Delicious Downtown Vancouver: A Dining Guide

A Restaurant Day in Downtown Vancouver1

Balmy temperatures, stunning ocean views and famed tourist attractions such as Stanley Park and the Pacific National Exhibition are not the only reasons to visit Vancouver. The sparkling metropolis is also a deserving and exciting culinary destination with new and innovative restaurants opening all the time, and a wealth of well-established favourites that continue to get the locals excited.

One is unlikely to make a bad dining decision in downtown Vancouver. With literally hundreds of quality restaurants on the Vancouver scene, chances are the hungry will stumble into something that more than satisfies, both gastronomically and financially. Downtown Vancouver serves up a full range of establishments, from fast food joints to fine dining palaces, cutting-edge cafes to traditional pubs, and a vibrant offering of cultural cuisine from around the world.

ETIQUETTE

Much like the rest of Canada and the USA, it is customary to tip around 15% of the bill for a meal in Vancouver. However, high gastronomical satisfaction will often see customers happily bestowing a little more on their servers, especially since the meals themselves often come at a pleasantly low cost. Food and alcoholic beverages are divided on the bill due to the difference in Provincial Sales Tax. Alcohol is taxed at a higher rate and is not served to anyone under 19 years of age. All Vancouver indoor public venues are 100% smoke free, including cafes, restaurants, pubs, bars, nightclubs and lounges.

DOWNTOWN CORE

The downtown core pulses with energy. It is the culturally diverse, bright and bustling yet laid-back Entertainment District of Vancouver. A vast assortment of restaurants are concentrated on, but in no way limited to, Granville Street and immediately parallel streets. Cafes, fast food outlets, restaurants serving cuisine from far-off lands, nightclubs and specialty eateries cater to all tastes and are often open late in support of the energetic nightlife.

	The Templeton 2

The Caprice Nightclub has become a mainstay on the downtown clubbing scene. Transformed from an old Granville Street movie theatre, this club offers a spacious main level dance floor and a large but cosy lounge upstairs on the mezzanine floor that serves a sophisticated international dinner menu. Further down Granville Street, Crush Champagne Lounge is another popular party venue showcasing Vancouver's hottest DJs and offering the most impressive champagne selection in the downtown core.

If the focus of the night is filling one's belly rather than sweating it out on the dance floor, there are options a-plenty. The Kingston Taphouse & Grille is located on Richards Street, a couple of streets east of Granville. This popular pub serves internationally-inspired dishes and a solid drinks menu in a warm, contemporary interior, or on the rooftop deck or Oasis Garden Patio.

Back on Granville Street, The Templeton is a must if in search of filling, flavourful meals. Step back into the 1950s and try their hearty diner fare with a healthy organic twist. The bargain prices, full, flavourful plates and huge cups of coffee make The Templeton an attractive and relaxing place to grab breakfast, lunch or dinner.

ROBSON STREET

Crossing the aforementioned streets in a northwest/southeast direction runs Robson Street. Three blocks along Robson, between Burrard and Jervis Streets, downtown's commercial heart beats passionately. People who truly love to shop swarm to the Robson Street area for cutting-edge fashion stores, international brands, gift stores and so much more. A lot of tourists hit Robson Street, straight from their hotel lobbies, and a lot of tourism amenities here cater to them.

Robson Street: A Sushi Fan's Delight3

This buzzing commercial hive is also home to many of Vancouver's preferred fine dining restaurants. Cloud Nine Revolving Restaurant is particularly popular with tourists and those splurging for a special occasion. Located on the 42nd floor of the Empire Landmark Hotel (one of Vancouver's tallest hotels), heavenly regional dishes are savoured alongside the incredible 360 degree views of the mountains, ocean and city below. A couple of blocks down the street, CinCin's Mediterranean-inspired, contemporary cuisine and warm, heritage elegance make it another of Vancouver's most celebrated restaurants, and meals are priced accordingly.

