Dine Out Vancouver: Romantic date-night restaurants
Tourism Vancouver’s annual Dine Out Vancouver Festival is back this winter from January 19th to February 4th. The 17-day culinary festival will see some of the city’s hottest restaurants serving an array of mouth-watering prix-fixe menus. If you want to take your significant other for a special meal, plan a date night at one of these romantic eateries. [Photo courtesy of Boulevard/Leila Kwok]
Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar
845 Burrard St, Vancouver BC V6Z 2K6Boulevard’s beautiful and sophisticated dining room feels like the perfect place for celebrating a special occasion with your sweetie – whether it’s an anniversary dinner, a proposal or just a much-needed date night. First opened in 2014, the elegant restaurant at the iconic Sutton Place Hotel infuses classic West Coast cooking with international techniques and flavours that make for a truly unique and refined menu. We suggest opting for the sumptuous, Ocean Wise seafood dishes.
Bistro Pastis
2153 4th Avenue W, Vancouver BC V6K 1N7No one does romance quite like the French. If you can’t afford to whisk your partner off to Paris for the weekend, this award-winning Kitsilano bistro is as close as you’ll come to the real deal – plus the roaring fireplace makes this a cozy neighbourhood spot for a winter date night. An acclaimed-yet-understated eatery, Bistro Pastis specializes in European elegance and classic bistro fare. The regular menu features elegantly plated French dishes – think pate, Cornish hen and Arctic char – the same sort of sumptuous fare on the three-course $40 Dine Out dinner menu.
The Acorn Restaurant
3995 Main St, Vancouver BC V5V 3P3There’s no shortage of vegetarian eateries in Vancouver, but The Acorn is perhaps the most sophisticated of the bunch. The award-winning plant-based restaurant in Mount Pleasant attracts crowds throughout the week with its contemporary menu that appeals to meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. Here, handcrafted cocktails and thoughtfully chosen wines are paired with colourful and inventive seasonal dishes that showcase the best of the region’s bounty. The modern dining room offers an intimate feel thanks to the candle-lit tables, while mounted wall planters and creeping vines along the bar speak to the restaurant’s green philosophy.
Brix and Mortar
1137 Hamilton Street, Vancouver BC V6B 5P6This Yaletown restaurant is always a popular choice during the annual Dine Out Vancouver festival and is a favourite spot for date-night dinners and intimate weddings. Housed in a 1912 heritage home, the multi-levelled restaurant offers a number of distinct dining areas with dazzling art-deco style chandeliers, historic wooden beams, cozy nooks and an enchanting glass-covered outdoor courtyard set against ivy-covered brick walls. When it comes to the food, the upscale-yet-approachable West Coast menu features mouth-watering mains of sustainable fish, meat and seasonal vegetables.
Homer St Cafe & Bar
898 Homer St, Vancouver BC V6B 2W5A chic urban take on a country farmhouse, this beautifully appointed Yaletown restaurant is befitting of the neighbourhood, while the storied heritage building gives it some historic charm. Polished white marble tables and eye-catching mosaic floor tiles have made this photogenic interior an Instagrammer’s dream, but the real star here is the fire engine red rotisserie on display in the open kitchen. We expect in-the-know couples will flock to Homer Street Café during the Dine Out festival for the three-course dinner menu that’ll feature sophisticated farmhouse cooking such as rotisserie beef loin, cast iron veggies and other seasonal comforts.
1203881 Bc Ltd
185 Keefer St, Vancouver BC V6A 1X3Chinatown has become a true foodie destination in recent years, which puts Juniper in good company along the buzz-worthy Keefer block. The restaurant’s herbaceous name hints at its specialty: gin. The impressive cocktail list features eight variations on the classic gin and tonic, with many interpretations featuring unexpected ingredients like pink peppercorn or sea asparagus. Beyond the noteworthy list of G&Ts, the drink menu delights and surprises with artisanal libations of all sorts. Of course, it’s not all about the booze. Juniper’s Cascadian dinner menu features rustic cheese and charcuterie boards and farm-fresh seasonal dishes that are great for sharing.
CinCin Ristorante & Bar
2-1154 Robson St, Vancouver BC V6E 1B2Among the fast food eateries and chain restaurants along bustling Robson Street, this second-floor hidden gem stands out – or should we say, above – thanks to its critically acclaimed Mediterranean cuisine and tucked-away location up a winding stone stairway. CinCin is a timeless stalwart on the Vancouver dining scene known for its classic Italian menu, which includes handmade pastas, wood-oven pizzas, fire-roasted meat and seafood dishes and more. The European-inspired space includes an extensive wine cellar (boasting more than 1,000 vintages from around the world) as well as a heated open-air terrace overlooking the busy downtown strip below.
Lift Bar Grill View
333 Menchions Mews, Vancouver BC V6G 3H5Snuggle up to your sweetheart on a cold winter’s night and take in breathtaking views of the North Shore Mountains from this sleek waterfront eatery in Coal Harbour. The elevated patio comes equipped with blankets and fire pits to keep things cozy even when the temperature plummets, while the indoor dining room is equally charming. In keeping with the surrounding scenery, the menu focuses on Pacific Northwest cuisine and seasonal dishes. The three-course prix-fixe Dine Out dinner menu features gourmet wintertime comfort foods such as ratatouille and haddock.
Cuchillo Restaurant
261 Powell St, Vancouver BC V6A 1G3Tired of your usual date-night routine? Look for the glowing purple neon skull to lead the way to an exciting culinary detour. Located on the eastern edge of Gastown, this hip Latin American tapas bar has developed a cult following thanks to its cool industrial vibe and south-of-the-border fare. Not your typical taco joint, Cuchillo serves zesty ceviche, fresh salads, and meat, seafood and vegetarian mains that are as flavourful as they are creative. The Dine Out dinner menu is sure to deliver a memorable date-night, especially if you opt to pair your food with a mescal tasting flight.
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