Metro Vancouver restaurants have so much to offer in amazing food and craft beer options. It can be hard to narrow it down, so we’ve done some of the leg work for you! Here are eight noteworthy, diverse Vancouver eateries with solid BC craft beer offerings.
When you’re on the hunt for food and beer pairings, craft beer lovers may be familiar with gastropubs and bars such as Alibi Room, St. Augustine’s and O’Hare’s for beer and grub. But what if you’re looking for a date night idea or want to try something different (while still having great craft beer options)? Fret not. From Lebanese and pan-Asian cuisine, to Italian favourites and hidden gem fine-dining, Vancouver is your delicious oyster.
Taps and Tacos, Port Moody
Located only steps from Brewers Row in Port Moody, Taps and Tacos serves up tacos and other Mexican-style dishes with globally inspired flavours. Not only will you find craft beer brewed by Port Moody breweries, you will also find a few other popular beers that would go well with their food and mason-jar desserts.
Explore everything Port Moody has to offer on the Port Moody Ale Trail.
Bells and Whistles, Vancouver
Burgers and fries (I love their All Day Breakfast sandwich!), soft serve and sundaes, and did I mention they have a game room at the Fraser location? Bells and Whistles have a core beer menu featuring local Metro Vancouver breweries; there is also a rotating tap menu at both locations where you may find beers from breweries on Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and beyond.
Wild Thyme Lebanese Food, New Westminster
Wild Thyme is a beloved restaurant in New West. They may not have a big craft beer menu, but you will find a variety of beer and breweries such as Yellow Dog Brewing, Hoyne Brewing Co., and Dageraad Brewing. Their food is delicious (don’t forget the Homemade Pita and dips!) and of very good value!
Torafuku, Vancouver
A pan-asian restaurant, Torafuku never disappoints me with their Crack Salad and Kickass Rice Bowls. They have also reimagined their menus and offerings a few times throughout COVID and I admire their resilience. They don’t really have beer on tap, but you will find bottled and canned craft beer from popular breweries like 33 Acres Brewing, Superflux Beer Co., and Strange Fellows Brewing.
Tap and Barrel, Multiple Locations
Tap and Barrel has a wide variety of dishes and a big craft beer menu at every location. While the menu may seem like the standard brewpub affairs, I find their flavour combination balanced and they often incorporate their own fun twist. Most importantly, all their locations have a spectacular waterfront view!
Gyoza Bar, Vancouver
The more casual concept of the Aburi Restaurant Group, I have been to Gyoza Bar plenty of times for gyoza and beer over happy hour. Now their menu includes Marukatsu Cuisine, which combines Japanese deep-fried cutlet with Mexican culinary influence, and I think that pairs perfectly well with craft beer.
Osteria Savio Volpe, Vancouver
Italian cuisine tends to put emphasis on wine pairing, but Savio Volpe has a decent craft beer menu from across Metro Vancouver. Enjoy their house-made pasta or mains from the wood-fire grill with a pint of local brew.
The Mackenzie Room, Vancouver
Truthfully, The Mackenzie Room has a very small craft beer menu (three rotating taps). But they are by far one of my favourite restaurants in the city so I have to include them on this list for you. My husband and I have been going there for our wedding anniversary since 2016 (except for last year due to COVID) and every time we are blown away.
Bonus: Breweries with Delicious Bites
Of course, many breweries have their own kitchen with a menu that goes well with their beer. Here are a few memorable ones from my previous visits:
Field House Brewing, Abbotsford
I love the beer lawn at Field House’s Abbotsford location, and their food is tasty as well. My family and I went last year for some beer, pizzas and mac ‘n’ cheese, and it was a perfect way to spend an afternoon there.
Wildeye Brewing, North Vancouver
Wildeye Brewing has a great patio and an interesting beer menu, but I also enjoyed their food when I visited them just a few weeks ago. The Gyoza and Taco Trio were spot on in terms of flavours.
Luppolo Brewing Company, Vancouver
Partnering up with Mordimi, an authentic Italian pizzeria, Luppolo Brewing offers pizza that are like a cross between Roman and Neapolitan style pizzas. The crust is crispy, with a bit of chew, but not droopy towards the centre.
Final Thoughts
There are many other beer-forward eateries in Metro Vancouver, but I hope my list here helps you discover restaurants that you didn’t consider ordering a beer at. If you have any suggestions for me to try, hit me up @vanfoodies on Instagram or find me at vanfoodies.com!
Joyce Lam has been a food blogger in Vancouver since 2009, writing at VanFoodies.com and sharing her food adventures on social media @vanfoodies. She sets out to discover delightful eats across Greater Vancouver, find joys in hearty home-cooking, and celebrate local food and beverage producers. A marketing consultant by day, and a food blogger by night, Joyce is a petite girl with a big appetite. Her foodie motto is “I’ll try anything once.”
