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    AnnaLena

    4.5 (408 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndCanadian (New), Diners, Bars
    Closed Closed

    AnnaLena Photos

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    ANNALENA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Romantic
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - AnnaLena

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    Diana P.

    We slid into two bar seats on a Sunday night, which turned out to be the move. The room felt energetic but still polished, lively without being loud, and the bar vantage point was excellent to see drinks and desserts get created. Service was exceptional, super dialed in and genuinely enthusiastic when explaining dishes without making it feel scripted. The food leans playful but it's backed by serious technique. Every single course was delicious and I could talk about each course but to keep things short here are some of my personal standouts: The "cheeseburger 2050" was the moment everyone talks about for a reason. It's built around elk tartare with layered components that mimic a classic cheeseburger, and somehow it genuinely tastes like biting into a cheeseburger. The bread alone deserves a shout. Soft, slightly sweet, and just rich and toasted enough to pull everything together. The wild part is how convincingly it eats like a cheeseburger. Not just similar, but actually triggers that same flavor memory. "Off the Coast" was another favorite, super clean and fresh. It leaned into ocean flavors with a clean, briny freshness, but the cabbage is what stood out for me personally. It had this perfect balance of crunch and tenderness, that made the whole dish pop. "Understory" completely surprised me. It was incredibly silky with a deep, savory flavor that felt like it had butter and cheese folded into it. But hearing that there was no cheese made it even more impressive. The braised cheek in "Low and Slow" was exactly what you want from that kind of dish. Deeply caramelized, intensely savory, and so tender it barely held together. It melted immediately but still had enough structure to feel substantial, not mushy. I was honestly nervous about the griddled goat since I'm not the biggest fan of goat cheese, but this dish was super balanced and approachable, rather than funky, and I ended up really enjoying it. Courses moved at a steady, comfortable pace, with just enough breathing room to appreciate each dish. From my visit, nothing felt rushed or dragged. Would recommend to anyone who enjoys thoughtful, modern tasting menus that play with familiar flavors in unexpected ways.

    Slow and Low replacement for wifey due to beef allergy.  Poached Salmon chickpea crispy bite.
    Damien M.

    Upon entering the staff greeted us & seated us. Asked if they could take our jackets which we agrred to. We were given the drink menu. I got a beer and wifey got an interesting drink that came with a small chocolate to alter the Taste. Called The night shift. After tasting the drink without the chocolate and then with the chocolate there was a distinct difference in taste which made it fun. You kinda get two drinks in one. Now to the interior of the place.. The decor of the restaurant was dark and black in color, with dark tones and interesting modern ambient lighting. A very classy and chic feeling as we sat at our table. The wait staff and host were also very friendly and spot on with service not feeling pretentious but welcoming and relaxed. Let's go through the tasting menu we had. We did add the accelerated or excellerated version of the menu which added caviar, black truffle, and wagyu A5 to perspective dishes. This was an additional cost to the base tasting menu. Cheeseburger 2050, the torn bread super crispy flaky and oily but not in a bad way. Perfect vessel to add in the deconstructed elk burger, caramelized onion puree as well as dipping into the mimolette cheese sauce. The sauce was super creamy and fluffy light in texture eating everything in combination was fun and delicious. A bit heavy feeling as well but this was the plan as after eating this first course we were given two small pieces of lemon rind with a jelly molded onto it. This was a lemony palate cleanser which was fresh and bright removing any heaviness you might have felt from the burger 2050. Bait and Switch. The XO on the cured/ smoked tuna food contain a beef element which when listening to the description my wife picked up on as she is allergic to beef. This info was already given to the restaurant and substitute for the beef dish was already made but I guess this slipped through. The waitress realized(all the wait staff appeared to be very aware of this info which was a great detail for fixing issues as we had here) right away and took this dish away and had the kitchen make one sans xo which was very fast. The shaved foie on top of the oyster melted as you took it into your mouth. Combined with the fresh oyster it was a interesting play with textures and flavors which was very nice. The smoked/cured tuna with shiso was tasty but I felt the shiso overpowered the flavor profile on a whole. Aged with Grace The duck was meaty and tasty not fatty. The sauce and daikon added a tartness and crispy texture to the entire bite of each piece of duck. There was also a bite size fried dish with i believe a froisgrois mousse on top. This was decadent and a very rich bite but flavorful. Off the Coast accel add came with caviar. This addition i do believe added to the flavor profile of the dish. The briny taste from the caviar in addition to the smoked lobster bisque and accompanied seafood was nice and fresh. Under Story This accelerated version came with the shaved truffle. I did not notice it but perhaps if I had a version without i might be able to distinguish between the two. This dish was delicious and tasted earthy which may be from the truffle. Over all this was a nice hearty down to earth flavor profile which was yummy. Slow and Low Wifeys sub for beef was a poached salmon and my accelerated version instead of striploin was Alberta A5 wagyu. The braised beef cheek to my though was the star of this dish. Super beefy and flavorful, crisp but tender as well and hit all the marks i like in terms of beef flavuuur. Griddle Goat Very interesting dessert option, the sour dough vessel for the goat cheesecake and white Chocolate was a play of textures reminiscent of a crispy grilled cheese. Very tasty goat cheesecake and Quince. Lovely texture on the tongue. Far from the Tree This dessert was very nice, the miso apple caramel for me was the highlight of this dish. Slightly salty from the miso but sweet as it was a caramel... super delicious. Uncooked crisps were a delightful texture breaker adding crunch to the soft financier and ice cream. I thoroughly enjoyed this dessert. Final bite A cryocookie which was basically a frozen concoction of ingredients frozen into a cookie. Very hard to bite at first but then it just melts in your mouth like ice cream. As it warms up it gets easier to bite into but the texture play was amazing. Overall a very nice and special dinner. Staff were amazing and food was an experience. Definitely worth a try.

