If you want to move into a cozy neighborhood with beautiful beaches, great views and a lot of places to visit, Dundarave Beach West Vancouver is the place for you.
The area is a great choice for a family and offers many attractions such as the seawall, pier and Beach House Restaurant. It is also a popular shopping district.
The Seawall
The Seawall is one of Vancouver’s most popular walking paths and stretches all the way from Dundarave Beach to Ambleside Park. This 1.7 km trail is the perfect spot to take in the views of the Burrard Inlet and watch as freighters cruise under the Lions Gate Bridge.
There are many different beaches in West Vancouver and each has its own charm, but there’s one that stands out above all others. Dundarave Beach is a wonderful place to visit, with both sandy and rocky beaches. It also offers a lovely seaside path that’s easy to navigate and offers stunning views of the ocean.
Located on the north shore of Vancouver, Dundarave Beach is the perfect location for those looking to get some fresh air and relax. Whether you’re looking to spend time on the beach, have some lunch or dinner at a restaurant along the waterfront or just enjoy some shopping, Dundarave Beach has it all!
You can get to Dundarave Beach from downtown via bus 250. From there, you’ll walk down Marine Drive and you can peruse the shops and coffee shops before heading to the water.
Once you’ve reached Dundarave Beach, you can stroll down the pier and head out on the seawall for a leisurely walk. The 1.7 km path is known as the West Vancouver Centennial Seawall, and it’s one of the most scenic areas in Metro Vancouver.
As you continue to stroll, be sure to check out the beautiful First Nations carved welcome figure in Ambleside Park. This is a great place to stop for a picnic and soak up the amazing view of the sea.
Another great place to explore is John Lawson Park, which has a playground for the kids and an open grass field to relax on. It also has a fantastic view of the Lions Gate Bridge and the downtown skyline.
If you’re feeling active, you can go for a swim or just sit on a bench and enjoy the scenery! There are also numerous restaurants and coffee shops along the water in Dundarave that will make your day a memorable one!
Dundarave Pier
The Dundarave Pier is one of the best places to take in West Vancouver’s stunning sea views. It is a popular destination for locals who enjoy spending the day walking along the beach, enjoying a romantic stroll and watching beautiful sunsets.
This small, attractive area is home to a couple of blocks of quaint shops, restaurants and a pier that stretches along the ocean, as well as one of Metro Vancouver’s most scenic walks – the West Vancouver Centennial Seawalk. The path stretches for a mile and is easy to navigate, offering scenic views and public artwork throughout the journey.
After a stroll along the seawall, head over to Dundarave Village to shop in quaint old-fashioned shops and cafes. It’s a favourite destination for locals and visitors alike, and the small restaurants and coffee shops here offer an ideal place to stop and catch up with friends or enjoy a cup of coffee while taking in the amazing views.
It’s also a great place to grab a bite or drink after spending time walking along the West Vancouver Centennial Seawalk, visiting Lighthouse Park or taking in some spectacular city and sea views from the Beach House Restaurant at the end of the pier. The restaurant has been completely redesigned and renovated, with a seafood focused menu and curated wine list.
A lovely spot for a lunch or dinner, the Beach House Restaurant offers some of the North Shore’s best waterfront dining. The historic building has a heated outdoor patio overlooking the ocean and Dundarave Pier, making it the perfect place to watch a stunning sunset or enjoy a quiet drink after a long day of activities.
The dining room and lounge areas are more sophisticated and classy than the typical waterfront venue, providing a warm and comfortable setting to enjoy a meal or cocktail. A large private function room can comfortably accommodate up to 60 people for a cocktail reception or 40 for a sit-down dinner.
If you’re looking for something a little more casual, there is the pier at John Lawson Park in Ambleside, which has a great view of English Bay and the Lions Gate Bridge. However, the pier was severely damaged by the storm surge on January 7 and will be closed until further notice while assessments are carried out to repair it.
