Ресторан · Vancouver · ⭐ 9.1/10 · 8647 reviews · $$$ · updated: 2026-06-30 18:30:59
Address: 777 Thurlow St, Vancouver, BC V6E 3V5, Canada
Joe Fortes: Four Decades of Vancouver Glamour
Every great dining city keeps one room where its whole story seems to gather, and in Vancouver that room belongs to Joe Fortes. Since 1985 this seafood and chop house near Robson has been where the city celebrates — thirty-foot ceilings, sweeping booths, a legendary horseshoe oyster bar and a rooftop garden that regulars guard like a secret.
The Story
Few restaurants carry a name this worthy. Seraphim “Joe” Fortes stepped off a ship in 1885, worked the bars of the young city, and became English Bay’s first official lifeguard — teaching thousands of children to swim and earning a devotion Vancouver still remembers with a monument. The restaurant borrows his generosity of spirit: hospitality here is treated as the main course.
What to Order
Begin at the ice: the oyster program is the city’s benchmark, tended by champion shuckers and best explored with champagne. Then let the kitchen show its range — more than thirty fresh fish choices daily, cedar-planked salmon, seafood towers built for celebration, and the chop-house canon of thick-cut steaks and chops for the table’s traditionalists. The dessert trolley and a deep wine cellar close the evening properly.
The Space
A turn-of-the-century grand café brought to life: brass lamps, dark wood, white linen, a mezzanine floating above the piano, and a mahogany wine room for private occasions. Upstairs, the rooftop garden — green wall, fireplace, string lights — may be downtown’s most romantic warm-weather table.
Who It’s For
Anniversaries and birthdays, parents in town, long celebratory lunches, and anyone who wants to feel Vancouver’s history and glamour in one seating. It’s the city’s special-occasion default for a reason.
Good to Know
Should I book ahead? Yes — especially weekends, holidays and any rooftop ambition in summer.
Which table is most romantic? The rooftop garden by the fireplace, or a mezzanine booth above the piano.
Is there entertainment? Live piano nightly — the soundtrack of the house since the beginning.
Can it host a private event? Beautifully — the mahogany wine room was made for toasts.
What’s the signature experience? Oysters and champagne at the horseshoe bar before dinner — the classic Joe Fortes opening move.
Opening hours
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday | 11:00–23:00 |
| Tuesday | 11:00–23:00 |
| Wednesday | 11:00–23:00 |
| Thursday | 11:00–23:00 |
| Friday | 11:00–23:00 |
| Saturday | 11:00–23:00 |
| Sunday | 11:00–23:00 |
Photos
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Visitor reviews
Reviews last updated: 2026-06-30 18:30:59
Data is refreshed monthly. Sources: vancouveranka.com and editorial picks based on reviews.
This was one of the best meals we've had. I'd recommend booking a table in advance, as it's usually busy, especially during happy hour.
We ordered everything off the happy hour menu, including the oysters, cheeseburger…
Had a fantastic meal at Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House. The service was friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming from start to finish. We ordered a wide selection of dishes and were impressed with everything they se…
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House gave us an absolutely unbeatable dinner experience — easily one of the best meals I've ever had in Vancouver.
The menu is every seafood lover's dream, and every dish we ordered was excepti…
We came here on a strong recommendation from a friend who was visiting VanCity. It wasn't half bad. Once you step inside, you realize just how huge the place is. That said, there are plenty of servers to take care of you…
Chocolate cake!! Order the chocolate cake!! Great food, great service. Book a table. Good lunch deals. Great steak. The fries were a little greasy and soft.
The restrooms are clean and luxurious. Service is quick and pr…