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Best Places To Eat, Stay And See In Vancouver
Vancouver beaches -English Bay and Sunset Beach
gettyVancouver is ranked as one of the best cities to live. It is known and loved for its alfresco active lifestyle, thanks to its stunning natural scenery that includes mountains, beaches and forests. Cycle, run or walk along the city's seafront, in vast Stanley Park or take a day trip to Whistler mountain. And, it's fast becoming a city recognised for its culinary delights. The Michelin Guide came to Canada for the first time in October 2022, with restaurants in Toronto and Vancouver being awarded Michelin stars. Eight Vancouver restaurants won a Michelin star. Eating and outdoor pursuits aside, the city has a world class public art gallery and the second biggest fashion week in North America (open to both industry and public).
Where to StayRosewood Hotel Georgia
Martin TesslerIdeally located at the heart of the city, Rosewood Hotel Georgia is right across from the Vancouver Art Gallery, shops and restaurants, with beautiful Stanley Park and the seafront nearby. This Georgian Revival landmark has attracted famous guests since it first opened in 1927, including Marlene Dietrich (and her 40 suitcases), Louis Armstrong, Sir Laurence Olivier, Katharine Hepburn, Elvis, Frank Sinatra, the Rolling Stones, Queen Elizabeth and King Charles as Prince of Wales.
Rosewood suite terrace, Rosewood Hotel Georgia
Don Riddle ImagesVancouver's most historic hotel was painstakingly and extensively redesigned around ten years ago by Studio Munge. The designers were careful to preserve key elements from the 1920s building, including terrazzo flooring, elevator cab detailing and the original clock and staircase in the Grand Hall. And, last year, many of the 156 suites and guest rooms were renovated. Guest accommodation features an appealing palette of light blues, ivory, and chocolate, complemented by sleek furnishings and spa-inspired bathrooms.
Lord Stanley Suite living room
RosewoodThe hotel's top suites, the Lord Stanley Suite and the Rosewood Suite, are sheer opulence, both featuring two bedrooms and a private rooftop terrace, offering stunning city skyline views, a plunge pool and a private garden. The Rosewood Suite can also connect to an adjacent room to create a three-bedroom accommodation.
As you'd expect from a five-star hotel, the Rosewood offers impeccable service, a great spa, a fitness centre, and an indoor swimming pool. The hotel also has one of the largest private collections of Canadian art available for public viewing, including Alan Wood's Garden series and six tongue–in–cheek pieces by Vancouver native, the author Douglas Coupland.
Rosewood hotel 927 Bar
RosewoodBreakfast is in the chic 1927 Bar and lounge and there's also a more casual cafe. Reflections, is an outdoor terrace for cocktails and snacks in warmer months. The on-site, fine-dining restaurant is Hawksworth, where Chef David Hawksworth and his skilled team transform the best organic ingredients and seafood available from suppliers local and from across Canada. Expect Pacific fish, including albacore tuna and oysters and haida gwaii sablefish on the menu.
Orchid Suite Living Room, Shangri-La, Vancouver
Corey Stovin, VRX StudiosAnother great five-star with an excellent location is the Shangri–La Hotel. Robson Street for luxury shopping is close by as is Stanley Park and the nightlife on Granville Street. The 119 spacious rooms and suites blend modern luxury with traditional Asian décor. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer downtown city views, while over half of the rooms have private balconies. The marble-clad bathrooms feature heated floors and a television embedded in the mirror.
Breakfast is served in the attractive Carlino restaurant. The all-day restaurant pays homage to British Columbia and the similarities it shares with northern Italy – the mountain ranges, forests, lakes and coastal waters. As well as classic Friulian dishes, the menu includes specialties from neighboring regions Trentino and Veneto.
Individual Suite at Shangri-La
Corey Stovin, VRX StudiosShangri-La hotels are renowned for their spas and the Vancouver property is no exception. Chi, the hotel's gorgeous Spa is a major draw for guests and outside visitors. Drawing inspiration from the legendary Shangri-La, a place of personal peace and well-being, the treatments are based on Asian natural healing methods. The spa uses local products made on Bowen Island by Sangre de Fruta Botanical, gorgeous organic products for the face, body and hair, created in small batches by Allison Audrey Weldon. The indulgent 90-Minute Massage includes a body scrub, a relaxing steam/shower, followed by a massage using Sangre de Fruta botanical body cream in a choice of delicious scents: Rose No. 1, Neroli Forever, or Jasmin de Nuit.
Where to EatSt Lawrence dining room
St LawrenceSt. Lawrence was an obvious choice for the Michelin star earned last fall. This modern Quebecois restaurant is petite and super popular so a reservation is essential (and be prepared to wait a month). Chef/Owner Jean-Christophe Poirier (formerly of the highly rated Toqué in Montreal) creates an often changing tasting menu ($125 plus taxes). Classic French cuisine meets the gastronomic identity and culture of Les Québécois.
