40 mid-range rooms in Vancouver, editor-picked. the comfortable everyday-good rooms in Vancouver, with real cooking and no surprise on the bill. All Vancouver food.
Phnom Penh ★ 4.8
chinatown · 244 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Phnom Penh on East Georgia Street since 1985 runs the Cambodian and Vietnamese kitchen the city sets its bar by, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before 18:00 or after 20:30 to skip the line. Cash takes a discount.
Phnom Penh ★ 4.8
chinatown · 244 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Phnom Penh on East Georgia Street since 1985 runs the Cambodian and Vietnamese kitchen the city sets its bar by, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022.
Tip: No reservations; arrive before 18:00 or after 20:30 to skip the line. Cash takes a discount.
Livia Sweets ★ 4.8
strathcona · 1399 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5L 3X7
Livia on Commercial Drive from baker Cynthia Rogerson is the city's reference Italian-leaning patisserie since 2018, sourdough panettone the calendar event.
Tip: Panettone pre-orders open in October for December; the daily ricotta cakes and brioche turnover sell out by lunch.
Phnom Penh ★ 4.8
chinatown · 244 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Phnom Penh on East Georgia since 1985 runs the Cambodian and Vietnamese kitchen the city sets its bar by, plus the Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 in BC.
Tip: Cash takes a discount; the wings sell out by the late seating. Avoid lunchtime on Saturday.
Beaucoup Bakery ★ 4.7
south-granville · 2150 Fir Street, Vancouver, BC V6J 3B1
Beaucoup Bakery on Fir Street is Vancouver's reference French laminated pastry shop since 2012, the gold-standard almond croissant plus daily seating.
Tip: Almond croissants sell out by 11:00 on Saturday; weekday morning is the calmer queue.
Batard Boulangerie ★ 4.7
kitsilano · 2737 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 2G4
Batard on West Broadway is Vancouver's reference natural-leavened bread bakery since 2017, the daily baguette pulled hot at 11:00 the city standard.
Tip: Baguettes pulled fresh at 11:00 and 14:30; the kitchen sells out by 15:00 on Saturday.
Revolver ★ 4.7
gastown · 325 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N4
Revolver on Cambie in Gastown is Vancouver's reference third-wave coffee bar since 2010, the espresso flight format and a rotating multi-roaster bean program.
Tip: Counter only and no laptops; the espresso flight pairs three roasters side by side at the bar.
Revolver ★ 4.7
gastown · 325 Cambie Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N4
Revolver on Cambie in Gastown is Vancouver's reference third-wave roaster and cafe since 2010, the espresso flight format and a rotating guest-roaster bar.
Tip: The espresso flight pairs three roasters side by side at the bar; whole-bean retail for guest roasters too.
Brassneck Brewery ★ 4.7
mount-pleasant · 2148 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3C5
Brassneck Brewery on Main Street since 2013 is the city's reference craft brewery, brewer Conrad Gmoser's rotating taps and a small-glass tasting room.
Tip: Tasting glasses only at the bar; growlers and small-format bottles for takeaway. The cask Tuesday is the calendar.
Phnom Penh ★ 4.7
chinatown · 244 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Phnom Penh on East Georgia closes at 21:00 most nights, the late-evening Cambodian counter for a final wing plate and a glass of beer in Chinatown today.
Tip: Last seating around 20:30; cash takes a discount. The wings are still the calling card late.
Phnom Penh ★ 4.7
chinatown · 244 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z7
Phnom Penh on East Georgia is Chinatown's reference Cambodian-Vietnamese kitchen since 1985, the chicken wings the city's most-photographed budget plate.
Tip: Cash takes a discount; the chicken wings with rice noodle bowl runs $15. Arrive before 18:00 to skip the line.
Nemesis Coffee ★ 4.6
gastown · 302 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1K6
Nemesis Coffee on West Hastings is the design-forward roastery and cafe since 2018, plus a Strathcona roasting hub and the signature pistachio latte program.
Tip: Counter is busy through 11:00; the East Van roastery on Industrial has the brunch menu and patio.
Caffe La Tana ★ 4.6
commercial-drive · 635 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, BC V5L 3W3
Caffe La Tana on Commercial Drive from chefs Paul Grunberg and Lucais Syme since 2019 is a Roman-style daytime cafe and evening wine bar with house-made.
Tip: Daytime espresso bar turns into a natural-wine and amaro bar after 17:00; sit at the marble counter for the pasta of the day.
Nemesis Coffee Roastery ★ 4.6
strathcona · 1502 Triumph Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 1K7
Nemesis Coffee Roastery on Triumph Street is the design-forward East Van roastery with a cafe and bakery counter, two more city branches including Gastown.
