Vancouver Magazine
Eaters Gotta Eat: Café Medina Owner Robbie Kane’s Fave Meals in the City
Giveaway: Tickets to The Victor’s Rooftop Oasis Event
8 Dog-Friendly Vancouver Patios (Paired with Dog Breeds, Obviously)
Breaking: The Keefer Bar Team Is Bringing New Concept to Cambie Street
3 Very Nice Wines to Drink at the Park
B.C. Place Is Turning Into a Giant Patio for Summer Long Weekends
5 Things to Do in Vancouver This Week (July 22- 28)
Which Craft Club Offers a New Kind of Nightlife—Less Dancing, More Crafting
Survey: Is the Era of the Facebook Event Invite Officially Over?
The Outsider’s Guide: You’ve Conquered the Chief… Now What?
These Are the Best Swimming Holes Near Vancouver
The Outsider’s Guide: How to Book a Camping Spot in B.C. Like a Pro
7 Straw Bags Perfect for Bringing the Picnic Vibes Everywhere You Go
On the Rise: Pamela Card Makes Jewellery Inspired by Bygone Eras
Real Weddings: Top Summer Wedding Trends, According to Vancouver Wedding Pros
Editor's Pick
The best spots to dine in Vancouver with multiple locations.
For the past few years this category has been a two-operation race, with the twin powerhouses of Cactus and Joey going toe-to-toe for not only regional, but national dominance. It’s also a category where the quality—and competition—seems to rise every year. Here are the results from our last Restaurant Awards.
The judges continue to marvel at Cactus’s ongoing ability to create a memorable dining experience—be it watching the seaplanes land while tackling a tuna stack at Coal Harbour or a crispy tofu bowl in Nanaimo. The service (thanks to Sebastien Le Goff) and food (Rob Feenie and team) work seamlessly together, and everyone seems to be having the best time.
Joey should take solace knowing that second place in Vancouver is essentially second place in North America for upscale casual, but one gets the impression the company is too busy dominating new markets—North Van’s Joey Shipyards being the latest example —to have much time for handwringing. The Blur to CC’s Oasis?
READ MORE: The Best Japanese Restaurants in Vancouver
It’s easy to forget what a wasteland our city was for decent Mexican food in the not-too-distant past. And then like a gift from the the horizon came a saviour from Tofino, and now we have a cool half dozen (plus trucks!) to keep us going.
The OG: if not for Earls, this category might not exist. Such was the vision of Bus Fuller who essentially perfected upscale-casual and set his offspring and acolytes throughout the continent to spread the gospel of potato skins.
Nook has quietly risen to four locations, with a minimum of hoopla but plenty of community engagement. Of all the “chains,” it’s the one with its formula of rustic pizza and house-made pasta that feels the most like a neighbourhood joint.