Roasted Pacific Octopus at Published on Main, Vancouver
Published on MainAnother worthy Michelin-starred restaurant, this smart, buzzy restaurant has a firm focus on the sustainable, sourcing ingredients from local farms and producers. The menu at Published on Main features creative items like bee pollen milk buns, bison tartare and wild BC fiddleheads. Other tempting choices include roasted Pacific octopus, twice cooked pork belly and BC halibut.
Burdock & Co
Burdock & CoChef Andrea Carlson's love for British Columbia shines through in organic, seasonal plates that have thrilled diners since she opened her cosy restaurant in 2013. And Burdock and Co was the worthy recipient of a Michelin star last fall. The changing set menu ($95 per person) includes dishes like shrimp toast; nettle and ricotta ravioli; and dry aged pork loin in fermented spruce tree sauce.
Menu highlights, Fiorino, Vancouver
Fiorino, VancouverOpened last year in Chinatown, this Italian gem offers the best in street food, in a warehouse space with a retro vibe. Menu highlights at Fiorino include divine focaccia sandwiches and schiacciata, including one stuffed with guanciale, drizzled with honey and spread with walnut crema, excellent pasta dishes like spaghettoni ai frutti di mare and pappardelle with wild boar sauce.
Miku Restaurant, Vancouver
Miku RestaurantMiku Restaurant's signature Aburi-style sushi (lightly seared and infused with savory sauces), delicious meats (tenderized by Sumiyaki grilling) and desserts created by a Kyoto-trained pastry chef, Miku won't fail to please. Organic, local ingredients enhance Miku's innovative menu, which is carefully paired with fine wines and sake. Executive Chef Kazuhiro Hayashi takes advantage of regional ingredients as well as Ocean Wise seafood options to showcase the best of what Vancouver has to offer.
East is East, Vancouver
East is EastMustafa and Razaviah, siblings of Afghan descent, offer an eclectic menu at East is East that includes the flavors of India, Afghanistan and Persia. Menu highlights include Dhal soup with three different kinds of lentils, cauliflower, spinach, herbs and spices; and Boulani, a traditional Afghan whole wheat roti stuffed with potato, green onion and herbs. The decor features ornate carpets on the walls, ceiling mandalas and nature-inspired furnishings. Live music, often jazz, is a bonus.
Fish tacos at Local
Teegan Tsuchiya/ LocalLocal Public Eatery, Kitsilano is a well-loved hangout for locals featuring a vibe that is a combination of relaxed, California lifestyle and small beachtown. Dine on the large outdoor terrace with favorites like fish tacos, Thai curry or Ahi Tuna poke rice bowl.
What to See and DoGranville Island is Canada's second most-visited tourist attraction, behind Niagara Falls and essential for food-loving locals and tourists alike. Vancouver Foodie Tours at Granville Island offers a tour and taste of fresh, local, seasonal produce, alongside a slice of local life. It offers a range of delicious samples from independent farmers and food artisans from Vancouver and beyond, from duck confit and cheeses to locally-made charcuterie, melt-in-your-mouth donuts, to world-class coffee and chai. Michelle Ng, the ebullient founder, often leads the Granville Island tour. They also have tours in Gastown and one focusing on Asian food in Richmond which according to the New York Times, has the best Chinese food in all of North America.
Vancouver Art Gallery in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia Canada
gettyWestern Canada's largest public art museum,Vancouver Art Gallery has a permanent collection of more than 12,600 works. The historical and contemporary exhibitions, include artworks by Canadian, Indigenous and internationally acclaimed artists. Currently on (until 4 June 2023) is Hard-Edge showcasing a selection of abstract paintings from the 1960s and 70s. Drawn from the gallery's permanent collection, are works by artists including Jack Bush, Frank Stella and Joan Balzar, some of which are being exhibited for the first time since their acquisition.
Vancouver Fashion Week, a biannual event
Paul Allen/Andfotography2For fashion lovers visiting the city in April or October, Vancouver Fashion Week, unlike most other major fashion weeks, offers public access through ticketed shows. If you're seeking vintage finds, try Stepback, a lifestyle shop in Kitsilano with books, prints, antique toys, Canadian Pacific railway dishware and more.
The dome of the Bloedel Floral Conservatory, the city's indoor garden, in Queen Elizabeth Park, one ... [+] of Vancouver's beautiful tourist attractions.
gettyVancouver's parks and gardens are a joy, even on a damp day. Stroll through glorious Stanley Park and VanDusen Garden with 55 acres and over 7,500 plant species and visit Bloedel Conservatory, filled with 100 exotic birds and over 500 kinds of tropical plants inside the dome.
The Biggest Tourist Traps To Avoid In Major Canadian Cities
Jeff Whyte/Shutterstock© 2023 The Toronto Convention and Visitors Association
Every city has tourist traps — hotspots that target visitors with overpriced experiences or souvenirs.
Whether overrated tourist attractions or cash-grabbing establishments, many of these places may not be the best way to experience the authentic vibe of a destination.
With summer travel season approaching in just a few months, we've compiled a list of tourist traps we think you should pass on when visiting these major Canadian cities.
Vancouver – Gastown Steam ClockWalk through cobblestoned Gastown on a summer day, and you'll surely see a crowd of tourists waiting for this clock to blow steam at the top of the hour. We're unsure why it's so fascinating, but it consistently draws crowds.
