Blue Water Cafe

"It’s more than a little confusing that Vancouver, a city ideally situated to harvest the Pacific Ocean’s bounty, has so few fine dining seafood restaurants; Blue Water Café, however, is a notable exception. Located in Yaletown and set in a converted warehouse, this is a warm and intimate spot. Dishes like sablefish with a miso sake glaze or yellowfin tuna with pepper piperade and romesco sauce go a long way toward showing what, exactly, a sure-handed cook can do with delicate ingredients." - Guy Saddy, Nicole Schnitzler

"What sets this place apart in the city's dining scene? It’s more than a little confusing that Vancouver, a city ideally situated to harvest the Pacific Ocean’s bounty, has so few fine dining seafood restaurants; Blue Water Café, however, is a notable exception. Located in Yaletown and set in converted warehouse, this is a warm and intimate spot, despite its considerable size. The long bar that dominates one side of the room is often busy, but it’s hardly raucous or out of control. What's the crowd like? Tourists, business-account diners, and serious foodies looking to experience the best seafood in town. What should we be drinking? The bar is more than capable, but the star of the show here is the wine cellar; with about 14,000 bottles, it promises something for everyone. What can we expect from the menu? Dishes like sablefish with a miso sake glaze or yellowfin tuna with pepper piperade and romesco sauce go a long way toward showing what, exactly, a sure-handed cook can do with delicate ingredients. But the raw bar is also worth a test-drive; seafood tower or jellyfish-scallop ceviche, anyone?" - Guy Saddy

"Routinely crowned the city’s top seafood restaurant, Blue Water Cafe is also among the continent’s best. After honing his skills at Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe, executive chef Frank Pabst opened this Yaletown classic to marry fine-dining techniques with local, sustainable ingredients. Eventually, the restaurant became a founding member of the Ocean Wise program, which helps consumers make ocean-friendly seafood choices. When visiting, you can belly up to the bar—which boasts more than 200 whiskeys and 1,000 wine labels—or reserve a table in the elegant brick-and-beamed dining room, housed in a heritage warehouse. Come summertime, however, you’ll want to head straight to the patio for sushi and premium sake. Fancy a splurge? Go for the seafood tower, which showcases the bounty of British Columbia."