Commercial Drive food guide: where to eat on Vancouver's most eclectic street

Commercial Drive, known locally as the Drive, runs north and south through East Vancouver's Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood. It is one of the city's most lived-in streets: old Italian cafés and delis, cheap international restaurants, vintage shops, pubs, and a crowd that seems to know everyone. If you want to see how East Vancouver eats, start here.

It is easy to reach: Commercial-Broadway station, on the SkyTrain, sits at the south end of the main stretch.

Why is Commercial Drive called Little Italy?

Italian families settled around the Drive in large numbers in the middle of the twentieth century, and they left a lasting mark: espresso bars where men still argue about football, delis selling cured meat and cheese, and bakeries. The city has recognized a stretch of the Drive as Vancouver's Little Italy. Every year, usually on the second Sunday in June, Italian Day on the Drive closes the street for a huge free festival of food, music and patios. Check the festival's official site for this year's date.

What should you eat on Commercial Drive?

The Drive is not only Italian. Walk its length and you will pass food from dozens of countries. Good things to look for:

• Espresso and a pastry at one of the old Italian cafés, ideally at a counter.
• Pizza by the slice or by the pie, from Neapolitan-style to the classic North American kind.
• Deli sandwiches built from cured meats and cheese.
• Ethiopian, Eritrean, Mexican, Portuguese, Jamaican, Vietnamese and Indian restaurants, many small and family-run.
• Gelato in summer.
• Pub food and craft beer in the bars along the street.

On the Drive, the older and plainer a café looks, the more likely the espresso is serious.

Is Commercial Drive good for cheap eats?

Yes, it is one of the better streets in the city for eating well without spending much. Many of the restaurants are modest and family-run, portions tend to be generous, and there are plenty of slices, sandwiches and counter meals. Prices are rising everywhere in Vancouver, but the Drive still has more choice at the lower end than downtown.

Are there breweries near Commercial Drive?

Yes. Just north and east of the Drive, in the industrial blocks between the street and the port, a cluster of craft breweries has grown up. Locals call the area Yeast Van. Many breweries have tasting rooms, and food trucks often park outside on busy days. It makes a good second half to an afternoon on the Drive.

Where to sit outside on Commercial Drive

The Drive has some of the most relaxed patios in the city, and many cafés spill onto the sidewalk in good weather. Grandview Park, in the middle of the stretch, is a popular spot to sit with takeout. On sunny weekends, patios fill fast, so arrive early or be ready to wait. On Italian Day, the whole street becomes one long patio.

Is Commercial Drive good for vegetarians and vegans?

It is one of the easier streets in Vancouver to eat without meat. The Drive has a long reputation as a progressive, community-minded neighbourhood, and the food reflects it: vegetarian and vegan cafés, plant-based bakeries, and plenty of cuisines where meat-free dishes are normal rather than an afterthought. Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants are a particularly good bet, since many of their stews are built on lentils, split peas and vegetables, served on injera, a soft, slightly sour flatbread. Indian restaurants have whole sections of the menu without meat, and the Italian delis and pizzerias always have cheese and vegetable options. If you avoid gluten as well, ask, because injera is often made with a mix of flours rather than pure teff.

Is there a farmers market near Commercial Drive?

Yes. The Trout Lake Farmers Market, run by Vancouver Farmers Markets, has long been held on Saturdays in the main season at John Hendry Park, the park around Trout Lake, a short walk south and east of Commercial-Broadway station. It is one of the city's best-known markets, with produce, bakers, cheese, prepared food and a relaxed park setting where people stay for a picnic. Days, hours and the season change from year to year, so check the current schedule before you go.

A Saturday morning at the market, followed by lunch and espresso on the Drive, is one of the easiest good food days in East Vancouver.

When is the best time to visit Commercial Drive?

It depends on what you want. Weekday lunches are the calmest time to explore the delis and small restaurants. Saturday and Sunday afternoons are busiest, with the patios full and a lot of people simply walking the street. Summer evenings are the liveliest, and Italian Day in June is the single biggest day of the year, wonderful if you like crowds and hard going if you want a quiet lunch.

What is Commercial Drive like at night?

Livelier than most Vancouver neighbourhoods. The pubs and bars along the street stay busy, there are a few live music venues, and several restaurants serve later than places downtown. It is a good choice for a casual night out with friends, where you can eat, move to a bar and end up with a slice on the walk home. It is less of a dress-up destination; for a formal dinner, most people head downtown or to Kitsilano. On a Friday or Saturday, book ahead if you want a table for a group at a set time, and expect pubs to fill up during big hockey games.

How to plan a visit to the Drive

1. Arrive at Commercial-Broadway station and walk north.
2. Stop for espresso at an Italian café.
3. Browse the delis and grocers for picnic food.
4. Have lunch at one of the international restaurants.
5. Walk on to the Yeast Van breweries in the afternoon.

A whole street of small, independent places is exactly where personal notes help. On Mosey you can rate the places you actually ate at and the dishes you ordered, with photos, and see where people you follow went, so you know which slice shop is worth the detour.

More guides to read next:

• Holiday dining in Vancouver: the Christmas Market, festive menus and booking tips
• Vancouver craft breweries: Brewery Creek, Yeast Van and where to eat between pints
• Date night in Vancouver: how to pick a restaurant that gets it right

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.