Although the clock looks antique, it was designed by Ray Saunders and built in 1977, according to the City of Vancouver's website. It incorporates a steam engine and electric motors and plays the Westminster Quarters every 15 minutes. Still, we are less than impressed — we'd much rather spend our time in Gastown grabbing lunch on a patio.
– Megan Devlin, Daily Hive Vancouver
Read about more Vancouver tourist traps here.
Edmonton – West Edmonton MallYou won't run out of things to do in West Edmonton Mall, the behemoth of all malls. This shopping mall is North America's largest, attracting tens of millions of tourists annually. This place has everything from the incredible World Waterpark, where you can plunge into aquatic adventures, to Galaxyland, an out-of-this-world indoor theme park. And let's not forget the Fantasyland Hotel, which adds a bit of magic to your stay.
However, keep your wallet tight because this mall isn't cheap! You better be ready to part ways with your hard-earned cash, as nothing here comes for free. This mall is one cash-grabbing extravaganza; even the restaurants will make you cough up your last dime for some Bubba Gump Shrimp.
However, even though it is a tourist trap, the memories made here are priceless. Where else can you find a shooting range, a casino, a pirate ship, and a grocery store all under one roof? It's a world of excess, where everything is bigger, brighter, and shinier.
– Allison Stephen, Daily Hive Edmonton
Calgary – Cross Iron MillsCross Iron Mills may look appealing if you are coming to Calgary to take advantage of no sales tax. It is a gigantic mall with plenty of options. But it is conveniently located near absolutely nothing.
If you have any other plans the day you head out there, you'll need to leave yourself an extra hour for travel. Unless you are looking for something particular, many more malls in Calgary are close to other fun options in the city.
– Peter Klein, formerly with Daily Hive Calgary
Toronto – King WestTourists hoping to get lit in Toronto usually look no further than King West. To be fair, the bustling strip probably has the heaviest concentration of bars and nightclubs in the city — but it comes at a cost.
Making up a section of the Entertainment District, restaurants are pricy, and clubs are pricier. Expect to drop more than a workday's pay on a few drinks, and good luck getting a reservation.
On top of that, you'll most likely be dealing with a younger crowd of university students drinking their worries away.
The area is convenient if you want to go club-hopping, but you better have the budget.
– Isabelle Docto, Daily Hive Canada
Montreal – Place Jacques-CartierPlace Jacques-Cartier is one of the most historic squares in Old Montreal. It's beautiful, sure, but plenty of vendors post up there, offering BeaverTails for almost $20. Restaurants close to the square also overcharge for an underwhelming meal.
Take pictures here; don't buy anything.
– Former Daily Hive Montreal editor
The 38 Essential Vancouver Restaurants
Ringed by soaring mountains, with gleaming glass skyscrapers reflected in the still waters that surround its downtown core, Vancouver is easy to love. And as the thriving urban hub of British Columbia and a proudly immigrant city, there are plenty of people around to love it. Over 40 percent of Vancouver's residents were born outside of Canada, and the city is home to robust Chinese, Indian, and Filipino communities, to name a few.
The city's most beloved and vital dining experiences reflect this blend. Chefs from around the world apply culinary traditions to exceptional produce from the Lower Mainland and superb seafood from the cold, clean waters around Vancouver Island, creating a unique style of West Coast cuisine. Vancouver is especially spoiled for choice when it comes to Asian dining: pan-Asian flavors pair with French techniques at Pidgin and Remi Patisserie; Vietnamese and Cambodian culinary traditions joyfully collide at Phnom Penh; and neighboring Richmond boasts some of the very best Chinese food in the world outside of China. Meanwhile, the city's signature plant-forward, locavore cuisine thrives at restaurants like Burdock & Co, and sustainable seafood shines at Sashimiya. Add in mushrooming brewery and distillery scenes, globally awarded, fresh fruit-forward wines from the nearby Okanagan and Similkameen Valleys, and a creative cocktail culture that's second to none, and you'll see why Vancouver deserves its reputation as one of the world's best places to eat and drink.
Updated, February 2024:
Vancouver's culinary scene just swung into high gear for the first quarter of the year with the ever-popular Dine Out Festival, and it will only build with the upcoming Vancouver International Wine Festival, which this year focuses on Italy, including seminars, tastings, and winemaker dinners from 149 wineries around the world. Meanwhile, the rising cost of living and inflation have made their mark on the city's upper-crust dining; tasting menus and omakases at high end spots have moved from "affordable luxury" status to "only if someone else is paying" territory. Luckily, there are still excellent (and affordable) tasting menus to be found at places such as Pidgin and the Mackenzie Room, while places like the Hawksworth Bar and Bacaro offer a chance to enjoy Champagne eats at shandy prices.
Eater updates this list quarterly to make sure it reflects the ever-changing Vancouver dining scene.
Nikki Bayley is an award-winning freelance travel, food, and wine writer whose work has appeared in The Daily Telegraph, BC Living, and Whistler Traveller.
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