Last updated on May 23, 2025

When you visit Vancouver, you're stepping into one of Canada's most stunning coastal cities, where snow-capped mountains meet sparkling ocean waters. It's a destination that effortlessly marries outdoor adventure with vibrant city vibes. It’s also the gateway for many Disney Cruisers to the wilds of Alaska as the embarkation port for DCL Alaska cruises. Given this, you may have several days in the city before your cruise.

If you’re like us, you’ll want to check out as much as you can — taking in the blend of natural beauty and urban culture. Along the way, you might be wondering if you’ll be able to savor some of the incredible Pacific Northwest cuisine and multicultural flavors that Vancouver is known for. We’ll be highlighting our experiences visiting Vancouver gluten free and with food allergies, sharing some of our tips, tricks, and restaurant recommendations.

Gluten Free Breakfast from Heirs Pears in Vancouver / Photo ©️ Gluten Free Disney Cruise

Before You Go: Planning Your Gluten Free Visit to Vancouver

Since Vancouver is the port where you will start and end an Alaska or repositioning cruise, you’ll want to make sure you set yourself up for success the moment you arrive in the city. A little pre-trip planning goes a long way when you're exploring Vancouver gluten free.

**Do Pre-Cruise Research**

Before we even boarded the ship, we spent a lot of time doing pre-cruise research. We reviewed YouTube videos, Instagram, Facebook groups, blogs (like ours!), and GF food apps to help us make a list of potential restaurants to dine at, and tips unique to Vancouver. We included this information in our Smartphone during our trip, so we could easily refer to it.

Based on our experience, many Vancouver restaurants are incredibly gluten-aware, but having a backup list of certified spots will give you peace of mind during your limited port time.

Since Vancouver is an English-speaking city, language won't be a barrier, though you'll notice some charming Canadian spellings and phrases. If you are planning on purchasing any groceries, you’ll notice that packaging has labeling in both English and French, as French is the dominant language in the province of Quebec.

The city's multicultural character means you'll encounter diverse cuisines where gluten free awareness varies, so it never hurts to know a few key phrases in Mandarin or other languages in some neighborhoods. Currency-wise, we did bring a small amount of Canadian dollars, but we found Vancouver to be mostly cashless. Cabs also take credit cards or tap payment, but may try to encourage cash payment (we found this out first-hand).

**Canada Food Allergy Labeling Laws**

Did you know that in Canada there is a list of 11 priority food allergens must be declared specifically on food packaging? The allergens may vary slightly from US allergen lists, so we always recommend reviewing these before you go. Restaurants are not required to declare allergens on their menus.

Don’t forget to pack any GF or special diets essentials in your bag before you head out for a long day of sightseeing. While we found plenty of options in Vancouver, we always travel with backups, like protein bars, just in case. If you purchase any snacks or items to bring on DCL during embarkation, we recommend you review DCL’s policies about what food can or cannot be taken on and off the ship. Some items, like fruit and vegetables can incur hefty fines. If you have questions, we always recommend asking a crew member.

If you do have other special dietary needs considerations, like EpiPens or medications, be sure to pack them in a safe and easy to find place during your port day.

Where We Ate in Vancouver

We spent several days in Vancouver before and after our Disney Cruise to Alaska. We didn’t get nearly as much time in to visit the plethora of gluten free options the city has to offer. Between another Alaska cruise and visiting friends in the Seattle area, there’s no doubt we’ll end up back in Vancouver again. Here’s some of the places we ate during our time in the city.

Heirs Pears

RIP to a location that we absolutely adored. As of the writing of this post (May 2025), Heirs Pears is no longer operating a storefront restaurant as of early 2025. This casual dining location was our go-to for breakfast and brunch, featuring hearty entrees and baked goods from the Gluten Free Epicurean. You can currently order food from Heirs Pears through Door Dash and other delivery services. We’re hopeful that this business will find a new location to operate in the future.

Fritz European Fry House

You can’t go to Canada and not get the classic dish, Poutine. Potatoes and gravy? What could be better?! The answer is a fry shop that serves up GF (and even dairy free) poutine! If you’re craving classic poutine, look no further than Fritz European Fry House. This small quick service restaurant only serves up fries, so potato lovers rejoice. If you’re gluten free, be sure to order the GF and vegan gravy along with squeaky cheese curds and a mountain of fries. Run don’t walk to this location. You’ll thank us for it.

De Dutch

If you enjoy gluten free Dutch pancakes, you’ll want to make a trip to De Dutch, a Canadian chain restaurant with a location conveniently located in Canada Place near the cruise terminal. We ate here for breakfast on our embarkation day and enjoyed Canadian bacon and a huge GF Dutch pancake. While the food isn’t fancy or fussy, you’ll be well fed before or after your cruise.

Pourhouse

Probably our favorite dining experience in Vancouver was dinner at Pourhouse. Located in historic Gastown, this cozy restaurant oozes history. In fact, it used to be a boot company in the 1900s. We were blown away by the retro cocktails and decor and the super friendly and helpful staff. At the time we visited, the manager on duty was a fellow celiac, and she went above and beyond to help us navigate the menu. Plus, the food was fantastic. Brandon had one of the best steaks he’s ever had, and I enjoyed some classic bar food — all made GF.

Other Gluten Free Friendly Restaurants in Vancouver

With limited time in Vancouver, it was hard to eat at all the places we had hoped to. Here are some of the places that were on our short list or came highly recommended.

Gluten Free Epicurean

*Pick-up only

Although we didn’t get to make an order on our trip, we had gluten free baked goods from Gluten Free Epicurean at several other dining locations. We can both attest to how tasty everything was from the gluten free buns, to donuts, and even coffee cake. If you’re looking to their products and have some extra time while in Vancouver, we recommended ordering on your first day and stocking up for your visit.

GF Coffee Cake from Gluten Free Epicurean (served at Heirs Pears) / Photo ©️ Gluten Free Disney Cruise

Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery

If you’re looking for a GF bakery with a storefront, Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery is another good option. We heard rave reviews about this location but just didn’t have enough time to fit in a visit.

Iki Japanese

It’s rare to find a 100% gluten free Japanese restaurant. Iki fits this bill nicely, and then some. 100% GF and certified by the local Celiac Association, this is a must visit if you love Japanese cuisine. They even have GF gyoza!

Nuba

Located in Gastown, Nuba was high on our list to visit while in Vancouver. Unfortunately, timing made us miss it, but we’ve heard nothing but rave reviews about this restaurant and their gluten free options. Serving authentic Lebanese food, they have a variety of options that sound incredible.

Ask for Luigi

So many of our followers recommended and raved about Ask for Luigi. If you’re a fan of pasta and Italian cuisine, this could be a great option. They serve GF pasta and have a good reputation of safe options. Another Gastown location, this is convenient if you’re staying near the cruise port.

Eating in Vancouver Gluten Free Made Easy

Vancouver truly shines as a gluten free friendly destination, and we think exploring the city is the perfect way to start your Alaska or repositioning cruise. From fresh Pacific seafood to locally sourced ingredients, you’ll find that eating gluten free doesn't mean missing out on Vancouver's culinary scene. With a little planning and an adventurous spirit, you'll discover that this beautiful coastal city offers some of the most memorable gluten free dining experiences of your cruise (it was for us!). So grab your appetite and sense of wonder – Vancouver is ready to welcome you with open arms and plenty of safe, spectacular food.

Want to learn more about our Disney Cruise Line gluten free food adventures? Be sure to check out our Destinations page to explore other places that we have been and what we ate at those locations gluten free.

Eating Gluten Free in Vancouver: Complete Disney Cruise Port Guide [2025]