This Vancouver Food Guide will lead you through some of the best restaurants in Vancouver for the ultimate culinary experience!
If you’re a foodie looking for a rich culinary adventure, Vancouver, BC should be at the top of your list! One of my favorite things about living in Vancouver, BC is just how many good restaurants there are in the city! In this guide, I will walk you through my favorite places to eat in Vancouver for breakfast, lunch, and dinner – and tell you exactly what dishes got these restaurants on this list.
Whether you’re local or just visiting, Vancouver has something for every foodie. The city is home to a vibrant food scene bursting with flavors from around the world! Vancouver has a unique food culture with a farm-to-table ethos focused on fresh ingredients and diverse culinary influences throughout the city.
Without further ado, here is a round-up of my favorite spots to grab a bite in Vancouver – covering everything from brunch to Sushi to Pizza. I hope you’re hungry!
Best Breakfast & Brunch Spots in Vancouver
My favorite meals to go out and eat in Vancouver are breakfast and brunch. This city is crawling with bakeries and cafes and different little brunch spots that are so unique it’s hard to go wrong picking one. Making a list of favorites was difficult considering this, but I narrowed my list down to three of my favorite breakfast and brunch shops to stop at for a sweet or savory morning bite. Let’s dive into the best breakfast and brunch in Vancouver!
The Most Charming Brunch in Vancouver: Maxine’s Cafe & Bar
First up, we have Maxine’s. The first time I came to Vancouver, this spot stole my heart. It has an adorable dog-friendly patio loaded with different plants, making you feel like you’re on a French terrace. The inside is absolutely stunning, with a coffee bar in the very center and seating all the way around it, while cozy booths and tables line the walls. The ambiance at Maxine’s is a 10 out of 10, everything is beautiful – there are plants everywhere and the walls are adorned with framed photos that make you feel like you’re in an old, well-kept French mansion.
My perfect breakfast at Maxine’s starts with a vanilla latte with almond milk or a Mimosa with fresh squeezed orange juice. I also love to see what baked goods they have that morning because they usually have some sort of fresh, delicious croissant or muffin, which is the perfect way to start your meal.
Once I’m caffeinated, my go-to order is the West End, which comes with eggs, bacon or sausage, hash browns, and your choice of toast. While it seems like a very simple breakfast, if you order your eggs scrambled, they are likely going to be the best scrambled eggs you’ll ever have. The hash browns also deserve a highlight because they are to die for – golden, crispy, and delicious. I also love the West End because it comes with a little side salad, which is the perfect way to get your body ready for the meal you’re about to have. I love having greens before I move into having a full meal – it’s really good for balancing blood sugar, so I appreciate that they added this to the plate.
Now, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the eggs benedict that Maxine’s makes as well. They have a traditional eggs Benedict, and my personal favorite is the salmon eggs Benedict, which is absolutely delicious, fresh, and the perfect savory way to start your day.
Whether you live in Vancouver or you’re just visiting – Maxine’s is a must-stop spot for the foodies.
A Big Win for Breakfast: Small Victory
Moving on to our next spot, one of the most famous cafes in Vancouver that you will find the locals raving about is Small Victory. This coffee shop offers so much more than your daily caffeine fix – they have an out-of-this-world baked goods menu, including miniature croissants that are so good you can’t just have one (good thing they sell boxes of them!). I love to pop into the Small Victory location on Granville Street because they have an open bar so you can see what’s going on outside while enjoying your coffee or latte. Small Victory offers a variety of milk alternatives, so I love to get a vanilla latte with almond milk at this cafe.
Once I’ve ordered my coffee, one of my other favorite things to get at a Small Victory is the breakfast sandwich. It comes on a delicious and flakey croissant that is so good you might even contemplate a second. If you’re in the mood for lunch, they also have some savory lunch options. One of my favorites is their chicken soup, which they serve with a side of rustic bread – the soup is umami and perfect for a chilly day when you want a cozy meal.
The ambiance at a Small Victory is great, too; I love to come here with friends when we have some catching up to do, grab a coffee and breakfast sandwich, and enjoy the atmosphere and company!
The Best Donuts in Vancouver: Their There
The last morning bites spot on my list that I recommend all foodies visiting Vancouver hit up is Their There. I stumbled across this restaurant one morning when I was in Kitsilano in desperate need of a cup of coffee and they gave me so much more. If you’re in a hurry, you can walk in and order to-go, but I recommend dining in. They offer a variety of different drinks including seasonal drinks that incorporate interesting flavors that they somehow make work – like, really well. The last time I went I got their special Coconut Matcha Latte and I still think about it to this day.
I am also a sucker for mochi donuts, and Their There makes light and delicious mochi donuts in a ton of different flavors that are constantly changing. The best mochi donut that I’ve ever had was actually at this cafe – it was a cereal milk flavor which sounds crazy but it worked so well I almost went back and got a second one (I only refrained because I had brunch on the way!).
Donuts aside, Their There also serves a delicious brunch. I highly recommend the Tomato Breakfast Sandwich with a side of avocado. Their Eggs Benedict is also rich and flavorful and topped with Everything But the Bagel seasoning, which in my book, is a win.
