Vancouver Restaurant Guide

Rounding up my favourite spots to eat and drink in this Vancouver Restaurant Guide. As a seasoned foodie and health nut, I’m excited to share a mix of healthy restaurants in Vancouver and overall just the best food in Vancouver. Whether you live in Vancity or are thinking of travelling through, make sure to save this blog post for future reference – I’ll be updating it regularly!

Vancouver Restaurant Guide: The Best Cafes & Bakeries in Vancouver

My top 2 favourite cafes in Vancouver:

1. TurF
2. Birds & The Beets

TurF: my go-to cafe for delicious food and drinks. A great spot to meet up with friends or get some work done. I also love the workout classes here.

• Must try: the house made almond milk turmeric latte, Mushroom Ricotta Toast, daily Soup w/ Sweet Potato Toast, Kimchi Pancake, Salmon Burger, Chocolate Mushroom trip smoothie, the Hazelnut Brownie, the Birdie Bar

Birds & The Beets: this is my go-to when I’m in the Gastown/Railtown area as it’s definitely one of my favourite cafes in the city. The best spot for a solo work session, a cute lunch date or to grab something on-the-go. I love the simple, wholesome food made with locally-sourced ingredients.

• Must try: house made oat milk lattes, hibiscus tea, the Breakfast Sandwich, the Miso Barley Bowl, the Tofu Bahn Mi, sourdough sandwich loaves
• Note this spot turns into a natural wine bar in the Summer – 10/10 recommend

Small Victory: Deliciously made drinks and pastries.

• Must try: London Fog, Matcha, Latte, Almond Croissant

Kind Cafe: plant-based zero waste cafe, big space, delicious menu and they make everything from scratch

• Must try: Charcoal Tahini Latte with Coconut Oat Milk, Vegan Lox Bagel, the baked goods and the specials are usually delicious (like their Poke bowl or Chilli bowl)

Be Fresh: a great grab-and-go spot with healthy options, house-made nut milk, delicious matcha lattes and an assortment of locally baked goodies. Perfect before a walk at Kits beach!

• Must try: Matcha Latte with the house-made almond milk, “To Live For” lemon loaf

Flourist: authentic quality baked goods made using on-site milled Canadian flour

• Must try: the sourdough bread (and take-home starter if you want to try making your own), any baked good or pastry

The Garden Strathcona: a cute cafe with quality plant-based and organic goods with selection of carefully curated goods from local suppliers

• Must try: their famous Saviour chocolate chip cookie

Notable Mentions (health food)

• Buddha-Full: This fully plant-based cafe is perfect for a post-hike healthy comfort meal. One of my go-to spots since 2013! I like the wraps and smoothies.
• Eternal Abundance: Great for locally-sourced plant-based snacks, drinks and meals.
• Sweet Cheribum: South asian vegetarian cuisine. Great for a quick lunch. The samosas are amazing as are the sweet treats.
• The Green Moustache: super health focused, fully organic menu with lots of raw vegan options. I love the Kitchari and Collard Wraps.

Notable Mentions (coffee)

• Matchstick: beautiful interior and good vibes.
• Milano Coffee: I love their organic decaf coffee. They sometimes have house-made almond milk.
• Cafe Artigiano: this spot has multiple locations and has all organic coffee and baked goods! My favourite location is at Lonsdale Quay.
• Nemesis Coffee: great interior, total Australian coffee shop vibes. Also really good coffee and baked goods.
• Revolver: the best in the biz! Great for coffee lovers.
• Forecast: I love their decaf coffee, cutest location too.

Vancouver Restaurant Guide: The Best Healthy Restaurants in Vancouver

My top 5 favourite restaurants in Vancouver:

1. Osteria Savio Volpe
2. The Acorn
3. Sing Sing
4. Tacofino Gastown
5. Nuba

Sing Sing (Main Street): long communal tables, great atmosphere for a group or a fun date, incredible Vietnamese food , appetizers (try the vegetarian dumplings!) and thin-crust pizza.

• Must try: The Grilled Avocado & Tofu Bowl, Vegetarian Dumplings

Tacofino (Gastown or Mt. Pleasant location): for amazing Mexican food, drinks and takeout burritos

• Must try: any tacos, Churros, takeaway Fish burrito with extra guac, Diablo cookie

Do Chay (Yaletown location): for cute interior, a cozy atmosphere, great drinks and flavourful vegetarian Vietnamese food

• Must try: Monsoon Roll, Uncle Hing’s Wings

Mila (Chinatown): a fun and swanky plant-based dining experience

• Must try: the Karaage Bao Buns, Lox Oshi, Fish Tacos, Peanut Butter Cup Pie (menu rotates seasonally)

Ahn and Chi (Main Street): authentic Vietnamese food for all diets

• Must try: Bún Chay – Om Bowl

Maenam (Kitsilano): authentic quality Thai food

• Must try: menu changes seasonally, everything is amazing!

