The best restaurants in Vancouver right now

Published on Main has become Vancouver’s culinary overachiever, collecting accolades while somehow remaining genuinely fun. Chef Gus Stieffenhofer-Brandson’s ever-changing menu turns B.C.’s best ingredients into playful, inventive dishes that might pair spot prawns with fermented vegetables or smoky meats with bright herbal sauces. The room buzzes and every plate feels like it has its own story to tell.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Published on Main (@published.on.main)

If butter, pork and French Canadian comfort food sound like your love language, book a table at St. Lawrence immediately. Chef J.C. Poirier celebrates Quebec’s culinary traditions with rich tourtières, duck, foie gras and impeccably executed classics. The atmosphere feels equal parts neighbourhood bistro and special occasion destination, while the menu delivers enough indulgence to justify loosening your belt.

Tucked into a historic Gastown building, L’Abattoir continues to prove that elegance doesn’t have to be stuffy. Refined West Coast ingredients meet French technique in dishes layered with texture and flavour: think delicate seafood, buttery sauces and beautifully cooked meats. The legendary wine list doesn’t hurt either. Few Vancouver restaurants balance polish and comfort quite so effortlessly.

The menu at Mackenzie Room bounces effortlessly between global influences, combining bold spices, local ingredients and plenty of creative energy. You might find rich braised meats, vibrant seafood dishes or vegetables dressed in punchy sauces. The atmosphere stays relaxed, but the cooking is serious business. Every visit feels a little different, which is half the fun.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by The Mackenzie Room | Vancouver (@themackenzieroom)

Barbara is the kind of restaurant that food lovers can’t stop talking about. The intimate tasting-menu spot champions local ingredients, fermentation and open-fire cooking, transforming humble produce into deeply complex dishes. One course might lean bright and vegetal, the next smoky and rich. It’s thoughtful without being precious, ambitious without trying too hard and consistently one of the city’s most exciting meals.

What happens when Italian and Japanese cuisines fall madly in love? Kissa Tanto. This Chinatown favourite serves silky house-made pasta alongside pristine seafood, rich ragùs and Japanese-inspired small plates. The signature charcoal udon is practically a Vancouver icon at this point. Add moody lighting and cocktails worth their own cheers, and you’ve got one of the city’s most seductive dinner reservations.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kissa Tanto (@kissatanto)

Long before local sourcing became trendy, Burdock & Co. was building its menu around B.C. farms. Chef Andrea Carlson’s cooking is elegant, vegetable-forward and deeply connected to the seasons. Delicate broths, freshly harvested greens, wild mushrooms and pristine seafood all get their moment to shine. The result feels distinctly West Coast: fresh, understated and quietly confident.

Chef Masayoshi Baba lets exceptional seafood do the heavy lifting at his self-titled restaurant, serving pristine nigiri, sashimi and seasonal omakase courses with remarkable precision. Every piece arrives perfectly balanced, from the temperature of the rice to the cut of the fish. It’s not flashy, but that’s exactly the point. This is sushi stripped down to its essence.

At AnnaLena, fine dining loosens its tie and has a grand ole time. Chef Michael Robbins delivers tasting menus packed with surprise and delight, whether that’s buttery sablefish, perfectly rosé duck or vegetables transformed into something you’ll be talking about for days. Expect bold flavours, clever techniques and just enough whimsy to keep things interesting without ever feeling gimmicky.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by AnnaLena (@annalenayvr)

Fire does most of the talking at Sumibiyaki Arashi. The intimate restaurant specializes in Japanese charcoal grilling, coaxing incredible flavour from premium seafood, wagyu and seasonal vegetables. Expect deeply savoury aromas and laser-focused execution—this is minimalist cooking in the best sense, where every ingredient earns its place, and every bite is greater than the sum of its parts.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Dine Out Vancouver Festival (@dineoutvanfest)

Savio Volpe feels like the Italian dinner party you wish someone would invite you to every weekend. The menu is packed with wood-fired meats, handmade pasta and vegetables treated with surprising care. Plates are hearty, generous and deeply satisfying, whether you’re diving into lamb, ragù or a mountain of pasta. Bring friends and order more than seems reasonable.

Elem approaches fine dining with a playful, modern perspective. The tasting menu changes constantly but often highlights vegetables, fermentation and unexpected flavour combinations. One bite might deliver bright acidity, the next earthy richness or subtle spice. The room is sleek, the presentation beautiful and the experience refreshingly contemporary.

One of Vancouver’s newer sushi success stories, Sushi Hill has quickly earned a devoted following for its meticulous omakase experience. Impeccably sourced seafood, beautifully seasoned rice and restrained presentation keep the focus exactly where it belongs: flavour. Expect buttery toro, delicate white fish and seasonal surprises delivered with precision and care.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sushi Hil (@sushihil_restaurant)

This Commercial Drive spot proves that pasta can absolutely be the main character. The Mount Pleasant favourite specializes in fresh, house-made noodles tossed with seasonal ingredients, rich sauces and plenty of personality. One day it might be silky ribbons coated in brown butter, the next a hearty ragù that demands extra bread. Casual, lively and consistently delicious, it’s comfort food at its finest.