If thoughts of old-growth trees, beautiful scenery and adrenaline-rushing walks high above Capilano Canyon bring you to your happy place, there’s now one more reason to head over to the North Shore: the Cliff House Restaurant.
Open since February, the 76-seat restaurant (with a lovely 74-seat patio) has focused on serving up dishes with locally-sourced ingredients, Ocean Wise seafood, plus BC wines and craft beer.
The Cliff House makes for an ideal break between walking across Capilano Suspension Bridge and Cliffwalk’s cliff-hugging circular suspension trail.
Designed by Millenia Architecture and Mona Patel Design, the restaurant honours Capilano’s Vancouver heritage with cherished antiques throughout the 1,350 square-foot space complete with 18-foot vaulted ceilings.
Lots of light flows inside via 17-foot high windows and on cooler, Canyon Lights evenings, there’s an indoor/outdoor river rock fireplace ready to keep you toasty warm while sipping on a hot mulled wine.
Cliff House was built with Douglas fir posts and beams, making the restaurant blend in seamlessly with its natural surroundings. Out on the patio, you can enjoy those stunning views around the park.
[Beer and wine flights include little cards with historical images]
Executive Chef Mark Holland, together with Food and Beverage Manager Jon Stack have put together a highly elevated comfort food menu that our small media group had the pleasure of digging into last week.
Some of the starters that were brought to our table: West Coast Seafood Chowder, Baked Creamed Brie with honey, Cliffwalk salad (with fresh seasonal berries in a mango dressing).
[L to R: Cliffwalk salad, baked creamed brie with honey, West Coast seafood chowder]
Bigger plates include a 15-hour Applewood smoked pulled pork sandwich on a pretzel bun, Bridge Brewing Orange Ale-battered fish and chips, Forager’s mushroom ravioli in a cream sauce and Chicken and Avocado Club with signature fries.
[Top to bottom: Applewood smoked pulled pork sandwich, ale-battered fish and chips, Forager’s mushroom ravioli, chicken & avocado club]
Save some room for that awesome Key Lime pie, served with a scoop of Rocky Point vanilla bean ice cream, fresh fruit and a drizzled trio of mango, chocolate and berry sauces.
[Key Lime pie with all the goodies]
Personal favourites? That baked brie and the West coast seafood chowder. There’s more than enough variety to satisfy all palates and hunger levels plus a special Little Loggers menu to keep the kids happy.
Note that Cliff House is open during Capilano Suspension Bridge Park’s regular opening hours. Visit Capilano Suspension Bridge online for more information.
How the Cliff House Was Named
In 1888, the first owner of the Park, George Grant Mackay, was so inspired by the canyon’s beauty that he constructed a cabin at this location to be used as a forest retreat. That same year, a hemp rope bridge was constructed across the canyon about 200 feet south of the Cliff House, creating the very first Capilano Suspension Bridge.