Nuba (multiple locations, I like the Gastown one best): delicious Lebanese food

• Must try: le Feast, lentil soup

Shizenya Sushi (multiple locations): fresh, organic sushi at an affordable price

• Must try: everything is delicious but I love the wild salmon rolls, mango rolls and pumpkin pudding for dessert

Pizzeria Grano (Main Street) plant-based pizzeria

• Must try: the Tiramisu!! Pepperoni Margherita

Virtuous Pie: a classic OG plant-based spot in Vancouver. Great vibes, communal seating.

• Must try: Garlic Knots, Kale Caesar Salad, Ice Cream Sandwich, Pizzas: Ultraviolet, Stranger Wings, Superfunghi w/ the Garlic Ranch dipping sauce

Jam Jar (multiple locations): Lebanese food with the best falafel in town

• Must try: the falafel!

Bonjour Vietnam (Fraser) fun interior and fresh vibe, very different from your traditional Vancouver restaurant

• Must try: papaya salad, chicken wings, the Pho

Sushi: Tom Sushi

• Must try: wild salmon oshi

Vancouver Restaurant Guide: The Best Brunch Spots in Vancouver

Heirloom (South Granville): a great vegetarian brunch spot with cute decor and quality organic food

• Must try: the Benny, Vegan Buttermilk Pancakes, Kale Caesar, Carrot Lox on Toast

Kokomo (multiple locations): perfect for quick, easy and healthy take-away food

• Must try: Coastal Macro Bowl, Hemp Caesar Salad, Hot Chocolate with Coconut Whip

Jam Cafe (multiple locations): for a classic “soul food” brunch with some vegan options (ask the server). Line ups can take hours and they don’t take resos so make sure to grab a coffee before you consider brunching here!

• Must try: the Red Velvet Pancake, The Vegan Bowl

Vancouver Restaurant Guide: The Best High-End Restaurants in Vancouver

You can’t go wrong with these restaurants – romantic atmosphere, high-quality food and drinks. These are my favourites:

The Acorn: think chef’s table vibes but all vegetarian. Using locally foraged plants and creatively paired dishes, you’ll want to check out this spot while you’re visiting Vancouver, but make sure to make a reso! Spots fill up quickly.

• Must try: in-season tasting menu

Restaurants similar to The Acorn (farm to table, organic food, vegetarian food)…

1. Folke
2. The Farmers Apprentice

Italian: Osteria Savio Volpe, Robba Da Matti (West End location), Nook (Kitsilano location)

• Must try at Osteria Savio Volpe: Focaccia, Kale Salad, Nettle Pesto Spaghetti, Sorbetto (anything and everything, this menu is incredible)
• Must try at Robba Da Matti: Insalata Celeste, Vegan Mushroom Risotto, Gnocchi Alla Portofino, Spaghetti Allo Scoglio
• Must try at Nook: the specials!

Japanese: MIKU, Kingyo Izakaya

• Must try at miku: the Oshi sampler
• Must try at Kingyo Izakaya: the sushi rolls, the strawberry lemonade

Seafood: Joe Fortes (for happy hour), Carderos (Downtown) and Sandbar (Granville Island)

• Must try: oysters, any fresh seafood

Indian/Afghan Middle Eastern Fusion: East is East

• Must try: Creamy Mushroom Eggplant, the Soups, Afghan Eggplant, Roti Rolls, Rice bowl with Afghan Rice, Vegan Spinach, Mango Butternut Squash and Alu Gobi.

Persian: Delara

• Must try: the menu rotates seasonally, so order what the server recommends.

The Best “Hole in the Wall” Spots to Eat in Vancouver

Nine Dumplings (West End) : the not-so-secret” dumpling spot for takeout. Best dumplings in Vancouver, hands down.

• Must try: steamed purple vegeterian dumplings, Vegan Qian Long Emperor cabbage salad

New Town Bakery & Restaurant (Chinatown): the best steamed buns in Vancouver!

• Must try: red bean paste steamed bun, vegetable steamed bun

Ramen Danbo (Multiple locations): definitely not a “hole in the wall” as this spot can be found worldwide, but hey have the best vegan ramen, hands down, and it’s super affordable. Great for a lazy rainy day.

• Must try: the Vegan Miso Ramen

The Best Dessert Spots in Vancouver

Earnest Ice Cream: A good go-to spot for post-dinner ice cream with multiple locations across Vancouver.

• Must try: seasonal special favours

Rain or Shine Ice Cream: Delicious homemade ice cream located in the heart of Kitsilano, perfect for a post-dinner treat.

Thierry: High-quality French desserts. Unfortunately no dairy free options but they do serve oat milk Pistachio Hot Chocolate which I highly recommend.

Honourable Mentions

These are cafes & restaurants that I haven’t tried yet but that I’ve heard amazing things about!

L’Abattoir

Nightingale

AnnaLena

Zarak Kitchen

Thank You Pizza

Blnd Tiger Dumplings

Lunch Lady

Burdock & Co