The best places to eat at Granville Market: A guide to snacking from dawn to dusk
Step one: wear your roomiest jeans.
The Granville Island Public Market exterior. Right: Donuts from Lee's Donuts.
It's so easy to spend your day slowly strolling, browsing and grazing your way through the culinary and cultural hotspot that is Granville Island.
Granville Island's colourful marketplace is renowned for its iconic waterfront location and diverse food options, ranging from fresh morning coffee to tasty evening bites.
Between exploring the abundant farmers' market and boutique shops selling everything from handmade crafts to unique gifts, you can nibble on pastries from artisanal bakeries, sip on local craft ales and indulge in decadent sweet treats.
Whether you're a tourist visiting for the first time or a long-term Vancouverite, here's the lowdown on Granville Market's best bites if you want to keep snacking (between shopping) from dawn to dusk.
Breakfast
Start with a breakfast of champions, aka a donut and coffee, to fuel your day of exploring the markets.
After that, browse the market's many stalls and artisanal bakeries, and start dreaming about which fluffy pastry you're going to try as your mid-morning snack.
Lee's Donuts
Price: 💸
Address: 1689 Johnston St., Vancouver, BC
Why You Should Go: Lee's Donuts is one of Vancouver's most iconic donut shops. Because of that, it has a constant line, which is a good reason to get there early!
It's one of Vancouver's most hyped mom-and-pop venues that has become somewhat of an institution. Its beloved Honey Dip donuts have been its best seller since 1979, with maple-iced rings, Bavarian-filled donuts, classic sprinkles, and many more joining its shelves.
Check out its Instagram page to see its monthly donut, and be ready to wait in line!
A Bread Affair
Price: 💸
Address: 1680 Johnston St., Vancouver, BC
Why You Should Go: You may just start a love affair with the treats baked at A Bread Affair.
The certified organic bakery prizes itself for its commitment to Vancouver's surrounding area by sourcing locally and considering seasonal farming. By only using real ingredients chosen for their flavour, you can have faith in the quality of each artisan bake.
Pick up a sourdough baguette to bring home, and be sure to snag one of the croissants — some say they're the best in Vancouver!
Siegel's Bagels
Price: 💸
Address: 1689 Johnston St #22, Vancouver, BC
Why You Should Go: If you've got any space left for a mid-morning brunch, can we suggest mixing and matching your favourite bagel and filling it at Siegel's Bagels?
Siegel's Bagels brought the craft of a proper wood-fired Montreal-style bagel to Vancouver in the '90s, and it is as authentic as you can get.
Mix and match your favourite bagel and topping from regular to flavoured cream cheese, peanut butter and jam, or choose one of their hefty bagel sandwiches stuffed with even more goodness.
Lunch
Before thinking about lunch, consider taking a break from the food and getting inspired by the nearby unique studios and galleries that display expert craftsmanship around every corner.
Once you're suitably hungry again, head back to the market for a bite of lunch. If you're tired of pastries and sweet treats by this point, how about a bit of flavour and some fresh herbs?
Sen Pad Thai
Price: 💸
Address: 1689 Johnston St., Vancouver, BC
Why You Should Go: There's nothing quite like Thai street food, and you can count on this spot to deliver time and time again. With a small and concise menu, you can trust that everything there is finessed with authentic flavour, especially considering it's a sister venue to Michelin-recommended Maenam.
While the pad Thai is a popular choice, don't miss out on the daily curry and the delicious handmade roti. There's a variety of dishes on offer here, so you can rest assured knowing there's something for every palate.
A La Mode Pie
Price: 💸
Address: 2/f, 1689 Johnson St. #575, Vancouver, BC
Why You Should Go: Having used the same recipe for over 37 years, quality and consistency are why the handmade pies from A La Mode are so good. You'll find everything from a traditional chicken pot pie to a steak and shiraz pie, with more modern forms served as a puff pot pie.
If you have a sweet tooth, you can't go wrong with an apple pie served A La Mode — aka French style — with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. The shop has an impressive range of over 40 frozen pies available to buy and cook in the comfort of your own home.
Happy hour to dinner
Kill some time while you're waiting for happy hour by browsing the vast array of shops which sell everything from handcrafted brooms and art supplies to vintage clothes. If you've never visited before, you'll probably be surprised to see how many shops there are on the island.
If you're in the mood to try an activity, you could make beaded jewellery at Beadworks, watch glass-blowers at Vancouver Studio Glass or even catch a show at The Improv Centre.
After a long day of shopping, browsing and snacking, why not end your day on the patio of Tap & Barrel Bridges or Alimentaria Mexicana while enjoying the view of Vancouver as the sun sets over False Creek?
Tap & Barrel Bridges
Price: 💸💸
Address: 1696 Duranleau St., Vancouver, BC
Why You Should Go: Tap & Barrel offers a year-round heated patio and an upper balcony overlooking False Creek, the skyscrapers, and the mountains of Vancouver.
With 32 B.C. craft beer taps, 16 B.C. wine taps, and an awesome happy hour menu, there's something to suit everyone here.
Alimentaria Mexicana
Price: 💸💸
Address: 1596 Johnston St., Vancouver, BC
Why You Should Go: There's no better combo than margaritas and tacos… except when they're discounted for happy hour!
Alimentaria Mexicana believes food is best when shared family-style, so load your table up with guac, fresh ceviches, tacos, and hearty mains.
Its outdoor patio and colourful decor make the dining experience cheerful, especially when you finish with its house-made churros and dulce de leche.