Eat Your Lunch Out: Granville Island

Sandwiched between breakfast (the alleged “most important meal of the day”) and dinner (the meal that seems to get all the attention), there’s no good reason to overlook lunch.

Lunch can be the midday bright spot in the workday, or where you linger on a day off. From where to settle in for a marathon chat sesh with the ladies who lunch, to handy spots for quick bites, we’re exploring lunch of all kinds, all around Vancouver.

Here are the nine best spots to have (or grab) lunch on Granville Island.

Siegel’s Bagels

Tucked inside the always-bustling Public Market, Siegel’s bagel sandwiches make for an excellent lunch on the go. Pile your favourite bagel with Montreal smoked meat, lox and cream cheese, or stick with a simple schmear.

Address: 134 – 1689 Johnston Street, Vancouver

The Sandbar

One of Granville Island’s most popular hangs, the elegant Sandbar restaurant opens at 11:30 am weekdays and offers a lunch menu of seafood dishes, light bites, and comfort classics. Look for anything from Fried Oysters to kick off a meal, soups and salads, wok-fired mains, and flatbreads, as well as their sushi dishes (available Wednesday to Sunday from noon to 5 pm).

Address: 1535 Johnston St. Creekhouse #102, Vancouver
Phone: 604-669-9030
Twitter: @The_Sandbar

See also

• Eat Your Lunch Out: 9 best lunch spots in South Granville
• Eat Your Lunch Out: New places to have lunch in Vancouver
• Eat Your Lunch Out: Mount Pleasant

Edible Canada

Edible Canada, the marketplace/restaurant focused on Canadian-made products, is always a reliable stop for a meal when on Granville Island. Their lunch menu is a who’s who of Canadiana fare, like Montreal Split Pea Soup, poutine, fish and chips, and elk tartare. Order anything with their famous duck fat fries.

Address: 1596 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-682-6681
Twitter: @ediblecanada

Chau Veggie Express

Serving up Vietnamese and pan-Asian inspired vegetarian and vegan fare, Chau’s Granville Island outpost is located within the Public Market. Their fun menu is chock full of soup, bowls, salads, and rolls.

Address: 1689 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Phone: 778-379-9508
Twitter: @chowatCHAU

Bistro 101 at PICA

Want to get a taste of what the next generation of talented chefs are cooking? The restaurant at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts is absolutely the place to be. Weekdays from 11:30 am to 2 pm they serve a three-course market menu lunch, and once a month they offer a lunch buffet–reservations are strongly urged, as spots fill up fast.

Address: 101 – 1505 West 2nd Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-734-4488
Twitter: @picachef

The Vancouver Fish Company

All things seafood are celebrated at this approachable restaurant. Situated right at the main entrance to Granville Island, The Vancouver Fish Company has a terrific patio for those warmer days, and offers a range of top notch lunch options, from the more standard soup and salad selections to their market menu of fresh-caught seafood.

Address: 1517 Anderson Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-559-3474
Twitter: @VanFishCo

Dockside

This waterfront restaurant overlooking False Creek specializes in casual fine dining, serving up OceanWise seafood and locally-sourced ingredients in west coast dishes. Home to the Dockside Brewery, Dockside’s restaurant and bar is a great lunch spot on Granville Island for a more relaxed sit-down meal, meeting, or get-together.

Address: 1253 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-685-7070
Twitter: @eatDockside

Terra Breads

Though the Granville Island location of Terra Breads isn’t one of their full cafés, come lunchtime, if you’re wandering the stalls of the Public Market you can’t do better for baked goods than a stop at Terra. You’ll find suitable lunch eats in their savoury foccacia breads or Pizza Bianca (or you can make a meal out of their bread or sweet treats–we won’t judge).

Address: 1689 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-685-3102
Twitter: @TerraBreads

Bridges Restaurant

Bridges is basically an institution on Granville Island; the old yellow dame has been around for ages, and while it isn’t the hippest destination, it is a good spot to settle down for a lunch with a view, particularly if your visit to Granville Island includes playing tour guide. Their bistro & pub menu includes classic fare like fish and chips, burgers, salads, and seafood mains. In patio season, it’s hard to beat their waterside set-up.

Address: 1696 Duranleau Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-687-4400
Twitter: @bridgesgi