Black Tuna Japanese Tapas Bistro (web site, #202 – 1184 Denman Street, downtown Vancouver, phone: 604-408-7557) is quite a find for exceptional food quality, an upscale atmosphere with aesthetically pleasing decor and a great view of the English bay beach from the window. It’s an intimate dining room located on the second floor of the commercial building on Denman Street, very close to the Davie intersection. We tried the Chef’s Special Dinner Box ($29.95) which in my opinion was really worth it (some of the items are pictured below). And to accompany the food I really liked the restaurant’s choice of laid-back jazz background music.

[update Oct 14 2008: Black Tuna has closed and there is another Japanese restaurant there now.]

Vancouver’s convention center and cruise ship terminal is Canada Place. (click here for more photos and the address of Canada Place)  Below is the view that you get from the restaurant Aqua Riva (200 Granville Street, phone 604-683-5599, web site) which overlooks the sails of Canada place and is a popular tourist destination.

While visiting the Halifax Airport (web site) in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, be sure to drop by the food court located in the centre of the airport, and enjoy some fast food before your flight. Pictured below is the Cajun Chicken Wrap with a side Caesar salad which was $8.48 before tax, which I purchased from the Brisket Deli. After eating, take the elevator up to the airport observation deck and sit in the comfy chairs while watching planes take-off and land through gigantic floor-to-ceiling windows. The observation deck is also a popular plane-watching destination for families with children and can be accessed even without a boarding pass.