Whether it’s on Valentine’s Day and you’re toasting love or it’s just the two of you looking for the best restaurants to mark an anniversary, a cosy spot for a first date, or an ocean-flanked joint for cocktails at sunset – the most romantic restaurants in Vancouver promise a date night to remember. The best ambience restaurants in Vancouver shine with top-notch wine and shareable plates, there are stunning dinner destinations for a proposal, or lively hotspots for a fun date with a group.
A Silk Road-inspired spot with locations in Kits and Mount Pleasant regales couples with live music. In the Stadium District, a swanky hotel restaurant is a group hang hotspot thanks to extravagant, shareable desserts such as crème brûlée doughnuts and hot whiskey cake. In Fairview, a tiny but mighty bar with a solid tapas selection was made for no-pressure first dates.
At these top Vancouver restaurants, romance isn’t just about candlelight and wine. Here are the best date restaurants in Toronto for a romantic dinner – or lunch – for you and your sweetheart to adore. So read on for a guide, and reserve your table on OpenTable now.
The best romantic restaurants in Vancouver for dates – read on for a guide
For one of the best restaurants in Vancouver for first dates with great wine – try Grapes & Soda in Fairview
This tiny, unpretentious bar with just 22 seats is tailor-made for a casual first date. Eat with your fingers while sharing cheese and charcuterie boards. Pair snacks such as cauliflower tempura and dry-aged beef tartare with BC and European wines, inventive cocktails, sake, mezcal, or whisky. Like its partner restaurant next door, Farmer’s Apprentice (which you can check out on your next date if the initial one goes well), Grapes & Soda has an evolving menu rooted in a farm-to-table philosophy.
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For a Chinese feast for two at a lively date night restaurant in Vancouver – visit Torafuku in Chinatown
Torafuku’s menu of ever-changing, pan-Asian dishes centres on shareable plates. You could warm up with cod miso chowder with tiger prawns, a spicy cornbread with mushrooms, cheddar, mascarpone cream and maple syrup select the seven-course tasting menu for two to stretch out the evening. Torafuku is known for its original cocktails; the Passion Libre is made with mezcal, passionfruit, lime, and an oolong tea syrup. The lighting is dim and the booths are cozy. But if you want to drop the pressure for romance, opt for seats at the communal table.
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For stunning Japanese dishes at one of the most romantic restaurants in Vancouver – don’t miss Yuwa Japanese Cuisine in Kitsilano
At sophisticated Yuwa (included in MICHELIN’s Vancouver guide), you’re likely to find quiet jazz and dramatic white orchid arrangements that provide a great romantic backdrop. Choose a seat at the counter to watch the sushi chefs in action or ask for table 12, tucked in a corner, to focus on your partner. Chef and co-owner Masahiro Omori offers ever-changing à la carte Japanese dishes spotlighting what’s freshest, such as sockeye salmon tartar with pine nuts and taro root chips. Learn your date’s flavour preferences by browsing through the sushi and sashimi menu together. Co-owner Iori Kataoka, a certified advanced sake professional, can recommend pairings from Yuwa’s award-winning artisan sake and wine collection.
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For a transportative date with the flavors of the Silk Road – book at East is East in Kits and Mount Pleasant
This trans-Himalayan spot is owned by Afghan siblings who immigrated to Canada via India. On the menu, expect regional favourites such as steamed Tibetan mantu dumplings and curries of chicken, lamb, and salmon, plus several vegan choices such as mango butternut squash. The rich cuisine captures the essence of the small dhaba eateries that dot the Silk Road in Turkey, Iran, Tibet, India, and Mongolia—and sets the stage for discussing potential getaways together. There’s often live music in the evenings, with sounds and instruments from all over the globe to accompany your conversation.
