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Best Dining Bets
C (1600 Howe St.; tel. 604/681-1164): The creativity of the chef, the quality of the ingredients, and the freshness of the seafood all combine to make this contemporary restaurant overlooking False Creek the best place in Vancouver for innovative seafood.
Cin Cin (1154 Robson St.; tel. 604/688-7338): For maximum buzz, dine at this Robson Street star on a Friday or Saturday night. It's a lively people-watching spot where the Italian menu is divided into Old World and New, and tutto tastes terrific.
Coast (1257 Hamilton St.; tel. 604/685-5010): "Catch it, cook it, eat it" is the motto of this superlative Yaletown restaurant. Fresh fish from around the world is cooked to elegant perfection in a beautiful space created with light wood and a dramatic center-island chef's kitchen.
Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House (777 Thurlow St.; tel. 604/669-1940): In the heart of the Robson shopping area, Joe Fortes has the best oyster bar in town and prepares its fresh fish the old-fashioned way, without a lot of culinary intervention.
Lumière (2551 W. Broadway; tel. 604/739-8185): Lumière has often won the top spot in the yearly Vancouver restaurant awards. It's expensive but worth it to be pampered by chef Rob Feenie, the darling of the Vancouver food world and an increasingly hot commodity in New York.
Raincity Grill (1193 Denman St.; tel. 604/685-7337): Vancouver is loco for local fish, meat, produce, and wine. Raincity was one of the first and continues to be one of the best purveyors of fresh, locally sourced ingredients all assembled into dishes that show off the region's bounty, season by season.
Tojo's Restaurant (1133 W. Broadway; tel. 604/872-8050): The most sublime sushi in B.C., maybe in all of Canada. Just remember to take out an extra mortgage and practice your so-what-you're-a-movie-star-I-don't-care look.
West (2881 Granville St.; tel. 604/738-8938): For dazzling fine dining that utilizes the freshest local seasonal ingredients, you can't go wrong with this stellar restaurant in Kitsilano. It's the culinary highlight of the entire region.
Best Spot for a Romantic Dinner: Raincity Grill, 1193 Denman St. (tel. 604/685-7337), with its low ceiling, crisp linens, windows overlooking English Bay, and fabulous food, is a place that makes you want to linger.
Best Pacific Northwest Cuisine: West, 2881 Granville St. (tel. 604/738-8938), is the best -- for an all-round, upscale, Pacific Northwest dining experience. But don't just take my word for it. This storied West Side eatery has won Vancouver magazine's "Best Restaurant" award for 3 years running.
Best Spot for a Celebration: Cin Cin, 1154 Robson St. (tel. 604/688-7338), serves superlative Italian cuisine in one of the city's loveliest and most comfortable dining rooms; the covered, heated patio is wonderful, too.
Best View: For a combination of top-notch food and a killer view of mountains, Burrard Inlet, and Stanley Park, try Lift, 333 Menchions Mews (tel. 604/689-5438).
Best for Kids: Romano's Macaroni Grill, 1523 Davie St. (tel. 604/689-4334), has a popular kids' menu, highchairs, and a great old mansion to explore -- kids love it.
Best Chinese Cuisine: The best Vancouver Chinese remains Sun Sui Wah, 3888 Main St. (tel. 604/872-8822). It's definitely worth the trip.
Best French Cuisine: For several years, Lumière, 2551 W. Broadway (tel. 604/739-8185), has won the top spot in the yearly Vancouver restaurant awards.
Best Tapas: Bin 941 Tapas Parlour, 941 Davie St. (tel. 604/683-1246), was serving tapas before the trend hit, and this tiny hangout still does it best.
Best Newcomer: It's a tossup between Jules, 216 Abbott St. (tel. 604/669-0033), a casual French bistro, and Salt, Blood Alley (tel. 604/633-1912), a casual charcuterie. Both are in Gastown, both are inexpensive, both are worth trying.
Best Italian: At the wonderful Cin Cin, 1154 Robson St. (tel. 604/688-7338), the menu emphasizes seasonal delights cooked in a wood-fired oven, and everything tastes divine.
Best Japanese: If you're looking for the best sushi and sashimi in Vancouver, Tojo's Restaurant, 1133 W. Broadway (tel. 604/872-8050) is the place to go. It's expensive, but you'll be treated to the freshest fish and most exquisitely prepared seafood delicacies in B.C.
Best Late-Night Dining: A scene-stealer with its opulent Silk Road decor and cuisine, Sanafir, 1026 Granville St. (tel. 604/678-1049), is a great place to drink and dine into the wee hours.
Best Outdoor Dining: For unsurpassed ocean views, reserve a table under the trees at Sequoia Grill at the Teahouse in Stanley Park, Ferguson Point (close to Third Beach; tel. 604/669-3281). This patio also doubles as the best place to watch the sunset.
Best Oysters: Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House, 777 Thurlow St. (tel. 604/669-1940), has become a Vancouver institution, and if you order one of the seafood towers, you'll see why. Or try a few freshly shucked oysters before your grilled salmon or halibut, and you'll go away happy.
Best Vegetarian: Annapurna, 1812 W. 4th Ave. (tel. 604/736-5959), has flavorful food, a cozy little room, and the most reasonable wines in town. Who says you have to sacrifice when you're a veggie eater?
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
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