The Best Granville Island Restaurants and Place to Eat
Granville Island is the neighborhood of Vancouver most known for its food thanks to the Granville Island Public Market which is one of the best things to do in Granville Island.
Besides the market stalls, there are also some great Granville Island restaurants serving up fresh seafood, Canadian pub classics, and more.
If you’re visiting this fun area of Vancouver and looking for the best restaurants on Granville Island then look no further as they’re all here!
This list of the best places to eat on Granville Island includes both restaurants, market stalls, cafes, and dessert options. You definitely won’t be hungry when exploring Granville Island with this list! If you’ve been wondering what to eat at Granville Island, you’ll wonder now more after this guide.
Note: Granville Island Public Market closes at 6 pm every day which means some of the stalls listed below are better as lunch spots than dinner spots.
Skip to:
- Best Granville Island Restaurants
- Best Granville Island Bars
- Best Coffee Shops & Brunch in Granville Island
- Best Lunch on Granville Island
- Best Place for Dessert on Granville Island
Looking for more things to do in Vancouver and nearby? Check out my Vancouver travel guides which are full of information on the best things to do in Vancouver, the best Vancouver restaurants, and detailed guides for each of the main neighborhoods.
Best Granville Island Restaurants
If you’re looking for the best places to get dinner at Granville Island these restaurants all come highly recommended!
The Sandbar Granville Island
The Sandbar is the ideal spot for a special dinner. Every seat in the restaurant has great views and the seats on the patio are even better! You’ll get views of both the water and Granville Island bridge plus the restaurant’s interior is pretty cool too with a nautical theme.
The Sandbar is known for its seafood dishes and the seafood platter is a great choice if you’re both seafood lovers!
- Location: 1535 Johnston Street
Afghan Horseman
A little outside of Granville Island is the Afghan Horseman. This was the first Afghanistani restaurant in Canada back in 1974!
You’ll be transported to another culture with both the interior and restaurant vibe and through the food.
Make sure to order the kebab platter which includes a little bit of everything so you can truly appreciate this delicious food near Granville Island.
- Location: 1833 Anderson Street
Alimentaria Mexicana
One of the newer Granville Island restaurants, Alimentaria Mexicana is a fun Mexican restaurant that serves delicious food.
It’s a fun colorful atmosphere serving truly authentic cuisine.
The team behind Alimentaria Mexicana takes pride in the stories behind the producers of their ingredients and those who work to bring you tasty meals.
The halloumi and grilled cactus is a must-try as is the cevhice and the lamb shank and the churros.
- Location: 1596 Johnston Street
Vancouver Fish Company
Right on the water on the south side of Granville Island is The Vancouver Fish Company. They have a beautiful patio right on the water and serve great seafood.
The fish and chips are one of the highlights on their menu as are the sablefish, smoke clams, and actually almost everything.
Make a reservation if you can or, better yet, go for happy hour to enjoy cheap drinks and appetizers.
- Location: 1517 Anderson St, Vancouver, BC
Go Fish
Go Fish is regarded as one of the best places in Vancouver for fish and chips. “Where can I find fish and chips in Vancouver?” is a pretty common question on the Brits in Vancouver Facebook group, and Go Fish is often cited as one of the few places to go. And trust us, we know our fish and chips!
Go Fish is a little outside of Granville Island but only about a 10-15 minute walk along the seawall and it’s well worth it. It gets busy so expect to wait and it’s not a sit-in restaurant. However, there’s a nearby park and a few tables so you can enjoy your fish and chips with a view of False Creek and Downtown Vancouver.
It closes at 7 pm so go before then!
- Location: 1505 W 1st Ave
Best Granville Island Bars
Granville Island isn’t exactly a destination for a night out, but there are still some great places to get a drink (especially during happy hour).
Granville Island Brewing
Granville Island Brewing does some delicious beer (my favorite is the Honey Lager!) and going to their bar and tasting room is a fun thing to do on Granville Island. While you can find their beers in liquor stores throughout the country, their taproom serves up special brews that you won’t find elsewhere.
Liberty Distillery
Right in the center of Granville Island, Liberty Distillery has been offering Vancouver’s first hand-crafted spirits since 2013. Made from 100% organic grain from BC, visiting Liberty Distillery for a cocktail in their lounge is a must!
You can also take a tour of the distillery which includes a tasting at the end. Tours run Saturday and Sunday at 11:30 am and 1:30 pm and cost $15 a person.
