5 Vancouver restaurants that transport you elsewhere
From Tuscan terraces to Tokyo jazz cafés, these spots deliver world-class atmosphere without the passport.
The day's top stories, food & events — every morning at 7. Unsubscribe anytime.
Vancouver is full of restaurants that instantly make you feel like you've stepped into another city entirely—places where the atmosphere, design, and food conspire to transport you thousands of miles without leaving town.
Climbing the winding staircase up to CinCin Ristorante + Bar on Robson Street feels like leaving Vancouver behind. One moment you're on busy Robson; the next you're beside a roaring wood-fired grill, deciding whether to order another Negroni. The heated terrace remains one of the city's great hidden escapes. When you add handmade pasta and a great bottle of Brunello, your evening suddenly feels a lot more like Tuscany than downtown.
Step inside Moltaqa Moroccan Restaurant on Mainland Street and the outside world disappears. The room glows with lantern light, warm spices fill the air, and colourful tile work covers nearly every surface. If someone told you that you were dining inside a hidden riad tucked away in Marrakesh, you'd believe them. Order a slow-simmered tagine and settle in for the tableside mint tea ritual.
¿CóMO? Taperia on East 7th Avenue captures the spirit of a Madrid dinner—as much about conversation as food. The room hums with energy, sherry flows freely, and as plates arrive you somehow stay far longer than you'd planned. Grab a spot at the bar and let the evening unfold naturally. The restaurant runs an annual summer Paella Patio Series.
Au Comptoir on West 4th Avenue is where a quick brunch or lunch has a habit of turning into a leisurely afternoon. Between the zinc bar, vintage mirrors and classic French fare, it captures that art of doing absolutely nothing that makes Paris so seductive.
Hidden upstairs in Chinatown, Kissa Tanto channels the spirit of Tokyo's mid-century jazz cafés through velvet banquettes, dim lighting, vintage music, and one of the most distinctive dining rooms in the city. The Italian-Japanese menu somehow feels completely natural here, creating a restaurant that's both transportive and uniquely Vancouver.