There are plenty of places to eat in Vancouver, but dining with a view definitely takes the cake. Vancouver is surrounded by mountains and water and offers impressive views from all over the city. With that being said, Vancouver has a lot of waterfront views and a decent amount of waterfront restaurants. It can be hard to choose which restaurant with a view to pick! That is why we have compiled this list of Vancouver waterfront restaurants to help you choose where to eat with a post-card worthy view!
Best Vancouver Waterfront Restaurants List
- Dockside Restaurant
- Cactus Club Coal Harbour
- Prospect Point Bar and Grille
- Lift Bar and Grille
- Beach Bay Cafe
- Provence Marinaside
- Ancora
- Tapshack Coal Harbour
- Boathouse
- The Galley Patio and Grille
- Pajo’s Fish and Chips (Steveston, Richmond)
- The Boatshed Ambleside (West Van)
- Carder’s Restaurant
- Pier 7 (North Vancouver)
- Teahouse
- Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant (great views not on the water)
- Tap and Barrel (great views not on the water)
Best Waterfront Restaurants in vancouver
Dockside Restaurant
Dockside Restaurant is the perfect place to be in summer. This restaurant has an impressive outdoor setting providing a postcard worthy view of Vancouver’s False Creek. Located on Granville Island, Dockside Restaurant is a favorite for people who love patio views. Their inside dining room even has a 50 ft aquarium! And when it comes to the food menu, the options are just incredible. From Dockside crabs to pizzas and ancho chili prawns, expect to see a lot of options on the menu.
Location: 1253 Johnson Street, Vancouver (located inside the Granville Island Boutique Hotel. Read how to get to Granville Island.)
Hours: 730am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday (last dinner seating 830pm)
730am to 12am Friday & Saturday (last dinner seating 845pm)
Patio open daily weather permitting 11am to 10pm
Takes Reservations: YES
Website: https://docksidevancouver.com/
Cactus Club Coal Harbor
Cactus is a franchise with many locations across British Columbia and Alberta. The Coal Harbor location is one of the best Vancouver restaurants at the beach. This restaurant features a huge patio overlooking fantastic views of the sea and mountains. One of the great things about Cactus is that its food is consistent across all locations and they are proud to place a heavy focus on local ingredients. The chicken or tofu lettuce wraps are a great starter to share with a group (or a popular main dish!)
Location: 1085 Canada Place, Vancouver
Hours: Sunday – Thursday 11:30 – 12:00 Friday and Saturday 11:30 – 12:30
Takes Reservations: YES
Website: https://www.cactusclubcafe.com/location/coal-harbour/
Prospect Point Bar and Grille
This restaurant in Stanley Park overlooks the Lions Gate Bridge and boasts spectacular views of the North Shore Mountains. It is easy to see why Stanley Park constantly ranks near the top of the best things to do in Vancouver! Prospect Point Bar and Grille has a 96-seat indoor restaurant with great ambiance and a 130-seat outdoor deck with a West Coast inspired menu. This restaurant has a perfect summer menu with food options ranging from burgers to soups, sandwiches, and salads.
Prospect point Bar and Grille has limited hours but the Prospect Point Cafe is open 11am-6pm daily
If you do not have enough room for a meal, you can always grab a locally made ice cream cone and enjoy it while overlooking the Lion’s Gate Bridge!
Location: 5601 Stanley Park Drive
Hours: Varies (Cafe is open 11am-6pm daily)
Takes Reservations: Yes
Website: https://prospectpoint.com/dining/
Lift Bar and Grille
Located near Stanley Park, Lift is a great restaurant that offers a great menu and stunning waterfront views. The best time to be at Lift Bar and Grille is in the evening when you can enjoy the stunning sunset view around Stanley Park. Also, you will find a variety of meals with influences from various cultures and regions like Japanese and French. Not to mention there are two level patios at this restaurant; the downstairs offers a gorgeous setting, and the upstairs offers a heated patio to keep people warm throughout the year.
