The best restaurants in Vancouver to have a meal with a view
Do you crave a good meal with an even better view? The following eight Vancouver restaurants pair delicious meals and captivating vistas. From revolving restaurants to beachside bistros, there’s a dining option for everyone – and every taste – in the harbour city. [Photo credit: Tourism Vancouver/Clayton Perry]
Cactus Club Cafe
1790 Beach Ave, Vancouver BC V6E 1V3Eating at this Vancouver-born, national restaurant chain’s English Bay location is like eating aboard a cruise ship with the best seat in the house. With nothing but large windows between you and the view of sand, ocean and mountains, an evening sipping specialty craft cocktails is well worth the lineup.
Cactus Club Cafe
1085 Canada Pl, Vancouver BC V6C 0C3This Coal Harbour location offers a similar experience to its English Bay counterpart – but with an entirely different view. The active downtown harbour is home to floatplanes, cruise ships, boats and plenty more action, all enjoyable to observe while you indulge in fresh, West Coast-inspired fare.
The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant
1535 Johnston St, Vancouver BC V6H 3R9This upscale bistro’s stunning wood patio offers picturesque views of Granville Island and False Creek, where cute and colourful passenger ferries mingle with paddleboarders, kayakers and sailboats. You’ll also enjoy fine seafood, excellent service and a selection of imported and local wines in a casual, relaxed setting.
Milltown Bar & Grill
101 9191 Bentley St, Vancouver BC V6C 2X8It may not look out on the Pacific, but this rustic, West Coast modern pub, situated between Richmond and Vancouver, near Marpole, offers two fantastic views from two separate patios. One looks out on the mountains and quaint Milltown Marina, while the other provides an ideal vantage point for gazing at the Fraser River. What more can one ask for while enjoying local dishes and cocktails?
Teahouse Restaurant
7501 Stanley Park Dr, Vancouver BC V6G 3E2Surrounded by ocean on all sides, Stanley Park is an ideal location for enjoying your food with a view. The park’s iconic Tea House is situated on a high peak overlooking the ocean and beach below. Offerings include all sorts of tea, of course, as well as sandwiches, scones, cookies, soups and some more robust meals. Open late into the evening, the patio is the spot to be when the lights go down and the stars come out.
Lift Bar Grill View
333 Menchions Mews, Vancouver BC V6G 3H5For a rooftop patio with breathtaking ocean views, look no further than Lift in Vancouver’s West End. With stunning contemporary design and sophisticated details, one can imagine a movie star sipping a Manhattan at this swanky patio’s bar while overlooking Stanley Park, Canada Place and the North Shore Mountains. Tip: don’t leave without trying Lift’s signature cocktail – the spicy prawn Caesar – which also doubles as a tasty appetizer.
Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant
555 Hastings St W, Vancouver BC V6B 4N4It might seem cheesy at first blush, but dining at this revolving restaurant is a special experience you won’t find anywhere else in the city. Completing one revolution every hour, this 553-foot high tower boasts fine dining service – like prime rib and whole Atlantic lobster – with a stunning 360-degree view of the city.
