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Celebrate your special occasions at these top 13 Vancouver restaurants

A photo of Red logo
by Johanna Read
Updated September 29, 2022

Vancouver’s breathtaking surroundings make it all the more exciting to go out for a celebratory meal. But beyond epic waterfront views, Vancouver’s thriving dining scene holds something for all kinds of celebrations. Whether it’s a top-notch Chinese meal in luxe interiors, eating flaky Moroccan pastries under a lantern-lit ceiling, or sharing a towering seafood platter in a city famous for its fresh catch, Vancouver offers plenty of options for a celebratory meal out.

Read on for 13 Vancouver restaurants to book when you’re looking to ring in something special.

A photo of Botanist restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2780)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Farm-to-table
Coal Harbour
About the restaurant

The bounty of the Pacific Northwest is on display at Botanist, the swanky restaurant inside the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel. Executive chef Hector Laguna serves up dishes such as black pepper-crusted salmon with caramelized eggplant, roasted maitake mushrooms with sunchokes, and seared scallops with duck prosciutto. Or let Laguna decide by selecting his $145 per person tasting menu with an optional $70 wine pairing. The restaurant features four distinct spaces, including a champagne lounge and an indoor garden, making it an apt destination for a celebration.


Top review
Niklaas
Dined 4 days ago
The weekend brunch at Botanist is outstanding! It was not my first time, however it was a first for my friend. There is a lot of freedom in the two or three course options and although I skipped the infamous mushroom toast this time, it is a stand out for those that like mushrooms. My friend was so impressed with the portion and offerings with the burrata salad. She thoroughly enjoyed every bite. We both opted for the lobster Benedict, however I will note that on previous visits, the croque madame and lamb belly poutine were also delicious. I opted in for a sweet finish for my second course and tried the croissant bread pudding. This is absolutely the most perfect brunch dessert, and the squash ice cream is absolute heaven. I must add the value with two beverages included is so fantastic. Finally our wonderful server Jess took such great care of us and was a delight. I am so enamoured with brunch, but I am making a point to return for dinner at some point.
A photo of Farmer's Apprentice restaurant
4.7
4.7 (442)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Farm-to-table
Kitsilano
About the restaurant

As its name suggests, the menu at Farmer’s Apprentice changes constantly based on what’s harvested at the nearby farms it works with. Some recent highlights on the family-style menu include a hazelnut miso eggplant with charred scallions, heirloom tomatoes with crispy shrimp, and yellowtail fish in a saffron sauce. The open kitchen offers views of the chefs dehydrating, smoking, and fermenting all kinds of ingredients, making for an action-packed evening at the restaurant.


Top review
Lis
Dined on Jan 30, 2025
Fantastic flavours, unique Service was exceptional, knowledge of the ingredients in each dish and the flavours to expect was amazing as well as incredible knowledge of the wine amd suggested pairings. Highly recommend this restaurant!
A photo of Mott 32 - Vancouver restaurant
4.7
4.7 (720)
CAN$51 and over
Chinese
Coal Harbour
About the restaurant

Downtown’s Mott 32, which reopened in January, is the only Canadian outpost of the famed international restaurant with locations in Hong Kong, Dubai, and Las Vegas. Chef Lee Man Sing’s menu has Cantonese and Sichuan influences with highlights including the Peking duck, which requires a 48-hour preparation; barbecued Iberico pork; and dim sum such as a soft-boiled quail egg inside a pork siu mai. Designer Joyce Wang imagined Mott 32’s luxe interiors featuring leather banquets and gold accents on the wallpaper.


Top review
jodiVIP
Dined 5 days ago
Always wonderful, love love love Mott 32! Food and service NEVER disappoints!
A photo of Gotham Steakhouse and Bar restaurant
4.9
4.9 (3678)
CAN$51 and over
Steakhouse
Downtown
About the restaurant

For top-notch steakhouse fare paired with live music and a sophisticated Art Deco interior, look no further than Gotham. One of the highlights of the menu is a seafood tower featuring lobster tail, oysters, and scallop ceviche, among a host of other seafood selections. Musicians play in the lounge Wednesday through Saturday evenings for diners looking for a more lively night out.


Top review
George
Dined 1 day ago
Excellent service and ambiance. Requested a booth where we could sit together and they were able to accommodate.
A photo of Honey Salt - Parq Vancouver restaurant
4.4
4.4 (2024)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Canadian
Stadium District
About the restaurant

Husband-and-wife team Kim Canteenwalla and Elizabeth Blau work with local farmers and fishermen to bring diners the freshest ingredients at Honey Salt in Parq Vancouver. Menu highlights include a mushroom pappardelle with a basil walnut pesto, truffle macaroni and cheese, and mussels cooked in a coconut curry broth. Finish off the meal with one of the decadent desserts such as the chocolate cake served tableside with caramelized bananas, a milk chocolate mousse, and a dark chocolate glaze.