Location: 333 Mention Mews, Vancouver
Hours: Lunch: M-F 11:30 – 5, Brunch: Sat – Sun 11:00 – 2:45 Dinner: Daily 3pm – 5:30 pm
Takes Reservations: YES
Website: https://www.liftbarandgrill.com/
Papi’s Oyster Bar
Papi’s Oyster Bar opened up in the former Beach Bay Cafe location. It features seafood focused dishes in an unbeatable location!is Guests can get a view of the English Bay from the sun-soaked patio and maybe take a dip into the water at the beach or better yet time your visit during the summer fireworks! It is a place for stunning sunsets while enjoying a causal meal. I would vote it one of the best places to eat in Vancouver on a summer night before the fireworks!
Location: 1193 Denman
Hours: Monday to Thursday 11:30am to 9pm, Friday 11:30am to 10pm, Saturday 10am to 10pm, Sunday 10am to 9pm,
Takes Reservations: YES
Website: https://www.papisoysterbar.com/
Provence Marinaside
Provence Marinaside brings a French style to seafood in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighborhood. It is best visited in the morning or midday because that’s when the patio gets the most sun. This restaurant offers an elegant dining room and a stunning harbor view from the patio. We highly recommend their mimosas; there are about ten variants of mimosas to pick from! Besides mimosas, there are a lot of food options and rest assured that the meals are delicious no matter what you order. The patio fills up quickly during summer, so it’s best to go early or book in advance to secure a seat.
Location: 1177 Marinaside Cres.
Hours: M-F 10:00am to 11:00pm, Sat, Sun, Holidays 11:00am to 11:00pm
Takes Reservations: YES
Website: https://www.provencemarinaside.ca/
Ancora
From fresh seafood to sushi and Canadian food, expect endless high-quality food options at Ancora. This Peruvian-Japanese restaurant offers a great dining experience, lovely views, classy decor, and a great ambiance. Some of the most popular dishes here are Grilled Octopus, Hamachi, Scallops, Peruvian Pork Belly, Shrimp Risotto, and Spicy Tuna Roll (to name a few). In 2020, Ancora received the bronze award for Best Seafood from Vancouver Magazine.
Ancora overlooks the water with boats coming in and out of False Creek. So, as you eat your meal, take your time to enjoy the views around you.
Location: 1600 Howe Street
Hours:
Lunch | 12 to 2:30pm, Daily
Mid-day Menu | 2:30 to 5pm, Friday to Sunday
Cocktail Hour | 2:30 to 5pm, Monday to Thursday
Dinner | 5pm to close, Daily
Takes Reservations: YES
Website: https://www.ancoradining.com/falsecreek
Tapshack Coal Harbor
At Tapshack Coal Harbor, you will find a variety of Canadian cuisine and a lot of local beers & wines. This restaurant has a large waterfront patio, usually heated to keep visitors warm and cozy. Also, while you are here, you will enjoy the stunning and unobstructed views of Stanley Park and Burrard Inlet. Tapshack Coal Harbor is a great place to eat, drink and watch activities on the waterfront.
Location: 1099 W Cordova St.
Hours:
Mon-Wed 12pm-9pm
Thurs 11am-9pm
Fri-Sat 11am-11pm
Sun 11am-9pm
Takes Reservations: Unknown
Website: https://www.tapshack.ca/
Beach House
This Vancouver restaurant provides a great ocean view with a beautiful indoor setting and a heated patio. Beachhouse has a charming venue right on the West Van’s Ambleside Beach and has one of the best patios. Some food options include Calamari, Oysters, and a Salmon Burger. While you enjoy your meal, you can take in the specular views of your surroundings. After your meal, we recommend you walk down the Ambleside for even more stunning views.
Location: 150 25th St, West Vancouver
Takes Reservations: YES
Website: https://www.thebeachhouserestaurant.ca/
The Galley Patio and Grille
Galley Patio and Grille is one of the best Vancouver waterfront restaurants for fast, casual food. This Canadian restaurant has picturesque decor and stunning views of the English Bay. It is located on the second floor of the Jericho sailing center. The menu features classic dishes upscaled with fresh seafood and local ingredients. Some of the people’s favorites include Jamaican jerk burger, Jericho classic hot dogs, and R&B red devil fish. They are a great choice to also order to-go and enjoy it at the beach!
