Best Restaurants in the West End Vancouver BC

The West End in downtown Vancouver was our home for 6 years.

I absolutely loved it here.

You’re right next to the beaches, Stanley Park, and yet still within walking distance to shopping and great Vancouver West End restaurants.

The best restaurants in the West End of Vancouver are found along the neighborhood’s main streets. There’s Davie Street, Denman Street, and then Robson Street.

You’ll find cuisine from all over the world, quick places to eat, cheap eats, and places for a special meal.

If you’re staying in downtown Vancouver, it’s definitely worth heading out to the West End for dinner!

Skip to:

• Best Restaurants in the West End
• Best Bars in the West End
• Best Coffee, Breakfast and Brunch in the West End
• Best Places for lunch in the West End
• Best Dessert in the West End

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 West End Restaurants Vancouver

This list includes my absolute favorite places to eat in the West End, Vancouver. From Asian cuisine to Mexican and some proper meat pies!

España

España on Denman Street is a great little Spanish restaurant that serves delicious tapas and paella as well as craft cocktails.

Go with some friends and get the paella along with a few other tapas and a bottle of wine, it’s so good! You’ll see why I recommend it as one of the best restaurants on Denman Street!

• Location: 1118 Denman Street

Peaked Pies

We love a proper pie (one that has meat, not fruit) and Peaked Pies just does that. They serve meat pies and vegetarian and vegan pies ‘peaked’ with mashed potato and mushy peas and gravy.

Their mentil lentil pie is my favorite and my husband rotates between steak and cheese and the others.

They also have some dessert pies and lamingtons (since they were founded by Australians) and you can get beer to accompany your pie too.

If you live in Vancouver you can buy their pies frozen and recreate them at home with the toppings. We did this quite a lot and got friends to bring them up to us when we lived in Sun Peaks!

• Location: 975 Denman Street

Tom’s Sushi

Tom’s Sushi in the West End is great! It’s a bright restaurant with plenty of space and delicious sushi at a good price. They do all the various rolls you’d expect plus some specials unique to them.

It’s one of my picks for the best restaurants in Vancouver BC that serve sushi.

• Location: 1175 Davie Street

Kinara Indian

Kinara Indian is one of the best Indian restaurants in Vancouver and they’re where we go for our curry fix. We usually get take-out since they’re just up the road from us but they also have a pretty spacious restaurant you can eat in at too.

We usually end up getting their meal for two which includes 3 curries, a starter, dessert, rice, and naan for about $50. It’s such a good deal, delicious and we usually have leftovers for the next day too!

• Location: 1326 Davie Street

Kingyo Izakaya

Izakaya is the word for an informal Japanese bar with alcoholic drinks and snacks. Almost like a Japanese tapas. Kingyo fits the bill then as it serves Japanese small plates with Bento boxes, sushi, and drinks.

It’s renowned for being one of the best restaurants in the West End and you need to book a table in advance to avoid disappointment.

Their stone-grilled Kobe beef is delicious and a must-get, as are their sushi, and the Kani Meshi rice bowl with crab, egg, and ikura.

• Location: 871 Denman Street

Osaka Sushi

This is one of my favorite sushi restaurants in Vancouver. Osaka Sushi does delicious sushi rolls (and other items) and it’s cheap. Plus, their proximity to the beach means that you can grab your sushi and enjoy it on the beach, or while watching the sunset!

• Location: 1361 Burrard Street

Vonn’s

Another of the best restaurants in West End Vancouver and perhaps the best place to get burgers in the West End is Vonn’s.

They also serve Cheesesteaks and chicken dishes as well as vegetarian meals. The meals are large and will fill you up!

The restaurant is small so you may have to wait for a table, especially in summer but if you’re craving a burger this is the place to go!

• Location: 1184 Denman Street

The Red Accordion

The Red Accordion is a little off the beaten path and has become famous over the years for its huge burger. They’re a farm-to-table restaurant with a beautiful patio area and unique interior that feels almost like you’re in someone’s living room – it’s pretty cool!

