5 Restaurants to Try in Gastown

Worked up an appetite shopping Gastown? Good news: roomy street-level patios and inventive menus mean there are plenty of worthwhile places to refuel.

1. Meet in Gastown

Purveyors of plant-based comfort food Meet on Main expanded into Gastown in early 2016. Treat yourself to decadent meat-free burgers piled high with coconut bacon and cashew queso, or nibble on sweet chili beer-battered cauliflower and whiskey barbecue chiggin’ things. 12 Water Street

2. Bao Down

In our A to Z guide to the best bites in Vancouver, the letter F represents Filipino cuisine, a delicious mix of Spanish, Chinese, Malay, Western and Indigenous influences. And it’s here, where the steamed buns are loaded with everything from pork belly to seared tuna to bacon and hashbrowns, that you’ll be able to satisfy every craving. 12 Powell Street

3. Peckinpah

Step inside Peckinpah to experience how North Carolina Style BBQ is done in the Pacific Northwest. Feast on baked beans, fried chicken, pulled pork and other classic Southern sides. 2 Water Street

4. Nuba in Gastown

This beloved establishment that serves up delicious Lebanese fare (baba ghanooj, lamb kafta) in a casual, cozy setting. Excellent for groups (especially those with vegan or gluten-free leanings) and sharing—although you’ll likely want to keep the roasted cauliflower all to yourself. 207 West Hastings Street

5. Wildebeest

Wildebeest won our Best New Restaurant award in 2013 and continues to impress with adventurous, carnivore-forward dishes like game lasagne made with braised goat and venison, served up in a hip, industrial cool space. 120 West Hastings Street

Gastown ▸▸▸