The Bottom Line
For dinner and a view, it's hard to trump the Watermark. Designed on the spot of the old Kits Boathouse, this fine-dining restaurant combines stellar views--from every table--of Kits Beach and the North Shore mountains with delicious, Vancouver-inspired seafood.
Watermark Restaurant on Kits Beach
1305 Arbutus St., Kits Beach
Vancouver, BC V6J 5N2
604-738-5487
Pros
- The view! Gorgeous views of Kits Beach & North Shore mountains from every table
- Delicious, Vancouver-style seafood with many local ingredients
- Charming, down-to-earth wait staff in fine-dining atmosphere
Cons
- With wine & appetizers, dinner can be pricey
- Closest parking is Kits Beach's paid parking lot, which can be crowded in summer
- Portions vary depending on the dish; some portions may be small
Description
- Open Monday - Friday 11:30am to 11:30pm
Saturday & Sunday 11am to 11.30pm - Elegant decor & dining, but casual dress is fine
- Patio is enclosed & heated in cool weather; open in warm weather
- Most entrées $25 -$30
Guide Review - Watermark Restaurant
When you arrive at the Watermark the first thing you notice--besides its prime beach real estate--is the modern design: boxy and concrete, the outside belies the sleek, modern elegance of the interior. While there's a beach-style concessions stand in the building's lower portion--serving up fish and chips and chicken fingers--it's the second-story fine-dining restaurant that gets the rave reviews.
With windows on three sides, the stunning views of Kits Beach and the North Shore mountains are visible to everyone, wherever you sit. The "patio" at the front of the restaurant can be closed or opened (windows raised) depending on the weather, making it a perfect destination year-round.
While the menu does include meat and salad options, the Watermark's raison d'être is its Vancouver-style and regional seafood: Seared BC Salmon, Pacific Northwest Bouillabaisse, BC Sablefish, West Coast Chowder. The daily specials are often seasonal seafood classics, such as Lobster Thermador. The food is beautifully plated and truly delicious.
One caveat: While some dishes come with generous portions--the Bouillabaisse and Crackling Pork Rack Chop, to name two--other entrées may be smaller than you expect. When I went, I had the BC Sablefish, which was lovely, but whose size made me wish I'd had an appetizer.
Of course, if you're still hungry after the entrée, that means there's room for dessert.
