July 2021

Lynn & Michael are sad to say we’ve sold our house and unfortunately will no longer be inviting guests to share the home with us.

Best Restaurants

The best restaurants in Vancouver

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Neighborhood Restaurants

The Bee & Thistle Guest House, Business Licence #21-156932, is located in a popular restaurant neighborhood, known locally as “the Drive”. The list below features some of our favourites within easy walking distance.

Absinthe Bistro
A “taste of France on the Drive”.  A recommended restaurant nearby.  Reservations are usually necessary.
http://bistroabsinthe.com

Havana’s Cuban Restaurant
A popular, trendy restaurant offering great breakfasts, lunches and dinners.  One of the best patios in Vancouver for an afternoon refreshment!
https://www.havanavancouver.com

Fets Whisky Kitchen
Great breakfast, casual lunches and dinners.  Over 1,300 whiskies on offer, as well as a great selection of local craft beer.
http://www.whiskykitchen.ca

Biercraft Tap and Tapas
Enjoy a great lunch or dinner whilst enjoying beers from around the world. Owners are proud of their fresh, seasonal and local ingredients.
http://biercraft.com/commercial

Five Elements Cafe
Only 3 blocks from our door, this is our favourite place for a quick and inexpensive bowl of pho or a variety of noodle and rice dishes. They don’t have a website but you  can check them out on TripAdvisor.
https://www.tripadvisor.ca/Restaurant_Review-g154943-d4318702-Reviews-Five_Elements_Cafe-Vancouver_British_Columbia.html

Pepinos’ Spaghetti House
Authentic Italian pasta and mains.
https://pepinos.ca

Pizza Garden – Take Out
A fast-food pizza for takeout, delivery or pick up a slice.  Not much space to eat in.
http://van-east.pizzagarden.ca/zgrid/proc/site/mobile/sitep.jsp

Via Tevere Pizzeria – Eat In
Their goal is to “honour their family heritage and the tradition of pizza-making by serving up la vera pizza Napoletana—the true Neapolitan pizza”!
https://www.via teverepizzeria.com

Sula Indian Restaurant
Serving fresh, tasty and spicy Indian food prepared using fresh herbs, garam masalas which are roasted and made in-house combined with rich flavors from ginger and garlic.  #3 for Best Indian Food in Vancouver on the Golden Plates Awards 2018.
https://www.sulaindianrestaurant.com

Bombay Kitchen & Bar
Serving fresh, tasty and spicy Indian food prepared using fresh herbs, garam masalas which are roasted and made in-house combined with rich flavors from ginger and garlic.  #3 for Best Indian Food in Vancouver on the Golden Plates Awards 2018.

https://bombaykitchenandbar.ca

DownLow Chicken Shack
We haven’t eaten here but if the big lineup every day means anything, this restaurant is definitely worth checking out.  Very nearby.
https://www.dlchickenshack.ca/

Aleph Eatery
One of our favourite Middle Eastern restaurants, serving yummy plant based food, great drinks and has a fun, lively vibe. Walking distance about 10 minutes.
https://alepheatery.com

Bandidas Taqueria Mexican
Excellent place for inexpensive vegetarian breakfast, lunch or dinner.  Its a bit of a walk or a bus/car ride, but one of our favourites.
https://www.bandidastaqueria.com

Rosemary Rock Salt
Sandwiches and bagels.
https://rosemaryrocksalt.com

Jam Jar
Excellent folk Lebanese food.
https://jam-jar.ca/

ChongQing Chinese Food
Excellent authentic Chinese food. Not Westernized fast food Chinese food.
http://www.cqrestaurant.com

Elsewhere in Vancouver

For restaurants downtown or further afield, see our list below.  A hop on to public transit or a quick drive will get you to these in minutes from the Bee & Thistle.  Note that we have selected some of the top restaurants from the “Golden Plates” awards and TripAdvisor, but Vancouver is a foodie city and the food scene changes constantly.  We recommend that you research your favourite type of food and check out recent reviews for the most up to date information to suit your personal choice.

Blue Water Cafe
Blue Water Cafe is Vancouver’s definitive destination for seafood, widely known for its excellence in celebrating the extraordinary flavours of BC. Consistently awarded “Best Seafood Restaurant” and “Best Restaurant” in Vancouver.
http://www.bluewatercafe.net

Bauhaus Restaurant
Fine dining restaurant offers three crafted menus, the Chef Tasting menu, A La Carte and the German Classic menu. Bauhaus has had the honor of being highly-acclaimed internationally. Recently it was listed as a “restaurant to watch” by The World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ Diner’s Discovery Series.
http://www.bauhaus-restaurant.com

Bishops
Since opening its doors in 1985, Bishop’s restaurant has become one of Vancouver’s premier dining destinations for Pacific Northwest cuisine. Voted Best Pacific Northwest Cuisine by 2018 Golden Plates.
http://www.bishops.ca

Hawksworth Restaurant
Five-time winner of Best Upscale Restaurant in Vancouver Magazine’s Restaurant Awards, Hawksworth Restaurant is glamorous and elegant, yet relaxed and welcoming with warm and attentive service.
http://www.hawksworthrestaurant.com

The Acorn Restaurant
The Acorn is an award-winning, vegetable-forward restaurant and bar located at the heart of Vancouver’s Main St. CNN called this the one of the “World’s 10 Best Vegetarian Destinations”, and it’s also one of our favourites.
http://www.theacornrestaurant.ca

St. Lawrence
Known for its authentic Quebec cuisine and classic French cooking, this new restaurant was voted 4th in the Top 10 Restaurants in Canada.
(website currently unavailable)

Bistro Wagon Rouge
Not on the Drive but within walking distance, this casual French bistro is getting good reviews and our one visit was very good.  Their website isn’t working but you can check them out on TripAdvisor.
Phone #604-251-4070

Tacofino Commissary
Several locations, including one within walking distance on Hastings St., this little restaurant has some of the best tacos in town.
https://www.tacofino.com/location/hastings-commissary

Stepho’s Souvlaki Greek Taverna
One of our favourite casual Greek restaurants in Vancouver. Very popular and often a lineup. Two locations.
See map

Jam Cafe YVR
An all-day breakfast and lunch restaurant located downtown or in Kitsilano.
http://jamcafes.com/vancouver

Chickpea
Some of the best Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food in Vancouver. Located on Main St.
https://www.ilovechickpea.ca

Meet on Main or Gastown
Either locations serves tasty vegetarian comfort food.
http://www.meetonmain.com/

Miku Restaurant
Traditional Japanese flavours and techniques are combined with local, west coast elements to create a truly unique dining experience. Voted #1 Japanese on the Golden Plates Awards 2018.
https://mikurestaurant.ca

Nuba Lebanese Food
Great Middle Eastern food. Voted #1 Middle Eastern restaurant on the 2018 Golden Plates Awards.
http://www.nuba.ca

Welcome to the Bee & Thistle
Congratulations to The Bee & Thistle on being a Travelers’ Choice Winner. Each year, we comb through reviews, ratings, and saves from travelers everywhere, and use that info to award the very best. You’re part of an exclusive group, and we want to help you celebrate this major accomplishment.

—Trip Advisor