Beach House Restaurant
If you want to grab a bite at one of the North Shore’s most iconic restaurants, the Beach House is the place for you. This heritage 1912 building next to Dundarave Pier is owned by Earls, which has been running the restaurant since 2011.
After significant renovations that began in November, this popular seafood & steak spot reopened in February and features a new design led by Earls Designer Kimberley Hume. Its new interior is bright and open, with direct views of the waterfront while preserving the eatery’s heritage building designation. Among the design highlights are art from BC artists, vintage photos and eclectic antiques.
Dining options at Beach House include a sophisticated dining room, a heated beachside patio and a vibrant lounge area with ocean views. Pacific Northwest dishes like Haida Gwaii halibut and chips, fish tacos, and seafood towers make up the main course selections, as does a handful of steaks and vegetarian offerings.
During lunch and dinner, you can sip on a glass of wine or order from the curated wine list, crafted by Sommelier David Stansfield, to pair with your meal. A tableside martini program, featuring five different gins from around the world representing traditional London Dry to local craft distillers, adds to the drink menu along with classic cocktails using premium spirits.
For dessert, you’ll find an array of treats, from a chocolate custard to baked Alaska. For the latter, Executive Pastry Chef Andrew Wong has reinterpreted this classic with salted caramel ice cream and peanut-butter mousse.
In addition to the seafood-focused food menu, Beach House has a wine menu curated by Sommelier David Stansfield and a classic cocktail program. A section of the beverage menu includes a unique tableside martini program and a special caesar section for gin lovers.
The bar area has also been redesigned to give diners views of the entire restaurant and of the water. It’s no longer dominated by a fireplace, and a timber pergola structure provides ample sun and rain coverage for most months of the year on the main patio.
The Beach House is the perfect place to go for a casual lunch or celebrate a special occasion. Upstairs, a private event space, The Landing, has been renovated and is available for booking for personal or business use.
John Lawson Park
The seaside community of Dundarave is a popular destination for families. It features a small shopping street, children’s play area, and the seawall that stretches along the waterfront all the way to Ambleside. It’s also an excellent place to watch the sunset.
Ambleside Park, which is just east of Dundarave, is another popular spot for families to spend a few hours. It has a beautiful playground, an open grass field for picnicking, and great views of Lions Gate Bridge.
A short walk from Ambleside Park is John Lawson Park, another popular family spot in West Vancouver. It features a large playground with a water splash pad and great views of English Bay and the Lions Gate Bridge.
It is also the starting point of the Centennial Seawalk, a paved walkway that stretches from John Lawson Park to Dundarave Beach. It’s a scenic, paved walk with plenty of benches. It’s a great place for kids to run around, and a romantic stroll for adults.
The playground at John Lawson Park is a favorite among locals, as it features some interesting elements for kids to explore. For example, live cedar bushes are bent into an exciting tunnel, and whimsical wood elements suggest a pirate theme.
One of the best things about this playground is that it changes with the season, so children can discover new play areas and activities. For instance, in summer it has a huge water slide and water feature that’s great for the whole family.
There’s also a skate park, a playground, and a beach volleyball court. There are also a couple of restaurants that serve snacks and beverages, as well as the Dundarave Pier.
It’s a great place for kids, especially during the summer when it is very hot. Parking is limited and it can be difficult to find spaces on some streets, so you should consider driving here if possible.
In addition to the playground, you can see a sea lion or two in this park. This beach is less crowded than others in the region, so it’s a good spot for a quiet day of swimming and playing.
Among many other things, David A. Grantham is a contributing author to UmassExtension West Vancouver Blo. He is a renowned expert on real estate in BC.
Born in North Vancouver, Louisiana, Dr. Grantham grew up in Lower Lonsdale. He then went on to complete his business degree at the University British Columbia. As of this writing, Grantham has completed over 100 projects, including the development of a high rise building in Vancouver.
He is a husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He was a dedicated outdoorsman and enjoyed sports such as hunting, fishing, scuba diving, and snow skiing. His wife, Alison Grantham, and their two daughters survived him. He is survived by his wife Alison Martin Grantham and two daughters.