No matter how many times I’ve been at Vancouver waterfront, I always want to come back and I always find the walks along the seaside romantic and beautiful.  Whether it is to meet with a couple of out of town friends, or head out on a cozy date, it’s hard to go wrong with a waterfront patio and views of Vancouver mountains.

So here’s the plan for a nice sunny day date: take a train or drive to Yaletown.  Take in the views of the yachts while you are waiting for the water taxi.  Take a trip to Monk’s water taxi station and go for a nice walk along the waterfront to Granville Island.  View of downtown reflected in ocean water, kayaks and stand up paddlers, man-made pond and a small waterfall make for a beautiful walk.  Once in Granville Island, check out some artisan galleries – Craft Council of BC and a quirky Dragon Shop will give you plenty of things to admire and discuss.   When heading out of the Dragon Shop, turn towards the Sandbar Restaurant – that’s your restaurant date’s destination.

It is hard to beat the views of the Granville Island Marina from that restaurant.  Being part of the Sequoya Group Restaurants, the food is top notch.  I also liked a combination of casual, dynamic atmosphere with an impeccably great service.  It never feels like a stuffy pretentious place, but the attention from servers makes you feel special and the restaurant experience truly high-end.

With the lengthy list of daily fish market choices, mussels from various locations and an impressive wine room, it’s easy to make the meal as fancy or as casual as you like. Sipping the wine, looking out at the boats outside, enjoying local seafood – that’s my idea of the perfect date. If it also happens to be a birthday or an anniversary or “just because” occasion, a gift the color of the ocean would make the day unforgettable.  Tanzanite for a sunny day, or deep sapphire for an evening date would be a perfect compliment to a perfect date.