No matter what you’re looking for—lunch or dinner? A light snack or a leisurely brunch? A chic patio for people-watching or a cozy corner for two?—diverse Yaletown is not short on options. Take a stroll along the historic warehouse district’s signature brick walkways, and get ready to settle in for a meal you won’t soon forget.
If you need a bit of inspiration before you hit the town, here are our top five restaurant picks in Yaletown.
Blue Water Cafe
1095 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC
Blue Water Cafe is a Yaletown classic that delivers. With a killer selection of fresh, sustainable seafood and a 50+ page wine list, this is the spot to take your visiting in-laws or impress a colleague from out of town. The warm, inviting space, housed in a converted historic warehouse, also boasts an expansive (yet somehow intimate) patio. If you’re going for it, we recommend going all the way and getting a seafood tower to share. After all, there’s a reason Blue Water Cafe wins Best Seafood Restaurant in Vancouver, year after year.
Minami
1118 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC
Vancouver’s blessed with a multitude of options when it comes to Japanese food, from cheap and delicious sushi lunch spots to higher-end contemporary destinations like Minami. Super stylish inside and out, dining at Minami means enjoying the very best in seasonal and regional seafood. The restaurant introduced Vancouverites to Aburi (“flame-seared”) Japanese fusion cuisine in 2008, and it’s still one of the best places in town. You’ll definitely want to try the Minami Shokai or chef’s tasting menu.
Homer St Cafe and Bar
Classic comfort food can still be stylish: just ask the Homer St Cafe and Bar. Roast chicken is the star here, but it’s well-deserved, thanks to the tender, delicious meals that come out of that giant red rotisserie. The restaurant spans two buildings, the historic Homer Building and the contemporary Beasley, and seating options are as varied as they are cozy. Duck in here on a dark winter evening, and you’ll be warmed from the inside out.
Yaletown Brewing Co
1111 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC
This classic and lively neighbourhood hang (part bar, part restaurant, part brewery) is the ideal pre, post, or mid-game destination. The brewpub offers traditional, delicious pub fare—think BLT wedge salads and pulled pork sandwiches—but don’t sleep on the bar’s rotating taps and super fresh seasonal offerings. The fun, friendly vibe at Yaletown Brewing Co makes it an excellent choice for beers with your co-workers or wings with your new best friends.
El Guapo
1009 Mainland St, Vancouver, BC
El Guapo means “the handsome” in Spanish (don’t worry, there’s a neon sign above the door in case you forget) and boy, does this place deliver. Their burgers, tacos, and margaritas are perfection, but the rest of their cocktail program really has no business being that good, and the recurring events they hold are always a good time. El Guapo is fun, period.