Location: 1300 Discovery St
Hours: M-F 10am – 9pm, Sat-Sun 10am – 10pm
Takes Reservations: unknown
Website: https://thegalley.ca/
Pajo’s fish and chips (Steveston, Richmond)
Pajo has been serving delicious locally caught fish and thick-cut chips with their signature tartar sauce since 1985. It is one of the few places where you can actually dine ON the water! While it is technically outside of Vancouver, it is well worth a visit. One of the best parts of this restaurant is that the food comes in a classic newspaper cone, thus creating a nostalgic dining experience. With brilliant views, superb dining, and a nice ambiance, Pajo’s is one of the best places to eat outside of Vancouver.
Location: 13251 3rd Ave, Richmond (Bayview & Third)
Hours: 10am – 7:30pm
Takes Reservations: No
Website: https://www.pajos.com/pajos-at-the-wharf
The Boatshed Ambleside (West Vancouver)
Located in West Vancouver, The Boatshed offers dishes inspired by west coast ingredients and a picturesque patio overlooking gorgeous views. The restaurant setup is also quite fantastic; the decor is cute, the lighting is magical, and the interior is cozy. This beautiful beach cafe offers a variety of dishes, cocktails, wine, and beer. Some of the most popular food on their menu include Tuna Poke and Roasted Beet & Spinach salad.
Location: 1200 Argyle Ave, West Vancouver
Hours: 9am to 9pm
Takes Reservations: NO
Website: https://www.theboatshedgroup.com/the-boat-shed
Cardero’s Restaurant
Cardero is an incredible waterfront restaurant offering beautiful mountain views and a mouth-watering menu. Located in Coal Harbour, this restaurant is nestled amidst boats, yachts, and seaplanes, thus giving you a view of marina-side adventures. Cardero has a stock menu with options ranging from seafood to burgers and items from a wood-burning oven. Also, Cardero’s Restaurant treats guests to fun live music every day.
Location: 1583 Coal Harbour Quay
Hours: Mon – Sat 11:30am – 12:00am, Sun 11:30am – 11pm
Takes Reservations: Unknown
Pier 7 (North Vancouver)
Pier 7 is one of the Vancouver restaurants on the water with impressive waterfront patio seating, stunning views, and an upscale menu. Located in North Vancouver, Pier 7 offers 180o views of the Vancouver cityscape and an outdoor dining setting featuring seatings on two heated patios on two levels. The menu heavily focuses on seafood with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and fresh water-to-table choices. There are also seasonal offerings of poultry and meat dishes.
Location: 25 Wallace Mews, North Vancouver
Hours: Open Daily: 11:30am – Late
Weekend Brunch: 10:30am – 2pm
Takes Reservations: YES
Website: https://pierseven.ca/
Teahouse
Teahouse is a perfect Vancouver restaurant offering fresh seafood, Canadian cuisine, and great cocktails. Nestled in Stanley Park, Teahouse also offers breathtaking views of the North Shore Mountains and English Bay. The restaurant features views of the ocean at the front and views of towering trees in the backyard. Guests get a complete west coast experience with the menu highlighting fresh local produce and dishes like a smoked salmon raft, beef ragouts, steaks, and salads.
Location: 7501 Stanley Park Dr,
Hours: Thurs-Fri 4pm-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-9pm
Takes Reservations: Unknown
If you have a favorite waterfront dining place in Vancouver that we did not mention, please get in touch so we can check it out!
Lindsay Nieminen is the creator of UncoveringBC.com. She grew up and still lives in the suburbs of Vancouver with her family. She aims to inspire inform, and educate others about traveling in her home province of British Columbia. She is also the creator of carpediemourway.com which aims to show parents how to seek out adventure at home or abroad, with their children in tow!