Top review
Angela
Dined 5 days ago
We visited Honey Salt after an event next door at BC Place. Despite being a busy place, the service was efficient and friendly. The staff made sure everyone was taken care of and presented a kid's menu for our younger guests. We ordered an assortment of unique appetizers to share, and the food was prepared perfectly. I recommend the Tofino Fry for a delicious seafood appetizer!
A photo of Osteria Savio Volpe restaurant
4.9
4.9 (4199)
CAN$51 and over
Italian
Mount Pleasant
About the restaurant

Food cooked over a wood-fired grill is the focus at sleek Italian restaurant Osteria Savio Volpe. Choose between veal chop with pine nut polenta or the half chicken with charred lemons. Or opt for one of the restaurant’s handmade pastas including pappardelle and pork ragu with Calabrian chiles. The negroni is one of the highlights on the cocktail menu here, though there are plenty of options to choose from including Italian sodas, British Columbia beers, and a variety of spritzes. Don’t leave without ordering one of the desserts, such as the chocolate olive oil tart with pine nuts, and pair it with the restaurant’s top-notch coffee.


Top review
Arvin
Dined 1 day ago
We were 15 minutes early to our reservation but the host greeted us and sat us right away without hesitation. Shonin was our server. He did a great job explaining the features and sold us on the burrata with hot honey and crackers. Must try! Did the La Familia tasting menu and the servings were very generous. We didn’t know which wine to select to have for dinner and the sommelier came by and gave us 3 recommendations - he was very knowledgeable about each wine he selected. Loved all the options the chef made for our dinner. Kudos to Shonin and the team!
A photo of LIFT Bar Grill View restaurant
4.7
4.7 (2645)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Regional American (Northwest)
Coal Harbour
About the restaurant

LIFT’s waterfront views of Stanley Park and the North Shore are its biggest draw, but its seafood-focussed menu is just as compelling with halibut cooked in a sage-infused brown butter sauce, scallop and prawn linguine, and crispy squid with Sichuan peppers. Going here for weekend brunch is a solid bet, too, with four kinds of eggs Benedict, among other savoury options.


Top review
Bart
Dined 6 days ago
Beautiful views. Good food, very reasonable priced.
A photo of Miku Restaurant - Vancouver restaurant
4.8
4.8 (6614)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Japanese
Coal Harbour
About the restaurant

Miku chef Seigo Nakamura is best known as the man who introduced Vancouver (and Canada) to the joys of flamed-seared aburi sushi, back in 2008 with the debut of his waterfront restaurant. Aside from the famed sushi, diners can opt for a multi-course kaiseki menu or choose from à la carte options such as lobster risotto. Show-stopping desserts including green tea opera cake are a must to end the meal. When weather permits, grab a seat on the patio, which overlooks the five sails of Canada Place.


Top review
Eva
Dined 2 days ago
The entire experience was amazing, from start to finish!
A photo of Notch8 restaurant
4.4
4.4 (1754)
CAN$30 and under
Unspecified
Downtown
About the restaurant

Afternoon tea at any of Canada’s Fairmont hotels is always a treat, and it’s no different at the downtown outpost, where it’s served at the Notch8 restaurant. There are nearly a dozen tea selections to choose from, and the drinks come alongside a sumptuous spread of sandwiches including a smoked sablefish creation, cheddar and buttermilk scones, and a host of cakes. For a boozy afternoon, opt for one of the cocktails: the sunflower combines gin, elderflower liqueur, orange-flavoured liqueur, absinthe, and lemon. Diners can also opt to eat at the rooftop dining room with views of the city for weekend brunch.


Top review
LeslieVIP
Dined 2 days ago
Always the most amazing dining experiences. An absolute MUST.
A photo of Torafuku restaurant
4.3
4.3 (735)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Pan-Asian
Chinatown
About the restaurant

Chef Steve Kuan’s Torafuku grew out of his pan-Asian Le Tigre food truck, and the restaurant is still going strong seven years after its debut. Highlights of the menu include a papaya salad with confit pork jowl plus stir-fried rice cakes with roasted mushrooms, napa cabbage, and crème fraîche. Cocktails also incorporate Asian ingredients with yuzu juice and tea-infused gin prominently featured on the menu. For parties of seven or more, the restaurant can customize the menu with advance notice.


Top review
Joshua
Dined 5 days ago
Really good food. Beef, noodles, and chowder soup was amazing.
A photo of Zarak by Afghan Kitchen restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1514)
CAN$30 and under
Afghan
Mount Pleasant
About the restaurant

This Mount Pleasant restaurant honours the recipes of owner Hassib Sarwari’s mother, Zohra Parwani. Order plates to share—roasted Brussels sprouts or charbroiled kebabs served with rice—for the table. The new weekend brunch menu includes eggs Benedict served with a chutney hollandaise, as well as waffles with quimaq, the tea featuring clotted cream that’s made for special occasions in Afghanistan.


Top review
Marnie
Dined 6 days ago
We went for DineOut 2025 and the portion sizes were generous. The food was delicious and the staff were incredibly friendly and attentive. Our table had a nice view of Grouse Mountain.
A photo of Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar restaurant
4.8
4.8 (2584)
CAN$31 to CAN$50
Seafood
Downtown
About the restaurant

Chefs Alex Chen and Roger Ma head up this stylish Sutton Place Hotel restaurant. Their West Coast cuisine menu emphasizes seafood with constantly changing dishes. Recent highlights have included charcoal-grilled sablefish served with bull kelp seared Hokkaido scallops in a red curry sauce. For celebrations with big groups, opt for the caviar service or the two-pound Mediterranean sea bream. The elegant restaurant features Italian marble and white oak floors, antique chandeliers, and a heated, wrap-around patio for al fresco dining.


Top review
MichaelVIP
Dined 7 days ago
A hidden gem in Vancouver. The food and presentation are consistently top notch.
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