Back for it’s 24th season, Dine Out Vancouver highlights some of the best restaurants in Vancouver and beyond. Every year, there are hundreds of restaurants on this list and I love to parse through each menu to see what catches my eye. Here are some of my picks for this year – some you may recognize from previous years (because they’re just that iconic) and some new ones I’d be interested to try out. Let me know if you’ll be participating in Dine Out Vancouver this year!
Acquafarina
$70 | Italian | Downtown Vancouver
Trying out this Michelin Guide recommended Italian restaurant during DOVF is the perfect opportunity. The three-course offering includes elegant starters like wagyu beef carpaccio with truffled egg yolk or citrus-marinated Arctic char, followed by rich mains such as wild mushroom rotolo or pan-seared sablefish. Classic tiramisu seals the deal, all served in a dramatic dining room with a world-class wine cellar.
Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio
$70 | International | False Creek
Ancora’s Dine Out menu leans into its Peruvian-Japanese roots with seafood-forward options and thoughtful BC wine pairings. Expect refined starters like sashimi salad or Nikkei nigiri, followed by dishes such as halibut sudado, pork belly with scallops, or a classic lomo saltado. Dessert options like picarones or dulce de leche flan round out a polished waterfront experience.
ATLAS steak + fish
$59 | Steak & Seafood | Burnaby
One of the best value steakhouse menus in the festival lineup. ATLAS offers a flexible three-course menu featuring comforting starters like smoked potato chowder, followed by options ranging from petit filet béarnaise to black sesame seared ahi tuna or mushroom truffle risotto. Desserts are classic and indulgent, and an amuse bouche adds an extra touch.
Black+Blue
$65 | Steakhouse | Downtown Vancouver
A solid entry point into one of the city’s top steakhouses. The Dine Out menu features French onion soup or tuna tataki salad to start, followed by Canadian prime striploin, roasted spring salmon, or smoked celeriac for vegetarians. Finish with their signature butter cake or a chocolate hazelnut ganache tart for a crowd-pleasing finale.
Caffè La Tana
$39 | Italian | Commercial Drive | Lunch
An excellent daytime Dine Out option that showcases La Tana’s handmade pasta roots. Start with burrata, tuna crudo, or a bright salad, then move on to Pepino’s spaghetti and meatball, uova verdi, or a rotating fresh pasta feature. Desserts like mini tiramisu or torta caprese keep things classic and comforting. I’ve never had a bad meal here.
Chez Céline
$65 | French | East Vancouver
Designed to be shared, Chez Céline’s family-style Dine Out menu is perfect for a cozy date or group night out. Diners choose multiple starters, a shared main like pork chop with maple-apple cider sauce or Arctic char meunière, plus sides and dessert for the table. Elevated comfort food with a distinctly French-Canadian sensibility.
ELEM
$70 | International | Mount Pleasant
ELEM’s Dine Out menu reflects its globally inspired cooking with bold flavors and thoughtful plating. Starters like yellowfin tuna or citrus-forward stracciatella lead into hearty mains such as beef cheek with bordelaise or confit duck leg. Desserts like pistachio kulfi or white chocolate cremeux keep things playful and refined.
Gary’s
$70 | European | South Granville
A share-style Dine Out menu that highlights seasonality and low-intervention wines. Expect a progression of snacks, small plates like kanpachi crudo, and larger dishes such as lingcod or braised pork cheek, followed by chocolate mousse for dessert. Ideal for diners who love to try a bit of everything. This is on my to try list!
Kobe Japanese Steak House
$60 | Japanese | Downtown Vancouver
This is a classic and longstanding restaurant that has defied all odds! I’ve been watching a lot of k-drama recently and for some odd reason, these are popular places for my kdramz characters to visit. Besides this, it’s a classic teppanyaki experience that delivers both dinner and a show. The Dine Out menu includes shrimp, soup, rice, and a generous main featuring tiger prawns, sirloin steak, and teriyaki chicken, with an optional filet mignon upgrade. A nostalgic Vancouver dining experience that still feels special.
Maenam
$65 | Thai | Kitsilano
I doubt there will ever be a DOVF list created by yours truly that would not include Maenam. Maenam’s Dine Out offering is expansive and customizable, showcasing the bold, balanced flavors the restaurant is known for. Choose from vibrant salads, aromatic soups, rich curries, or stir-fries, with plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options. You can never go wrong here.
Max’s Restaurant
$30 | Filipino | East Vancouver
Yes, this is a chain restaurant and I know some people will have opinions – HOWEVER, I do have to argue that this is one of the most affordable Dine Out menus this year and it’s a great introduction to Filipino cuisine if you’ve never had it. Start with lumpiang shanghai or calamares, then move on to dishes like coconut lemongrass fish or crispy pork belly in peanut stew. Desserts like leche flan or turon à la mode keep things nostalgic and satisfying.
Nook Olympic Village
$40 | Italian | Olympic Village
A relaxed, approachable Dine Out option perfect for casual nights out. The menu includes burrata and prosciutto, Caesar salad, and a choice of pizza or pasta, followed by tiramisu. Straightforward, comforting Italian fare at a friendly price point. Nook is my go to for a great patio dinner/lunch.
Notch8 Restaurant & Bar
$64 | West Coast | Downtown Vancouver
Set inside the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, Notch8’s Dine Out menu leans elegant and seasonal. Starters like miso parsnip velouté or tuna crudo lead into sunchoke risotto or beef cheek bourguignon. Strawberry panna cotta offers a light, polished finish. Love the vibes here and also the cocktails!
Ophelia
Mexican & Latin American | Olympic Village
Ophelia’s Dine Out menu highlights refined Mexican cooking with bold flavors and thoughtful execution. Start with pastor volcanes or snapper ceviche, then choose mains like ling cod al pastor or pork belly en adobo. One of the most fabulous Spanish restaurants I’ve been to.
Pepino’s Spaghetti House
$55 | Italian | Commercial Drive
A nostalgic Dine Out menu that celebrates old-school Italian-Canadian comfort food (it’s giving mob vibes but without the mob). Again, never a bad meal here, ever.
Riley’s Fish & Steak
$65 | West Coast | Coal Harbour
A polished seafood-forward Dine Out menu from this Michelin-recommended spot. Starters like scallops Rockefeller or ahi tuna crudo lead into indulgent mains such as lobster pot pie or herb-crusted striploin. Desserts lean classic with a West Coast twist.
The Teahouse Restaurant
$55 | West Coast | Stanley Park
A Dine Out favorite thanks to its unbeatable setting and approachable menu. Start with sablefish cake or carrot-ginger soup, followed by herb-crusted salmon, stuffed chicken, or squash ravioli. Optional upgrades like braised beef shank or crab-crusted lingcod make this a strong pick for a special night out.
If there is one thing Dine Out Vancouver always does well, it is reminding me just how lucky we are to eat in this city.
From splurge-worthy fine dining to cozy neighbourhood spots and incredible value menus, this year’s lineup offers plenty of reasons to book that table you have been putting off.
Whether you are trying somewhere new, revisiting an old favourite, or finally saying yes to that tasting menu, Dine Out is the perfect excuse to lean into winter and eat well while doing it. Reservations fill up fast, so plan ahead, come hungry, and enjoy every bite.
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