📍 Kits — Check availability
📍 Mount Pleasant — Check availability
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For the best romantic restaurant in Vancouver for fusion fare – visit Kissa Tanto in Chinatown
Japanese-Italian Kissa Tanto is the perfect spot to mark the beginnings of your marriage or celebrate years of togetherness. The place received its first MICHELIN star in Vancouver’s inaugural guide to best restaurants in 2022 and 2023. While kissa has nothing to do with smooches (it’s the name for a Japanese jazz café, and, yes, this spot spins a mean vinyl collection), tanto means “so much” or “a lot” in Italian. The latter could describe how much you adore your dinner companion—or executive chef Joël Watanabe’s exquisite fusion plates, such as wagyu ragù sauce spaghettoni with Japanese curry and spiced breadcrumbs or a magret duck breast with mushrooms and yuzu jus.
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For one of the most romantic restaurants in Vancouver for a proposal – pop the question at Botanist in Downtown
Helmed by executive chef Hector Laguna, Botanist’s kitchen transforms ingredients that are “hooked, hunted, and harvested” from British Columbia into beautifully plated creations. This is one of Vancouver’s most proposal-worthy restaurants, thanks to dreamy interiors featuring a white baby grand piano and a 180-foot-long origami light structure. The butter-poached lobster with crispy rice and top yum, hand-cut tagliatelle with mushroom soil and wagyu carpaccio are ideal for couples, as are desserts such as hazelnut maple caramel tart with rosemary cream, hazelnut frangipane and squash ice cream. If you want to be wined, dined, and surprised, opt for the We’ll Take it From Here tasting menu, a way to raise the bar on any proposal.
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For one of the best date night restaurants in Vancouver for steak and seafood – book at The Victor in Stadium District
Servers will grant all your dinner wishes at this steak and seafood paradise at The Victor, the restaurant at the JW Marriott Parq Vancouver hotel. Share the hot seafood pot for the table with king crab, lobster, scallops, jumbo prawns, and mussels. Or choose a steak cooked to perfection under the 1,200-degree broiler. Save room for outrageous desserts such as Sticky Fingers, a hot whiskey cake or crème brûlée doughnuts served with a cloud of housemade maple cotton candy. The Victor has live music on Wednesdays and for Sunday brunch. Before or after dinner, take a romantic stroll around Parq Vancouver’s sixth-floor 30,000-square-foot park, complete with its own lake.
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For a romantic bottomless brunch experience – visit ARC Restaurant in Downtown
Harbour and mountain vistas from ARC Restaurant’s two-storey windows set a sultry mood, particularly at sunset. Date-night tip: the best tables for views are near the gas fireplace. The restaurant offers West Coast-inspired cuisine such as oysters and Asian-flavoured sablefish in both its dining room and lounge at the Fairmount Waterfront Hotel. To make a night of it, zip up the elevator to one of the hotel’s luxe rooms after dinner, then return to ARC in the morning for the Weekend Brunch Experience, bookable through OpenTable.
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For an entertainment date at a groovy jazz club – dance the night away at Frankie’s Jazz Club in Stadium District
Live jazz and blues will have you grooving together at this buzzy club, which serves housemade dishes from neighboring Frankie’s Italian Kitchen & Bar. Share arancini (Silician breaded risotto balls) or an antipasto platter, then go all Lady and the Tramp with the family-recipe spaghetti and meatballs. Save room for the especially decadent tiramisu, best devoured with two spoons.
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For a casual burger date – look no further than Bells & Whistles in East Van and Dunbar
Bells & Whistles in East Van and Dunbar offers a low-key spin on romance. The casual burger joint goes beyond the usual pub grub menu, courtesy of a gluten-free fryer and options such as chicharrones and an arugula, beet, goat cheese and pumpkin seeds salad. The playful dessert selection evokes a summer fair: choose from warm mini-donuts, soft-serve ice cream, or sundaes (and yes, there’s a boozy version). Add low-tech arcade games, and there are many opportunities to celebrate a high score with a hug or end-zone dance.
📍 East Van — Check availability
📍 Dunbar — Check availability
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