Reservations by calling 604-558-1998 are recommended!
Bridges Tap & Barrel
The iconic yellow building known as Bridges was taken over by Tap and Barrel recently but they’ve kept it yellow instead of changing it to their own-brand red!
It’s hard to miss Bridges and it’s a fantastic spot to enjoy a drink and some ‘appies by the water. The place is huge but even still it fills up and you may need to put your name down for a table. Waiting for a spot on the patio is definitely worth it.
Best Coffee Shops & Granville Island Brunch
Granville Island has plenty of choices when it comes to pastries and coffee making it a great spot for a late Granville Island breakfast or tasty brunch.
Petit Ami
Petit Ami is a great coffee shop in Granville Island Public Market. Getting a coffee there before wandering around the stalls and the best things to do in Granville Island is always a good idea!
JJ Bean
JJ Bean is our favorite local chain and they’ve got a small stall on Granville Island too. With a coffee from JJ Bean and a breakfast bagel from Siegel’s Bagels, you can’t go wrong for breakfast on Granville Island!
Terra Breads
Terra Bread has been baking since 1993 and you can find them in many of the supermarkets throughout Vancouver. They use organic, local, and seasonal ingredients wherever possible to bake beautiful breads!
A Bread Affair
A certified organic bakery, A Bread Affair, makes all their loaves without preservatives so you’ll get super fresh baked goods. At their location on Granville Island, you can get sandwiches, cookies, pastries, and more.
You’ll love it and it’s one of the best places in Vancouver for croissants.
Off the Tracks
Off the Tracks is a great place for brunch on Granville Island. We stopped off here after a training run for the Vancouver marathon and it was the ideal spot to refuel – though very busy!
Off The Tracks supports sustainable agriculture and organic living and their coffee is super delicious too. You can get great breakfasts, bennys, avocado toast, and more.
- Location: 1363 Railspur Alley
Best Lunch on Granville Island
There are so many places for lunch on Granville Island you’ll have to go back multiple times to get through this list!
The Stock Market
The Stock Market in Granville Island Public Market is the ideal place to go for lunch on Granville Island on a rainy day.
They do super tasty soups in great flavours including lobster bisque and classics like leek and potato.
Chau Veggie Express
If you’re after some fresh Vietnamese food then head to Chau Veggie Express in the public market. It’s a great place for quick take-out food and they do delicious coconut curries with noodles or rice.
The Lobster Man
The Lobster Man is the place to go for lobster and other shellfish in Vancouver. It’s one of the best places to eat Granville Island seafood if that’s what you’re looking for.
They’ve been around since 1977 and are renowned for their lobster rolls in particular. You’ve got to get one for lunch on Granville Island!
- Location: 1807 Mast Tower Road
Sen Pad Thai
At Sen Pad Thai in Granville Public Market, you can get delicious stir-fried noodles packed fulled of flavor.
Besides noodles, their crispy pork with rice is popular Another popular dish on the menu is the Crispy Pork with Rice. All those wash down perfectly with some Thai Iced Tea!
Siegel’s Bagels
Siegel’s Bagels are delicious and an absolute must either for breakfast on Granville Island or as lunch.
They have a wide variety of freshly baked bagels in different flavors and make-up bagel sandwiches too. Their big breakfast bagel is one of my favorites but their lunch bagels with veggies, meats, and/or cheeses are also delicious!
Sprig Contemporary Kitchen
Sprig Contemporary Kitchen inside Granville Public Market is one of the best Granville Island restaurants. They’ve been around for 18 years and serve up falafels, hummus, and other tasty Greek food in wraps or as plates.
That’s It Cafe
That’s It Cafe is a bit of a hidden gem just outside of Granville Island it’s the ideal spot for a delicious lunch. They do breakfast burritos, fresh salads, bowls and sandwiches. The menu changes regularly to keep up with seasonal produce and it’s a beautiful spot.
- Location: 1612 W 1st Avenue
Best Dessert Granville Island
Have a sweet tooth or need something after dinner on Granville Island? Try out these great options for dessert!
Lees Donuts
Lee’s Donuts are famous across Vancouver and is made even more so by the fact that celebrities such as Seth Rogen frequent here.
There’s always a lineup for Lee’s Donuts but they’re 100% worth it (better than Honey’s in Deep Cove in my view!) and the line moves quickly too.
