Happy Thursday, everyone! I hope you’re having a great week, and that you enjoyed my last post about things to see and do in Vancouver. In case you missed it, I was there on a work trip attending the BC Home + Garden Show, but I was able to get in plenty of sightseeing as well. And because all that sightseeing can work up an appetite, today I thought I’d do another post about… you guessed it… food! From fancy steakhouses to photogenic brunch joints, cozy coffee shops to decadent patisseries, here are my best recommendations for places to eat in Vancouver.
Honey Salt – This farm-to-table bistro is one of three restaurants located within the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver, the hotel we stayed at (see my last post for photos of their beautiful rooms and amenities.) I was looking for a restaurant with a semi-private space to host a get-together for some of our BC clients, and Honey Salt ticked all the boxes: a pretty interior, a great menu, and only a 5-minute walk from the convention centre. We pre-ordered a variety of canapes to be passed around, all of which were a hit. My favourites were the crispy brussels sprouts and the smoked salmon rillette. Aside from the mini avocado toasts pictured below, I didn’t snap any food photos (I save my embarrassing food photography for when I’m not entertaining clients, thank you very much!) but just take my word for it: everything was delicious and beautifully presented.
Black + Blue – After we wrapped at the Home + Garden Show on Saturday, we were treated to a team dinner at this renowned steakhouse. Established in 2011, the soaring three-level restaurant is a destination in itself. The decor is moody and elegant, with leather banquettes, ambient lighting and a showstopping centre bar. The bar faces their Himalayan salt-lined meat locker (I never thought of a meat locker as a decor statement, but somehow it works – and looks surprisingly glamorous! It’s even topped with the proverbial golden calf.) The dining experience itself was next-level. Our server brought out all the different cuts of meat, and explained the unique attributes of each – it was truly dinner and a show. We started with appetizers (highly recommend the calamari), a wow-worthy seafood tower and a tableside Caesar salad. Then my boss ordered a massive Tomahawk steak for the table, with all the fixings (my favourite being the lobster mashed potatoes.) I’ll admit, I’ve never considered myself a steak person – I don’t dislike it, it’s just never my first choice on a menu – but that all changed after this. This steak was so tender, succulent and flavourful – it honestly tasted nothing like any steak I’ve ever had, whether at home or in a restaurant. For dessert, our server brought out a decadent selection of shareables: the perfect end to an amazing meal. Luckily, I don’t have to go all the way to Vancouver the next time I’m craving steak, as Black + Blue also has a Toronto location.
Mary’s on Davie – Located in Vancouver’s LGBT-friendly Davie Village (think a West Coast version of Church & Wellesley) this beloved diner has been a neighbourhood fixture since 1979, when it was known as Hamburger Mary’s. After a few years of uncertainty (closures, renovations, new ownership) it reopened as Mary’s on Davie in 2018. It still has its retro diner charm, but with a few fun, Instagram-friendly updates that appeal to the current crowd: a pastel pink/baby blue colour palette, tropical palm leaf wallpaper, and cheeky neon signs. The restaurant serves classic diner fare during the day and hosts drag shows in the evenings. I went for Sunday brunch, and ordered the chicken and waffles and a strawberry milkshake… because sometimes, despite your better judgment, you just want ice cream for breakfast! The restaurant’s reputation as an LGBT-inclusive space is evident throughout: from the drag posters on the walls, all the way down to the mini Pride flags in each milkshake.
Craffles – Located in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood (with a second location in North Vancouver) this all-day brunch spot serves up various takes on the infamous ‘croffle’: a waffle made from croissant-like dough. They also serve crepes, omelettes, French toast, eggs benedict and acai bowls, along with other brunch favourites. The space is small and intimate, with a dramatic and eye-catching (wink wink) mural as its focal point. Because it’s a smaller space, be aware that seating is limited. I passed by on both Saturday and Sunday morning, and there were huge lineups to get in! My advice? Beat the brunch crowd and go for dinner instead. I stopped by at 7pm on Friday (they close at 8) and was seated right away. (Plus, who doesn’t love breakfast for dinner?!) I was excited to try their savoury smoked salmon waffle, which I had seen all over Instagram, but was sad when the server told me it’s no longer on their menu. So I asked if they could make me a waffle version of their Pacific Smoked Salmon Crepe – which is on the menu – and they happily obliged! The ‘croffle’ was smothered in herbed cream cheese, topped with a generous portion of smoked salmon and arugula, and garnished with capers and a slice of lemon. It was seriously so good! (Craffles owners, if you’re reading this… please consider adding the smoked salmon waffle back to your regular menu!)
Maxine’s Café & Bar – This bustling bistro feels like a little taste of France in Vancouver’s west end. It’s a popular brunch spot and it’s easy to see why: its light-filled interior feels sunny and cheerful, and the decor – which, according to their website, was “inspired by the funky watering holes of Soho and the corner bistros of Europe” – reminds me of a less chaotic version of New York’s famous Balthazar. I grabbed a seat at the bar so I wouldn’t have to wait for a table, but I actually really liked sitting at the bar – it was fun to be where the action was! I ordered a cappuccino and the smoked salmon eggs benedict, which was delicious. In case you haven’t guessed by now, I’m a big smoked salmon fan – and BC is the place to get it! In addition to their famous brunch, Maxine’s is also open for lunch, dinner and happy hour. You can also grab a coffee and pastry to-go from their bakery.
