The Best Restaurants Powell River Sunshine Coast BC
Powell River is a small town on the Northern island of the Sunshine Coast BC and there are so many delicious restaurants in Powell River.
As there are so many fun activities in Powell River that’ll use up your energy, you’ll want some tasty restaurants at which you can refuel and get back out there. Luckily, Powell River has plenty which is perhaps surprising for such a small town.
Powell River is a popular destination for those looking to escape the city of Vancouver on a relaxing weekend getaway from Vancouver as well as though searching for adventure!
From Powell River, you can head off into the wilderness of Desolation Sound, embark on the Sunshine Coast Trail, go rock climbing up the Elrod Valley Road, and explore trails by mountain bike.
And, after (and before) all that adventure you’re going to need to eat!
Luckily, the restaurants in Powell River are great. Perhaps surprisingly so for such a small place. We ate delicious food during our visit to Powell River before and after our kayaking trip in Desolation Sound. If you’re heading to Powell River, here are the best restaurants in Powell River BC.
The Best Powell River Restaurants
Coastal Cookery
During our most recent trip to Powell River, we actually ate at Coastal Cookery twice and both times it was delicious.
It seemed like the place to be as well as it was buzzing with diners on both occasions.
Coastal Cookery has a list of fun and fresh cocktails and delicious food inspired by local flavors and ingredients. The owners also set up Costa del Sol Latin Cusine just across the road and set up Coastal Cookery after the success of that restaurant.
Make sure you get at least one cocktail and whatever you order to eat will be delicious. I think it’s the best restaurant Powell River has to offer!
- Location: 4553 Marine Ave
Laughing Oyster Restaurant
When it comes to Powell River Dining, The Laughing Oyster Restaurant in Powell River is one of the more upscale eateries in the city of Powell River.
The restaurant overlooks the Okeover Inlet which is where you’ll be launching your kayak if renting from Powell River Sea Kayaks as we did for our Desolation Sound kayak trip.
Besides the incredible mountain and ocean views, you can expect delicious seafood combined with local, seasonal ingredients.
Make sure you reserve your table in advance!
- Location: 10052 Malaspina Rd
Costa del Sol Powell River, Latin Cusine
You can’t miss this funky-looking eatery as you drive through Powell River.
Created by the same people behind Coastal Cookery, this Powell River restaurant serves Latin-inspired food such as tacos and burritos with fun fresh flavors.
Get there early and nab an outside table. These tables are renowned for being some of the best seats in town to watch a Powell River sunset! The view and the food together make it one of the best Powell River BC restaurants.
- Location: 4578 Marine Ave
Little Hut Curry
Craving a curry during your Powell River trip? Luckily there’s Little Hut Curry which gets rave reviews across multiple sites. They’re renowned not only for tasty food but great service and there’s a cute veranda for in-restaurant dining too.
- Location: 4623 Marine Ave
Base Camp Coffee
Base Camp coffee is everything you’d expect from a cafe in an adventure town. It’s a cute, rustic-feeling cafe with great hearty breakfasts and brunches, coffee, and cute local gifts.
Plus, you’ll feel like part of the community here and if it’s adventure tips you need the other guests and staff are likely to be able to help!
Grab one of their muffins as a mid-morning pick-me-up after a night of camping in Powell River.
- Location: Two locations one at 4548 Marine Ave and the other at 5831 Ash Avenue,
Edie Rae’s Cafe
Another of the great places to eat in Powell River is Edie Rae’s Cafe.
Edie Rae’s is in the Old Courthouse Inn which is a place of Powell River history near the paper mill. This building used to be the site of Powell River’s jail and police station and it’s now been carefully preserved.
Both guests and non-guests are welcome at Edie Rae’s where they can enjoy delicious breakfasts made with free-range organic eggs and high-quality meats. As a bonus, guests of the inn get to eat here for free!
- Location: 6243 Walnut Street
Magpie’s Diner
Need a hearty breakfast before you go exploring or navigate the drive back down the Sunshine Coast? This Powell River restaurant makes hearty breakfasts and lunches from scratch and you can expect all the diner classics.
From pancakes to bennys, French toast large sandwiches, and more, you won’t leave Magpie’s Diner still feeling hungry!
- Location: 6762 Cranberry St
River City Coffee
This is another great place for breakfast and coffee in Powell River. Established in 1994, this coffee shop has now expanded to providing healthy and delicious wraps, soups and more.
- Location: 4871 Joyce Ave
32 Lakes Cafe and Bakery
Newer to Powell River, 32 Lakes Coffee Roasters do the best pastries! They’re better than the majority I’ve found in Vancouver (and we’ve tried a lot!). Plus, they have unique flavors too.
Go early to make sure you don’t miss out on the pastries and make sure you order a coffee to go alongside it as their coffee is delicious too!
- Location: 4707 Marine Ave
How to get to Powell River BC
To get to Powell River you need to take at least one ferry. BC Ferries to Powell River run regularly from two locations and you can see ferry schedules for Powell River on BCFerries.com.
Vancouver to Powell River
To get to Powell River from Vancouver, you should take the ferry from Horseshoe Bay to Gibsons and then drive to Egmont and get a second ferry to Saltery Bay. From Saltery Bay it’s a 20-30 minute drive to Powell River.
Vancouver Island to Powell River
If you’re on Vancouver Island, drive up to Courtenay and catch the ferry to Powell River from there.
Final thoughts on the best restaurants Powell River
When it comes to the best restaurants in Powell River, Coastal Cookery is my top pick. There’s a reason we went twice during our relatively short trip to Powell River after all! They do some of the best Powell River food and have a great terrace overlooking the ocean too.
If you’re looking for more things to do in BC, check out my British Columbia and Canada travel guides, these Gulf Islands travel guides, and all of my Vancouver travel guides, written after living in the city for 6 years.
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.