For cheaper food that is still fit for a king, try the Thai House. Its adventurous, exotic cuisine is served in four Vancouver locations, including Robson Street. Sushi fans will also be delighted with this area. Popular and common in the city, Japanese fare generally comes cheap and flourishes on Robson Street. A local favourite is Tsunami Sushi, complete with a floating sushi bar.

THE WEST END

The west side of the downtown spread is officially bound by Denman Street and Stanley Park to the north, Georgia Street to the east (including Robson Street), Burrard Street to the south, and English Bay to the west. This highly residential neighbourhood is both lively and calming with zesty main thoroughfares and quiet, leafy streets near the sparkling bay.

	Looking Toward the West End from English Bay4

Aside from Robson Street, most notable dining in the West End is closer to the waterfront on Davie Street and near Stanley Park along Denman Street. Dining experiences span the world in the West End. From Hungarian to Indian restaurants, international flavours abound here. For the less adventurous there are many casual dependables, such as Denny's and Milestones.

An acclaimed restaurant on Denman Street is the appropriately named Raincity Grill. Its award-winning regional cuisine is fairly priced and is prepared from fresh, local, organic ingredients. Another establishment offering taste perfection is Bin 941 Tapas Parlour on Davie Street. In true Tapas style the plates here are small, encouraging customers to sample the many flavours. Bin 941's impeccably presented gourmet dishes are wide-ranging and to die for. This incites a long line-up but is well worth the wait.

GASTOWN

Located on the east side of downtown, Gastown is named after its founder, “Gassy Jack” Deighton, a gold prospector, riverboat captain and saloon keeper who stepped ashore in 1867. Since then Gastown has had some trying times but has managed to cling to its historic charm and the quirkiness of its talkative “father”. Now a bustling and prosperous district, one will discover galleries, museums, commemorative monuments, heritage architecture, trendy fashion boutiques, shops selling all manner of souvenirs and trinkets, and a very diverse restaurant scene while strolling down its cobbled streets.

A Cobblestoned Street Corner, Gastown5

Relaxed shoppers enjoy the many cafes and delis during the day while creatures of the night flock to Gastown's bars, pubs and nightclubs for its effervescent atmosphere after dark.

A must for lunch or dinner is Gastown's revered Water Street Cafe. An upscale, yet casual ambiance is created by large windows overlooking the cobbled streets, a warm, cosy interior and a creatively sumptuous menu of Pacific Northwest and Italian cuisine. Another Gastown culinary icon is the Steamworks Brewing Company. Named after the steam line that runs through the establishment, Steamworks brews its beers on-site and offers a menu as diverse as its drinks list. The Salt Tasting Room on Blood Alley supports the Gastown penchant toward good conversation as a wine and cheese affair. Visitors to this funky tasting room have fun putting together a Tasting Plate from the wide selection of ever-changing cheeses, meats and condiments, paired with the perfect wine.

CHINATOWN

Immediately south of Gastown, Chinatown's exotic atmosphere, cultural attractions, delicious smells and lively vendors attract thousands of tourists and residents alike. As the second biggest Chinatown in North America, visitors arriving through its grand entrance, the ornate Millennium Gate, have the opportunity to visit the famous Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden and the Chinese Cultural Centre. Visitors in August also have the chance to experience the exciting Chinatown Festival, and those in town during February can enjoy the extravagant Chinese New Year Parade. Vancouver's Chinatown is charmingly cluttered with markets, restaurants, Chinese bakeries and various shops selling everything from traditional Chinese medicines to housewares and crafts.

	A Chinese Lantern in Chinatown6

Keefer and Pender Streets come alive during summer nights with buzzing street markets. East of Main Street, between Gore and Hastings Streets, the Fresh Market is always brimming with fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, Chinese herbs and various culinary fascinations.