Everything we’ve tried on the menu has been delicious and they also do brunch and lunch too.

• Location: 1616 Alberni Street

Marutama Ramen

Marutama Ramen has become famous throughout Vancouver for its creamy chicken broth that’s different from the other ramen places around. Their West End location tends to be a bit quieter than the Yaletown spot and it has a cozy atmosphere with private dining booths which are great for solo diners.

The Tamago Ramen is their most popular dish!

• Location: 780 Bidwell Street

Robba da Matti

If you’re looking for Italian restaurants in the West End, I’d recommend Robba da Matti. Robba da Matti serves up some great pasta dishes. I recommend going for the date night menu option where you get 2 antipasti, 2 pasta, 2 desserts, and a bottle of wine!

Their West End location has a beautiful outdoor patio in a quiet area of the West End. It’s ideal for a special date night under the twinkling lights.

• Location: 1906 Haro Street

La Catrina Tacos

Though there’s no Tacofino in the West End (sad face), one of the best restaurants on Denman for casual Mexican food in the West End is La Catrina Tacos. This super small restaurant does have a few seats inside but it’s best to get them to go and enjoy at the beach.

They do pastor, mole, and a variety of other tacos for a pretty good price (4 for $16). We’ve always enjoyed the tacos we’ve had here!

• Location: 1187 Denman Street

Best Bars in the West End

There are a number of places to get a good drink in the West End from breweries to bars and pubs. Here are some of our faves.

Craft Beer Market

Craft Beer Market overlooks English Bay and has a view that almost rivals that of the nearby Cactus Club. Their patio area opens up in the summer for unobstructed views and is sheltered in winter to keep dry when it’s raining.

Craft Beer is known for its extensive beer menu with rotating taps and year-round stables. There are also cocktails, wine, and soft drinks.

Enjoy the views of the beach and the ocean while you drink at this great West End bar!

• Location: 1795 Beach Avenue

The Sylvia Hotel Bar

The Sylvia Hotel is a bit of a landmark in the West End of Vancouver. It’s a beautiful building covered in vines that makes a cool photo spot throughout the year. They’ve also got a lounge and bar that’s open to everyone.

You can sit outside on the patio, or cosy up indoors during the winter with a drink. It’s not somewhere you’d first think of for drinks in the West End, but it’s worth checking out.

• Location: 1154 Gilford Street

Three Brits

The Three Brits in English Bay has been around for over 100 years! They do great comfort food and have plenty of beers on tap.

They also have a pretty good cocktail list and a nice patio area with views of the ocean.

• Location: 1780 Davie Street

Cactus Club English Bay

Cactus Club is really more of a restaurant than a bar, but I think it’s their drinks and the location of their English Bay outlet that’s it worth going to.

Cactus Club English Bay is situated right on English Bay Beach. There’s a large patio that backs onto the seawall, and an upstairs dining room with huge windows so you can look out onto the beach and, if you’ve timed it right, enjoy a famous Vancouver sunset.

In the summer you have to get a frosé or a frozen bellini although they also have a good variety of beer and other drinks if that’s not quite your thing too.

Expect to wait in line here for a table though you can reserve online in advance.

• Location: 1790 Beach Avenue

Long Table Distillery

Long Table Distillery is a bit hidden away from the main areas of the West End but it’s close to the seawall and well worth going to.

The Distillery makes its own gin and on select evenings throughout the week, you can go in and enjoy a cocktail made with their gins and other delicious ingredients.

They’re some of the best cocktails we’ve had in Vancouver and the atmosphere inside is always great!

• Location: 1451 Hornby Street

Stanley Park Brewing

Stanley Park Brewing is a large pub in Stanley Park near the tennis courts with a lot of indoor and outdoor seating. They also have a concession stand where you can get some snacks while exploring Stanley Park.