Palate Kitchen – This casual-chic restaurant is owned by the same folks behind Pallet Coffee, a popular Vancouver coffee roaster and café chain. It’s located in a stunning 1921 Georgian Revival-style heritage building, and offers two levels of seating. I sat on the upper level, which provides a great bird’s eye view of the space. The large windows bathe the restaurant in natural light, and I love the decor scheme: wooden mid-mod furniture, contemporary statement lighting, and a soothing white and sage green colour palette. Palate Kitchen is known for their brunch, which is served daily from 8am-3pm (4pm on weekends) and their pretty toast dishes. I ordered the Mushroom Truffle Toast. You all know I’m a sucker for presentation, and this dish did NOT disappoint… every detail was beautiful, from the edible flowers down to the artistic sprinkling of paprika! Luckily, it tasted just as good as it looked. The fresh sourdough was spread with flavourful truffle hummus and topped with a heap of mixed greens and sautéed mushrooms. It somehow managed to taste decadent yet healthy all at the same time!
Lee’s Donuts – Established in 1979, this self-described “mom and pop donut shop” is somewhat of a legend in Vancouver. When I heard that they’re supposed to have the best donuts in the city, of course I had to check them out! They have several locations, but their flagship is located at the Granville Island Public Market (see my last post for more on the market.) I was only going to order one donut, but I couldn’t resist temptation and ended up ordering a half-dozen ($17.50) as I was flying out that afternoon and figured I’d take some home with me. (Plus, a fresh donut sure beats airline peanuts when you’re craving a mid-flight snack!) I ordered the glazed cake, sugar cake, lemon, chocolate glaze, coconut and strawberry sprinkle. They were all very good, but my favourites were the coconut and – surprisingly – the lemon (I’m not normally the biggest fan of filled donuts, but this filling was amazing, like a rich lemon curd.) Just one word of caution: if you plan to enjoy your treats outdoors at the market, beware of birds. The Granville Island seagulls are notoriously aggressive!
Nero Waffle Bar – Vancouverites sure love their waffles! Nero has two locations in downtown Vancouver, and their tagline is “more waffles, less worries”… who can argue with that!? I popped into their Seymour Street location for a sweet treat and I was not disappointed. Nero is famous for their Belgian-style Liège mini waffles, which come in a variety of yummy dips and toppings. I got the raspberry and matcha waffles, and both were delicious: the raspberry was on the sweeter side, which was a perfect complement to the more savoury matcha. And I won’t lie and say that the aesthetic had nothing to do with my order choice… pink and green is one of my favourite colour combinations (blame it on Lilly Pulitzer!) Other topping options include vanilla custard, churro, s’mores and milky crunch. I also ordered their S’mores Hot Chocolate, which was so decadent and perfect for waffle-dunking! In addition to their Insta-famous mini waffles, Nero also serves full-sized waffles with a variety of sweet and savoury toppings.
Nemesis Coffee – Regular readers know that I’m a big croissant fan, so wherever I go, I always make it my mission to find the best croissants in the area. As a tourist, I’m hardly an authority on the subject, but I will say that these next two places have some of the best croissants I’ve ever tried – not just in Vancouver, but anywhere! The first contender, Nemesis Coffee, is a popular coffee roastery with two locations in downtown Vancouver and one in North Vancouver. I visited their location in the historic Gastown district (see my last post for more info on Gastown) where I enjoyed a latte and this dazzling croissant creation, filled with lemon curd, caramel and thyme sauce, and topped with torched meringue and white chocolate bark. From the tart lemon curd to the aromatic thyme to the sweet caramel and chocolate, it was an unexpected combination of flavours, but somehow it just worked: they all complemented each other beautifully. The only downside of going to Nemesis was trying to choose just one pastry from all of their offerings – I also had my eyes on the tiramisu croissant and the matcha raspberry cruffin! Next time…
Small Victory – When I was researching lists of Vancouver’s best croissants prior to my trip (yes, I do that!) another name that kept popping up was Small Victory. This bakery has three locations in the city. I went to their Yaletown location, which was just a 10-minute walk from my hotel. Small Victory is known for their freshly baked bread, elegant petits fours, and croissants – particularly their almond croissants. Almond is my go-to croissant flavour, so of course I had to try it, and I was seriously impressed! Too often, I’ve been let down by an almond croissant that offered too much topping at the expense of filling, or vice versa. This one was covered in a plethora of slivered toasted almonds and powdered sugar, and filled with a creamy, nutty frangipane. And the pastry itself was so buttery and flaky! I rate it a 10/10.
If any Vancouverites are reading, I’d love to hear your thoughts… are you a fan of any of these places? What did I miss? If you have any recommendations, please let me know. I’d love to check them out the next time I find myself on the West Coast.
Until next time, thanks for reading and I hope everyone has a wonderful rest of their week!
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