5 restaurants you have to eat at in Downtown Vancouver

VANCOUVER, CANADA - JUNE 30: The exterior of a new downtown office highrise building is viewed on June 30, 2016, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia, is the most populous city in Western Canada and was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, CANADA - JUNE 30: The exterior of a new downtown office highrise building is viewed on June 30, 2016, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Vancouver, the largest city in British Columbia, is the most populous city in Western Canada and was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. (Photo by George Rose/Getty Images)

Hitting up Downtown Vancouver is an absolute must anytime you’re in the city. While there are a lot of interesting attractions in and around the Vancouver, it’s hard to beat the Downtown core when it comes to arts, culture and more.

The Vancouver Art Gallery. Gastown. The Telus World of Science. All of these attractions call Downtown Vancouver home. But the biggest draws might be the seemingly endless array of places to eat. That alone is a reason to spend time there.

Two Parrots Bar and Grill, Downtown Vancouver

A place like Two Parrots Bar and Grill probably won’t pop up on most “best of” lists but it probably should. It’s the kind of place that people go to get a drink and a burger in an unpretentious atmosphere. That can be hard to find in Downtown Vancouver.

Honestly, this is the spot to find classic bar food that just tastes good. There are several options on the menu, including non-meat options. But it also has an incredible selection of wraps and burgers, some of which are named after different streets and neighborhoods.

Purebread, Downtown Vancouver

Downtown Vancouver
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA – AUGUST 04: A woman wearing a protective mask rides a bicycle along the seawall at Stanley Park on August 04, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada. The Government of British Columbia has extended the Provincial State of Emergency until August 18, 2020 under the Emergency Program Act to support the Province’s COVID-19 pandemic response. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)

Purebread is a bakery that started in Whistler, and now has three locations in Vancouver. One of them is, of course, in Downtown Vancouver in Gastown. It has made a name for itself as a great place to go for delicious baked goods.

Naturally, Purebread is well known for its tasty sweet treats but it’s also filled with savory goodness suitable for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make time in your schedule for this one because it will become a favorite really quickly.

Chambar, Downtown Vancouver

This restaurant has, without question, some of the best modern casual dining you will find in Vancouver as a whole, let alone Downtown Vancouver. Their comprehensive menus provide an array of options for any time of day.

Chambar stuns with its inventive Belgian-inspired dishes in addition to their sustainable seafood ethos. Plus, if you’re in town and looking for a great brunch spot on the weekends, Chambar is certainly the right place for you.

Japadog, Downtown Vancouver

Downtown Vancouver
BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA – FEBRUARY 03: Mountains are seen shortly before sunrise as the sky glows pink against downtown Vancouver skyline on February 03, 2021 in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Andrew Chin/Getty Images)

Japadog opened its first stand in Vancouver in 2005, becoming a popular spot for locals. It grew from there as more stands and restaurants opened. The small chain has even reached a point that it has a couple of California locations.

Their Japanese style hot dogs have become synonymous with Vancouver, and feature some incredible inventive combinations. The Terimayo is reputedly their signature dog, featuring teriyaki sauce, mayo and seaweed.

Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, Downtown Vancouver

Boulevard is one of those restaurants where the space is almost as big of a draw as the food. The dining room. The oyster bar. The lounge. That is just the beginning of all the dining experiences Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar offers its guests, each with its own unique charms.

The star of the show is still the menu, of course. Their dinner menu features a tempting array of incredible seafood dishes, including their epic seafood towers. But Boulevard is also the perfect place to go for a steak or a simple bowl of delectable clam chowder.