This category is fresh in every sense of the word. It’s a brand-new addition to the Restaurant Awards, replacing the former “Best West Coast.” And Best Contemporary celebrates modern culinary excellence: chefs that respect tradition, but aren’t beholden to it.
The Best Contemporary Restaurants in Vancouver 2023
Gold: AnnaLena
Earning the first-ever gold in this category is AnnaLena, a restaurant that also nabbed one of Vancouver’s first Michelin stars in 2022. Thanks to world-class tasting menus from chef Michael Robbins—also our Chef of the Year—AnnaLena shines with imaginative, artistic, detailed dishes. (Case in point: BBQ chicken consommé with smoked cod, yam agnolotti and wakame oil.)
1809 W 1st Ave., Vancouver
annalena.ca
Silver: L’Abattoir
Silver belongs to L’Abattoir; our judges loved chef Lee Cooper’s sharp French technique and incorporation of distinctive Asian flavour (think steak tartare with bluefin tuna otoro and shiso). “It represents a real Vancouver point of view,” said one judge.
217 Carrall St., Vancouver
labattoir.ca
Bronze: Burdock and Co
And Burdock and Co (another Michelin winner) bags bronze for chef Andrea Carlson’s carefully crafted, plant-forward dishes (rosemary-smoked potato with black garlic, anyone?) that celebrate the best of local, seasonal ingredients.
2702 Main St., Vancouver
burdockandco.com
Honourable Mention: Boulevard Kitchen and Oyster Bar
845 Burrard St., Vancouver
boulevardvancouver.ca
Looking for more of the best restaurants in Vancouver? See all 70+ restaurants on the list.
