Yaletown's Hottest Restaurants & Nightlife

Dining and Nightlife in Vancouver's Yaletown Neighborhood

Updated 08/28/17

Celebrated chefs, fabulous drinks, chic patrons. and occasional celebrities--Vancouver's Yaletown is home to some of the city's best nightlife and restaurants. It's also within walking distance of Downtown Vancouver and has its own Canada LIne / SkyTrain rapid transit stop, the Yaletown-Roundhouse Station.

The center of Yaletown nightlife and dining are Mainland St. and Hamilton St., which run parallel to each other, (loosely) bordered by Davie St. to the south and Smithe St. to the north. This rectangular area is packed with top restaurants, bars, and nightspots, making it easy to bar hop or dine in one and then have after-dinner drinks at another.

Generally, Yaletown nightlife is more posh and less rowdy than the Granville Street Entertainment District, and caters to a wider age range (from young to over-40).

01 of 04
Yaletown's Best High-End Restaurants

••• Blue Water Cafe Vancouver. Image Courtesy of Tourism Vancouver
Yaletown is home to several of the most acclaimed restaurants in Vancouver, including:
- Blue Water Cafe - Acclaimed as the best seafood restaurant in Vancouver--no little feat, considering the wealth of world-class seafood available here--Blue Water Cafe is a favourite among locals, visitors, and celebrities alike.
- Cioppino's Mediterraean Grill - Multiple award-winner for fresh, delicious Mediterranean fare and one of the Top 5 Italian Restaurants in Vancouver.
- The Flying Pig Yaletown - The Flying Pig (which also has a location in Gastown) describes itself as a "nouveau Canadian Bistro" and is perfect for visitors looking for fresh, local Canadian and Pacific Northwest cuisine.
02 of 04
Yaletown's Hottest Bars & Nightspots

••• Opus Bar in Yaletown, Vancouver. Image Courtesy of Opus Hotel
Yaletown is one of Vancouver's busiest nightlife districts on Friday and Saturday nights; you may even spot a celebrity!
- Opus Bar at the Opus Hotel - This super-chic nightspot is the place to see-and-be-seen.
- Bar None Nightclub - Yaletown's version of a swanky dance club, with luxe decor and live DJs.
- UVA Wine & Cocktail Bar - UVA is perfect for a more intimate, less "meat market" scene that still feels energetic.
03 of 04
Casual Dining / Hot Bar Scenes

••• Cactus Club, Yaletown. Image Courtesy of Tourism Vancouver / Dine Out Vancouver
If you want to save your budget for cocktails and after-dinner drinks, these casual dining favourites are also Yaletown hotspots--their bars attract a young, stylish crowd on the weekends.
- Cactus Club Yaletown - Pacific Norhwest fare, fusion, burgers
- Yaletown Brewing Company - Local beers and burgers
- The Greek by Anatoli - Yummy Greek food, with large platters (like the Souvlaki Platter) perfect for sharing.
04 of 04

How to Get to Yaletown

If you're in Downtown Vancouver, chances are you are within walking distance of Yaletown (which occupies the southeast portion of the downtown peninsula). If you want to save your feet for dancing, taxis from anywhere in the downtown core will be (relatively) inexpensive. You can also use Vancouver's Canada Line / SkyTrain rapid transit to reach Yaletown: take the Canada Line to Yaletown-Roundhouse Station, just one block south of Mainland St.