
Most popular item: Seasonal
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: Ritual is probably one the cutest brunch spots to go to on a rainy afternoon in Vancouver. The interior is super cozy and they even have a massive French window on one end of the restaurant where you can dine in front of and watch the rain dance outside. Their menu is always changing so make sure you ask one of their ever-so-friendly waiters what's good.
Zakkushi
Where: 823 Denman St
Type: Japanese Izakaya and Yakitori
Most popular item: Yakitori
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: If you love Japanese izakayas and yakitori (skewers) then you will absolutely love Zakkushi. You can choose your skewers by the stick and they even have some unique options like chicken heart, chicken gizzard, and even liver... of course, if you dare to try it that is.
Click "Next" for the best restaurants in Coal Harbour.
Tableau Bar Bistro
Where: 1181 Melville St
Type: French Bistro
Most popular item: Chicken and Waffles and Seafood Tower
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: When you're craving some chicken and waffles, but also want a fancy new restaurant to try, Tableau is the spot. Their brunch is absolutely to-die-for and so is their seafood tower.
Heritage Asian Eatery
Where: 1108 W Pender St
Type: Asian Fusion
Most popular item: Baos, Rice Bowls, and Fried Cauliflower
Price: 💸 - 💸💸
Why you should go: Love the fried cauliflower from Nuba? Then you'll absolutely die when you try the fried cauliflower at Heritage. But not only is that delicious, so are their rice bowls and sweet matcha condensed milk with man tous to finish off your meal.
Nightingale
Where: 1017 W Hastings St
Type: Canadian
Most popular item: Pizza and Roasted Bone Marrow
Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸
Why you should go: Nightingale is just fancy enough to impress someone, but not so fancy that you'll feel too intimidated to order anything. They menu is rather simple but delicious with familiar items that you're sure to enjoy.
Meat & Bread
Where: 1033 W Pender St
Type: Sandwich Shop
Most popular item: Porchetta Sandwich
Price: 💸
Why you should go: Don't be fooled by their simple sandwich shop concept. They may only serve sandwiches, but these sandwiches will make you fall in love. Their signature porchetta sandwich is made with tender slices of pork which they roast with love. One sandwich from here and you'll never want a sammy from anywhere else.
Click "Next" for the best restaurants in Central Downtown.
Guu Garden
Where: 888 Nelson St
Type: Japanese Izakaya
Most popular item: Saba Oshi Sushi, Chicken Karaage and Sapporo Mega Pints
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: I've said it before and I'll say it again, Guu Garden is one of the best spots to eat, drink, and chill with the squad. The environment is super fun and they have Sapporo MEGA PINTS! MEGA PINTS! Just, yas.
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Where: 845 Burrard St
Type: Upscale Restaurant, Seafood
Most popular item: Seafood Tower and Brunch
Price: 💸💸💸
Why you should go: If you're trying to plan a fancy birthday dinner date for your bae or even your BFF, Boulevard is the place to go. The interior is super boujee and so is the food. And if you want to be extravagant without spending extravagant amounts of money, go during the Happy Hour for a good time with good bites.
Bistro Verde
Where: 799 Robson St
Type: Bistro
Most popular item: Short Rib Grill Cheese
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go:
The Pawn Shop
Where: 1117 Granville St
Type: Tacos
Most popular item: $1 Happy Hour Tacos
Price: 💸 - 💸💸
Why you should go: The Pawn Shop always delivers good vibes all around, all the time. During their Happy Hour, they're always bumpin' early 2000s hip hop tracks and serving up $1 tacos and $3 tequila shots. I talk about this spot all the time because it's worth raving about.
Click "Next" for the best restaurants in Gastown & Railtown.
The MacKenzie Room
Where: 415 Powell St
Type: Farm-To-Table
Most popular item: Current seasonal favourite - Chicken of the Sea
Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸
Why you should go: Located in the up and coming trendy neighbourhood of Railtown, The MacKenzie Room is a breath of fresh air from your typical dinner service. Their menu is written on a chalkboard because it's always changing to what's fresh and in season, meaning you will only get served the best of the best food. The service is impeccable, the interior is rustic and cozy, and the food is to-die-for.
