17 Best Restaurants in Vancouver, British Columbia

Locally run 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters sources and roasts their own coffees, which they feature at their flagship café on Main Street. It's always packed with neighborhood residents and shoppers enjoying the top-notch brews and the house-made Lucky's Doughnuts, which come in flavors from simple vanilla-glazed to salted caramel to decadent triple chocolate. Centered on a wood-framed counter, this large airy space has walls of windows on two sides. Its three other locations help keep the rest of the city caffeinated.

Granville Island has several coffee places, but only the Blue Parrot provides sweeping views of False Creek. If you haven't eaten your fill elsewhere in the market, accompany your espresso with a sticky hot strudel or gooey cinnamon bun. Early birds, take note: you can perch at the Parrot starting at 7 am, before the rest of the market stalls open. There's a second location at Hillcrest Centre, near Queen Elizabeth Park.

Stop for an espresso on the airy enclosed patio at the West 4th location of this local coffee roaster, where delicious doughnuts are made on-site. 

This is where the culinary students of the adjoining Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts strut their stuff.  Standards are high and the artisanal breads, soups, wraps, and gourmet desserts are outstanding.

This Vancouver institution is about 1 kilometer (½ mile) east of the main Commercial strip but is well worth the trek. Their famous breakfast—served with two eggs, toast, hash browns and meat—is just C$3. (And the price hasn't changed in years.) This place really showcases the East Side's gritty character: from the graffiti-covered walls to the no-frills, serve-yourself coffee bar. Weekend lines are long; get there as early as you can.

Some of Vancouver's best coffee is served at the several locations of Caffè Artigiano, where the baristas have won prizes for their latte art. Come for the java, and satisfy your hunger with a pastry or sandwich, too. In addition to locations further afield, other Downtown locales are at 763 Hornby St., 666 Burrard St., and 429 Howe St.

A favorite with locals for their hearty pub fare and craft beers, it is also one of South Granville's best places for brunch or a late-night snack.

There might be other places in the world that sell Japanese-style hot dogs but the phenomenon is so very multiculti Vancouver, and this tiny storefront is the sit-down-at-cramped-counter spin-off of a wildly successful food cart with a loyal following. Bratwurst and wieners are topped with teriyaki sauce, nori, and other Asian condiments. You can still find the carts (usually) at two Burrard Street locations—one at the corner of West Pender Street between Robson Street and Smithe Street, and another near Waterfront Station on West Cordova Street at Granville. Keep an eye out for the JAPADOG food truck, which may be found in Kitsilano, South Granville, or the Olympic Village.

Because Vancouverites don't live by coffee alone—they're also tea drinkers—look for this tiny Yaletown tea bar that serves 60 of its own blends, including rich, milky "Lat-Teas." If you're feeling under-the-weather, order the "Cold Blaster," a rejuvenating blend of tea, orange juice, honey, ginger, and cayenne pepper.

One of the city's first bubble tea stalls makes for a refreshing break at the busy Richmond Public Market. 

This Whistler-based bakery offers its yummy handmade goodies and freshly baked bread at three locations in town, including this bright storefront café in Kits.

There are always lines out the door at this popular local family-run ice-cream parlor, one of three in the city (the others are on West 4th Avenue in Kits and at UBC—there is also a food truck at English Bay). The dairy products used to create the company's signature Philadelphia-style ice cream, using only 100 percent dairy and no eggs, are locally sourced from a farm in Abbotsford. Perfect for a pitstop—rain or shine.

This casual eatery serves Mexican favorites like tacos, burritos, tortas, quesadillas, and more—all for less than C$12. Whatever you order, make sure to try one (or several) of their flavor-packed hot sauces. A great spot for a casual lunch or dinner, and if it's nice out, bring your eats to the nearby Robson Park for a picnic. The Kingsway location is full of Mexican artwork. There are three other locales across the city.

Inspired by the street foods of Rome, this cafeteria-style Italian bakery-café (pronounced "shoe-eh") starts the day serving espresso and pastries, then moves to panini, soups, and pastas. One specialty is the pane romano, essentially a thick-crust pizza, sold by weight. There can be lines out the door at lunch, so try to visit early or late. (Not too late, though, as it's only open until 5 pm.) There are additional Downtown branches with varying hours. If you're in Yaletown, look for the location at 126 Davie St.; it's open every day.

It would be easy to miss this tiny luncheonette and grocer nestled off Main Street on a residential street, but locals know this is a place to go for pastries, sandwiches, coffee, and specialty groceries perfect for a picnic. Their cakes and cupcakes are particularly divine. There's a small area for seating, but if it's a busy afternoon, take your snacks to go, and head to a local park for a picnic.