    Kitchen
    Steve A.

    We had a delightful evening at Anna Lena. It easily demonstrated its reputation as one of the best Michelin-starred restaurants in Vancouver. It's a small space that is both intimate and welcoming. There are a lot of servers and staff here in addition to the kitchen personnel. I suspect the ratio is about one to one between employees and customers. Everyone was extraordinarily welcoming and gracious. The menu is both fun and complex without being pretentious. My favorite dishes were: The Cheeseburger 2050, a deconstructed combination of their amazing torn bread, oak tartare, and a lovely cheese dipping sauce. The oyster with shaved foie gras was also remarkable. The prawn that came with the off the coast course. The frozen cookie at the end of the meal was also a lot of fun. I thought the pricing was quite reasonable considering the quantity and quality of the food. There's also an optional add-on that includes caviar, truffles, and wagyu, which I think is worth it if you particularly enjoy those things. Two wine pairings are offered. I feel it's worth upgrading to the premium pairing because it includes a lovely glass of Dom Pérignon and the spectacular 2021 Avrell Creek Barrel 36 Pinot Noir, which so impressed me that I ordered several bottles from the winery while we were still dining! On all the delightful evenings, and I look forward to returning.

    Crudo
    Will M.

    I've done a few tasting menus in Vancouver on this trip, and AnnaLena really stood out. This one Michelin star spot absolutely lives up to the hype. We did the tasting menu and every course was thoughtfully executed, beautifully plated, and genuinely delicious. There were a lot of flavor combinations I hadn't had before, and everything felt intentional and well balanced. The ambiance is modern and intimate without feeling stuffy. It's the kind of place where you can relax and really enjoy the experience. Service was top notch from start to finish. The pacing was great, dishes were explained clearly, and we never felt rushed or forgotten. What I really like about AnnaLena is the focus on seasonality and local ingredients. The menu rotates, which makes it feel worth coming back again since it's never the same experience twice. The tasting menu took about two hours, and by the end I was comfortably full and very satisfied. Overall, this was one of the strongest dining experiences I've had on this trip. The Michelin star feels well deserved, it's worth the price, and I'd absolutely return.

    Interior
    John W.

    AnnaLena was a fantastic experience and one of our favorite restaurants we tried in Vancouver. From the moment we got to AnnaLena, service was spectacular. We were celebrating an anniversary and a birthday for this visit and the service staff all were so kind and great about making sure they congratulated us. It made us feel all the more special. From the front of house to the waiters to the other support staff, everyone was fantastic, on top of service, and relaxed/helpful. They also were so nice in helping accommodate some of my tougher dietary restrictions and was super grateful. The decor of the restaurant is also super fascinating, much like the food as we'll get into. There is a mix of a sleek, modern vibe mixed with interesting and funky choices. I mean this in the best way possible, it was like going to a sleek listening bar mixed with an artsy museum filled with figures, records, and cool little sights to explore. We also interestingly denoted the smaller window to look into the kitchen. Not a complaint as we were able to see the chefs/kitchen staff working but a little different than other similar restaurants. Let's dig into the food and drinks. The menu was a tasting menu filled with 8 items (and some extras in between) and we were both full and happy. The menu itself is super fascinating with the children crayon-like aesthetic that encapsulated both the fun vibe/thought process of the menu mixed in with the Micheiln-quality plating/food that was to come. Here were some of the highlights: *The Cheeseburger 2050: One of our favorites all-around. It was a deconstructed cheeseburger with quality ingredients and playful in appearance. Our waiter told us that the menu would definitely be interactive, and this really kicked off the menu with a bang. We were dipping the bread in the amazing cheese. Soaking in the caramelized onion in the bone marrow-like object. And enjoying pairing that with the tartare. It was innovative. It was fun. And it was delicious. *Temperature Gradient: Quite the opposite of the cheeseburger 2050 - this was a carefully constructed and refined dish that really played with the temperature of each of the items with each of the items plated created using a different temperature. It was beautifully plated and the star of the show, to me, was the roasted sunchoke gelato. What a really playful and utterly delicious dish. *East Meets West: A super well-crafted dish. Loved the addition of the mushroom broth separately. The alkaline noodles were just right and the sablefish was delightfully tender. I also got the mocktail, Revival, which I thought was pretty good for a mocktail. A little on the sweeter side but loved the notes that came out while sipping on it and the lovely cherry waiting for you at the bottom. Quite a gorgeous drink to look at. Our experience was about $200 CAD in the end per person for just the tasting menu. Really appreciated the whole experience and was one of the stronger one Michelin restaurants I've experienced. Would definitely highly recommend this experience!

