Vancouver is a food lover's fantasy. Access to superb-quality local produce, fish, and wine, combined with the flavours of the Pacific Rim, give Vancouver restaurants a distinct edge when it comes to delivering the best of locally sourced, seasonal gourmet delights. Here are some of our favourite foodie stops in Vancouver, covering the entire dinner experience from aperitif to dessert.
Cocktail anyone?
Start your evening with a visit to Yaletown's UVA Winebar for an excellent Negroni to stimulate your appetite. Or try an aperitivo of seasonal, organic fruit topped with Prosecco (inspired by the famous Harry's Bar in Venice) for perfect pre-dinner sophistication.
Flavoursome Fish
Just a short walk from UVA is the delectable raw bar of Blue Water Cafe, where
raw bar chef Yoshihiro Tabo weaves his magic. Using wild, sustainable seafood he delivers pure flavours and unique presentations with a genuine Japanese culinary aesthetic. Depending on what's available, you could get anything from spot prawn to geoduck to albacore tuna tartare.
Perfect Peking
With its Pacific Rim influences, Vancouver delivers some of the finest Asian dishes you'll get outside China. Red Star, on the southernmost end of Granville Street serves the most unforgettable Peking Duck you will ever eat. Traditional and contemporary Chinese influences are combined to create a uniquely modern dining experience in an elegant setting.
Go West for Pork Belly
West's exceptional contemporary regional cuisine and flawless service are legendary. Pristine seasonal ingredients are sourced to create modern interpretations of classics. Pork belly features on the menu of many a trendy eatery nowadays, but few restaurants offer such a delightful rendition of locally sourced product as West Restaurant. Chef Warren Geraghy relies on a delicious pork belly from his supply from Vancouver Island's own Sloping Hill Farm. Try the seared scallops and pork belly with pear-ginger purée.
Where's the Beef?
If you think there's something missing from a plate that does not feature red meat, head to Hy's Steak Encore. As one of Canada's most celebrated steak houses, it serves only aged AAA Alberta beef. The richly opulent setting simply adds to the air of a special night out.
Cheese Course
Time to wind things down now with cheese course. Salt Tasting Room in Gastown's historic Blood Alley is a great place for cheese and charcuterie. Try the Best of BC plate: a daily menu of meats, cheeses, and other treats sourced from some of the province's best producers.
Sweetness and Light
Yaletown's Ganache Patisserie is quite frankly the best place for cake in Vancouver. Their Chocolate Velouté is simply without equal. The one drawback of this authentic artisan patisserie is that it does not stay open late, so if it's closed by the time you're ready for dessert, head to DB Bistro Moderne for a Lime Floating Island or indulge in the Chocoholic Buffet at Fleuri Restaurant.
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