Cheese. It's so simple, but sort of the best thing ever, especially when paired with the perfect glass of wine or maybe even a cured meat or two. Throw in some olives, nuts and spreads and you've got yourself the perfect centrepiece to a night out with friends or family. Fortunately, Vancouver is flush with cheese and charcuterie options, so enjoy your nibbles!
1. Salt Tasting Room - 45 Blood Alley Square
So much to say about Salt Tasting Room. Inconspicuously tucked away in Blood Alley, this little cheese and charcuterie resto takes food and drink pairings to another level. With artisan cheese and small-batch cured meats, you’re guaranteed an absolutely delicious meal whether you choose your own adventure or follow the expertise of the staff. If you’ve never had that “aha” moment when it comes to wine and cheese, this is the place it will happen.
2. The Stable House Bistro - 1520 W 13th Avenue
Simple, clean, modern. Stable House Bistro is a great place for a meal, or to sip some wine and nibble on artisanal cheese, local charcuterie, pates, terrines and small plates.
3. Au Comptoir - 2278 W 4th Avenue
While it may be hard to resist ordering a French main or two, this elegant bistro offers a mouthwatering selection of house and artisan cured meats, cheese and even foie gras torchon avec brioche.
4. Tuc Craft Kitchen - 60 W Cordova Street
This modern tavern’s cheese board features small farm cheeses, prosciutto, seasonal jam and baguette. Other snacks include corn with peaches and chili butter, parsnip fries and fried chickpea dumplings.
5. Grapes and Soda - 1541 W 6th Avenue
Vancouver’s first natural wine bar! Pair your natural, organic and biodynamic wines with a selection of cured meats, cheese, fruit, olives, mustards, pickles and their delicious sourdough bread and compound butter.
6. The Belgard Kitchen - 55 Dunlevy Avenue
This Railtown restaurant and brewery has been a neighbourhood staple for a few years now. Their take on cheese and charcuterie is their grilled Postmark sausage board, which features IPA chorizo + stout beef sausage, Two River's cured meats, tomato + olive tapanade, artisan cheese, toasty bread, and mushroom bacon pate.
7. Nicli Antica Pizzeria - 62 E Cordova Street
Pizza is basically a cheese and charcuterie board with an edible plate, but if you want a classic platter, Nicili also offers an exceptional Antipasto Misto Per Due comprised of local and imported meats and cheeses, house-made peperonata and pickled accompaniments.
8. Homer St Café and Bar - 898 Homer St
They may be known for their rotisserie chicken, but Homer St Café’s cheese and meat selection has certainly earned them a spot on the list. Their cured meat selection is local while their cheese selection comes from both Canada and Spain.
9. Wildebeest - 120 W Hastings Street
This meat-centric, rustic, West Coast restaurant boats decadent snacks like smoked boar belly and fried chicken in addition to their hefty servings of charcuterie and cheese.
10. Juniper Kitchen & Bar - 185 Keefer Street
Another seasonal Pacific Northwest inspired restaurant that serves fantastic Cascadian fare. In addition to their “mixed board", which features cured meats, terrines, local cheeses, crackers, they offer a fish charcuterie board and bar snacks like beef jerky, mixed olives and artisan pickles.
11. Les Faux Bourgeois - 663 E 15th Avenue
A cozy East Van bistro with classic French fare. If escargots de bourgogne is too adventurous for you, just go with their cheese or charcuterie options.
12. The Greedy Pig - 307 W Cordova Street
The Greedy Pig’s Cheese & Butcher Plate comes in three sizes, but what makes it really great is that you can pair it with the restaurant’s other snacks, (pickled quail eggs, bacon plates, beef tenderloin, baguette and bacon wrapped dates).
13. Cinara - 350 W Pender Street
Creative and seasonally inspired Modern European fare, cheese boards, chicken liver parfait, white anchovy toast, mixed salumi and more.
14. Jules Casual French Bistro - 216 Abbott Street
This quaint Gastown bistro serves classic French dishes in addition to their gorgeous cheese board (for two or four people).
