What to Book Now For Your Vancouver Fall Trip

Is Fall a Good Time to Visit Vancouver?

One of the best places to travel in October is Vancouver. The summer crowds have thinned, and there are pockets of sunshine still in the forecast. Yes, it will probably rain, but that’s what makes our forests lush and the air so fresh. Experience it yourself and head to Capilano Suspension Bridge, where you can breathe it all in.

Fall is also the perfect excuse to settle into a movie theater chair at the Vancouver International Film Festival, or take to the skies on a helicopter ride to see the city’s changing colours from above. You also have a much better chance of landing a reservation at one of our many delicious restaurants.

What are the Best Restaurants to Try in Vancouver?

As you plan your autumn activities, securing dining reservations is a must. Vancouver is a place where you can find buttermilk-fried chicken bao, Afghan and Tibetan fare, and traditional Indigenous cuisine. And that’s just on West Broadway Street. 

A great place to start when booking fall restaurant reservations is the MICHELIN Guide. Vancouver boasts 10 MICHELIN Star restaurants and numerous MICHELIN Guide-recognized eateries, which are just the beginning of the city’s vibrant culinary scene.

Fall is for comfort food, and nothing quite hits the spot like a perfectly seared ribeye served with Japanese milk bread and a buttery side of mashed potatoes. Enter, The Victor. Located on Parq Casino’s sixth-floor rooftop, Victor offers stunning views overlooking False Creek and incredible food that has earned it national recognition.

If you’re looking to dine outside of the downtown core, grab a 10-minute Uber or walk 30 minutes into the charming neighbourhood of Kitsilano. Here you’ll find one of the city’s best restaurants, complete with a coveted MICHELIN star, AnnaLena.

Executive Chef Mike Robbins specializes in a continually evolving tasting menu program, featuring playful and imaginative culinary creations. Amongst the wagyu and foie gras, you might find a root beer float-esque palate cleanser or sip from a cocktail in a cup made from LEGO. In many ways, AnnaLena has the ambiance of a chic modern art gallery rather than the white-tablecloth experience typically associated with restaurants of this caliber. 

A few blocks down on 4th Avenue is one of Vancouver’s most celebrated Thai restaurants, Maenam. This MICHELIN Guide-recommended restaurant combines traditional Thai techniques with locally-sourced ingredients to create a culinary experience that strikes a balance between authenticity and creativity.

We can’t talk about Vancouver’s dining scene without mentioning sushi. There are hundreds of sushi restaurants in the city, and it’s hard to go wrong. But for the ultimate dining experience, opt for a restaurant with an omakase menu.

Translating to “I’ll leave it up to you,” omakase is the best way to experience sushi in Vancouver. Omakase was initially brought to Vancouver in 1971 by legendary sushi Chef Hidekazu Tojo. Chef Tojo revolutionized sushi in Vancouver and around the world, with innovations including the iconic California Roll. His restaurant, Tojo’s, remains the premier destination for omakase dining, and it’s a chance to experience this legendary chef in action.

What are the Best Tours for a Fall Visit to Vancouver?

If you’re looking to embrace spooky season, look no further than the Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours. From The Dark Secrets of Stanley Park to The Lost Souls of Gastown, each of their walking tours offers a chilling glimpse into Vancouver’s earliest and most gruesome history. In the same vein, don’t miss out on Hocus Pocus in Concert presented by The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.

If you’re after something a little less devious and a lot more delicious, A Wok Around Chinatown is the perfect autumn activity on a crisp afternoon. Wander through the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden, explore traditional apothecaries, and meet merchants selling crispy-skinned ducks, mouthwatering pastries, and more. Make sure to bring your appetite. A dim sum lunch is included in your tour.

To experience these lands through an Indigenous lens, explore the autumn activities offered at Talaysay Tours. This Indigenous-owned and operated company offers a range of tours designed to educat

e and deepen your connection to the land by exploring First Nations history, lore, legends, and traditional ways of living.

Hands-down, one of the best autumn activities on a misty fall day is Capilano Suspension Bridge Park. Moss-draped trees, rushing water, and vibrant fall colours bring the rainforest canopy to life. Warm up with a deluxe hot cocoa from Cliff House Restaurant for the ultimate cozy fall day.

If you’re in the mood for something a little more thrill-seeking than therapeutic, head up the hill to Grouse Mountain. In just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver, you can be on the hill and ready to ride the new Grouse Gravity Coaster. Enjoy all the twists and turns expected from a roller coaster, along with stunning views of Vancouver and the surrounding nature.

Between the food, the fresh air, and the endless excursions available at your fingertips, there’s no question that Vancouver is one of the best places to travel in October. So grab your raincoat and your rubber boots. There’s a whole city out there waiting to be explored.