    Jasmine L.

    It was indeed one of the best Michelin experience! If you have sweet tooth like me, you would definitely love their spring menu! Each course has well-balanced taste, mixed sweetness, savory and sourness, so flavorful and fulfilling. Didn't expect to like their duck and beef striploin that much, it was so good that I would love to come back to try something different again!

    Shuang W.

    Went here for date night, heard a lot of amazing things about this place so I had very high expectations. First of all, I really enjoyed every bite of the food. I think whoever came up of those dishes is amazing and deserves the world. However I have to say, I think the service needs to be a little better, I have been to a lot of Michelin restaurants and the servers at AnnaLena are the ones who cannot even properly put down forks and dishes which are comfortable for customers to grab to eat right away. You can say it is because they are casual place, but for this price point, I think this is lacking. My fav was the noodle and the deconstructed burger, 10/10 amazing.

    Salina S.

    A lot of places in Vancouver are overhyped but I think AnnaLena is actually sooo good! I had no expectations going into it and ended up loving it. Really unique and cool dishes! I would love to come back.

    Rick T.

    Everytime I visit, I make it a point to come here. Love the nostalgic decor and cool vibes. Impeccable service and creative and delicious menu. It's always a memorable evening after dining here. In this current menu, the deconstructed cheeseburger was my absolute fav!

    Tasting menu - market crudo
    Duong V.

    Creative menu with seasonal ingredients. Honestly, this is what I often looking for in a set menu from a fancy restaurant. Each dish is either a new creation from the chef, or a new take of a traditional dish, and either way, we can't predict what it would be. Service is also top notch. They called ahead to check on our allergy or dietary restrictions and made adjustment to the menu that served to us. Since I was pregnant, they made me a slightly different version of some raw food dish without altering the look or taste much! I was really impressed. Drink menu also includes non alcohol "wine" from Europe, which is fantastic to pair with the meal. Highly recommend this place!

    Bar area
    Queenie S.

    ANNA LENA AnnaLena is a Michelin-starred restaurant located in Vancouver, Canada, and it was the perfect setting for my birthday dinner--and for treating my daughter to her very first Michelin-star dining experience. From start to finish, the evening felt truly special. The food, service, and ambiance were all exceptional, and each course was thoughtfully curated, unique, and absolutely delicious. Every dish felt intentional and beautifully executed, making the experience feel both elevated and welcoming. If you're in the Vancouver area and looking for a memorable dining experience, I absolutely recommend @annalenayvr AnnaLena. A night to cherish. #queeniesdiabadassfoodjourney #annalena #michelinstarrestaurant #michelinstar #vancouvercanada

    One of the excellent wines we tasted.
    Greg M.

    Food was all excellent but one course. Very expensive but in many ways worth it for a special occasion. The service was over the top good and extremely attentive. The only real knock was that the place itself was cramped and very noisy as a result. The wine pairing is definitely worth it and the choices weren't just perfectly matched to the courses but were unique and special in their bouquet and taste.

    Rosalyn M.

    A beautiful space for a lovely meal. The tasting menu had a few surprises with a 'cheeseburger' and rabbit and it all was delicious while feeling decadent. Service was excellent as my water was never empty and the servers were very friendly and easy to chat with. There was a surprise additional dessert which was a nice touch. My reason for only 4 stars is because none of the dishes really blew me away especially at that price point. I was also a bit underwhelmed by my mocktail and the limited choices available. This was my second time dining at this restaurant so I would likely return and hope for a dish to blow me away.

    griddle goat

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    4 years ago

    Over-rated. The food was ok. The service is decent. It was extremely loud. My guest and I cannot hear one another.

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    4 years ago

    Foods good and good atmosphere . Been there multiple times and defined would recommend.

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    4 years ago

    Food was great, wine was great, service was great, ambience was great. Great anniversary dinner

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    4 years ago

    Delicious food! Terrific service. Gorgeous setting in a fabulous neighbourhood. Worth the Michelin Star price too.

