Salmon House on the Hill, the cedar-clad fine dining restaurant that presided over Howe Sound since 1976, will close for good on July 12 after 49 years in business.
Advertise with North Shore Daily Post
In a notice to patrons, management wrote: “Thank you very much for your support all these years… It’s our honor and pleasure to serve you and your loved ones.” The restaurant stopped selling gift cards earlier this spring and will accept outstanding cards only until June 30. “If you had a gift card, it was recommended to use it before July 2025,” the notice added.
Don’t miss local news alerts from North Shore Daily Post.
Perched at 2229 Folkestone Way, Salmon House built its reputation on alder-grilled West Coast seafood, a B.C.-only wine list and postcard views over Burrard Inlet and downtown Vancouver. The closure comes as the property prepares for redevelopment. West Vancouver council approved rezoning last April to replace the building with eight townhomes and a smaller commercial space.
The restaurant will continue dinner service Wednesday through Sunday until its final seating on July 12.
Very sad news
Another Vancouver institution destroyed by developers. The term “developer” is a misnomer, as that term denotes something positive is happening, or that something is being improved. Developers or as I prefer to call them destroyers, lay waste to the environment, culture, and quality of life, to maximise profits in their short term future window. They do not realize that they will die one day, and they can’t take their money with them. The developer never could get pleasure from walking through a park, seeing it as land wasted without a Walmart or 100 foot black tower on it. The developer is a soulless highly strung individual who has never enjoyed the simple pleasures in life he likes his trophy wives Ferarri’s, expensive cigars and expensive wines, but rarely has any time to do any of this. He barely remembers the names of his children or who the mothers of the children were, through the cocaine and alcohol fueled brain fog he suffers from every evening. The destroyer has wealth, but no life, he has family, but no connections, he has everything money can buy but he has nothing.
Another 16 resident automobiles, perhaps an increase with solid waste, job losses and reduced tax-flows, more noisy weekend nights, population might increase by twenty plus, of course the prices shall be attractive for First-Times.
How can we loose?
Quality and choice diminished over the years. Fantastic view though.
Disagree – it was always delicious seafood, wonderful atmosphere – so sorry to see it go.
And a group of us were literally just talking about organizing a date to go to Salmon House on the Hill and now this news, how sad.
What a shame!
This city does not need anymore townhomes or condos.
Such a disappointment to lose an amazing restaurant, only to increase what is already an insane rat race.
You’re just assuming 16 extra vehicles without facts that each resident will have 2 cars. Noisy nights, again no idea who is moving in…🤷♂️ and population increase by 20 when hundreds actually visit the road & diner now. Don’t like it, please move. You sound entitled up there. Come on… be better
I was thinking about Gord’s comment earlier this afternoon. He’s probably right. Just think about it. And when he says population increase by 20, I’m sure he didn’t mean population visiting the restaurant – they don’t live there – he means the area will have probably around 20 more people living there. Every time a new development of homes go up – you can count on having more traffic and more of everything else. I guess you must know Gord, since you’re telling him to move if he doesn’t like it. Sheesh – I didn’t think his comment was that bad.
Affordable for first-time buyers is nothing but a slogan of BS for the people to believe. Absolutely nobody can afford anything being built in Vancouver let alone West Vancouver unless they’re filthy Rich from another country
very sad to see this popular restaurant gone.
IS IT REALLY PROGRESS TO SEE MORE CONDOS?
We have an abundance of condos but very little else!
yet another land mark bites the dust.
So sad
It was a great place. Food, atmosphere and service was fantastic
I agree, there’s so many condos everywhere you look, but why do developers get to dictate to city hall what is to be built and when. Tomahawk restaurant suffering the same fate, black bear pub as well. And even with all the increased tax revenue the city receives for this, they still raise the taxes every single year!
The provincial government is forcing west van to create more housing. A certain percentage has to be met. West van is 2nd worst in bc. I hate it but province has an agenda! Sad.
