July 01 2022, Dilawri BC
From rivers and lakes to the Pacific Ocean, the Lower Mainland has plenty of picturesque waterfront—and it’s best enjoyed with a knife and fork in hand. We’ve rounded up a dozen favourite waterside restaurants, from Vancouver to New Westminster, to help take the guesswork out of your dining plans.
Ancora
West Vancouver & False Creek
Peruvian and Japanese cuisine meld harmoniously at Ancora, which has not one but two stunning waterfront locations. Both fine-dining destinations have cool and contemporary interiors, sustainable seafood-forward menus (this is the place to order fresh oysters), and a chic “cocktail hour” instead of “happy hour”.
The Boathouse
Port Moody, New Westminster, White Rock, & Kitsilano
When you see the name Boathouse, you know it translates to “great view”. It’s also a local favourite, which has been in business for over 35 years. With four locations to choose from across the Lower Mainland, these waterfront restos are perfect for special occasion steak-and-seafood feasts, and front-row seats to natural beauty.
Earls Ambleside Beach
West Vancouver
As the newest Earls in town (open since 2018), the room is bright and modern, accompanied by a great patio, excellent wine and cocktail list, and popular happy hour selections for easy sipping and snacking. “West Coast modern meets California beach” is how Earls classifies its menu and vibe, and we couldn’t agree more.
Provence Marinaside
Yaletown
While Provence, France may not be on your travel list for this year, the next best thing could well be brunch on Provence Marinaside’s patio. What’s better than fresh crepes, a glass of sparkling wine in hand, and the warm ocean breeze on your face?
Hart House Restaurant
Burnaby
This historic Tudor Revival building has lived many lives—a private estate with a renowned iris garden and a film set for a Bette Davis film, among them. Most recently, Hart House is a wonderful Mediterranean restaurant with views of Deer Lake. There is a stunning patio, too.
Longtail Kitchen
New Westminster
Chef Angus An’s casual New Westminster outpost—a sister restaurant of his celebrated Vancouver resto, Maenam—is the place to go for Thai and Southeast Asian style street food. Take your generous helpings of Longtail Kitchen pad thai and shrimp rolls to the River Market’s shared patio, with sweeping views of the Fraser River in front of the quay.
Milltown Bar & Grill
Richmond
We loved discovering this hidden gem near the Fraser River. While it is technically in Richmond, Milltown is only accessible from Vancouver’s Marpole, and there are two waterfront patio views. North-facing gives a marina-and-mountains view, while south-facing overlooks the river and YVR runway for plane-watching perfection.
JOEY Shipyards
North Vancouver
The inside of this JOEY looks more like an art gallery than a “premium casual” restaurant, and the view can’t be beat. Gaze across the water at downtown Vancouver from this Shipyards District flagship location; if it’s sunny, snag a seat on the almost-10,000-square-foot waterfront patio.
The Galley Patio & Grill
Jericho Beach
The Galley is Jericho Beach’s biggest patio, and it’s finally open for the season. The first-come, first-served beachside grill atop the Jericho Sailing Centre on Vancouver’s West Side is the perfect casual spot to eat beer-battered fish ‘n’ chips while watching beachgoers and boaters at play against a mountain backdrop.
Cactus Club
English Bay
From gigantic salads to classic hamburgers, this glass-encased casual fine dining spot has something to satisfy every craving. More importantly? Nothing gets closer to the waters of English Bay than this Cactus Club Cafe. There are great views to be had both on the beachfront patio and in the restaurant itself.
The Sandbar
English Bay
There are many waterfront restaurants in Granville Island, but a longstanding fan favourite is Sandbar. This classic harbour-view seafood mecca has it all, from sushi to seafood towers and everything in between, and their heated, covered patio is ideal for a leisurely lunch.
Lift
Coal Harbour
Tourists flock to Lift for its regional cuisine, stellar B.C. wine list, and quintessential Vancouver views of Stanley Park and the mountains—but it shouldn’t be forgotten by locals, either. Here, the heated rooftop patio is all about al fresco dining in style.