Tip: The Triumph roastery has the larger pastry counter and outdoor seating; Saturday cuppings open to the public 10:00.
Medina Cafe ★ 4.6
downtown · 780 Richards Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 3A4
Medina Cafe on Richards Street since 2008 is Vancouver's reference Mediterranean-leaning brunch room, the lavender waffle the city's most-photographed pour.
Tip: Walk-in only; weekend queue from 09:00, weekday lunch is calmer. The fricassee is the cult order.
Bestie ★ 4.5
chinatown · 105 East Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T6
Bestie on East Pender since 2014 is a 25-seat German sausage and beer counter, Vancouver Magazine Best Casual Restaurant 2018 and a Chinatown anchor.
Tip: Walk-in counter only; cash-priced after-work specials between 17:00 and 18:00.
Kintaro Ramen ★ 4.5
west-end · 788 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L5
Kintaro Ramen on Denman is Vancouver's first Sapporo-style ramen shop since 1999, the city's original tonkotsu counter and a Robson corridor staple.
Tip: Counter only; line up before 12:00 or after 14:00 to avoid the lunch queue.
Purebread Gastown ★ 4.5
gastown · 159 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H4
Purebread's Gastown branch is the Whistler-origin bakery's Vancouver outpost since 2014, the sticky cinnamon brioche the kitchen's calling card.
Tip: Boxed pastry-of-the-day samplers from the counter; the Granville Island branch has more daily varieties.
Small Victory Bakery ★ 4.5
yaletown · 1088 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W9
Small Victory in Yaletown since 2014 is a French-leaning bakery and cafe, plus newer Burrard and Mount Pleasant branches and a reference almond croissant.
Tip: Croissants sell out by 11:00 on Saturday; the Burrard branch is the calmer seat.
Cadeaux Bakery ★ 4.5
chinatown · 172 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1G1
Cadeaux Bakery on Powell in Railtown from baker Eleanor Chow Waterfall is a French pastry counter since 2015, layer cakes and viennoiserie the calling card.
Tip: Pre-order layer cakes 48 hours in advance through the website; the counter does smaller picks daily.
Small Victory Bakery Yaletown ★ 4.5
yaletown · 1088 Homer Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2W9
Small Victory in Yaletown is a French-leaning patisserie and cafe since 2014, plus two newer city branches and the city's reference almond croissant.
Tip: Counter line through 10:00 on Saturday; tables turn fast and Sunday's slower.
Juice Bar ★ 4.5
chinatown · 240 East Pender Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1T8
Juice Bar on East Pender in Chinatown since 2019 is a sandwich-and-wine counter with a BC-focused natural wine list and a deep pet-nat selection.
Tip: Counter only; the sandwich-of-the-day pairs with a glass at the till. Bottle shop attached.
33 Acres Brewing Company ★ 4.5
mount-pleasant · 15 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1M8
33 Acres on West 8th in Mount Pleasant since 2013 is a design-forward brewery taproom, Vancouver's reference lifestyle-brand craft brewer plus a pizza floor.
Tip: Saturday lineups by 14:00; the lager and the wheat are the gateway beers. The 33 Cafe pours coffee in the morning.
Strange Fellows Brewing ★ 4.5
strathcona · 1345 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC V5L 3K8
Strange Fellows Brewing on Clark Drive since 2014 is an East Vancouver craft brewery with a Belgian-leaning program, plus a tasting room and gallery space.
Tip: Cask beer on Wednesdays; the Saison and Talisman pale ale are the gateway beers. The tasting room is also a gallery.
Vij's Railway Express ★ 4.5
south-granville · Granville Island and rotating locations, Vancouver
Vij's Railway Express is Vikram Vij's food truck since 2010, a Granville Island Saturday vendor, the operator's casual format of the Vij's restaurant kitchen.
Tip: Schedule on the operator's Instagram week of; Granville Island Saturdays through summer is the most reliable stop.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka ★ 4.5
downtown · 1690 Robson Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 1C7
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka on Robson is the Vancouver branch of the Asahikawa-based chain since 2011, the cherry pork chashu and salt-broth shio bowl.
Tip: Counter only; queue tops 30 minutes at peak lunch and dinner. The shio bowl is the kitchen's standard pour.
Juke Fried Chicken ★ 4.5
chinatown · 182 Keefer Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1X3
Juke Fried Chicken on Keefer Street since 2017 is a Southern-style fried chicken counter, the reference soul-food window plus a sister Juke 4-Front cocktail.
Tip: Counter only; the bone-in dark meat is the kitchen's calling card. Weekend late-night service runs to 23:00.
