Kitsilano’s AnnaLena has earned a spot among the continent’s culinary elite.
The West 1st Avenue restaurant was named No. 35 on the 2026 list of North America’s 50 Best Restaurants, placing the neighbourhood favourite alongside some of the most celebrated dining rooms in Canada, the United States, and beyond.
The recognition marks another major milestone for AnnaLena, which has spent more than a decade building a reputation as one of Vancouver’s most creative and consistently acclaimed restaurants. Known for its evolving tasting menu and playful, polished approach to fine dining, AnnaLena has become a destination restaurant while remaining firmly rooted in Kitsilano.
For the AnnaLena team, the honour is both a celebration and a reflection of the long road that brought them here.
“We don’t know if we deserve this, but we earned this. Twelve years in, we’re really starting to understand the old saying it was always about the journey, not the reward. Thank you to everyone who voted for us, and allowed us to represent our city on this big of a stage. Support like this has given us the opportunity to keep pushing, evolving, and taking AnnaLena to places we never thought possible.”
AnnaLena’s inclusion also adds to Vancouver’s growing reputation as one of North America’s most exciting food cities. The 2026 list included several British Columbia restaurants, with Published on Main (#17) also representing Vancouver and Whistler’s Wild Blue (#47) making the rankings.
Still, for Kitsilano, AnnaLena’s recognition carries a special kind of pride. The restaurant has become a fixture in the neighbourhood’s dining scene, drawing locals, visitors, and serious food lovers to a stretch of West 1st Avenue better known for its beachside charm than international accolades.
Twelve years in, AnnaLena is no longer just one of Kitsilano’s best restaurants. It is officially one of North America’s best.