Lastly, the ambiance is just cool. It’s a very light cafe that seems simple but has vibrant touches all over, including different artwork, plants, and even little gifts and trinkets that you can buy to remember your stellar experience.
Pizza & Burgers with a Side of Old-Timey Elegance: Per Se Social Corner
Let’s shift gears for a second from cozy cafes and breakfast spots to one of my favorite restaurants in Vancouver, Per Se Social Corner – a Michelin Recommended restaurant.
Food aside, this restaurant offers one of the best ambiances in the city – it’s elegant, swanky, and even a little old-timey. There is a beautiful patio outside the restaurant adorned with greenery, and when you walk in you’re greeted by a stunning bar to your right, pointing up to high ceilings and eccentric light fixtures. If you look to your left past additional booths and tables, there’s a giant pizza oven that remains in use throughout the day and night so you can watch the chefs make your food.
If the ambiance isn’t enough to lure you in, the food certainly is. Per Se offers a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts that will satisfy everyone in your group from the young to the wiser. You usually won’t catch me leaving the restaurant without having devoured a carbonara pizza – it’s my absolute favorite thing on the menu and comes with an egg right on top (a showstopper, in my opinion).
While I don’t eat red meat, I would be remiss not to mention the restaurant’s famous burger – it is probably the most famous dish on the menu, and many would say it’s the best burger in all of Vancouver.
If you’re in Vancouver and looking for a place to go that has everything from delicious food and drinks to an elevated and unbeatable atmosphere, you won’t regret going to Per Se Social Corner.
The Best Sushi in Vancouver: Minami
Before I lived in Vancouver, I lived in Las Vegas, Nevada – one of the best places to eat in the world. The strip alone has a huge variety of restaurants from all over the world, many of which are operated by some of the most esteemed culinary figures in the game, like Gordon Ramsay, Bobby Flay, and Giada De Laurentiis. Because of this, it’s no surprise that some of the best sushi that I’ve ever had has been on the Strip in Las Vegas. That said, I’ve never had anything quite as good as the Salmon Oshi at Minami in Yaletown. Not to be oh so dramatic, but this would be my death row meal, so let’s talk about Minami for a moment.
Set in the heart of Yaletown, Minami offers an elevated sushi experience for foodies – it has a moody ambiance that makes it the perfect place for a date night. The restaurant has an array of beautiful and unique ceramic dishes that all of the food is served on, giving the entire experience an artistic depth that I wish more restaurants would lean into.
I love to start a night at Minami with Miso Soup for myself and the Spicy Sesame Edamame and Brussels Sprout Chips to share. The starters come out in perfect portion sizes for splitting so that your initial hunger is satisfied, but you’ll surely still have room for a roll or two (or… maybe three!). After savoring each small bite, I always order the Salmon Oshi which is a pressed sushi with fresh Sockeye Salmon, jalapeno, and their Miku sauce.
One thing about me is – I always have room for dessert, and at Minami, that means the Petite Green Tea Opera, which is a cake-like dish made with matcha and chocolate. While my description may not do it much justice, just trust me on this one – it’s delicious.
If you’re hankering for sushi in Vancouver, Minami will not disappoint you!
Authentic Italian Food in Vancouver: Ask For Luigi
Let’s end our digital food guide on an unforgettable note, shall we? If you haven’t yet heard of Ask For Luigi on Instagram or TikTok, I’ll fill you in on a little secret – it’s the best spot for authentic Italian cuisine in Vancouver, BC.
The restaurant is located in an unassuming part of the city just East of Gastown, nestled in what looks like an older but well-kept house (Nonna-esque, if I do say so myself). There are less than twenty tables in the entire restaurant, giving it a quaint feel (and making it seemingly difficult to get into, if we’re being honest). It is best to make your reservation a few weeks in advance to ensure that you’ll be seated when you arrive.
Like most good things, the wait is worth it. Ask For Luigi offers a variety of authentic, handmade pasta dishes using fresh, seasonal ingredients. I fell in love with their Radicchio Salad, Tagliolini Carbonara topped with a poached egg, and Mushroom Trifolati. I have yet to have a dish at Ask For Luigi that isn’t made with the highest quality ingredients. I must also mention that their Aperol Spritz is my favorite in the city – while it seems simple, something about it is just better.
If you’re looking for a wholesome dining experience with authentic Italian cuisine, do your tummy a favor and venture over to Ask For Luigi.
With All That Said…
If you’re coming to Vancouver, spend some extra time exploring the food scene. Grab a coffee and croissant at Small Victory, hit up Maxine’s for brunch, and pop into Their There for a late-morning mochi donut. Take some time to enjoy a pizza and burger at Per Se Social Corner, a Salmon Oshi at Minami, or take a trip to Nonna’s house for some fresh handmade pasta at Ask For Luigi.
Vancouver offers a ton of different activities and is crawling with delicious sips and bites. The city’s food scene is as diverse as the beautiful melting pot of people who inhabit it, so if you’re looking to immerse yourself in a rich culture with beautiful surroundings and world-class food, you’ll want to come to spend some time up north and check out Vancouver, BC.
If you try any of the spots in this food guide, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below! For more food-related posts, including recipes with a healthy focus, follow me on social media at @dinneratallis.
Happy eating!