If you’re visiting Vancouver in summer be sure to get the Stanley Park Sun Setter Peach Ale. It’s delicious and perfect for a summer evening!

• Location: 8901 Stanley Park Drive

Score on Davie

Score on Davie is considered one of the best casual bars in Vancouver. It’s a popular place with a nice patio. If there’s a big game on, or you’re looking to catch up with friends, then this is the place to go.

Score is also renowned for its huge Ceasars where you effectively get a meal on top of your drink. You can get a 4oz Ceasar in a glass with burgers, sliders and desserts on a stick in your drink. If that isn’t quite what you’re after, you can also get ‘normal’ meals too.

• Location: 1262 Davie Street

Best Coffee, Breakfast and Brunch in the West End

There are lots of great places for coffee in the West End, breakfast or brunch. Here are some of our favourites!

Forage

Though mostly considered a dinner restaurant (and a very good one at that), Forage also does brilliant brunches in Vancouver.

Forage specializes in local, sustainably grown ingredients with a regularly changing menu. We went over The Holidays one year and had a delicious, filling brunch, and have been several times for dinner over the years.

It’s commonly considered one of the best restaurants downtown Vancouver has so be sure to check it out.

• Location: 1300 Robson Street

Red Umbrella Cafe

One of our absolute favorite places for breakfast and brunch in the West End that we’ve been back to multiple times.

The Red Umbrella Cafe on Davie Street is very popular and you’ll usually have to wait for a table unless you get lucky!

Inside the small cafe serves up delicious, fresh breakfasts with organic coffee. I love the vegetarian breakfast with eggs, spinach, avocado, and toast whereas the Deluxe breakfast is a favorite of my husband’s.

You can also get French toast, pancakes, and lunch if you’ve already had breakfast!

If you’re looking for breakfast West End Vancouver, you should totally head here.

• Location: 1707 Davie Street

Delany’s Coffee

Delany’s Coffe House is a true locals’ spot. You get the feeling that most of the people coming in here do so every day (especially during winter when there are fewer tourists). Their coffee is highly regarded and they do great pastries and muffins too.

Grab a coffee and take a walk along English Bay Beach!

• Location: 1105 Denman Street

The Basic

There are a couple of outlets of The Basic in the West End. There’s one on Davie Street and another on Denman.

The Davie Street location is larger with a patio but food-wise you can expect large portions of breakfast foods at both.

You’ll find bennys, full breakfasts (toast, eggs, ham/bacon/sausage, and hashbrowns), sandwiches, and more. They also cater to vegetarians too.

• Locations: 948 Denman Street & 1031 Davie Street

JJ Bean Coffee Roasters

You’ll often find us popping into JJ Bean for a coffee and one of their delicious (and huge!) muffins or the best chocolate almond croissants in Vancouver. Their chocolate zucchini muffins or raspberry oatmeal muffin are our go-to’s!

Their Davie Street location is just a short walk from us and is spacious with plenty of room to read or do some work. There’s also a patio area.

In the summer be sure to get one of their iced chais!

• Location: 1209 Davie Street

Maxine’s Cafe and Bar

Though I still miss the bicycle-themed cafe that used to be on this corner, Maxine’s is still a welcome addition to Vancouver’s West End.

A sister restaurant and cafe to Home Street Cafe (one of Yaletown’s best restaurants), Maxines does great brunch in the West End and also stays open for lunch and early dinner.

For brunch, their breakfast sandwiches are great and filling and their French toast gets a thumbs up too!

• Location: 1325 Burrard Street

Greenhorn

Greenhorn Cafe is in a beautiful residential part of the West End full of heritage buildings. The cafe itself is super cute and is well known for its brunch menu.

We went here after getting engaged while ski touring and camping at the top of Mt Seymour and enjoyed a hearty brunch to celebrate.

Their full benny’s are absolutely delicious!

