Havenīt stayed at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver in a while, but IIRC they offer more traditional, uspcale dining options (similar to the Empress in Victoria), this is where Iīd go with family, or to get a good dinner in a non-rushed atmosphere.
The Globe Bar at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport is a great place, you can watch the airport while while enjoying some decent quality food and a few drinks, not cheap, but much better value than the outlets in the airport (though the Milestone restaurant in the intīl concourse isnīt bad) I also very much liked their breakfast buffet offering.
The Pacific Rim is my personal favourite in YVR and Iīve tried all the dining options there:
- Giovane: basically a more upscale Starbucks with a unique character; I grab some breakfast/lunch/coffee there whenever Iīm a hurry/canīt be bothered to pay for in-room dining. Their food and coffee are excellent, definitely give it a shot.
- Oru Restaurant: this is more a place to take part in a "dining experience" than a place to get a large, filling meal. The basic concept is that the dishes combine a variety of ingredients you wouldnīt expect to be combined or you havenīt heard of before. "salmon" would be replaced with "chili infused vodka smoked salmon with lemongrass in a sake sauce" (or something like that
). Food and service are excellent, but you have to be in the mood for "creative cooking", as youīll be hard pressed to find any traditional dishes there. Iīd recommend their pre-fixe lunch at $26 which includes four (small) courses which will give you a great idea of their offering.
- lobby lounge/bar: great, modern location to enjoy a few cocktails and some snacks, great life music at night, very popular place, can be somewhat (over-)crowded at times