Who is being paid off?
Because they own the land. Why should anyone dictate to a landowner what they can do with THEIR land? Property rights are a cornerstone of a free market economy.
Seems to be an epidemic!
I heard that the Tomahawk closing is a rumor that has been confirmed as incorrect.
Botton line is all of west,north,east and south vancouver have lost or will lose landmarks! All areas have become so stale! I grew up hear and the change is not always in the best interest of keeping classic character around! Very sad!!!
Continue to pay 100k+ per month of overhead cost vs sell prime real estate to a devloper for 30mill… Lol SO sorry not sorry locals for making a no brainer decision, McDonald’s is just around the corner ☮️✌️
Couldn’t agree with you more as I grew up in Queen Elizabeth area too. So sad to see character homes and landmarks lost. If memory doesn’t fail me I may have went to school with your brother, Brian.
I agree with the above comments wholeheartedly! Why do developers get to dictate to cityhall about what gets built and which businesses to shut down? Everywhere you look, there’s nothing but condos and now there’s so many, they are not even selling. The condo market is very slow right now. So salmon house is gone. Same fate as tomahawk restaurant and black bear pub and many others. With all the extra taxes and fees the city receives for this, they still raise our taxes every year, automatically. Is this a sustainable system to do it this way? Eventually there will be no more room for more, so they’ll just start tearing down 10 year old buildings at that point.
I remember going there in the 70’s..for my 19th Birthday! Loved the view…and the food! Very sad that it is closing…
So sorry to hear about the demise of the Salmon House. I remember their beautiful views and scrumptious planked salmon. I remember when the restaurant was brand new. Wish I had time for one last visit.
I concur with the sentiments expressed here…..what are we creating as a community?
So sad, always been a go to place for out of town guests. So few nice restaurants left on the North shore.
Property taxes probably did them in. That’s a big problem for many people that bought years ago and never expected property values and taxes would get so high. Imagine what that piece of property is worth now compared to 49 years ago
This city sucks. It’s boring, classless, jammed full of cars, trapped by bridges, and has zero nightlife or interesting eateries. Way to make it a little crappier and uglier. Just ram townhouses all the way up the hill and deforest the entire North Shore. What an embarrassment council has made if themselves. I’m sure their pockets are lined by developers.
Laughing, as we have a hand written gift certificate from 30 years ago and always joked about going there. Guess thats not happening but gave us laughs.
Great view, terrible food. Unfortunately they hadn’t updated their menu for years, might have had a shot then.
Don’t forget the NDP has mandated minimum new housing starts in all municipalities in BC… and some of those numbers are un-realistic. The North Shore does not need more density.
I hope there’s a new restaurant that goes up there. It’s obviously taking up a lot of space, with a boring menu thats stayed bsdically the same for many years. There were nice parts to yhe restaurant like the scene from the restaurant. Also, had a really nice kitchen, beautiful kitchen. But I hope another great chef gets to be up there. There used to be fraiche up there run by chef Álvarez which was amazibg! But yeah this only comes from someone in the industry. Oh and the room is absolutely beautiful. Just wish the food was updated.
Less jobs more people. What could possible go wrong. Lol???
I used to pick up the garbage here and can’t count how many times they come out to talk to me and offer me free dinner for my wife and myself. Very classy and also the place we had first anniversary
I was one of the 1st bartender who works there back in 1977. I had a lot fun. The Xmas party was unreal.
Don’t forget that the people have the power, not governments. Band together and stop it. You can do it because the people have the power… None of these government clowns that voted for this should have a seat next year.. Just saying.
Our first date ….
41years ago.
And we’ve been married for 37 years.
Thanks Salmon House
It all started with you ! 😏
Vancouver and the Lower Mainland is quickly losing the iconic and unique places that made it a special and fun place to live and visit. Sadly becoming another vastly overcrowded city, constant gridlock and infrastructure that can’t keep up with all the development.
