Being the multicultural hub that it is, Vancouver celebrates the richness and depth of its inner diversity, and it is highlighted and evident throughout its culinary scene. Of the abundance of international options offered throughout the city’s most beautiful and visited areas from the iconic Gastown to the stunning and picturesque Coal Harbor, is French cuisine.
From French Japanese fusions to seafood-centric hotspots, take a deep dive into a culinary journey that will transport you all the way to Europe itself. Whether you’re on a first date, celebrating a birthday, or just on a casual night out with some friends, the best French restaurants in the Vancouver area have you covered.
Taste your way through French classics and staples with West Coast influence, read on for 10 of the best French restaurants in Vancouver and secure your spot on OpenTable today.
10 of the best French restaurants in the Vancouver area – read on for a guide
For a retro-style French American cuisine – try Maxine’s Cafe and Bar in West End
Maxine’s Cafe and Bar is a charming, retro-style French American cafe and bar that will have you feeling like you’ve stepped into an establishment in France itself. Its lovely aesthetic is likened to its menu and dish presentations, and features French classics like steak tartare, duck, and poulet à la moutarde, a Dijon mustard braised chicken leg. An extensive selection of wines from various French regions are offered, along with specialty cocktails that each pair beautifully with any menu item. Maxine’s is a hit if you’re looking to catch a vibe and enjoy French classics at any given time, with any given party.
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For an elevated French-influenced West Coast cuisine – visit L’Abbatoir Restaurant in Gastown
Located in the historic Gastown, L’Abbatoir Restaurant is a contemporary French cuisine that combines West Coast influence, all wrapped together in an industrial-chic setting. This MICHELIN-recommended restaurant is often recognized as one of Canada’s finest culinary destinations, with the help of an elevated menu from the hands and mind of chef and owner Lee Cooper. From baked Pacific oysters, to terrine of duck foie gras, L’Abbatoir is the perfect marriage between French and West Coast cuisine. Boasting an award-winning wine program and an alluring cocktail list, it is easy to understand why they are regarded as one of the best French restaurants in all of Vancouver.
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For hearty French bistro classics visit one of the best French restaurants in Vancouver – book at Tableau Bar Bistro in Coal Harbor
Tableau Bar Bistro is an award-winning gem in beautiful Coal Harbor, “where French bistro meets local cool”. The West Coast-influenced French fare features bistro classics like a cheesy and hearty French onion soup, ris de veau, scallop crudo, and even an Eiffel Tower of assorted seafood for you and your table to share and enjoy. Enjoy a classic steak frites, with cuts like A5 Japanese Wagyu striploin, or an impressive lamb saddle with pumpkin seeds and raisins, making for a juicy, sweet, and savory main to remember. Don’t forget to try the butterscotch pot de crème or a Paris brest made with praline, toasted hazelnut, and caramel mousse, transporting you right to Paris with every bite.
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For one of Vancouver’s best French restaurants for romance – try Old Surrey Restaurant in Surrey
“The culinary life force” of fine dining in Surrey is none other than Old Surrey Restaurant. Housed in a charming, vintage home, this romantic destination serves French classics with local ingredients sourced straight from the founding family’s Chilliwack farm. Begin your dining experience with local Vancouver Island qualicum bay scallops and a Pacific crab pip to get a real taste of both local and abroad flavors. For your main, try the old Surrey burger or the popular seafood platter, which is a wonderful shareable for you and your table. For another taste that combines both local and French ingredients, the abbotsford duck breast is a wonderful option, and really encapsulates what this gorgeous Surrey gem is all about.
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For shareable boards and creative cocktails – go to Atelier by Matt Jackson in Sidney
Bringing his global knowledge to Sidney, is owner and chef Matt Jackson and his French-inspired cuisine with hyper-local ingredients. Atelier by Matt Jackson is the culmination of local producers, fishermen, and farmers from the Saanich Peninsula, serving locally sourced charcuterie boards, duck croquettes, mussels and frites, in this artsy dining gem. Atelier’s hand-crafted cocktails and global wine list bring you rich sips from various French regions, and traditional concoctions like Paper Planes and L’Avion, offering elevated pairings at this elegant French gem. With ingredients and flavors coming from near and far, Atelier is a true culinary ensemble for any special occasion.
