Must-try restaurants before your cruise from Vancouver
4 Minute Read
If you’ve booked an upcoming cruise that leaves from the Port of Vancouver, chances are you’ll be arriving a day or two before your departure. To help you get into vacation mode and make the most of the beautiful West Coast, we’ve rounded up a selection of restaurants that are conveniently located close to the cruising terminal.
Whether you’re travelling with a young family, sticking to a budget, or looking to indulge in fine dining, consider this your go-to restaurant list before your cruise from Vancouver. Note that some of the restaurants below have received a CAA Diamond designation, which indicates a high quality of food, service and décor.
Closest to the cruise port: Botanist Restaurant
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Where: 1038 Canada Pl., Vancouver, BC
Price: $$$$
Distance from port: One-minute walk
Located inside the Fairmont Hotel, less than 100 metres from the Port of Vancouver, Botanist Restaurant offers a distinctive, fine dining experience. With over 50 varieties of plants, the dining room features floor-to-ceiling windows and unique city views.
The menu is designed to depict the botany of the Pacific Northwest, featuring sustainably sourced seafood and organic agricultural methods from area suppliers. The varied offerings include dry-aged duck breast or striploin, Kurobuta pork chop or cabbage rolls served with homemade kimchi. Diners looking for variety can opt for the six-course tasting menu with optional wine pairings. Botanist Restaurant holds a four-diamond designation from CAA and AAA.
Most varied seafood: Hydra Estiatorio Mediterranean & Wine Bar
Where: 475 Howe St., Vancouver, BC
Price: $$-$$$
Distance from port: 7-minute walk
Named after the culinary Greek island in the Aegean Sea, Hydra offers Mediterranean dishes such as salt-baked whole fish, vine-ripened tomato salad and grilled lamb chops. Hydra imports much of its seafood, with Seabass and Seabream coming from Greece, wild-caught Fagri from New Zealand, and Kampachi from Hawaii. Locally sourced seafood includes salmon, oysters and shrimp. Many products, such as olives, capers, Halloumi and Kefalograviera cheese, are imported from Greece.
Inside the EXchange Hotel Vancouver, Hydra features an airy dining room with school-of-fish chandeliers and fish scale tiles behind the bar. The restaurant’s ground floor is home to the Hydra Wine Bar, where the award-winning wine program features bottles from Greece and worldwide. Hydra holds a three-Diamond designation from CAA and AAA.
Budget-friendly: Hungry Guys Kitchen
Where: 545 Granville St., Vancouver, BC
Price: $
Distance from port: 10-minute walk
Looking to stick to a budget? The Hungry Guys Kitchen has large, tasty portions at affordable prices. Start the day with a breakfast bowl or choose lunch options, such as a spicy rice bowl or a Caesar salad bowl.
You can also make your own salad, adding chicken, beef, eggs, or tofu. Extra-hungry diners can opt for burritos, sweet Belgian waffles, or decadent pasta such as bacon mac-and-cheese.
Vegan and gluten-friendly: MeeT
Where: 12 Water St., Vancouver, BC
Price: $$
Distance from port: 14-minute walk
Offering made-from-scratch “comfort food,” MeeT’s mission is to encourage patrons to enjoy more plant-based foods in a friendly environment.
The menu features a wide range of vegan options, including veggie burgers and bowls, along with flavourful dishes – such as Oyster Mushroom Kalamari, Shrimply Amazing Somen Salad and Chick’un Pot Pie – that incorporate meat and seafood alternatives. Crispy, hand-cut fries are served with cashew miso gravy. Be sure to save room for dessert – offerings include Cream Cheez Glazed Carrot Cake and a Rocky Road Ganache Tart. MeeT also offers a limited happy hour menu from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to close.
Family/kid-friendly: The Old Spaghetti Factory
Where: 53 Water St., Vancouver, B.C.
Price: $$
Distance from port: 14-minute walk
The Old Spaghetti Factory fits well into Vancouver’s historic Gastown and is a Canadian-owned gem with its stained glass, antique light fixtures, and vintage artifacts.
When feeding the whole family, The Old Spaghetti Factory’s “all-included” policy adds value: All entrees include a starter salad and soup, hot bread and whipped butter, spumoni ice cream, and coffee or tea. Adults can choose from various spaghetti dishes and signature pasta, or indulge in baby back ribs or a New York steak.
Kids aged 10 and under can order from the children’s menu, which features beloved classics like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna, chicken and fries, or pizza. Top it off with a frosty root beer float or a Shirley Temple; some things never go out of style!
Best for people-watching: Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge
Where: 845 Hornby St., Vancouver, BC
Price: $$$$
Distance from port: 15-minute walk
In Roman mythology, Bacchus was the god of wine and revelry. So, it follows that the Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge, located just a kilometre from the Vancouver port, is the perfect spot for an elevated culinary experience. Located inside the prestigious Wedgewood Hotel, the restaurant has earned a four-diamond rating from CAA and AAA.
The European-inspired menu features decadent choices such as a two-tiered seafood tower, Kaviari caviar, grilled lamb, and beef from the heartland of Alberta. From April to early June, Bacchus also offers afternoon tea seatings—with finger sandwiches, savoury cakes with clotted cream, pastries, and sweets. The AAA inspector notes, "The lounge is a beautiful spot to unwind and people-watch when they open the street-side windows in nice weather.” Reservations are recommended.
Interested in planning a cruise from Vancouver? Book an appointment with our Travel Consultants to begin planning your trip.
