These Are the Finalists for the 2026 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

Showstopping, refreshing, delightful, decadent. These are the words our Restaurant Awards judges used to describe their experiences at the absolutely stellar list of restaurants up for consideration in the 2026 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards.

Judges and readers alike did some serious legwork to uncover some of the best meals, rooms and experiences across Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler over the past year, and we’re delighted to finally present the fruits of their labour: a well-curated list of more than 250 restaurants across 40 categories here on our 37th annual Restaurant Awards finalist list.

Sure, this behemoth list may not seem like it’s whittled down to the bare bones, but that’s just proof that our dining scene is just too juicy to contain, from the city’s booming omakase experiences to our readers’ favourite downtown restaurants.

And we’ll be whittling it down even further as we announce the winners on May 4, 2026 in the magazine (you’ve got your free subscription, right?), online and at our annual Restaurant Awards event.

Want your own personal reservation to experience it all? We’re thrilled to be hosting this year’s awards ceremony at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver… and tickets are on sale now.

Believe us when we tell you: These always sell out, so grab yours now to be the first to know who takes home the gold in these categories and more, including the coveted Chef of the Year and Restaurant of the Year awards.

But before you start, you’ll probably want to read the full finalist list first—due diligence and all that. So no more dilly-dallying. Here we go. Congratulations to every very-tasty contender here, and best of luck on May 4.

Get your tickets now!

2026 Vanmag Restaurant Awards: Judged Division Finalists

This division is judged by our expert panel—who have been working (and eating) hard since late last summer. For more information on how judging works, you can read this outline.

2026 Vanmag Restaurant Awards: Readers’ Choice Finalists

Readers’ Choice: Best Chinatown

Bao Bei
Chinatown BBQ
Cofu Chinatown
DD Mau
Fat Mao
Kissa Tanto
Phnom Penh

Readers’ Choice: Best Commercial Drive

Bar Corso
Caffe La Tana
Kulinarya
Livia
Lunch Lady
Magari by Oca
Nomo Nomo

Readers’ Choice: Best Downtown

Autostrada
Big Way Hot Pot
Boulevard
Desi Indian Lounge
Hello Nori
Nightingale
Riley’s

Readers’ Choice: Best Fraserhood

Ama
Bar Bravo
Chez Celine
Les Faux Bourgeois
Nammos
Pampanga’s Cuisine
Savio Volpe
Zab Bite

Readers’ Choice: Best Gastown

Bar Tartare
Di Beppe
Is That French
L’Abattoir
Oku
Water Street Cafe

Readers’ Choice: Best Hastings-Sunrise

Dachi
Folietta
Nero Tondo
Peya
Red Wagon
Selene
The Green Brunch and Well-Being

Readers’ Choice: Best Kerrisdale

Asa Sushi
Big Way Hot Pot
Bufala
Minerva’s
Okini
Vegan Shoku

Readers’ Choice: Best Kitsilano

AnnaLena
Cockney Kings
Delara
Oddfish
Maenam
Provisions
Pho Japolo

Readers’ Choice: Best Mount Pleasant

Anh and Chi
Burdock and Co
Casa Molina
Como Taperia
District Eleven
Lila
Published on Main

Readers’ Choice: Best West End

Big Way Hot Pot
Espana
Hello Nori
Maxine’s
Noah’s Cafe
Nook
Sainam

Readers’ Choice: Best Yaletown

Blue Water Cafe
Brix and Mortar
Dovetail
Elisa
Homer St. Cafe
Provence Marinaside
West Oak

Readers’ Choice: Best Neighbourhood Wildcard

Casereccio Foods
Collective Goods
Gary’s
Niwa
Northern Cafe
The Mackenzie Room

Readers’ Choice: Best Cocktail Bar

Ama
Bar Corso
Good Thief
Keefer Bar
June
Meo
Nomo Nomo

Readers’ Choice: Best Brunch

Café Medina
Elio Volpe
Glowbal
Homer St. Cafe
Maxine’s
Northern Cafe
Provence Marinaside

Readers’ Choice: Best Pizza

AJ’s Brooklyn Pizza
Elio Volpe
Ignite
Nook
Onda by Casereccio
Thank You Pizza
Via Tevere

Readers’ Choice: Best Plant-Based

Chickpea
Cofu Chinatown
Do Chay
Folke
Meet
The Acorn

Readers’ Choice: Best Sushi

Coast
Hello Nori
Miku
Tom Sushi
Toshi
Kishimoto
Blue Water Cafe
Sushi Hil

Snag your tickets to the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards here.

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2026

These Are the Finalists for the 2026 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards

2026 Vanmag Restaurant Awards: Judged Division Finalists

Best African & Diaspora

Best Casual

Best Chain

Best Chinese

Best Fine Dining

Best French

Best Indian

Best Informal Contemporary

Best Italian

Best Japanese

Best Korean

Best Latin American

Best Mediterranean

Best Middle Eastern

Best New

Best Omakase

Best Seafood

Sustainability Award Finalists

Best Thai

Best Upscale Contemporary

Best Victoria

Best Vietnamese

Best Whistler