1 Day In Vancouver Itinerary For Traveling Foodies

You have 1 day in Vancouver, how are you going to spend it?

Eating at a Michelin Guide recommended restaurant, admiring the ocean, and sipping on cocktails at one of Canada’s best bars. If you follow this 1 day in Vancouver itinerary for foodies and gourmands.

For this Vancouver itinerary, we are going to focus on Vancouver’s West End and Downtown. These neighbourhoods border each other and can easily be traversed on foot, by public transportation, scooter, or car share.  They are also bursting with things to do between meals. 

We only have 24 hours in Vancouver, so let’s go!

This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Vancouver.

Main recommendations are blue, alternative recommendations are purple

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1 Day in Vancouver Itinerary 

Vancouver breakfast at Greenhorn Cafe

Greenhorn Cafe is a popular breakfast restaurant in Vancouver’s West End. My local friend described it as her favourite spot to grab breakfast. 

The vibe at Greenhorn Cafe is cozy and friendly. The egg benedicts are served on biscuits made in-house, and their Eggs in Purgatory are beloved.

Greenhorn Cafe doesn’t do reservations, and lines form quickly on the weekends. Visit during the week or head there for open on Weekends; otherwise, expect a 15 – 30 minute wait. 

Alternative Vancouver breakfast stop: Café Portrait

Café Portrait is a Turkish restaurant on Denman Street in Vancouver’s West End. Café Portrait is a cozy, family-run spot with hand-painted portraits on the walls. They make excellent Turkish coffee and Shakshuka (A Turkish egg dish).

Vancouver lunch at Pho In Love 

Pho In Love calls itself an authentic Vietnamese restaurant and bar, and it’s easy to see why. They source their coffee directly from Vietnam. They have a menu item I’ve been searching for ever since I ate a version in Ho Chi Minh: Bánh xèo.

Bánh Xèo is a Vietnamese crepe made from rice flour and stuffed with pork, prawns, and bean sprouts. It’s massive, crispy, and made for wrapping in lettuce and dipping. It’s also so hard to find a good one outside of Vietnam, but Pho In Love nails it. 

Pho In Love is also known for their Bánh mì (Vietnamese sub) and Signature Beef Noodle Soup. 

Alternative Vancouver lunch spot: Okami Sushi 

Okami Sushi is a small restaurant with bar seating and a patio in warm weather. The Pressed Salmon Sushi is fantastic, and the prices are great. I’ve also never recommended a Yam Roll before, but try theirs. 

Vancouver happy hour cocktails at Cactus Club English Bay

The Cactus Club English Bay location has a beachfront patio with a picture-perfect view of the bay. If it’s rainy, then grab a window seat instead. 

Happy hour is Monday to Friday, 2 pm – 5 pm, and my favourite Cactus Club drink, the Belini, is on special. Even if it’s the weekend, this location is more about people watching and the ocean view than it is about saving money. The vibe at Cactus Club English Bay is hip beach vacation. 

Vancouver dinner at Homer St Cafe and Bar

For dinner, we’re heading to Yaletown to dine at Homer St Cafe and Bar. Located half in the historic Homer building and half in the Beasley apartment building, the vibe at Homer Street Cafe is sophisticated yet relaxed. A busy restaurant with an excellent patio full of plants and murmured conversation. 

Homer St Cafe features a Michelin Guide recommendation for their Rotisserie Chicken. The Rotisserie Chicken is served as either a half or a whole chicken. It is intended for sharing among 2-4 people, with sides ordered separately. 

The chicken has been perfected, the side of summer squash somehow nearly stole the show, and the service is fantastic. 

Check out their Happy Hours for $5 highballs, $2 off cocktails and discounts on Steak Tartare, Tuna Crudo, and other appetizers. 

