Guidebook for Bowen Island
Food Scene
Bowen is a very busy place in the summer. If you’re hoping for a sit down dinner definitely call ahead and book a spot.
Full disclosure I own this shop but it has amazing tacos and the most lovely retail shop. The tacos are delicious and we scoop Earnest ice cream. Earnest ice cream is small batch ice cream that features local ingredients and flavors. It’s truly one of the top ice cream shops in the lower mainland. Branch on Bowen is located right on the Bowen Island Marina dock with a view of the marina!
My favourite taco at the moment is the Tinga!
Open 11:00 - 8:00 (tacos) and scooping ice cream until 8:30pm. 7 days a week and holidays
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Branch 01
400 Bowen Island Trunk RdFull disclosure I own this shop but it has amazing tacos and the most lovely retail shop. The tacos are delicious and we scoop Earnest ice cream. Earnest ice cream is small batch ice cream that features local ingredients and flavors. It’s truly one of the top ice cream shops in the lower mainland. Branch on Bowen is located right on the Bowen Island Marina dock with a view of the marina!
My favourite taco at the moment is the Tinga!
Open 11:00 - 8:00 (tacos) and scooping ice cream until 8:30pm. 7 days a week and holidays
Tell Your Friends has the best coffee on the island. An amazing place for breakfast. It's located on the dock beside Branch on Bowen. The food is great!
I love the breakfast sandwich and BLT add egg!
Open 8:00am - 3:00pm 7 days a week and holidays
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tell your friends cafe
400 Bowen Island Trunk RdTell Your Friends has the best coffee on the island. An amazing place for breakfast. It's located on the dock beside Branch on Bowen. The food is great!
I love the breakfast sandwich and BLT add egg!
Open 8:00am - 3:00pm 7 days a week and holidays
Riley’s Cidery has just opened. Incredible English style Cider. Bring a picnic and enjoy food with your cider. A great finish to a Mount Gardner hike from Laura Rd. They are open 12:00pm – 5:00pm 7 days a week.
Riley's Cidery
Riley’s Cidery has just opened. Incredible English style Cider. Bring a picnic and enjoy food with your cider. A great finish to a Mount Gardner hike from Laura Rd. They are open 12:00pm – 5:00pm 7 days a week.
Great food. Incredible view of the ocean. Kids and dogs welcome. Kids can play on the putting green while you eat.
Monday - Friday 12:00 - 8:00
Saturday 11:00 - 8:00
Sunday 11:00 - 7:00
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Bowen Island Golf Club
810 Beach DrGreat food. Incredible view of the ocean. Kids and dogs welcome. Kids can play on the putting green while you eat.
Monday - Friday 12:00 - 8:00
Saturday 11:00 - 8:00
Sunday 11:00 - 7:00
A great Spanish tapas restaurant. My favourite dishes are the sardines, patatas bravas, gambas (shrimp), eggplant with honey and croquettes.
Make a reservation to guarantee a table on the weekends.
Friday 5–8:30 p.m.
Saturday 12–2 p.m & 5–8:30 p.m.
Sunday 12–2 p.m & 5–8:30 p.m.
Monday 5–8:30 p.m.
Tuesday 5–8:30 p.m.
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 5–8:30 p.m.
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Barcelona Tapas & Wine Bar
449 Bowen Island Trunk RdA great Spanish tapas restaurant. My favourite dishes are the sardines, patatas bravas, gambas (shrimp), eggplant with honey and croquettes.
Make a reservation to guarantee a table on the weekends.
Friday 5–8:30 p.m.
Saturday 12–2 p.m & 5–8:30 p.m.
Sunday 12–2 p.m & 5–8:30 p.m.
Monday 5–8:30 p.m.
Tuesday 5–8:30 p.m.
Wednesday Closed
Thursday 5–8:30 p.m.
Great pasta and pizza. Sit outside on the patio in summer!
Call ahead as it's very busy in the summer.
Open 5:00 - 8:00 Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday and Tuesday
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Tuscany Restaurant
451 Bowen Island Trunk RdGreat pasta and pizza. Sit outside on the patio in summer!
Call ahead as it's very busy in the summer.
