For a place with just 3,362 residents, Bowen Island has a surprising and deliciously wide range of dining options.
Craving some West Coast fine dining or hearty pub fare? Italian food or organic chocolates? Burgers and tacos, or savory stews with garden-fresh ingredients? All of the above can be enjoyed on Bowen Island.
In Snug Cove, a diverse selection of restaurants greets visitors as soon as they step off the ferry or water taxi from Vancouver.
Looking to go casual? Next to the BC Ferries dock sits Nancy's Tacos, which dishes up tasty tacos, enchiladas, and ice cream. The Paradise Grill kiosk, located near the Cenotaph off the marina boardwalk, is a favourite among locals for its hamburgers and is open in the summer.
Grab a beer and some ribs and relax on the patio at Doc Morgan's (439 Bowen Trunk Rd) or the Bowen Island Pub (479 Bowen Trunk Rd).
Fine dining connoisseurs can satiate their palates at Blue Eyed Marys (433 Bowen Trunk Rd). In the 40-seat room laden with white tablecloths, chef Carol Wallace (formerly of Bishop's in Vancouver) provides dinner entrees like roasted duck breast with cherry sauce.
Miksa (449 Bowen Trunk Rd) delivers funky tapas like tuna tartare and goat cheese balls. The next-door Tuscany Restaurant specializes in wood oven pizzas, pasta platters, and Mediterranean-inspired cuisine; summertime customers can eat in a leafy garden patio with a tinkling fountain.
Taste Treats at Artisan Square
Replete with boutiques and galleries, Artisan Square nestles picturesquely atop a hill above Snug Cove, and it's worth hiking up to dine at Artisan Eats (539 Artisan Lane). The deli-style establishment offers in-house products such as duck confit, spinach dip, and fresh paninis.
A must-visit for chocoholics is Cocoa West Chocolatier (581C Artisan Lane), a cozy, rich-scented shop run by a husband-wife team and famed for its organic chocolate truffles and hot chocolate.
Farm Produce
Alderwood Farm (1351 Adams Rd) sells homemade sausages, free-range eggs, fresh halibut, and other local food.
Cafes on Bowen Island
The Ruddy Cafe and Garden (intersection of Sunset and Adams roads) offers casual sandwiches, soups, and Asian-flavoured plates. Take a self-guided tour of the on-site garden, which grows beans, lettuce, Swiss chard and so on. The cafe's sister establishment, the Ruddy Potato, sells local produce and other ethically sourced food products in Village Square at on Dorman Road.
The Snug Cafe is a great place to grab a cup of java and homemade meals. Its located in the Cove near the ferry line-up, which makes it convenient for visitors catching the ferry. For early risers, the Snug prepares a full breakfast menu. A great lunch dish to try is the tasty chicken pesto wraps.
For more information about dining on Bowen Island, visit the Tourism Bowen website or pick up the latest edition of the Bowen Island Guide.
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