La Mezcaleria
Where: 68 E Cordova St
Type: Casual, Mexican
Most popular item: Queso Fundito
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: La Mezcaleria is notoriously known in Vancouver for their sinfully delicious Queso Fundito, a sizzling hot stone bowl oozing with an amalgam of molten cheese that you can dip with a crispy nacho. Tbh, there's not a whole lot in this world that's better than this - and this is why it's a Vancouver best.
Peckinpah
Where: 2 Water St
Type: Southern Comfort Food, BBQ
Most popular item: Pork Robs and Hush Puppies
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: I once had a good friend who was born and raised in Kentucky and then moved to Vancouver. She brought me to Peckinpah and told me that it is by far one of the most real and authentic Southern style restaurants she had every been to... and she wasn't lying. The BBQ meats are smoked to perfection and the hush puppies are fluffier than real puppies. If you want a real taste of the South, this is the spot.
Virtuous Pie
Where: 583 Main St
Type: Vegan Pizza
Most popular item: Everything!!
Price: 💸
Why you should go: Because everyone loves pizza! And this is the only place that will probably make you feel a little less guilty for horking an entire pizza in one bite... because it's vegan. There's also something just so warm and comforting about the exposed brick walls and arch shaped wall decor that makes you feel like you're inside of a pizza oven.
Tuc Craft Kitchen
Where: 60 W Cordova St
Type: Rustic, Comfort Food
Most popular item: Fried Chicken and Waffles
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: Any true Vancouverite knows that Tuc Craft is famous for their crispy and juicy Fried Chicken and Waffles. It's a Vancouver classic that you have to try at least once in your life. They even have DIY Mimosas at brunch, so what's the hesitation?
St. Lawrence
Where: 269 Powell St
Type: French, Quebecios
Most popular item: Oreilles de Crisse, Côte de porc and Steak tartare
Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸
Why you should go: Hands down one of the best French restaurants in the city. The service is amazing, the atmosphere is always warm and inviting, and the food is authentically Quebecois. The chef himself, JC Poirier, is a native Quebecois and so are his staff (with a few exceptions who hail from France). If you're looking for a classy dinner date that will impress, St. Lawrence will sweep you and your date off your feet.
Honourable Mentions:
Tacofino // 15 W Cordova St
Phnom Penh // 244 E Georgia St
Rhinofish // 550 Main St
Juniper // 185 Keefer St
Click "Next" for the best restaurants in Yaletown and Crosstown.
Banter Room
Where: 1039 Mainland St
Type: Lounge
Most popular item: Southern Fried Chicken and London Broil Steak
Price: 💸💸
Why you should go: Admittedly, Banter Room is more of a lounge than it is your traditional sit-down dinner restaurant, but the space is amazing for larger parties and the food is awesome. And how can you turn down a Moët Champagne vending machine?
Blue Water Cafe
Where: 1095 Hamilton St
Type: Seafood, Raw Bar
Most popular item: Seafood Tower and Sushi
Price: 💸💸💸
Why you should go: Blue Water Cafe & Raw Bar is one of the city's top rated restaurants and for good reason. This restaurant is known in Vancouver for it's amazing seafood and boujee interior. Wanting to splurge a little for the evening? This place is worth it.
Fayuca
Where: 1009 Hamilton St
Type: Pacific Northwest Mexican
Most popular item: Seasonal
Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸
Why you should go: Not only is Fayuca bringing the heat from Mexico in the tropical dining room, they're bringing the heat from the kitchen. This Pacific Northwest Mexican fusion restaurant is serves incredibly unique creations unlike any other Mexican restaurant in Vancouver and you won't be disappointed.
WildTale Coastal Grill
Where: 1079 Mainland St
Type: Seafood
Most popular item: Seafood Tower, Raw Oysters, and Salt Spring Island Mussels
Price: 💸💸 - 💸💸💸
Why you should go: If you couldn't already tell, we love our seafood here in Vancouver and we couldn't possible end the list without adding just one more seafood restaurant. WildTale is an exceptionally delicious restaurant that serves the West Coast's freshest and finest. If you've never tried Salt Spring Island Mussels, trust me, it will change your life.
