15 Great Restaurants in Downtown Vancouver – Part 1
Are you a foodie? Do you like great restaurants with a variety of options on their menu? Are you willing to try something totally different and perhaps even new? By the way, if you need somewhere to stay while you’re checking out all of these great restaurants, book with us directly to receive all the best rates
One of the stars of “Top Chef Canada,” Chef Felix Zhou runs the counter service establishment Heritage Asian Eatery. His restaurant serves classic comfort food with an Asian flair, such as pork belly bao, five-spice chicken wings, XLB dumplings, and duck rice bowls. Head to Heritage for a Far East cuisine and locally sourced ingredients in a casual setting. It’s also in close proximity to the iconic Canada Place.
2) Medina Café
Brunchers beware, there might be a line-up here any day of the week, and once you go inside the warm and welcoming Cafe Medina, you’ll never want to leave! Mixing Mediterranean-inspired dishes with the best waffles in the city, the eclectic brunch menu is one to revisit again and again. Try the tagine or make your way through the waffles with special sauces such as white chocolate pistachio rosewater. Open for brunch only (8 am to 3 pm on weekdays and 9 am to 3 pm on weekends).
3) Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
Are you looking for a romantic date night spot? Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar’s stylish vintage style dining room is inspired by European bistros and features a seated oyster bar, champagne bar, and outdoor patio. Come here for a special occasion and celebrate with succulent seafood (Executive Chef Alex Chen’s specialty) or head over for Happy Hour (3-6pm) for a bargain taste of Boulevard’s menu. Weekend brunch is a popular option for Vancouverites and hotel guests (the restaurant is inside the Sutton Place Hotel at 845 Burrard Street).
4) Gallery Café
It might seem like a tourist trap to avoid but Vancouver Art Gallery’s Gallery Cafe is a hidden gem in the heart of downtown’s Robson Plaza that has been going strong since 1994. Choose from a wide range of freshly made quiches, salads, sandwiches, soups, and pies and other treats, as well as a selection of wine and beer if you want to have a drink with your lunch. It closes at 6 pm, but if you’re there on a summer’s day, grab some food and a bottle of bargain bubbly, and soak up the sun on the gallery steps. The outdoor patio is a real delight and a great place for people watching.
Located on the gritty end of Granville Street, the Twisted Fork Bistro is easy to overlook when strolling between bars, but you’ll see a line-up here for brunch that will give it away. Inspired by French bistros, the bijou space has wooden accents and booths that give it a romantic vibe. The menu is brunch only from 8 am to 3 pm (but well worth your while) and includes French classics such as “croque monsieur” and West Coast favorites like eggs benny with smoked salmon.
You hungry yet? Have we tantalized your taste buds? Needless to say, this is only part one of many (but not limited to) great restaurants in our city. Stay tuned for the remaining 6 – 15 great restaurants! We hope to see you soon!
