Nestled between snowcapped mountains and the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver is among the world’s most beautifully situated cities. Its location also inspires its globally recognised food scene, which celebrates the area’s natural bounty. 

Since 2022 when the prestigious MICHELIN Guide launched a Vancouver edition, the city’s restaurants have had stellar recognition. This year, Vancouver guide entries grew to 76, including 12 Stars and 15 Bib Gourmands, denoting quality food at accessible prices. Gwendal Poullennec, the guide’s international director says: “The passion, talent and camaraderie of the Vancouver community is truly palpable and makes it a perfect destination for foodies both near and far.” 

Beyond stand out restaurants, the city rewards culinary exploration with food trucks, foraging tours and Canada's largest food and drink festival, Dine Out Vancouver, which straddles January and February.

Foodie experiences are a great way to entice clients to Vancouver in the shoulder seasons and mild winters, making the most of direct flights from the UK. There’s even a Where to Eat module in the Vancouver Specialist Program to help you add insider tips to itineraries.

Once you've completed the Vancouver Specialist Program you'll have an appetite for the destination's culinary scene, so here are five hot areas your food-loving clients will thank you for basing them near.

Main Street - the ‘MICHELIN Mile’

Clients can move from tapas at ¿CóMO? Taperia to smart plant-based dishes at The Acorn – both MICHELIN-listed, or feast on Bib Gourmand-awarded Asian dishes at Anh & Chi or Sushi Hil.

For fine, seasonal Pacific Northwest cuisine, recommend long-standing MICHELIN Star holders Burdock & Co and Published on Main. Intimate yakitori restaurant Sumibiyaki Arashi gained a MICHELIN Star this year.

The most dynamic of Vancouver’s culinary destinations, this North-South corridor has hip boutiques and breweries, an annual mural festival and many independent eateries. As the ‘MICHELIN Mile’ nickname suggests, the area boasts a glut of award-winning restaurants, particularly around Mount Pleasant.

Gastown

Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood with its cobbled streets and landmark gas-powered clock is also known for cocktail bars and comfort food. Unsurprisingly, it’s a food tour favourite. DJ sets, street performers and markets enliven the atmosphere when Water Street goes car-free on summer Sundays.  

International food influences are much in evidence, from tasting trays and bibimbap at Zoomak Korean Tavern to Ukrainian baked goods and sharing boards at Kozak.

For more elevated dining, suggest MICHELIN-recommended, French-influenced L'Abattoir, named for its former meat packing district location. A short walk beyond Gastown in Coal Harbour, waterfront restaurant Miku is also MICHELIN-listed.

Commercial Drive

This eastern Vancouver neighbourhood, known locally as simply ‘The Drive,’ has a Boho vibe fuelled by independent shops and eateries and a live music scene. The city’s eight block Little Italy is here, featuring trattorias and gelato bars.

Commercial Drive’s Magari by Oca is MICHELIN Bib Gourmand awarded for its pasta making skill and bistro-style charm. It even has a ‘facciamo noi’ off menu tasting option. By contrast, fellow Bib Gourmand holder Lunch Lady serves up elevated Vietnamese street food from octopi skewers to wagyu beef noodle soup.

Chinatown

Vancouver’s Chinatown has a century-old Asian heritage, honoured in tours, museums and murals. Pavement stalls offer clothes and herbal medicines, and a two-day community festival takes place in July. 

The young generation is using cuisine to innovate, with the area around East Pender Street between Columbia and Main streets enjoying a particular renaissance.  

Recommend Kissa Tanto for its modern, MICHELIN-starred Japanese-Italian fusion cuisine and retro jazz-café setting or popular, affordable Phnom Penh, which has a Bib Gourmand for its Vietnamese and Cambodia dishes. The A Wok Around Chinatown tour includes a dim sum lunch.

Kitsilano

This oceanside district in western Vancouver has hippy roots and still a laid-back reputation. The beach, known as Kits, boasts the longest saltwater pool in North America, open May to September. Suggest heading to the popular Batch Bar for a drink with a view.  

Food here has a healthy, farm-to-table slant exemplified by Bib Gourmand-winning Fable Kitchen, which serves up quality brunches from an open kitchen. Among international eateries, Little Bird Dim Sum + Craft Beer and Karma Indian Bistro are also Bib Gourmand awarded.

For something extra special, book clients the tasting menu at Anna Lena, an innovative restaurant with a MICHELIN Star.

Enjoy your own MICHELIN-starred experience 

If Vancouver’s world-class culinary scene has inspired you, make sure you visit vancouverspecialist.ca and complete the Vancouver Specialist Program using promo code MICHELIN2025. Then you will be in with a chance of winning a £500 gift card for a tasting-menu dinner for two at Murano, Angela Hartnett’s MICHELIN-starred restaurant in London. If you are already certified, simply email your completion certificate to Natalia Welsh at nwelsh@destinationvancouver.com with the subject line MICHELIN2025 to be entered. The deadline for entering is 31 December 2025.