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    Jam Cafe on Beatty - Fat Elvis Waffle

    Jam Cafe on Beatty

    4.4(1.6k reviews)
    2.9 kmDowntown
    $$

    This one is fun because your enthusiasm feels genuine. I'd lean into that instead of trying to…read moresound like a traditional reviewer. That's what makes it memorable. Jam Cafe, Vancouver Jam Cafe is my favorite brunch spot. Anywhere. That sounds like an exaggeration. It isn't. I've been traveling to Vancouver for work for almost a decade, and every single trip includes a stop at Jam. If I'm lucky, two. I've also become that coworker who convinces everyone to meet outside at 7:45 in the morning so we can be part of the first seating at 8:00. Thankfully, we're all from the East Coast and have been awake since 5:00 anyway. Over the years I've successfully JAMfluenced more business travelers than I'd like to admit. And yes, it's still worth the wait even if you're not first in line. The restaurant itself is tiny. Cozy farmhouse vibes, mismatched decorations covering the walls, and maybe 15 tables between the dining room and patio. It feels more like someone's favorite neighborhood breakfast spot than one of Vancouver's brunch institutions. The menu is comfort food turned up to eleven. Everything is indulgent, creative, and somehow still balanced. You can tell the kitchen starts with great ingredients because every component tastes like it could stand on its own. I try to branch out every visit... and then usually end up ordering the Tater Tot Bowl anyway. Crispy tater tots, buffalo sauce, Mexican street corn relish, and ridiculously good pulled pork. It's the kind of dish that sounds like it shouldn't work, but every bite somehow gets better than the last. And then there are the cinnamon roll pancakes. They are enormous. They're also one of the best brunch dishes I've ever eaten. Birdfluencer Lorraine M. declared them the best pancakes she's ever had, and after several visits, I don't have much of an argument. Service is exactly what it needs to be. Friendly, efficient, and quick. The staff knows there's a line forming outside before the doors even open, but you never feel rushed. Overall, Jam Cafe has officially become part of my Vancouver tradition. At this point, a work trip to the city doesn't really start until I've had breakfast here. If you're visiting Vancouver and only have time for one brunch, this would be my pick without a second thought.

    First off, came on a Sunday and oh my was there a line out the door. We were recommended this place…read moreby a local. And as I soon as I walked in I noticed the portions people were receiving, holy cow! Are we in Texas? I ordered a chai latte and it smelt so good. And tasted even better, best chai I've ever had. It tasted like a cinnamon fall festival in my mouth. Brought me right back to my childhood and all the falls I spent in New England. I also got the huevos rancheros and it was so good. I hardly made a dent in my food though. There was a bit of a wait for the bathrooms. I loved the decor too. Honestly I see the hype for this place, but I believe it's mainly for their HUGE portions. Dont get me wrong the food was delicious! But I don't think waiting in a line is necessary for this place.

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    Inside

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    Eggs in Purgatory

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    Medina Cafe

    Medina Cafe

    4.2(2.8k reviews)
    2.4 kmDowntown
    $$

    The hype and the line to get in are all valid. I can say it is worth it, even in the rain. What I…read morelove about Medina is that you can donate to a good cause to reserve a table. They chose a charity for the quarter and it's $10/person. I really wish more places did this. The service you get is top notch. So good in fact, that they will make you the drink of your choice so long as they have the ingredients. Can't wait to be back in Vancouver to have that Paella again.

    Medina Cafe is a nice spot for brunch. Our group of four arrived and given a 45 minute wait…read moreestimate - real time ~ 1 hour. The menu had many enticing entrees, but I ended up with a Cassoulet and a Liege Style Waffle with Mixed Berry Compote. The limited waffles are a MUST either as an appetizer or dessert, and the compote only makes it that much sweeter! While waiting for food, I also had a hot latte, and it was tasty! Thankfully, sugar was on the side; the latte was good as is. The Cassoulet arrived at long last within 15 minutes, and it was a fairly tasty dish. The proteins were meaty and erred on the saltier end, though crisply cooked. The focaccia was good, and the "stew" that it came in was fairly sweet and salty - a bit too strong for me. Our server was very attentive in checking in on drinks, the meal, and the entire dining experience. While we had visited later in the day ~ 1pm, there was indeed still a wait time. Highly recommend coming earlier to RSVP just in case!

    Photos
    Medina Cafe - Favorite Brunch Place - deliciousness n vibes!   Visiting after 15 yrs and still has the 'it' factor :-)

    Favorite Brunch Place - deliciousness n vibes! Visiting after 15 yrs and still has the 'it' factor :-)

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    Fricassee

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    LesBoulettes

    AnnaLena - newcanadian - Updated September 2026

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