Five Date Worthy Vancouver Patios

May 19, 2016
TL
By Tara Lee
5 min read

With the weather warming up, it’s time to start taking advantage of Vancouver’s many fabulous patios. To up the romance of your next date, how about throwing in a scenic view, pretty surroundings, well-crafted drinks, and delicious food?

Here are my top picks for patios in the city that are date friendly:

Brix & Mortar (1138 Homer Street)

Sourced from Brix & Mortar website

Sourced from Brix & Mortar website

The rebranded and renovated Brix & Mortar is a beauty. Sleek modern décor pairs with a heritage brick building (circa 1912). The big draw are the two unique patio spaces. The first is an ultra romantic upstairs courtyard patio, which the restaurant is particularly known for (weddings and special events often happen here). Meanwhile, the downstairs patio features multi-tiered chandeliers, elegant banquette seating, and views of trendy Yaletown. Nosh on small plates, like peppered albacore tuna tataki and lamb bacon salad, while enjoying a glass of vino or a cocktail, like their Singapore Sling.

Beach Bay Café and Patio (1193 Denman Street)

Sourced from Beach Bay Cafe website

Sourced from Brix & Mortar website

This restaurant actually includes the word “patio” in their name. That’s how much of an attraction it is. The location is unbeatable: almost a stone’s throw away from English Bay, with stunning views of the beach and water. If you time your visit right, you and your date can take in the sunset together. If that doesn’t make at least one of you swoon, you just might be destined for friendship. The Pacific Northwest food is also standout, including house cured wild sockeye salmon with avocado, beets, and puffed wild rice; and sake marinated sablefish with daikon, seaweed, and dashi. The wine list showcases local offerings while cocktails lean toward the light and refreshing (eg “the flicker of thyme,” with vodka, sparkling wine, thyme, honey, lemon, and lavender tincture).

Tacofino Gastown (15 West Cordova Street)

Sourced from Tacofino Facebook page

Sourced from Brix & Mortar website

I recently had a meal on the patio of Tacofino’s taco bar, and was reminded of how much I love this space. It’s quintessential Vancouver: laidback and graced by views of Blood Alley, with its Gastown brick walls and heritage lamp posts. A green vine wall and twinkly white lights add to the romance of this twenty-seater patio. Tacofino makes for a fun, low-key date, complete with pacific cod fish tacos and margaritas. Get there fairly early since this place tends to get super busy.

Reflections: The Garden Terrace (Rosewood Hotel Georgia, 801 West Georgia Street)

Sourced from Brix & Mortar website

This patio is definitely suited for a chic date in the heart of the city. Located on the Rosewood Hotel Georgia’s fourth floor, in the courtyard, this sumptuous patio is a great escape from the bustle down below. Expect a variety of seating options (I always go for the comfortable sofas), foliage, water accents, and heaters and blankets for cooler temperatures. You and your date can share a few sharing plates, like the mahi mahi croquettes, edamame hummus, and albacore tuna poke, while sipping on drinks, like east-meets-west, with Bombay east gin, pomelo juice, seabuckthorn syrup, and carbonated jasmine. If conversation lulls, people watching here is a good way of passing the time.

Seasons in the Park (West 33rd Avenue and Cambie Street)

Sourced from Seasons in the Park website

Sourced from Brix & Mortar website

The Sequoia Company of Restaurants offers standout views at each of their location patios, whether it’s of Stanley Park and the ocean at The Teahouse (7501 Stanley Park Drive), of the Coal Harbour seawall at Cardero’s (1583 Coal Harbour Quay), or of False Creek at The Sandbar on Granville Island (1535 Johnston Street). While I’ve gone on dates at all of them, I’m particularly partial to Seasons in the Park, which has a stunning wood-beamed patio, overlooking the green expanse of Queen Elizabeth Park. The city skyline and the local mountains are also before you. Cozy fireplaces add to the warm ambiance. Seasons would be a great brunch date of mimosas and smoked salmon bennies, followed by a stroll in the Park afterwards.

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