Restaurants Patio and Water Dining

Thursday, June 15th, 2006

Water Views: Is it any wonder we have our reputation as Lotuslanders? The Sun’s Mia Stainsby takes a look at our collection of lazy-making patios and our bonanza of waterside ones.

Mia Stainsby
Sun

Lift Bar and Grill

333 Menchions Mews, 604-689-5438

Day or night, a million-dollar view from the two patios hovering over Coal Harbour.

Go Fish

1505 West First Ave., 604-730-5040

There’s no inside here — just an outside catering truck with some seating just above Fisherman’s Wharf across from Granville Island.

Bridges

1696 Duranleau St., 604-687-4400

Patio off the upstairs fine dining area and a sprawling wooden deck overlooking False Creek off the bistro downstairs.

Seawall Bar and Grill

Westin Bayshore Hotel

1601 Bayshore Drive, 604-682-3377

A beer, a light nosh, a great view of Coal Harbour seawall action.

1661 Granville St., 604-646-4668

Lures a hip, tony crowd. Covered patio for sunset watching.

The Galley Patio & Grill

1300 Discovery St., 604-222-1331

A sand-ridden flip-flop kind of spot, commanding a panoramic sweep of water, downtown, mountains. As casual as you can get.

The Mill Marine Bistro,

Bar & Dock

1199 West Cordova St., 604-687-6455

In a nutshell — ahhhh! Patio segues to lawns, sea wall, Coal Harbour, mountain view.

Monk McQueens

601 Stamp’s Landing, 604-877-1351

Getting a somewhat tired, but the patio boasts a great view over False Creek.

Cannery Seafood Restaurant

2205 Commissioner St., 604-254-9606

In the midst of a working harbour, a unique West Coast spot for high-end dining.

Backstage Lounge

Granville Island Stage

1585 Johnston St. 604-687-1354

A small, quiet spot on Granville Island. Nightly music.

Sandbar

1535 Johnston St., 604-669-9030

Tucked under the Granville St. Bridge, overlooking False Creek.

Raincity Grill

1193 Denman St., 604-685-7337

Catch the buzz off English Bay and grab an eyeful of sunset.

Watermark on Kits Beach

1305 Arbutus St., 604-738-5487

Spectacular view over Kits Beach, especially in daylight. Even better — no smoking!

Pacific Crab Co.

1184 Denman St., 604-633-CRAB

Second storey, narrow patio overlooking Denman St. and out to English Bay.

Provence Marinaside

1177 Marinaside Cresc., 604-681-4144

Mediterranean cuisine along a piece of earth not unlike the Riviera.

Ocean 6 Seventeen

617 Stamp’s Landing, 604-879-6178

Best-ever sunsets from this intimate patio across from a marina. Good food, too.

Spotted Prawn

1055 West Hastings St., 604-646-0667

Tucked on the backside of a downtown office tower, panorama of mountains, water and North Shore.

The Quay

1137 Marinaside Cresc., 604-683-5335

Off False Creek. Lively groups in party mode.

Fiddlehead Joe’s

1012 Beach Ave., 604-688-1969

Ideal for lazy Sunday brunches as rollerblading, cycling, walking world pass by your seawall table.

Cardero’s Restaurant

and Marine Pub

1583 Coal Harbour Quay, 604-669-7666

Its stick legs wade into Coal Harbour and you’re suspended above water. Casual, easygoing spot.

Milestones

1210 Denman St., 604-662-3431

Go early to score these front-row seats to English Bay.

Free House

1780 Davie St., 604-801-6681

A compact spot with the same great views as Milestones, next door.

Tantra Lounge and Grill

123 Carrie Cate,

North Vancouver, 604-904-3045

The second-floor patio of the Lonsdale Quay Hotel looks across the inlet to downtown Vancouver.

