Désolé, le contenu de cette page est uniquement disponible en anglais.
Alison Cairns has been working in writing and publishing for over a decade. A devoted Vancouverite, she loves exploring the hidden gems and new happenings — both cultural and culinary — in the city. She is also a lover of coffee, wine, craft beer and pretty much all food except sea urchin. She staves off the results of these loves by running the seawall, cycling the city and hiking the mountains.
Mon X
The allure of India’s signature spiced and fragrant hot drink has taken Vancouver by storm. Whether you like your chai straight up as is most authentic or creamy white with steamed milk for a truly warming treat, there are some great cafés to get your homemade chai fix. [Image credit: iStock.com/lolostock]
Macarons, dainty almond pastries from France, jewel-toned and almost too precious to eat, are taking Vancouver pastry shops by storm. Connoisseurs are seeking out the most authentic as well as the most adventurously flavoured and consensus shows these shops are your macaron destinations. Pair with tea or coffee for the ultimate French experience. [Photo courtesy of Bel Cafe]
The flavours of Italy conjure up a perfect mix of freshness and comfort. Pillowy pasta, ripe tomatoes, savoury olive oil, creamy white or hard salty cheeses. This list features some restaurants from the white-tableclothed to the rustic trattoria that demonstrate why Italian is some of our favourite food.
Unlike Toronto, Vancouver doesn’t have a particularly strong Caribbean influence. Yet in a city as culinarily diverse as ours, you’re bound to come across the warm, spicy flavours of the West Indies. These six places will transport you to the tropics with their Island flavours and one-love vibes.
There’s something about passing large platters or reaching forks across the table to spear a piece of food that promotes lively conversation and evokes lively family dinners of old. These restaurants are bringing that nostalgia and tradition to your table. And the best part? You don’t have to do the dishes. [Photo courtesy of La Pentola]
First dates can be nerve-wracking. You’ll definitely need a little sustenance to calm that nervous stomach (and perhaps a drink or two). These places will help you ease into the evening — or afternoon — taking care of food and drinks so you can focus on what’s important: securing the second date. [Image credit: iStock.com/gilaxia]
They say you first eat with your eyes. But it’s not just the food on your plate that offers an initial impression of a restaurant. The design can have just as strong an influence on how you enjoy your evening out. These stunning dining rooms will make digging in all the more luxurious.
The art of chocolate making combines precision with true creativity and is on full display around Vancouver. Indulge in your favourite sweet treat — you know that dark chocolate is good for you, right? — at any one of these irresistible shops featuring chocolates that are as beautiful to look at as they are delicious to eat.
When the show is at 8, it can sometimes be a scramble to figure out dinner beforehand. Thankfully, some excellent restaurants have cropped up in the last few years that cater to the theatre-going crowd. All just steps from the venues, these will prevent any embarrassing stomach growling during the violin solo.
Eating well on the go is tough with our busy lives and hectic schedules. But in health-conscious Vancouver, we’re lucky to have fresh salad bars bursting with seasonal produce and supplemented by protein-rich add-ins like cheese, nuts, tofu and eggs. Take charge of your own healthy eating with these custom-salad take-out joints.
Vancouverites may know their coffee and craft beer, even their wine. But when it comes to tea, we have a lot to learn. Forget that dusty tasting, over-steeped cup with the string hanging over the side — loose leaf teas are joining the revolution in this city’s newest beverage obsession.
Some crave sweets at meal’s end; others prefer a selection of cheeses. Why not have the best of both worlds with a decadent slice of cheesecake? Smooth, creamy, rich yet light, it’s no wonder there are die-hard cheesecake lovers on the hunt for the best in the city. We think we’ve found them. [Photo credit: iStock.com/Arseniaya Pavlova]