Reservations are recommended and can be made at:

https://www.opentable.ca/homer-street-cafe-and-bar

Alternative Vancouver dinner spot: Social Corner Yaletown

Social Corner Yaletown is another Michelin Guide recommended restaurant, also on Homer Street.  It’s elevated Italian and Spanish food in an impeccably decorated room. Try the Seafood Paella, but bring a friend; it’s meant for two. Check out their Happy Hours from 2:30 – 5:30 

Evening cocktails at Keefer Bar 

Multiple Vancouverites informed me that Keefer Bar was the best bar in Vancouver. I’m surprised by the unanimous agreement, but I can’t argue that Keefer Bar is a cool vibe. 

Keefer Bar has a dark, medical theme going on, and the cocktails are magical. I recommend trying the Skeleton’s Kiss; I loved it. Happy Hours are from 4 pm – 6 pm Sunday to Friday and include a selection of cocktails priced at $8 and 50% off Dim Sum. 

Keefer Bar is in Chinatown on the Eastside of downtown Vancouver, so I suggest you take a cheap Uber instead of walking to this one. 

Bonus drink in Vancouver – if you dare!

The Inception Bomb found at The Dime is monstrous. Zach recommended it to me, so I walked into the Dime on Granville and ordered it, no questions asked. Perhaps the slight smirk on the bartender’s face should have given me a hint at what was to come. 

A drink that resembles a Rube Goldbar machine is what I got. Served in a pitcher, multiple shots are lined up so that as you take one, the others drop into each other. I think it was tequila first that caused the Jäger to drop into the Red Bull. Then, doing that causes the Disaronno to drop in the cola…. I could have the order wrong. It’s difficult to remember much after doing an Inception Bomb, 

I tried the Inception Bomb out at 1017 Granville St, Vancouver, BC, Canada, but you can find it at any Dime Bar and a few other bars.  

Things to do in Vancouver’s West End and Downtown

Breakfast, lunch, and happy hour all centre around staying in Vancouver’s West End. Luckily, it’s full of outdoor adventure and quirky shops, so you will have plenty to do between meals. 

Dinner and evening cocktails will have us heading to Downtown, where there are more cool neighbourhoods to explore. 

Vancouver’s West End has unique streets to explore. 

Davie Village is the heart of the LGBTIQ+ community. Head to The Only on Davie for some great thrifting.  

Denman Street is full of local shops, restaurants, and cafes. Bordering English Bay and Stanley Park, it’s a lively place to grab a coffee and people-watch. 

Stanley Park is beautiful and a massive green space. 

The Vancouver Aquarium is inside Stanley Park. It’s the largest aquarium in Canada and has a marine rescue program. 

10 km of the Vancouver Seawall is located inside the park. It’s easy to explore on foot or rent a bike and explore by yourself or as part of a group bike tour. 

Stanley Park is also a beach destination. English Bay Beach is located just before the park entrance from Denman Street. Sit in the sand or go for a swim, but remember that it’s still the ocean, and I didn’t see lifeguards on duty, though plenty of people were enjoying the water.  

Deeper into Stanley Park, you will find Second Beach and Third Beach. The Second Beach pool is a heated outdoor pool and is open during the summer months

Grab a drink at Stanley Park Brewing to relax, hit the Pitch and Putt with some friends or go on a horse-drawn carriage ride.

Explore Yaletown

Yaletown in Vancouver’s warehouse district has been transformed into trendy lofts, salons, and places to eat and drink.  

Head to Yaletown Brewing to have locally made beer. Find local boutiques to shop at and just soak in the trendy feel of this Vancouver neighbourhood. We will be heading to Yaletown for dinner, so you might as well explore it. 

Take the Aquabus to Granville Island

Taking Vancouver’s Aquabus is a fun and inexpensive way to travel to Granville Island. Once there, you can check out the Granville Island Public Market to grab a snack or a coffee. Granville Island Brewery is a local favourite and has flights of pints. 

Visit Gastown

Gastown is a lively area with cobblestone streets and plenty of bars and restaurants tucked into heritage buildings. The Gastown steam clock is the perfect photo op while exploring local shops and galleries. 

On Sundays and Thursdays, you can take in a local musical performance for free during the summer and see buskers on all but the coldest, rainiest days. 