• Location: 994 Nicola Street

Cafe Portrait

Cafe Portrait puts coffee and art together at their cute cafe. The walls are covered in artwork making for a fun place to sit while you sip.

You can also try traditional Turkish coffee and they serve breakfasts including Shakshuka, pastries, fried egg skillets, and more.

• Location: 1120 Denman Street

Best lunch in the West End

Since we’ve been working from home for the last few years and don’t always feel like making our own lunch, we’ve discovered a number of great cafes and restaurants for lunch in the West End.

Amoka Coffee and Bites

A great spot for a lunchtime sandwich, coffee, and pastries is Amoka Coffee and Bites on Davie Street.

I love their ultimate hummus sandwiches but there’s a lot more to choose from both for breakfast and lunch. And don’t miss out on the chance to get one of their brownies or cakes for dessert!

• Location: 1069 Davie Street

#E Cafe

When we were both working from home and wanted to go out for lunch we’d head to #E Cafe on Burrard Street. They do tasty sandwiches that are made fresh to order and are packed with filling. Sure, they get a little messy but they’re delicious!

Their mac and cheese is also worth getting alongside a sandwich!

• Location: 1308 Burrard Street

Disco Cheetah

The rice bowls from Disco Cheetah make a delicious and filling lunch option (one that’s best enjoyed by the beach if you ask me!). Disco Cheeta started off as a food truck and opened this location in the West End a few years ago. Their rice bowls include meat or tofu and salad and you pick two sauces to go with it. They’re delicious.

If you’re a meat eater, be sure to try their KFC (Korean Fried Chicken!) that’s what made them so popular in the first place.

• Location: 1183 Davie Street

Best Dessert in the West End

When it comes to dessert, your choice is pretty much ice cream or ice cream. Luckily, I enjoy ice cream! Vancouver’s West End has quite a bit of choice in this area, but below are my favorite three.

Rain or Shine Ice Cream Truck

Rain or Shine do absolutely delicious ice cream and every summer their ice cream truck can be found on English Bay Beach where they’re scooping up cones and cups. The prices are pretty reasonable too compared to some ice cream places around the city.

Malted chocolate and honey comb is my favourite followed by ruby raspberry. You can get two flavours in a single scoop which I highly recommend!

• Location: English Bay Beach

Marble Slab Creamery

Sometimes you’re just in the mood for some chocolate ice cream with some more chocolate or ‘extras’ such as biscuits, marshmallows, and brownies. In those instances, you need to go to Marble Slab Creamery.

I’d never seen ice cream prepared like this, but they have specific combinations or you can make your own where you pick an ice cream flavor and your add-ins then they slap them on a slab and mix it all together before putting it in a cone or cup!

• Location: 1184 Denman Street

D’oro Gelato and Cafe

D’oro was our favorite ice cream spot for many years and they’re home to what I like to call ‘proper’ ice cream. They make their ice cream on-site in small batches and follow an original Sicilian recipe. They also do sorbets and you can get coffee, pastries, and lunches here too.

• Location: 1094 Denman Street

Final thoughts on the best West End Vancouver restaurants

The West End is home to some of the best restaurants in Vancouver and the best part is they’re also at the cheaper end of what you can expect to pay for a real in Vancouver.

While Gastown restaurants and restaurants in Yaletown tend to be more expensive, the Denman Street Restaurants tend to be more casual and serve cheaper options like Ramen, tacos, and great brunches.

If you’re looking for the best restaurants West End Vancouver has to offer, then my recommendation would be Kingyo for something different followed by Peaked Pies for a classic, hearty pie, or Ramen Danbo for tasty noodles.

Most of these are Denman restaurants or Robson restaurants and these two streets together with Davie Street are where you’ll find some of the best restaurants West End Vancouver.

If you want more of the best Vancouver restaurants, be sure to check out this guide to where to eat on Main Street and the best Kits restaurants.

Last Updated on August 9, 2024 by Hannah