Don't Argue Pizzeria ★ 4.5
cambie-village · 3240 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5V 3M8
Don't Argue Pizzeria on Main from chef Phil Scarfone since 2018 is a 12-seat New Haven-style pizza counter, hand-tossed pies plus a chicken parm sub special.
Tip: Walk-in only; the Main and Cambie branches have a takeout window for whole pies. The chicken parm is the kitchen's reference plate.
Jam Cafe ★ 4.5
downtown · 556 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2L3
Jam Cafe on Beatty Street since 2015 is Vancouver's reference all-day brunch counter, walk-in only with a queue that wraps the block before 11:00 weekends.
Tip: Walk-in only; download the JoinThe.Queue app to hold your place from home before the line forms.
Cafe Medina at Pierre's ★ 4.5
downtown · 780 Richards Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 3A4
Medina at Pierre's runs the city's reference Mediterranean brunch line since 2008, the lavender Belgian waffle the signature pour and a queue staple.
Tip: Same as Medina Cafe; walk-ins from 09:00 and the brunch line is busiest Saturday from 10:30.
Nuba Gastown ★ 4.4
gastown · 207 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1H7
Nuba Gastown on West Hastings is the second branch of Vancouver's reference Lebanese kitchen since 2004, halal-certified, family-run by the Sabbagh family.
Tip: Multiple locations across Vancouver; this Gastown branch takes walk-ins at the bar plus reservations on OpenTable.
Fat Mao Noodles ★ 4.4
chinatown · 217 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z6
Fat Mao Noodles on East Georgia from chefs Mark Perrier and Angus An since 2018 is a Cantonese noodle counter, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2022 and a late-night.
Tip: Walk-ins from 17:00; the kitchen closes 23:30 the latest open in Chinatown post-pandemic.
Ramen Danbo ★ 4.4
west-end · 1833 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M4
Ramen Danbo on West 4th is the Vancouver branch of the Fukuoka Hakata-style ramen shop, three city branches since 2015 and a Robson late-night standby.
Tip: Counter only; the West End branch on Robson opens until 01:00 Fridays and Saturdays.
Anchor Bakery ★ 4.4
mount-pleasant · 184 East 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5V 2N1
Anchor Bakery on East 28th in Riley Park is a wholesale-leaning sourdough kitchen with a small public counter since 2017, country loaves and rye the standard.
Tip: Limited public hours; pre-order through the website for Saturday pickup. The whole-wheat loaf is the better keeper.
Marquis Wine Cellars ★ 4.4
west-end · 1034 Davie Street, Vancouver, BC V6E 1M3
Marquis Wine Cellars on Davie Street since 1986 is Vancouver's longest-running wine bottle shop and tasting bar, with weekly Saturday tasting sessions.
Tip: Saturday tastings 13:00 to 17:00 open the bar; reservations on weeknights for the producer tastings.
Powell Brewery ★ 4.4
strathcona · 1357 Powell Street, Vancouver, BC V5L 1G3
Powell Brewery on Powell Street since 2012 is one of the East Van breweries that built the Yeast Van strip, Old Jalopy pale ale the flagship pour.
Tip: Old Jalopy pale ale is the kitchen's flagship; the small lager pairs with the food trucks that rotate outside.
Tacofino Burrito Bar ★ 4.4
gastown · 15 West Cordova Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 1C9
Tacofino on West Cordova since 2014 is the Tofino-origin food-truck-turned-restaurant, Vancouver's reference Baja-style fish taco, four city locations.
Tip: The Gastown branch has a full bar; the original cart in Tofino remains the calendar event.
Fat Mao Noodles ★ 4.4
chinatown · 217 East Georgia Street, Vancouver, BC V6A 1Z6
Fat Mao Noodles on East Georgia from Angus An runs the late-night Cantonese line in Chinatown, kitchen until 23:30 most nights, the post-pandemic late seat.
Tip: Walk-in from 17:00; last orders around 22:45. The kitchen closes 23:30 the latest open in Chinatown.
Ramen Danbo ★ 4.4
west-end · 1833 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V6J 1M4
Ramen Danbo's Robson and 4th Avenue branches run Hakata-style tonkotsu late into the weekend, the city's reference late ramen counter for under $25.
Tip: Robson branch open until 01:00 Fridays and Saturdays; counter only and queues form by 23:00.
Kintaro Ramen ★ 4.4
west-end · 788 Denman Street, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L5
Kintaro Ramen on Denman is Vancouver's first Sapporo-style ramen shop since 1999, the original tonkotsu counter for under $20, plus a Robson late seating.
Tip: Counter only; line up before 12:00 or after 14:00 to avoid the lunch queue. Cash takes a discount.