By Alice Chen
Vancouver has no shortage of great restaurants with drool-worthy décor that are a cut above the rest. From elegant to eclectic, check out these 10 restaurants that are a feast for the stomach and the eyes.
L’Abattoir
L’Abattoir serves up French-inspired cuisine in a beautifully refurbished nineteenth-century space. Nestled between Gastown’s iconic Blood Alley and Gaoler’s Mews, the restaurant combines the exposed brick of the original architecture with natural wood highlights and black and white mosaic tiles.
Address: 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @labattoir_van
Chambar
A local favourite, Chambar is housed in a historic building that boasts of warm features like bare brick walls, open beam ceilings, and plush leather seating. Eclectic glass lighting brightens up the space, and the year-round patio sets the mood for a sunny brunch or romantically-lit dinner.
Address: 568 Beatty Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @chambar_restaurant
Pidgin
Pidgin has an unassuming exterior that transitions into a stunning, classic interior. The restaurant elevates its décor with white walls, chic black lighting, warm woods, and Japanese-style tables. The subtle features like avian wall décor give it an eccentric edge.
Address: 350 Carrall Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @pidginyvr
Tacofino (Gastown & Yaletown)
Both the Gastown and Yaletown locations of Tacofino pay homage to its Tofino roots, exuding some serious beachside surf town vibes. But where Gastown is cool and chic, with reclaimed cedar tables, stylish handmade chairs, and patterned geometric tiles, its Yaletown counterpart has a laid-back atmosphere, with colorful walls, wood accents, and mosaic tables.
Address: 12 West Cordova Street, Vancouver
Address: 1025 Mainland Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @tacofinovan
Anh + Chi
A departure from traditional Vietnamese décor, Anh and Chi features bright white walls with warm wood furniture. The marriage between traditional and modern can be found both in the cuisine: authentic Vietnamese dishes with innovative cocktails, and the décor: minimalistic colors and lighting infused with traditional touches of blue tiles and vintage lanterns.
Address: 3388 Main Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @anhandchi
Nightingale
David Hawksworth’s second restaurant Nightingale features a heritage exterior with a swanky two-level interior. The light and airy space contrasts nicely with its dark-hued furniture. Sophisticated touches are found in the tile details, marble counters, and elegant lighting fixtures.
Address: 1017 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @nightingalerest
Virtuous Pie
A new entrant to Chinatown, Virtuous Pizza is a plant-based pizzeria and creamery. Communal tables are set against stark white walls accentuated by distressed brick arches. The black and brass counter space is a backdrop to an assortment of bookshelf items, and the bathrooms covered in red tiles serve as a tribute to the historic neighborhood.
Address: 583 Main Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @virtuous_pie
Sai Woo
An open-concept space, Sai Woo retains the exposed brick walls of its heritage building and emphasizes the space by adding stylish aspects like contemporary lighting, tiled flooring, and Persian ironwood trees.
Address: 158 East Pender Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @doyousaiwoo
Osteria Savio Volpe
Osteria Savio Volpe (“wise fox”) embodies a modern yet playful quality. The restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine meant to be shared, and the décor reflects that ethos. The restaurant is a wood-heavy space that feels homey, and floor to ceiling windows face the street, emitting a welcoming atmosphere.
Address: 615 Kingsway Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @savio_volpe
Bambudda
Gastown restaurant Bambudda is serving up elevated dim sum and then sum. While the elegant and trendy space strays away from the traditional Chinese restaurant décor, Bambudda draws on an eastern colour scheme of jade and gold and features stylish Chinese lantern lights and fauna wallpaper throughout the space.
Address: 99 Powell Street, Vancouver
Instagram: @bambuddagastown
Alice Chen is a freelancer writer, content marketer, and chocolate consumer. Twitter: @_alicechen