Go shopping on Robson Street

If shopping is your thing, then you need to visit Robson Street in Vancouver. Being one of Vancouver’s longest streets, you will find boutique shops, plenty of restaurants and hotels, and the Pacific Rim Mall. 

Roger’s Arena and BC Place are at the end of Robson in case you want to see a football or hockey game.

Insider tips for 1 day in Vancouver

Before you go

• Book accommodations at least a couple of weeks ahead of time. Prices are as much as $100 higher at the last minute.
• Grab an Airalo eSIM if you do not have a Canada-wide phone plan.
• Offline Google Maps of the Vancouver West End and Downtown. 
• Make reservations at popular restaurants like Homer St Cafe (my recommended dinner spot)

Apps to download 

• Uber and Lyft for rideshare options to easily get around the city. 
• Lime for scooters and e-bikes. 
• Evo for car share
• Most restaurants use Yelp or OpenTable for reservations. OpenTable can be accessed straight from your web browser. A link on the restaurant’s website will take you to their OpenTable booking process.  

Where to stay on your 1 day in Vancouver

Luxury hotel

The Loden is a luxury hotel in the upscale Coal Harbour district. Pamper yourself by selecting your pillow from a menu and have nightly turn-down service.  

Mid-range hotel

Smithe House is a highly rated apartment hotel with a kitchen located in Vancouver’s Yaletown district. 

Silvia Hotel is located on the edge of English Bay beach. They have a lovely patio and lounge. 

Budget stay

Samesun Vancouver offers hostel dorm beds and private rooms on Granville Street. It’s safe, clean and well located

Best time to visit Vancouver

The best time to visit Vancouver is from March to October. The weather is warm, and the rainy days are further apart. 

Cherry blossom season starts in March and makes already beautiful Vancouver even prettier. 

The summer months are hot and dry, which is perfect for using Vancouver’s many beaches and going on boat excursions. In the last few years, smoke from forest fires has harmed air quality during the summer, so if you suffer from respiratory issues, you might want to avoid summer in Vancouver. 

The fall months of September and October have warm days, cool nights, and fewer crowds. 

Getting around Vancouver 

Vancouver’s downtown is easy to navigate with well-maintained sidewalks and bike lanes. Public transit can be paid for with American Express, Visa, Mastercard or with a reloadable Compass card you can purchase from transit centres. 

Translink is Vancouver’s public transportation network, and it connects all of Greater Vancouver via bus, SkyTrain, Seabus, and Handy Dart. 

The Aquabus connects locations around False Creek downtown. Use it to get to Granville Island and Yaletown. There are 8 stops in total, and it’s a scenic and fun way to travel. 

Evo is a car share company that lets you use designated cars to travel the city and drop them back off in designated parking spots within the zone. It’s new to me too, and I excitedly watched as my friend effortlessly found cars to drive us all over the place! 

What to pack for Vancouver

Vancouver has a moderate temperature most of the year. It rarely drops below 0 in the winter and rarely goes higher than 25°C (77°F) in the summer. With the ocean wind it can feel colder than the temperature. 

Bring warm layers even in the summer because evenings are chilly. A quality rain jacket is great because sometimes the rain is a fine mist that umbrellas just can’t help with. 

Comfortable walking shoes are a must because the whole city is built on steep hills and your feet will tire fast. 

Bring a Reusable water bottle to take advantage of the clean Canadian tap water that is readily and freely available. 

Your phone, its charger, and a spare portable charger so your device doesn’t die while out exploring Vancouver. 

What a delicious day in Vancouver

Vancouver is such a fun city to visit. In one day, you can eat cuisine from around the world, hit the beach, and have fancy cocktails. We have only skimmed the surface of everything Vancouver has to offer. 

This 1-day in Vancouver Itinerary can be incorporated into a larger trip or used in full or in part for long layovers in Vancouver as well. 

This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Vancouver.

If you have more time in Vancouver, be sure to check out this FlyOver Vancouver experience. 

If you make it to North Vancouver, the Capilano Suspension Bridge is unique and a little scary, but I assure you it’s safe!

Have a great trip to Vancouver and Live Self Happy!

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