This has been a favorite hangout for Vancouver’s business crowd ever since it opened in 1985, and it still has a bit of an ’80s feel to it—brass lamps, dark green furnishings, an ornate oak bar where guys in suits like to gather. It’s always busy on the main floor, and there’s excellent people-watching from the tables up on the mezzanine, but the best spots are out on the fantastic rooftop patio. Joe Fortes is named for Vancouver’s first lifeguard, a big guy with an outsized personality, which is fitting for this fun, vibrant spot. (He was immortalized on a Canadian stamp in 2013.) It’s considered Vancouver’s best oyster bar, and the chilled seafood tower is a masterpiece of lobster, crab, oysters, clams, and more. Food is usually simply prepared and pretty traditional. The real star here, though, is the service, led by everyone’s favorite maître d’, the charming Frenchy, who can organize anything from calling a cab to picking up an engagement ring.
Vancouver
Travel Guide
Vancouver› Restaurant
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
777 Thurlow St
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Downtown & Yaletown
Hours
Daily 11am–11pm
Phone
604/669-1940
Prices
Main courses C$18–C$65, C$38 fixed-price 3-course dinner (Sun–Thurs 4–6pm)
Cuisine Type
Seafood
Web site
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
Other
Reservations recommended
Map
777 Thurlow St VancouverNote: 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.