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.
See also
- Eat Your Lunch Out: Gastown
- Best salads in Vancouver
- Eat Your Lunch Out: New places to have lunch in Vancouver
- Best sandwiches in Vancouver
Here are 10 great lunch spots in Vancouver’s Railtown and Downtown Eastside (DTES).
Belgard Kitchen
Photo courtesy of Belgard Kitchen
Tuck into the Settlement Building, the impressive Railtown space that’s home to the Vancouver Urban Winery, Postmark Brewing, and Belgard Kitchen, where you can hideout from the hustle of the city and indulge in comfort eats elegantly presented. Dip gooey wedges of grilled cheese in their tomato soup, nibble on charcuterie, or dig into one of their lovely salads or bowls. They’ve got wraps, sandwiches, burgers, and Pizzettes for those looking for a heartier nosh.
Address: 55 Dunlevy Avenue, Vancouver
Phone: 604-699-1989
Twitter: @belgardkitchen
Ask For Luigi
Photo courtesy of Ask for Luigi
Still haven’t scored a table at Ask For Luigi? Try at lunch time. The tiny Railtown restaurant is fairly chill for the midday meal, when there’s less clamour for a seat and the same beautiful fresh pastas and appetizers you can get at dinner–but slightly smaller portions and lower prices.
Address: 305 Alexander Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-428-2544
Twitter: @askforluigi
Railtown Cafe
Photo courtesy Railtown Cafe
This expanding Vancouver catering and cafe empire has its roots in the neighbourhood, and its here you’ll find their always-stellar lineup of salads, soups, sandwiches and baked treats in a fun, industrial-chic laid back atmosphere.
Address: 397 Railway Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-428-0800
Twitter: @railtowncafe
The Uncommon Café
Jess Fleming/Daily Hive
Hit up the Uncommon Cafe for a great lunch that’s woefully under the radar. They are focused on being local and sustainable, and serving up comfort eats that have a developed a loyal following. Look for soups, sandwiches, baked goods, specialty drinks, and their much-loved meatballs.
Address: 477 Powell Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-254-0477
Twitter: @uncommoncafeyvr
JJ Bean – Railway
We might be outing a well-kept secret here by proclaiming JJ Bean on Railway a great little lunch spot. Their “minimalist” cafe is full-service, and fronts the local coffee company’s commissary, so you’ve got a front row seat for the making of all their baked goods. Soup, sandwiches, wraps, muffins, and more make for great lighter, casual bites alongside their coffees and teas.
Address: 460 Railway Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-253-7245
Twitter: @JJBeanCoffee
Ed’s Daily
This busy Strathcona-area spot is known for their beautiful space, coffee and treats, and lunches. You may known them most for their Avocado Toast (hello, lovely!) but their menu is chock full of options, dominated by their bowls (salad, noodles, veg, proteins) including tons of build-your-own bowl choices.
Address: 686 Powell Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-424-8708
Twitter: @edsdaily
Ovaltine Cafe
Lindsay William-Ross/Daily Hive
Grab a classic lunch of diner fare at one of Vancouver’s oldest restaurants. On the surface, little seems to have changed here over the years, but under newer ownership there’s a bit of fresh life moving around this old familiar spot, with a gently updated menu.
Address: 251 East Hastings Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-685-7021
Twitter: @ovaltinecafeyvr
Bestie
Bestie’s sausages are the wurst! This German-style sausage spot in Chinatown/DTES serves up beer, brats, currywurst, fries, and daily salads in a fun, retro-vibe restaurant.
Address: 105 East Pender Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-620-1175
Twitter: @bestiewurst
Nicli Antica Pizzeria
Some of the city’s best pizza is fired up daily at Nicli Antica on the edge of Gastown. Hand-formed crust is topped and sent to crisp and melt in a 900-degree oven. The result are beautiful Neapolitan pizza pies.
Address: 62 East Cordova Street, Vancouver
Phone: 604-669-6985
Twitter: @NicliPizzeria
La Mezcaleria
Recently opened in the space vacated by Nicli’s next door (so that puts it, appropriately, next door to Nicli’s Antica Pizzeria) the Gastown (adjacent) outpost of the popular La Mezcaleria offers much the same as the original Commercial Drive spot. A modern riff on a traditional Mexican cantina, La Mezcaleria offers salads, share plates, ceviche, their signature cheese bowls, and the whole enchilada. Because who wants just half an enchilada?
Address: 68 East Cordova Street, Vancouver
Twitter: @LaMezcaleriaYVR
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