The Boat House

1795 Beach Ave., 604-669-2225

900 Quayside Dr., New Westminster, 604-525-3474

8331 River Rd., Richmond, 604-273-7014

6695 Nelson Ave., West Vancouver,

604-921-8188

14935 Marine Dr., White Rock,

604-536-7320

It’s not called The Boat House for nothing. They all have skookum water views.

Vera’s Burger Shack

Dundarave Beach, West Vancouver

604-221-8372

There’ a small patio at this beach concession stand but why bother when the beach is but a few steps away.

Flying Beaver

4760 Inglis Dr.

Richmond, 604-273-0278

Flying Beaver seaplanes land on the Fraser right by the patio. Extremely cool.

Beach House at Dundarave Pier

150 — 25th St.

West Vancouver, 604-922-1414

Great Gatsby scenics with cruise ship sailpasts in summer months. Adjacent to seawall, beach and park.

Beachside Cafe

1362 Marine Dr.

West Vancouver, 604-925-1945

A small but refreshing patio with glimpses of Ambleside Beach and beyond.

Tramonto

River Rock Casino

8811 River Rd.

Richmond, 604-247-8900

Right under a flight path to YVR. See the planes, boats and cars, zooming about from this spot on an arm of the Fraser River.

Pajo’s

2800 Murray St.

Port Moody, 604-469-2289

Third and Bayview St. wharf

Steveston, 604-272-1588

Fish and chip stands with tables by the water.

Arms Reach

4390 Gallant Ave.,

North Vancouver, 604-929-7442

Choice spot, under bright yellow umbrellas, view of Deep Cove.

Cascades Lounge

Pan Pacific Hotel

999 Canada Place, 604-895-2480

Food, drink and spoiled-rich feel. Stanley Park, mountains over yonder.

Gramercy Grill

2685 Arbutus St., 604-730-5666

A petite gardeny patio in a neighbourhood that’s short on al fresco spots.

Ocean Club Restaurant

and Lounge

106-100 Park Royal South

West Vancouver, 604-926-2326

Cool sophistication for West Van suburbanites.

Pelagos Restaurant

2728 O’Hara Lane

Surrey, 604-538-6102

Who would have thunk it? A seaside patio in Surrey. Greek food.

OASIS SPOTS

Parkside

1906 Haro St., 604-683-6912

Elegant courtyard garden patio in green residential neighbourhood.

Hart House

6664 Deer Lake Avenue

Burnaby, 604-298-4278

Behind a manor house overlooking a manicured lawn and views of Deer Lake.

Crave

3941 Main St., 604-872-3663

Large, attractive patio at the back as well as two tables on sidewalk mini-patio.

Kingston Taphouse and Grill

755 Richards St., 604-681-7011

Pair of chic patios on two levels. Fountain, fireplace,rooftop bar.

Dundarave Fish Market

2423 Marine Dr

604-922-1155

Quaint, villagey feel. Sidewalk patio.

The Naam

2724 West Fourth Ave., 604-738-7151

Peaceful hideaway patio on busy Fourth Avenue.

Chi Restaurant and Lounge

1796 Nanaimo, 604-215-0078

An oasis of taste on a dull stretch of Nanaimo Street.

Chai

2nd floor, 3239 West Broadway,

604-734-5881

Ayurvedic food. Terrace surrounded by faux forest mural.

Vancouver Art Gallery

750 Hornby, 604-688-2233

Off the steps of the stately VAG building, a chic downtown getaway.

Cafe Il Nido

780 Thurlow St., 604-685-6436

A European-feel courtyard cafe in the Manhattan Building complex.

Fish House in Stanley Park

8901 Stanley Park Dr., 604-681-7275

Scores Stanley Park as a backdrop.

Senova

1864 West 57th Ave., 604-266-8643

Ingenious use of the space between buildings. Feels appropriately Mediterranean.

Sequoia Grill

Ferguson Point

Stanley Park Drive, 604-669-3281

Can be touristy but it’s romantic and lovely as all get-out.

The Tomahawk

1550 Philip Ave.

North Vancouver, 604-988-2612

Nine tables with umbrellas and chairs surrounded by trees.

