For over a century, Vancouver visitors and locals have headed to Stanley Park's Prospect Point to enjoy the breathtaking views and experience the city's majesty.
Photo courtesy Prospect Point
And while there's been a place to have a bite to eat there since the 1950s, if you've been there in recent years, you might agree things were a little worn out. But now Prospect Point has a new restaurant, seasonal snack stand, coffee counter, and gift shop, all giving the historic spot in the Park a new lease on life.
Prospect Point is operated by the Capilano Group, who took ownership of the enterprise in 2014, along with Stanley Park Pavilion and Stanley’s Bar and Grill in Stanley Park. The Capilano Group, incidentally, includes one of Metro Vancouver's most beloved destinations: The Capilano Suspension Bridge.
Photo courtesy Prospect Point
After making changes at their other Stanley Park properties, Capilano turned their attention to Prospect Point. Gone is the old restaurant building, and in its place a bright, modern, light-filled space with a welcoming feel and plenty of outdoor seating for those peak Vancouver sunny days.
Having last visited Prospect Point in its prior iteration about four years ago, the difference is almost a breathtaking as the Point's views. Gone is the run-down restaurant and outdated menu. Instead, the front-facing coffee counter is brewing up a custom blend from local roaster Moja Coffee, and the snack bar (and the restaurant) is scooping Rocky Point ice cream from Port Moody.
Photo: Lindsay William-Ross
The restaurant is open and airy, with restrained touches like historic photos and a vintage bicycle mounted on the wall. Generous patio seating is canopied by cheery yellow umbrellas with the promise of many a summer's day to come.
On the menu are comfort eats, refined, and made using as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible, and Ocean Wise seafood. Of course you can still get fish and chips, or a burger, but there are also fresh, vibrant dishes like a steak quesadilla, a creamy seafood chowder, and seasonal salads.
Photo: Lindsay William-Ross
Desserts include things like a decadent chocolate mousse served with brownie chunks and housemade honeycomb, or scoops of Rocky Point ice creams and sorbets. The bar is pouring B.C. wines and you can try B.C. craft beers by the pint or flight, or choose from their cocktail offerings.
Right now the restaurant is open 10 am to 6 pm, though there is talk of expanding the hours, and also seeing if they can implement some sort of shuttle service within the park, since getting to Prospect Point is challenging if you aren't part of a tour group on a bus, on bicycle, or using a car.
Photo courtesy Prospect Point
Speaking of tour groups, you're bound to run into a few here--they pour in by the literal busload--and they flock to the new "trading post" gift shop. The store is worth checking out for locals, too, either to shop for Vancouver swag or if you're showing out of towners around. They have some thoughtfully-branded merch in there, and they also sell housemade Prospect Point fudge in a variety of tempting flavours. Who doesn't like fudge?!
Prospect Point is located in Stanley Park at 5601 Stanley Park Drive.
Burger. Photo: Lindsay William-Ross
Craft beer flight. Photo: Lindsay William-Ross
Seafood chowder. Photo: Lindsay William-Ross
Photo: Lindsay William-Ross
Rainy day views of the North Shore and Lions Gate Bridge. Photo: Lindsay William-Ross
The Trading Post. Photo: Lindsay William-Ross
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