By Charlotte Ahern (January 2026)
Moxies in Downtown Vancouver is an approachable, stylish restaurant on West Georgia Street, close to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. It’s casual yet a little elevated, making it an easy choice for happy hours or relaxed nights downtown.
With more than 50 locations across Canada and the USA, Moxies has become a modern Canadian classic. Founded in Calgary, the brand blends a trendy vibe with comfort and consistency, helping it remain relevant for decades.
The first Moxies opened in 1986, and after significant growth in the late 1990s, the brand became part of the Canadian-owned Northland Group. Northland’s portfolio spans multiple sectors, from major destinations like Grouse Mountain and the Sutton Place Hotel to restaurants such as Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar, as well as recognised brands like Denny’s.
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Downtown West Georgia Street’s Moxies
The West Georgia Street location is Moxies’ Vancouver flagship. This location reopened in the summer of 2023 after extensive renovations. The following year, the other downtown Moxies in Davie Village closed. Leaving the Georgia Street location as the brand’s sole venue in downtown Vancouver. In addition to downtown, Moxies has two other Lower Mainland locations. Langley and Richmond.
Moxies exists in the upscale-casual category of Vancouver restaurants. It’s comparable to other Canadian chains like Cactus Club, though it feels slightly less sceney.
Moxie’s location on West Georgia Street is near Rogers Arena and BC Place Stadium, and is even closer to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, making the restaurant a popular place before theatre shows and on game days.
Moxies Aesthetic
The West Georgia Street location is one of the brand’s signature restaurants, and it’s easy to see why. Compared to the former downtown venue on Davie Street, the West Georgia Street Moxies is a clear upgrade.
Designed with a minimalist, tasteful approach, the space seats around 300 guests and feels elevated without trying too hard. The decor features earthy tones, with light and dark wood dining furniture and neutral-coloured drapes, balanced by darker walls and an impressive ceiling feature. It’s cool with a subtle playfulness.
Lighting is a strong point. During the day, the space is filled with natural light, but as evening sets in, the room takes on a more sultry feel.
Guests enter at street level and take an escalator up to the dining room, where a long open corridor leads toward the host stand. A half-walled seating area runs along one side, while the bar is behind the host’s stand. The room is large and open, with sleek booths that feel minimalist while still a little fancy.
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The City Terrace
One of the standout features at Moxies on West Georgia is the city terrace. The outdoor space mirrors the interior aesthetic. It’s partially covered and semi-enclosed, with heating that allows it to open year-round on milder days. During our visit, the manager mentioned the terrace had been open the previous week during a stretch of sunny weather despite it being early January.
In summer, especially after work around 5:00 pm, the terrace can be a lively and popular spot, sometimes with guest DJs. At Moxies’ summer opening event last year, local celebrity Felix Cartal performed.
Casual Bites and Cocktails
Moxies offers a menu designed to suit almost anyone, with over 50 items, making it an easy choice when hosting. Whether you’re dining with out-of-town colleagues or with someone whose preferences you don’t yet know, there’s bound to be something they’ll enjoy on the menu.
Menu Highlights
Moxies’ menu is built around modern comfort food and global influences, with vegetarian options well sprinkled throughout. Seasonal menus align with occasions such as Valentine’s Day and events including the Dine Out Vancouver Festival. These offerings rotate throughout the year, keeping repeat visits fresh.
Starters include shareable plates such as sushi rolls, cashew-chili chicken, calamari, potstickers, and truffle fries, generally priced from the mid-teens to the mid-$20s. Mains range from burgers, bowls, and pastas priced in the $20s to steaks priced between $40 and around $60.
Desserts at Moxies are classics. Their sticky toffee pudding is a standout. Most sweet treats are priced between $12 and $14.
Vegan & Vegetarian Options
Vegetarian and vegan diners are well covered by Moxies’ menu. Plant-based dishes are sprinkled throughout the menu rather than treated as an afterthought. Options include tofu curry laksa, mushroom-and-tofu bowls, black bean tacos, and plant-based burgers. The mushroom Zen bowl is well-balanced and delicious.
