Restaurant Awards 2026: The Best Upscale Contemporary Restaurants in Vancouver

Gold: L’Abattoir

When gold winner L’Abattoir lost founder and acclaimed chef Lee Cooper last year, the fate of the French-ish Gastown spot was unclear. But new exec chef Jasper Cruickshank has proved that he’s more than capable of dazzling diners, too—could L’Ab have another future Chef of the Year on their hands? Under Cruickshank’s watch, L’Abattoir remains sharply focused on local flavours, brought forward with unerring French technique. The deftly grilled saddle of lamb is richly gamey, and a Fizzy Lemonade parfait of local berries sorbet, vanilla cremuex and fresh lemon soda tastes like summer in a glass. “L’Abattoir has the ambience and service where you can make those forever memories,” declared one judge.

217 Carrall St.
labattoir.ca 

Silver: Elem

Newcomer Elem takes home the silver in this category, welcoming diners to experience its beautifully plated global cuisine in a sleek, modern space. The service is so attentive it borders on intense, but server eagerness is softened with the delivery of artful dishes like chef Vish Mayekar’s signature lamb kebabs, delicately decorated with radish flowers.

2110 Main St.
elemvancouver.com 

Bronze: Kissa Tanto

And working with a whole different style of fusion is our outstanding bronze winner, Japanese-Italian spot Kissa Tanto. “If you ever wonder if modern dining has anything genuinely substantive to say, a meal at Kissa Tanto is an emphatic yes,” said one judge. Every dish at Kissa has chef Joël Watanabe’s unmistakable POV: deeply sophisticated use of the best local ingredients, run through with dark Italian glamour and Japanese attention to detail. 

263 E Pender St.
kissatanto.com

Honourable Mentions

AnnaLena
1809 W 1st Ave.
annalena.ca

Botanist
1038 Canada Pl.
botanistrestaurant.com

Find more of the best Vancouver restaurants on our list of 2026 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Award winners.