Dockside Restaurant

Dockside Restaurant sits inside the Granville Island Hotel with a waterfront patio that looks out across False Creek to the Yaletown skyline. It's a step up from casual in terms of both menu and setting, but it handles families well and the views make any meal feel special.

The menu is Pacific Northwest with a focus on seafood, seasonal ingredients, and dishes made with ingredients from the hotel's on-site brewery. The kids menu covers the basics — grilled chicken, pasta, fish and chips — at prices that don't feel extortionate for a waterfront restaurant. Weekend brunch is the sweet spot for families, with a buffet option that lets picky eaters find something they'll actually eat.

The patio is the reason to come. Tables right on the water give you unobstructed views of False Creek, and kids will stay entertained watching the boat traffic. Seaplanes occasionally take off and land from the harbor, which never fails to grab a kid's attention. The indoor dining room has large windows if the weather isn't cooperating.

Location-wise, you're on Granville Island with easy access to the Public Market, the Kids Market, and the seawall path. The hotel building has an on-site brewery (Dockside Brewing) that parents appreciate. Making a reservation for patio seating is highly recommended on weekends — walk-ins may wait 20-30 minutes for a waterfront table.