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For transportative French Japanese fusion dishes- head on over to Restaurant Yugo on Main Street
Restaurant Yugo is a French Japanese fusion destination that is sure to intoxicate the senses, where each dish resembles glorious paint canvases, rich with art and color. Taste your way through renowned Japanese bites like chicken karaage and beef sashimi while experiencing the best of French Japanese fusion like foie gras with soy ginger sauce. A selection of bibimbaps, sushi, and confit beef tongue highlight the fusion mains, encapsulating all of the mouthwatering flavors and ingredients that both rich cultures provide. Sip down glasses of Bordeaux or raise a cold glass of Asahi, a celebration and combination of both lively cultures.
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For a lovely casual French restaurant in Vancouver’s west end – book at JJ’s Kitchen in West Vancouver
JJ’s Kitchen is a lively casual hotspot in Vancouver’s west end, serving seafood platters, steaks, and pasta. The daily specials include $1 wings on Wednesdays, and half off bottles of wine on Friday to usher in the weekend. JJ’s shareable platters include a pasta platter, featuring four types of different pastas to share, a steak and lamb platter consisting of three cuts of beef with sides, and a steak and seafood platter with sides. JJ’s Kitchen also offers brunch and happy hour, along with live music to enjoy every Friday night.
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For one of Vancouver’s best French restaurants with a weekly changing menu – try Tour De Feast in North Vancouver
Regarded as North Shore’s best French restaurant, Tour De Feast is a small family-run restaurant specializing in French fare, and has attracted local admirers from near and far. The Insta-worthy dish presentations are highlighted throughout their menu, offering French bistro staples that will leave you dazzled as it reaches your table. Tour De Feast has a weekly changing menu, but diners can expect French classics like foie gras, charcuteries with duck and pork, duck confit, and Alsacienne onion tarts. Diners can also pick from their special menu, where your meal kits for two feature braised beef and lamb shank along with salads and veggies.
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For affordable French dining with a Parisian atmosphere – visit Café Salade de Fruits in Fairview
Café Salade de Fruits in Fairview offers a Parisian atmosphere with a budget-friendly menu and exceptional customer service. Start your experience with organic baguette and escargots with garlic butter before feasting on an Angus ribeye and a seafood trio featuring wild salmon, scallop, and halibut over risotto. Diners can also choose a prix fixe set menu that includes an appetizer, a main, and a dessert of your choice, a concept much like you can find in restaurants in France. You can’t leave without trying the warm chocolate ganache to put the bow on your French dining experience.
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For a French-style waterfront experience – step into Provence Marinaside in Yaletown
Provence Marinaside is Yaletown’s seafood gem that combines the South of France and the Canadian West Coast. The highly skilled chefs and sommeliers have curated a menu that pairs French fare with carefully selected wines. The “Bites” section of the menu features traditional French classics like frog legs and escargots, while the roasted Frenched rack of lamb and bouillabaisse are transportative mains for a trip to the French regions. The seafood platters offer a wide assortment of locally sourced seafood and make for a grand shareable dinner ideal for a group, and for any special occasion. Provence Marinaside is a true marriage of France and the West Coast, evident throughout every delectable dish that lands on your table.
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Vancouver continues to celebrate the diversity and multiculturalism of their special city through an abundance of international cuisines within. This carefully curated list guides you through the 10 best French restaurants in the city, each of which brings the flare, style, and elegance of France to every plate, with a touch of that endearing West Coast influence. From French-Japanese fusion and charming waterfront locations, to traditional family-run gems, you and your tastebuds will take a culinary journey through Vancouver’s most popular areas, to around the globe and back. Whether you want classic French staples or a western twist on the classics with local ingredients, we’ve got you covered with Vancouver’s 10 best French restaurants you must try today.