So funny to see all these NIMBYs in the comments. If the food was any good they would re-open elsewhere, but it’s been completely mediocre for three decades and coasting on reputation and a decent view. Nothing lasts forever!
Celebrated my 60th birthday there last Sunday. Staff and management was excellent and the food was great. So glad that I had one last dinner there.
Eat the rich and the developers
I thought West Vancouver was better than this… 8 townhouses so a developer can make $24,000,000 (let’s not pretend they will be less than $4m ea with that view)… and our city loses an iconic restaurant that all the rest of us love.
F’ing shameful.
So we’re just building multi million dollar properties for wealthy people to buy and rent out or just leave vacant most likely and tearing down all amenities ans restaurants ? What’s the point of even living here anymore. Pretty soon we’ll just have wal mart and McDonald no restaurants and no small businesses so people can just invest and make money and not enjoy this place. What an absolute travesty the north shore in undergoing. Black bear pub , tomahawk , Denny’s , trolls in horseshoe bay , pastamellis just all closing being of greedy disgusting. Nasty people who only care about money and themselves.
Dad’s fave place for his fave meal – salmon. RIP Dad. Even Carisbrooke Park in Upper Lonsdale is being redeveloped! More Condos, more people! Nightmare. West Vans waterfront beach homes loss too. Soon pay parking on the Norh Shore! High rents for business owners. STAND UP PEOPLE! GET OFF YOUR PHONES!
I bought a gift card for my parents in 1977 to come to the Salmon House.
My Dad refused to go there and k had to take my Mom.
My Dad said he didnt want to be around the snobby people up in the British Properties. Well maybe he had a point after reading some if the rude comments about the food and the menu but hey the one about it being boring was why many people liked it. It wasn’t boring it was comfortable. The food was very good. The menu was just fine.
I could’ve sank into the plush seats and finished off the wonderful BC wine we ordered and then crawled up on the seat and slept there all night. My son in Law and daughter brought me here many times. Thankfully they did so please stop runing the place down and quit complaining.
There were also many kind wonderful comments from people who loved the Salmon House.
BTW there are lots of houses not selling in this market not just condos. So lay off the condo thing. Many people can’t even afford a Condo.
David Eby. Period. Change your vote. Socialism will continue to deconstruct all we hold dear. You voted for the NDP, BC! All will be affordable housing, and the North Shore we all knew and cherished will be forever changed. Vote differently! The NDP will never keep our haunts sacred. The landscape as we know it has changed; for affordable housing and the ensuing crowding on the Northshore, bridge traffic, homeless in LOLO like we have never seen. Shame to lose our landmarks in favour of affordable housing where people don’t care about our heritage. It’s a money grab. Shame on the voters for NDP. The outcome will never be better, only tragic! it is not about the Salmon House, its about the systemic problem of the government of BC that supports our ferries being built by China. So why would they care about the Salmon House on the Hill or anything else we hold dear? You all voted for this… and sadly no one researches the outcome of the Eby socialism. BC must vote differently or this is a landslide determined to deconstruct all the values we cherish. The Salmon House on the Hill is a symbol of the destruction of our culture and core values, completely disregarded by our government’s trajectory. Be accountable. Get informed. Do research. The shutting down of the Salmon House and future closures of memorial landmarks is the burden of which of all who voted NDP must bear. To some it appears at face value that a restaurant closed down; conscientious analysis is the duty of all of us to consider the “WHY”. People don’t want to face the depths of the why, but shirking that duty leads to ignorance and to NDP Votes. So when a precious landmark succumbs and no one delves deeper, nothing will change except to embolden the wrong government. This is more than a restaurant closure. It’s a red flag of the flagrant misuse of the NDP government.
Read my response and comments thanks
What does it mean, my comments “await moderation”? Moderation? By whom?
North shore’s voting for the same corrupt people over and over again.
Then everybody complains that the beauty of Vancouver was sold for money.
One cannot push gas and breaks at the same time.
It just doesn’t work.