Altitudes Bistro

Grouse Mountain Resorts

6400 Nancy Greene Way

North Vancouver, 604-984-0661

The 3,700 ft.-high perch atop Grouse Mt. gives a bird’s eye view on clear days. On cloudy ones? Not so good.

Bacchus Bistro

Domaine de Chaberton Winery

1064 — 216th St.

Langley, 604-530-9694

Set next to the vineyard. Great French bistro food, fresh country air, a nice getaway.

URBAN

Brix

1138 Homer St., 604-915-9463

Enchanting courtyard space in Yaletown brick-surround.

Cincin Ristorante

1154 Robson St., 604-688-7338

Set on second floor above a river of shoppers on the street below. Cocooned in a garden.

Il Giardino

1382 Hornby St., 604-669-2422

The name means ‘garden’ and that’s because of the patio.

Smoking Dog

1889 West First Ave., 604-732-8811

Streetside patio in the Kitsilano hub-bub.

Irish Heather

217 Carrall St., 604-688-9779

Small, lively funky and fun patio at the back of the restaurant.

Yaletown Brewing Co.

1111 Mainland Street, 604-681-2739

It might be just a bunch of tables out front, but it’s a crowd pleaser for people watching. Always busy.

Blue Water Cafe and Raw Bar

1095 Hamilton St., 604-688-8078

White table cloths, fine wine, and Yaletown vibes and fine food, al fresco.

Water St. Cafe

300 Water St., 604-689-2832

Could be a cafe in Italy. Cobblestoned street, charming old building.

River’s Reach Pub

320 Sixth St.

New Westminster, 604-777-0101

A table by the riverrock fireplace; a beer, a burger, life’s good.

Earl’s Restaurants

3850 Lougheed Highway

Burnaby, 604-205-5025

6339 — 200th St.

Langley, 604-534-8750

2850 Shaughnessy St.

Port Coquitlam, 604-941-1733

5300 No. 3 Rd.,

Richmond, 604-303-9702

7236 — 120th St.

Surrey, 604-501-2233

1767 — 152nd St.

Surrey, 604-536-8700

303 Marine Dr.

North Vancouver, 604-984-4341

901 West Broadway, 604-734-5995

Most of the Earl’s Restaurant patios have gone tropical, some with wicker, banana plants, tiki torches and tropical cocktails.

Cactus Club

1530 West Broadway, 604-733-0434

110 –101 Schoolhouse St., Coquitlam, 604-777-0440

855 Main St., Village at Park Royal, 604-922-1707

These Cactus Clubs can boast about their patios.

ROOFTOP GEMS

Yoshi on Denman

689 Denman St., 604-738-8226

It overlooks busy Georgia Street, but beyond the traffic, you take in Stanley Park and Coal Harbour.

Joe Fortes Seafood

and Chop House

777 Thurlow St., 604-669-1940

Roof garden patio on two levels, one covered, the other not. Lots of greenery and flowers.

Tanpopo

1122 Denman St., 604-681-7777

High above the throngs on Denman, a wide-open patio for nibbling sushi and slurping noodles.

Savory Coast

Upstairs, 1133 Robson Street, 604-642-6278

A nice escape from Robson Street.

Davie Village Cafe

1141 Davie St., 604-228-1819

Shame the rooftop patio in front won’t be finished this summer but there’s a big, gardeny, private one at the back.

Jupiter Cafe

1216 Bute St., 604-609-6665

Funky and casual, gay and straight, this West End patio is a refuge from the bustling Davie Street.

Handi Cuisine of India

1340 Marine Drive

West Vancouver, 604-925-5262

This must be the only Indian restaurant in the Lower Mainland with a spectacular view. Wide angle view of ocean and cruiseships in summer.

Saltaire

235 — 15th St.

West Vancouver, 604-913-8439

Sweeping view of the water and Stanley park from this swish rooftop. Teak furniture, blue umbrellas and live music sometimes.