Drink Offerings at Moxies
The drinks program at Moxies does precisely what you expect from a national chain. The cocktail list focuses on classics rather than niche or specialty spirits, making it an easy option for casual drinks rather than cocktail hunting.
Daily features rotate throughout the week, offering discounts on select cocktails, beer, and wine. During our visit, $5 espresso martinis were on offer, which was a standout deal that made lingering for another round an easy decision.
The wine program has a mix of Canadian and international options. It’s not overly curated, but it works well for the crowd. The bar itself is an attractive place to sit, with comfortable stools and a good view of the TVs above, where sports are shown on game days.
Moxies on West Georgia proves that a national chain can still feel polished, elevated, and genuinely worth booking.
Happy Hour at Moxies
Happy hour runs daily from 2:00 to 5:00 pm and again from 9:00 pm until close. The menu includes discounted highballs, beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as reduced-price share plates such as tacos, fries, calamari, and steak frites. On select nights, half-price bottles of wine are also available. Happy hour offers plates substantial enough to create a full meal.
Pricing & Dining Details
Moxies sits in the upper $$ range. It’s not inexpensive, but it offers solid value given the quality and portion size. Reservations aren’t essential midweek. Bookings can be made through OpenTable or the Moxies website.
The Georgia Street Moxies is on one of Downtown Vancouver’s main thoroughfares. Therefore, street parking may be limited, but there are many nearby streets with metered parking and parkades.
With its city terrace, sleek renovation, and reliable crowd-pleasing menu, this flagship Moxies is built for downtown nights that need to be easy but still feel put together.
Service & Atmosphere
The server team is similar to those at places like Earl’s restaurant. Servers are polite, professional, capable, and easy-going. Management was visible during our visit, and the overall impression was that the restaurant was well-run and maintained. Food courses were timed thoughtfully, avoiding the conveyor-belt feel that can happen in larger kitchens.
The atmosphere is predictable in a good way. Playful touches, such as the neon “I will if you will” sign, are central to the room, signalling the restaurant’s target demographic. Think guests in their twenties and early thirties.
As the restaurant is attached to the Sandman Hotel, there’s also a steady presence of solo business travellers during the week, which is typical for a downtown hotel restaurant.
Who Is Moxies For?
The restaurant suits relaxed date nights and couple or group meet-ups. It’s a place you can go in jeans or in dressier attire. The design and decor stand out, making it a good choice for diners who appreciate a well-designed room as well as quality food.
Why Moxies Earns Its Place on VBR
Among chain restaurants, Moxies stands out as one of the better-designed centrally located options in the city. The terrace elevates it beyond the standard casual dining experience, and the space still feels brand new. All the food is well-presented and tasty. Collectively, this is why Moxies earns its place on Vancouver’s Best Restaurants list.
Similar Restaurants in Vancouver
Cactus Club is the closest aesthetic comparison. However, Cactus Club tends to attract a more mature crowd, especially at its Coal Harbour location. Earls offers similar pricing, service, and menu options. For something a little more traditional and upscale, The Keg is a solid option, particularly for steaks, while still within the chain restaurant category.
Address & Hours
Moxies
180 West Georgia Street, Vancouver
Sunday–Thursday: 7:00 am – 12:00 am
Friday–Saturday: 7:00 am – 1:00 am
Brunch: Monday–Friday: 7:00 am – 11:00 am. Saturday–Sunday: 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
Editorial Disclosure: Details are accurate at the time of writing. Features may form part of paid or hosted editorial partnerships and reflect Charlotte Ahern’s independently-curated selection, based on her editorial standards and personal taste.
Charlotte Ahern
Charlotte covers Vancouver’s dining scene, focusing on vibe, design, service, and the dishes people book tables for. Her work is highly selective, centred around elevated spaces where the experience goes beyond the plate.
