Discover—or Rediscover—Foodie Neighbourhoods
Along the Sea-to-Sky

Note: This story was originally published in October 2021.

Hungry for spectacular mountain views and food that’s just as delectable? Visit these eight foodie neighbourhoods from Vancouver and Richmond through the scenic Sea-to-Sky Corridor to savour everything from divine dumplings and fragrant Persian skewers to thirst-quenching ales, overstuffed burgers, and the chocolatiest of cookies.

Richmond: Your Dumpling Destination

Up for a dim sum feast? Richmond is famous for serving some of the world’s best Chinese food, and boasts more than 800 restaurants, with over half of them serving Asian cuisine, as well as food courts, supermarkets, and hole-in-the-wall BBQ joints. That’s a lot of choice, so if you’re unsure where to start, begin by following the Dumpling Trail. It features 15 stops and every sort of dumpling from crisply fried wontons to tender soup-filled xiao long bao. Bring your chopsticks, and your appetite.

Mount Pleasant: The World on a Plate

In recent years, we’ve seen the area of Vancouver that stretches east from Cambie Street to Clark Drive and south from Great Northern Way (2^nd Avenue) to Kingsway transform into a funky yet sophisticated and welcoming urban neighbourhood. With all those growing families and young professionals has come a world of dining: Italian (Osteria Savio Volpe), French (Les Faux Bourgeois), Indian (Vij’s), Japanese (Shiro), Mexican (Sal y Limon), Mediterranean (Nuba), British pub fare (The Cascade Room), Spanish (Como Taperia) and, of course, West Coast (Burdock & Co.). Graze the planet, no map required.

Commercial Drive: Little Italy

Since the end of the Second World War, The Drive has been Vancouver’s Little Italy. Now, a younger generation is redefining what that means (and sometimes that means food from other parts of the globe, too). The beloved La Grotta Del Formaggio cheese shop is still there, as are Café Calabria and Lombardo’s Pizzeria & Restaurant, but they’ve been joined by trendy places like Sopra Sotto, Caffe La Tana, and Pepino’s Spaghetti House, a new take on the classic Nick’s Spaghetti House. If it hasta be pasta (and doesn’t it always?), The Drive is your destination.

Gastown/Chinatown/Railtown: Independent in Spirit

Vancouver’s most historic neighbourhoods are home to the city’s most exciting collection of independent bars and restaurants. This is one of the best places to find craft cocktails (The Keefer Bar, Clough Club) in a city that is justly famous for them. It’s also a great hood for casual cuisine made with anything but casual attention to detail—Juke Fried Chicken, Pourhouse burgers, stuffed roti at Calabash, pub grub at The Irish Heather—as well as the French-influenced West Coast fare at one of the finest of the city’s fine dining destinations, L’Abattoir.

North Vancouver: Little Persia

British Columbians have long ventured across the Lions Gate or Ironworkers Memorial bridges to enjoy North Van’s mountains, hiking trails, and bustling Shipyards District, with its shops, restaurants, and city view. But since 1979’s Iranian Revolution, this has also been home to the Lower Mainland’s Persian community and their lively produce markets, halal butchers, bakeries, and restaurants. Pop into Cazba or Yaas Grill House and enjoy savoury koobideh skewers and fragrant rice before swinging by Ayoub’s Dried Fruits & Nuts for some lime-and-saffron-scented pistachios for the journey home.

Squamish: Here for the Beer

The municipality at the end of Howe Sound isn’t just a place to stop for gas or coffee on your way to Whistler. Squamish is a booming community that’s justly known as the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada and, increasingly, recognized for its food scene. It’s surrounded by trails for hiking and biking, mountains for schussing, rivers for paddling, and a gondola for enjoying breathtaking views of the monolithic Stawamus Chief. All that activity sure builds up a thirst—and an appetite. Luckily, there’s the Squamish Craft Tasting Trail to satisfy it. It includes stops for coffee, kombucha, and kefir as well as cider, spirits, and, of course, beer at three of BC’s best breweries. Try the offerings at the Luz Tacos food truck outside A-Frame Brewing, the housemade pizza at Backcountry Brewing, and some dirty fries at Howe Sound Brewing.

Function Junction: Snack Stop

Function Junction is a best-kept secret, with its funky, artsy, boutiques, second-hand shops, and access to great hiking and biking trails. But it’s also a must-stop for a hearty breakfast at Wild Wood Café, espresso and a new hoodie at Camp Lifestyle & Coffee Co, or baked treats at Purebread. Grab a salted-chocolate-rosemary “Adults Only” cookie for now, and a cheddar-jalapeño scone for the road, and a Nutella brioche for later, and . . .

Whistler: Finer Dining

Most summers, thousands of well-heeled visitors from around the world fill the restaurants, lounges, and patios at the legendary outdoor-fun destination of Whistler. Besides hiking through ancient forest and speeding along some gnarly bike trails, you’ll be able to grab a seat at the community’s exceptional fine-dining restaurants, which specialize in top-notch local and seasonal ingredients, as well as epic wine cellars. Haute spots like Araxi, Alta Bistro, Bearfoot Bistro, and Hy’s Steakhouse are waiting to serve you. Be sure to call ahead and reserve a table.

Pemberton: Fresh Mountain Fare

At the end of the Sea-to-Sky Highway, before it becomes the winding Duffy Lake Road and heads into the Cariboo Chilcotin, the tiny mountain town of Pemberton nestles in the shade of Mount Currie. Famous for its high-altitude agriculture, Pemberton produces some of Canada’s best potatoes and other root vegetables, and one of the best places to enjoy them is at North Arm Farm, which has a charming café as well as a fresh produce market. In town, stop for gourmet burgers at Mile One Eating House, and breathe in the fresh, clean mountain air before the journey home.

Few places in the world are as scenic as the Sea-to-Sky corridor—or as delicious.

Header image: Tourism Vancouver/Nelson Mouellic