A Local's Delicious Self-Guided Granville Island Food Tour

There’s something about the combination of salty sea air, reclaimed industrial buildings and local artisans that makes a visit to Granville Island linger in your memory. This former industrial site turned artistic and cultural hub is known for its parks, artisans, buskers, theatre and scenic waterfront location… but most of all, for its food. Bring your appetite, a sturdy reusable shopping bag and a keen sense of adventure on this self-guided Granville Island food tour.

Start Your Morning

The Granville Island Public Market opens at 9 a.m. nearly every day of the year. Enter as the market opens and watch the vendors perfect their displays, rearranging fresh flowers and artfully stacking sourdough. You’ll need breakfast and caffeine to prepare for the day ahead: Start with a Montreal-style lox and cream cheese bagel from the exceptional Siegel’s Bagels and a London Fog from the Granville Island Tea Company. Then, it’s time to dive in.

Explore the Granville Island Public Market

Granville Island Public Market is home to more than 50 shops and vendors selling everything from local seafood and handmade sausages to fresh pastas, bulk foods and hard-to-find spices. It’s not all food—you’ll also find things like flowers and pottery—but food is definitely the focus here.

From the moment you step inside, this high-ceilinged industrial building is a feast for the senses. Breathe in the scents of warm baked goods, candied salmon and freshly roasted coffee, admire the jewel-toned pyramids of berries and trays of colourful macarons, and listen to the murmur of many languages mixing with the clatter and bustle of commerce.

Where to Find Meat, Cheese & Seafood

Benton Brothers Fine Cheese stocks a fascinating variety of Canadian and European cheeses. Even seasoned cheese experts will find something new here, and the helpful staff are true experts.

Founded by a fifth generation charcuterie craftsman, Oyama Sausage Co makes and sells more than 400 items, with a selection that varies depending on the season. Think prosciutto, salami, sausages, cold cuts and pâté.

Another multi-generation family-owned business, Longliner Seafoods is one of the original tenants of the Public Market. Buy some tuna poké for now and smoked salmon for later, which can be packed for worldwide travel in airline-approved packaging.

Quality Pasta & Dry Goods

Find that ingredient you’re missing at Granville Island Spice Co, founded here in 1979. They stock herbs and spices, hot sauces and chili oils, specialty grocery and kitchen tools.

Duso’s is known for their range of fresh pastas made from 100% durum semolina and cage-free eggs. Looking for something you can enjoy now? Pick up a generous slab of flaky salted focaccia, a container of marinated olives or a light lunch from the cooler.

The Best Spots for Sweet Treats

Olde World Fudge is another original tenant, and it has kept that old world feel. Fudge is made on site in vast metal cauldrons and sold in decadent slabs alongside caramels, clusters, brittles and barks.

Lee’s Donuts was founded right here in 1979. Donuts are handmade fresh throughout the day from traditional family recipes, and you can watch the process in action while you line up to enter. The honey dip is the most popular option, while the jelly filled is a favourite of local celebrity Seth Rogen.

Master Chocolatier Wim Tas sells Belgian-inspired chocolates at ChocolaTas. Intricately decorated with coloured cocoa butter, these beautiful pieces make great gifts for friends and family back home (but you should get some for yourself, too).

Stop for Lunch

If you have room for a sit-down lunch, grab a table at one of these full-service restaurants with views of the water:

Save room for dessert at GI Gelato & Coffee House. Tucked away from the Public Market adjacent to the Aquabus dock, this hidden spot secretly serves some of the best ice cream in Vancouver.

Elsewhere on the Island

While the Public Market is the must-stop spot on your Granville Island food tour, there are plenty of other areas worth checking out.

Cross the street from the Public Market to enter the Net Loft, where you’ll find Indigenous-made souvenirs, handcrafted jewellery, intricate hats, pottery, kitchenware, postcards, pretty stationery…

Continue your tour in Railspur Alley, a 300-metre walk to the southeast. Artisan shops and studios line the quiet cobblestone street. Watch glassmakers, leather crafters, blacksmiths and more in action.

Uncover more non-food attractions in this comprehensive guide to Granville Island.

Beer, Spirits and Sake

Visit Artisan Sake Maker, the first sake winery in Canada and the only one in Vancouver, to try handcrafted sake, cocktails and fruit liqueurs. They also serve a light menu of Japanese meals and snacks. Around the corner, the Liberty Distillery makes premium spirits organic BC grown grains. Try them for yourself in their on-site cocktail lounge.

If beer is more your thing, don’t miss Granville Island Brewing Co, one of BC’s original craft breweries. While you can find their beer across the province, their Granville Island brewery (back toward the entrance to the Island) also serves a rotating lineup of small-batch, limited-release beers that are made on site.

Dinner and a Show

For dinner, head to the first Afghan restaurant in Canada. Located on a side street near the entrance to Granville Island, Afghan Horsemen is a cultural experience. Take a seat in their inviting room, surrounded by draped fabrics and glittering lanterns, to enjoy traditional dishes like Kabuli Palaw (lamb served with sautéed carrots, raisins and almonds on rice) and Aushak (leek dumplings).

Then, catch a comedy show at the Improv Centre, a short walk away. Or, back in the heart of Granville Island, watch professional live theatre at the Arts Club’s Lindsay Family Stage. Either way, be sure to book tickets in advance.

Granville Island gets quieter after dark. Before you leave, take a moment to perch near the water and admire the arching bridges, the faint glow over the mountains, and the undulating reflection of city lights in False Creek. And maybe take a bite of that sweet treat you’ve been saving.

On the hunt for a guided walking food tour in Vancouver? Vancouver Foodie Tours offers Granville Island food tours daily, including 20 tastings and a full meal with drinks.

Looking for more spots to add to your Granville Island food tour? Find more ideas for market bites, breweries and hidden spots.