Many of the more traditional Chinese restaurants, including lots of small Dim Sum eateries, and other exotic offerings from around the world are located along Pender, Keefer and Main Streets. Floata Seafood Restaurant on Keefer Street is the biggest Chinese restaurant in Canada. Its authentic dishes, including Dim Sum, varied dinner entrees, Peking Duck and banquet offerings, make it one of Chinatown's big attractions. On Pender Street West, Wild Rice offers a fun, trendy atmosphere and exciting, contemporary Chinese cuisine in the traditional sharing style. Visitors will be impressed with the tea list too.

Even getting to Chinatown is a cultural delight along the Silk Road pedestrian route from the Central Library right to the Millennium Gate. The walk between Gastown and Chinatown however, is not advised after dark.

YALETOWN

Located southwest of Chinatown, on the West End's eastern border, Yaletown is where the affluent like to play. This trendy, urban waterfront district has done a full turn-around since the 1980s, when it was nothing more than a run-down warehouse district. Now the fashion elite shop Yaletown's many high-end boutiques nestled among glassy high-rise office and apartment buildings and beautifully restored heritage architecture.

The Bright Night Lights of Yaletown7

Yaletown is also home to a fine collection of upscale cafes and restaurants, including many waterfront dining and drinking establishments popular with the suave late night crowd. Perched on the north bank of False Creek, Edgewater Casino is a full entertainment experience with over 2,787 sq. m (30,000 sq. ft) of gaming, live music and comedy, and contemporary dining in the Splash Bistro.

Capone's Restaurant & Live Jazz Club also offers a great night of entertainment and good food. Located in the heart of Yaletown on Hamilton Street, Capone's dishes up live local jazz and blues seven nights a week along with a mouth-watering menu of traditional Mediterranean cuisine. Half a block up the street, in a charming heritage warehouse conversion, Blue Water Cafe & Raw Bar serves the freshest legendary West Coast seafood, including masterful sushi and sashimi creations from the Raw Bar.

GRANVILLE ISLAND

This little island on the south shore is not on the main downtown peninsula, but is directly accessed from the downtown core via the Granville Street Bridge, and is one of Vancouver's biggest attractions. In addition to the Granville Street Bridge, Granville Island is also easily accessed by the Aquabus and False Creek Ferries from the downtown peninsula.

	The Gateway to Granville Island8

Few places located under a large highway are so attractive, but the radiant sparkle of Granville Island's colourful streets proclaims it a major destination. Granville Island is one of North America's most successful urban redevelopment projects. The 1970s saw the beginning of its transformation from a derelict industrial park to a buzzing, artsy district, with charming little remnants of its gritty, industrial past proudly shining through. Granville Island is now home to many of Vancouver's creative souls. Galleries, working studios and theatres all offer a buffet of fascinating sights.

Dining options here range from market-side tables and laid-back cafes to sophisticated waterfront restaurants complete with outdoor patios. One such waterfront venue is the Sandbar Seafood Restaurant. Offering harbour views from every seat, this architecturally artistic restaurant is one of Vancouver's busiest seafood eateries. Bridges Seafood Restaurant is another extremely popular waterfront dining option. With one of Vancouver's largest outdoor open seating decks, Bridges positively overflows with tourists and locals alike during the summer months.

Located next to Bridges Seafood Restaurant is the heart of Granville Island's culinary experience, the Public Market. Stall upon stall offers limitless shopping with an unbelievable selection of specialty foods, just-caught seafood, local garden produce, fresh baking and more. It is a true treat for all senses.

1. German Rodriguez Pazo; A Restaurant Day in Downtown Vancouver; Vancouver, BC, Canada
2. German Rodriguez Pazo; The Templeton; Vancouver, BC, Canada
3. Robson Street: A Sushi Fan's Delight; Vancouver, BC, Canada
4. Looking Toward the West End from English Bay; Vancouver, BC, Canada
5. German Rodriguez Pazo; A Cobblestoned Street Corner, Gastown; Vancouver, BC, Canada
6. A Chinese Lantern in Chinatown; Vancouver, BC, Canada
7. The Bright Night Lights of Yaletown; Vancouver, BC, Canada
8. Dana Kwak; The Gateway to Granville Island; Vancouver, BC, Canada