Open 5:00 - 8:00 Wednesday - Sunday
Closed Monday and Tuesday
Everything Else
This is the easiest and fastest entrance to the Mount Gardner trail. It’s a five minute drive from the house and bonus points for being super close to Riley’s Cidery. Follow the orange markers and it will take you to the North Summit! That summit has a place to sit and look at the view. Bring lots of water. The hike from this entrance is about 2 hours up and one down if you were walking at a leisurely pace.
Laura Road
Laura RoadThis is the easiest and fastest entrance to the Mount Gardner trail. It’s a five minute drive from the house and bonus points for being super close to Riley’s Cidery. Follow the orange markers and it will take you to the North Summit! That summit has a place to sit and look at the view. Bring lots of water. The hike from this entrance is about 2 hours up and one down if you were walking at a leisurely pace.
Getting Around
Bowen eBikes
431 Bowen Island Trunk RdAn e-bike rental located right by the ferry.
Shopping
Narwhal on Bowen is also my store attached to Branch on Bowen. It’s well curated with beautiful but practical gifts. Many items in my home can be found at Narwhal, especially kitchen items!
Open 11:00 - 8:30 7 days a week
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Branch 01
400 Bowen Island Trunk RdNarwhal on Bowen is also my store attached to Branch on Bowen. It’s well curated with beautiful but practical gifts. Many items in my home can be found at Narwhal, especially kitchen items!
Open 11:00 - 8:30 7 days a week
Nectar Yoga is a beautiful retreat on the island. It has a cute little gift shop which carries the body wash, shampoo and conditioner in our bathroom. It also has tarot cards, yoga gear, crystals and other fun stuff.
Generally open Monday - Sunday 11:00-3:00 unless it’s closed for a private event. If the sign is out at the top of the hill it’s open!
Nectar Yoga Retreat
720 Gardner LnNectar Yoga is a beautiful retreat on the island. It has a cute little gift shop which carries the body wash, shampoo and conditioner in our bathroom. It also has tarot cards, yoga gear, crystals and other fun stuff.
Generally open Monday - Sunday 11:00-3:00 unless it’s closed for a private event. If the sign is out at the top of the hill it’s open!
This is the best 2nd hand store ever. Everything is cheap which makes for some amazing finds. They carry clothing, kids toys, kitchen goods, books etc.
It's limited hours so make sure you don't miss the open days.
Sunday & Monday 11:00 - 2:20
Tuesday & Wednesday Closed
Thursday 11:00 - 5:30
Friday 11:00 - 2:20
Saturday 9:00 - 2:20
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Knick Knack Nook Re-Use-It Store Society
1063 Mt Gardner RdThis is the best 2nd hand store ever. Everything is cheap which makes for some amazing finds. They carry clothing, kids toys, kitchen goods, books etc.
It's limited hours so make sure you don't miss the open days.
Sunday & Monday 11:00 - 2:20
Tuesday & Wednesday Closed
Thursday 11:00 - 5:30
Friday 11:00 - 2:20
Saturday 9:00 - 2:20
Beautiful high end clothing.
Open Sunday 11:00 - 4:00
Monday - Friday 10:00 - 5:00
Saturday 10:30 - 5:00
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Wren Boutique
589 Artisan LnBeautiful high end clothing.
Open Sunday 11:00 - 4:00
Monday - Friday 10:00 - 5:00
Saturday 10:30 - 5:00
Phoenix Books
992 Dorman RdGreat book store. Also has kids toys and books.
Parks & Nature
Tunstall Bay
A beautiful beach a 5 minute drive away.
Bowen Bay beach is a great beach. It's a bit more rocky than tunstall but close by. About 8 minutes away.
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Bowen Bay
Bowen Bay beach is a great beach. It's a bit more rocky than tunstall but close by. About 8 minutes away.
Such a beautiful walk with a few entry points. Make sure you walk to the lighthouse.
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Cape Roger Curtis Lighthouse
1652 Whitesails DrSuch a beautiful walk with a few entry points. Make sure you walk to the lighthouse.
Arts & Culture
A beautiful gallery featuring local artists.
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Bowen Island Public Library
430 Bowen Island Trunk RdA beautiful gallery featuring local artists.
The Gallery @ 1595 Bowen Road
1595 Bowen RdGreat little art gallery