Their menu changes a lot so you’ll just have to go back multiple times throughout your trip which shouldn’t be an issue since there are so many things to do at Granville Island!
A La Mode Pie Cafe
WHen it comes to where to eat on Granville Island for dessert, pick up a pie for later in the day at A La Mode Pie Cafe which makes sweet pies such as cinnamon roll apple pie, and other fruit pies!
GI Gelato
Just behind the Arts Club Theatre on Granville Island, GI Gelato is a great spot to get ice cream after dinner.
They stay open later than a lot of places on Granville Island and have around 18 different flavors to choose from!
Final thoughts on where to eat Granville Island Vancouver BC
Though the restaurants Granville Island has close pretty early meaning they’re not great for dinner, a trip to Granville Island is a great idea for breakfast or lunch – or even brunch Granville Island!
Granville Island food varies greatly in terms of the cuisines available. And, whether you’re eating in the Granville food court in the Public Market, or at a restaurant nearby, you’ll find some tasty meals to suit your pallet.
One of my favorite restaurants in Granville Island is definitely The Sandbar. It’s perfect for a special meal with a great view.
If you’re looking for more things to do in Vancouver, be sure to check out these area guides such as the best things to do in Yaletown, what to do in the West End, what to do near Main Street, these fun Kitsilano activities and Gastown things to do.
Canada Travel Planning Guide
Should I buy Canada travel insurance?
100% YES! — You should have travel insurance for all your trips. Though Canada has “free” healthcare, it’s only for residents. If you’re just visiting, you’ll need travel insurance should you need medical care. It also helps you claim for delayed flights or lost/stolen baggage. We use SafetyWing for our travel insurance!
Is it safe to rent a car in Canada?
Yes — Renting a car is a good idea in most of Canada as public transit isn’t the best!
Car hire is usually quite reasonable, especially compared to some other countries and they’ll all be automatic so you shouldn’t have a problem driving it if you’re used to manual transmission.
I personally use a mix of DiscoverCars and RentalCars to find the best deal that works for me when I rent a car. I used them in Norway, Italy, and Canada when we first moved, and have never had an issue. For RV rental I recommend Outdoorsy.
What’s the best way to pay/exchange money for Canada?
Wise (formerly Transferwise!) — I use my Wise card everywhere these days. I fill it with a certain currency and then I can spend it in countries across the world, online and even for direct debits. Wise has the best currency exchange rates (and they’ll even tell you when you can get it cheaper elsewhere!). When you pay in another currency through chip and pin or tap/wireless, they’ll automatically convert it for you – it’s easy! This link gets you a fee-free transfer.
Do I need a visa for Canada?
Many countries do not need a visa to travel to Canada — However, you may need an ETA which costs $7 (you need this if you’re from the UK). You can buy them online and they usually take a few hours to come through though it can take longer. Only ever buy from this official website otherwise you’ll end up paying more money necessarily. If you want to move to Canada, check out my guide to the Working Holiday Visa which is how we first moved there! Always check the official Canadian Immigration website to see whether you need a visa to travel there.
Will my phone work in Canada?
It depends — Some American and European companies work in Canada for a certain amount of data or time but many will not work at all. Getting a Canadian SIM card will help you get around with Google Maps and stay in touch with people back home. There isn’t much free WIFI in Canada so you can’t really rely on that, especially if you’re heading outside of major cities.
Where can I book my Canada accommodation?
I always check Booking.com for hotels or Hostel World for hostels. If I’m looking for something for a bigger group of people, or a bit more unique (cosy cabins, luxury beach houses) then I use VRBO.
When we first moved to Canada we used Trusted Housesitters to get free accommodation!
What’s the best site to buy Canada flights?
I only ever use Skyscanner to find cheap flights no matter where I’m travelling!
Last Updated on August 17, 2023 by Hannah
Hannah started That Adventurer after graduating back in 2013 and has documented all of her adventures since then. From backpacking South America to city breaks in Europe, a 3 month road trip across the USA in a self-converted van and 6 years living in Canada, you’ll find posts on all of this.
Hannah specialises in active travel and on That Adventurer you’ll find hiking, walking, biking, skiing and all sorts of active travel guides to allow you to see a destination in an adventurous way.
Now back in Europe, you’ll find new guides as Hannah and her husband spend the next year ‘digital nomading’ from Norway to Portugal, Switzerland to Scotland and places in between.
