Eating on the North Shore: Lonsdale Quay, the Shipyards and Lonsdale Avenue

The North Shore sits across the harbour from downtown Vancouver, at the foot of the mountains. Most visitors come for Grouse Mountain, Capilano or Lynn Canyon, but the waterfront in North Vancouver has become a good place to eat in its own right. The best part is getting there: the SeaBus crosses Burrard Inlet from Waterfront station in about a quarter of an hour, with the downtown skyline behind you.

The area around the SeaBus terminal is called Lower Lonsdale, or Lo-Lo, and it is where most of the action is.

What is there to eat at Lonsdale Quay?

Lonsdale Quay is a public market right beside the SeaBus terminal. Inside you will find produce, bakeries, a fishmonger, specialty food stalls and a small food court, with views back across the water to the city. It is a useful first stop: grab a coffee and a pastry when you arrive, or pick up picnic food to eat outside on the waterfront. Stall lineups change over time, so treat it as a place to browse rather than a list of fixed vendors.

When is the Shipyards Night Market?

The Shipyards district, just east of Lonsdale Quay, was once a working shipyard. It is now a public plaza with restaurants, a skating rink in winter and a summer night market. The Shipyards Night Market has run on Friday evenings through the warmer months, roughly from May to September, with dozens of food trucks and vendors, local makers, live music and a beer garden for adults. Admission has been free. Dates, hours and the vendor list change every year, so check the market's official schedule before you plan around it.

Where to eat on Lonsdale Avenue

Lonsdale Avenue climbs steeply uphill from the quay, and its lower blocks are packed with places to eat:

• Brunch cafés and bakeries that are busy on weekend mornings.
• Pubs and craft breweries, including tasting rooms within walking distance of the SeaBus.
• Japanese, Korean, Persian, Thai, Mexican and Italian restaurants, often family-run.
• Casual spots for burgers, pizza and fish and chips.

North Vancouver has a large Persian community, and the city has a good number of Persian bakeries, grocers and restaurants, many of them further up Lonsdale and on the streets nearby. Rice dishes, grilled kebabs and stews are the classics to look for.

Is it worth taking the SeaBus just to eat?

Yes, especially on a clear day. The ride is a sightseeing trip in itself, and Lower Lonsdale is close enough to the terminal that you never need a car. A good afternoon is: SeaBus over, browse Lonsdale Quay, walk the waterfront boardwalk to the Shipyards, eat on Lonsdale Avenue, and SeaBus back at sunset. On summer Fridays, add the night market.

Where to eat after hiking on the North Shore

If you have been up Grouse Mountain, the Grouse Grind or the trails at Lynn Canyon or Deep Cove, you will be hungry. Lonsdale Avenue and Lower Lonsdale are the easiest places to refuel by transit. Deep Cove, further east, is a small village by the water with a handful of cafés and a well-known doughnut shop; it gets very busy on summer weekends, and parking is tight, so arrive early. West Vancouver's Ambleside and Dundarave neighbourhoods have quieter waterfront strips with cafés and restaurants.

Eating on the North Shore in winter

The North Shore does not shut down when the night market ends. In winter the Shipyards plaza has had an outdoor skating rink, and the restaurants, pubs and breweries in Lower Lonsdale stay busy with locals. The mountains add a second winter food scene: Grouse Mountain, Cypress and Mount Seymour all have places to eat for skiers and snowshoers, from cafeteria-style lodges to sit-down restaurants at the top of Grouse.

Rain is the bigger factor than snow at sea level. On wet days, Lonsdale Quay's covered market is a good place to start, and the SeaBus ride is still worth it even when the view is grey. Hours at the market, the rink and the mountain restaurants change by season, so check before you travel.

North Shore food at a glance

Area	Best for
Lonsdale Quay	Market browsing, coffee, picnic supplies
The Shipyards	Summer night market, waterfront restaurants
Lonsdale Avenue	Brunch, pubs, breweries, Persian and Asian food
Deep Cove	Post-hike snacks by the water
Ambleside and Dundarave	Quiet waterfront cafés in West Vancouver

How much does eating on the North Shore cost?

Prices are similar to the rest of Metro Vancouver. Market food and food trucks are the cheapest way to eat; sit-down waterfront restaurants cost more. In BC, menu prices are before tax: food carries 5 percent GST, and alcohol also carries 10 percent PST. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount for table service. At food trucks and counters, tipping is optional.

Getting around the North Shore without a car

The SeaBus runs frequently from Waterfront station to Lonsdale Quay. From the quay, buses run up Lonsdale, toward Grouse Mountain, and east to Lynn Valley and Deep Cove. Lower Lonsdale itself is walkable, though the hill is steep. If you plan to eat your way up Lonsdale Avenue, take the bus up and walk down.

Mosey helps with a day like this. Rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, keep a list of North Shore spots to try next time, and see where friends you follow actually went after their hikes.

More guides to read next:

• Holiday dining in Vancouver: the Christmas Market, festive menus and booking tips
• Pho in Vancouver: where to find good Vietnamese food and what to order
• Summer food events in Vancouver: the PNE, night markets and street festivals

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