Basil Pasta Bar Vancouver
🍝 Basil Pasta Bar is a small, no-frills pasta spot on Davie Street in Downtown Vancouver, tucked between Yaletown and the Granville Entertainment District and serving the city since 2010.
Best known for its build-your-own pasta concept, diners can mix and match pasta, sauces and ingredients or choose house favourites like Pesto Shrimp Linguine, BC Smoked Salmon Fettuccine and Lemon Chicken Fettuccine. Generous portions, affordable downtown pricing and late-night weekend hours have helped make it a longtime go-to for quick lunches, takeout and post-night-out pasta.
🍽️ Basil Pasta Bar Menu
⭐ Basil Pasta Bar is known for Build Your Own Pasta and Pesto Shrimp Linguine.
🍝 Pastas
Classic and creative pasta dishes in rich house-made sauces; a cozy mix of Italian favourites and West Coast-inspired flavours.
Spaghetti Puttanesca 🌶
Spaghetti tossed in a bold marinara with anchovies, tomatoes, red peppers, garlic, olives, and capers, finished with parmesan, fresh basil, and parsley.
Penne Arrabiata 🌶
Penne pasta in a spicy marinara with chorizo sausage, red peppers, and garlic, topped with creamy goat cheese and fresh parsley.
Pesto Shrimp Linguine
Linguine in a velvety pesto cream with white wine, shrimp, garlic, and spinach, finished with parmesan and fresh basil.
Chicken Curry Fettuccine
Fettuccine in a smooth curry cream sauce with tender chicken, red peppers, peas, and spinach, garnished with fresh oregano.
Spaghetti Carbonara
Spaghetti in a parmesan cream sauce with egg yolk, crispy smoked bacon, and peas, finished with fresh parsley.
BC Smoked Salmon Fettuccine
Fettuccine in an alfredo cream sauce with wild smoked salmon, red onions, tomatoes, spinach, and capers.
Lemon Chicken Fettuccine
Fettuccine in a bright alfredo cream with lemon, chicken, zucchini, and capers, topped with parmesan and fresh basil.
Maple Bacon Conchiglie
Shell pasta in a savoury marinara lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup, bacon, red onions, red peppers, mushrooms, and corn, finished with melted mozzarella and fresh basil.
Gnocchi Bolognese
Soft potato gnocchi with a hearty beef Bolognese and mushrooms, topped with parmesan, fresh parsley, and basil.
Spaghetti & Meatballs 🌶
Spaghetti in a zesty rosé sauce with six meatballs, mushrooms, tomatoes, red onions, and spinach, finished with melted mozzarella.
Fusilli Primavera
Fusilli pasta in a bright marinara with broccoli, zucchini, red peppers, tomatoes, spinach and carrot ribbons, finished with parmesan and fresh parsley.
Fresh Herbs Linguine Aioli
Linguine tossed with fresh basil, parsley, oregano, garlic and red onions in white wine and olive oil, topped with goat cheese and fragrant herbs.
Mediterranean Penne
Penne in a basil pesto sauce with artichoke hearts, asparagus, tomatoes and spinach, finished with creamy goat cheese and fresh parsley.
Four Cheese Ravioli
Plump ravioli filled with a rich four-cheese blend, served in a tomato rosé cream sauce with spinach and finished with parmesan and basil.
Coconut Cream Ravioli
Ravioli in a silky coconut cream sauce with chicken, mushrooms, asparagus, red onions and peas, topped with toasted coconut flakes and fresh basil.
🧭 Explore Vancouver
See Vancouver restaurants serving:
Gnocchi Ravioli Ice Cream Pasta Curry🍰 Desserts
House-favourite cakes and treats; rich, creamy and perfect for ending your meal on a sweet note.
Tiramisu Cake
Classic Italian tiramisu layered with dark-roast espresso-soaked cake, creamy mascarpone mousse, coffee liqueur and billows of whipped cream.
Lemon Cream Cake
Three layers of moist lemon shortcake stacked with dairy-fresh whipped cream and tangy house lemon preserve for a bright, citrusy finish.
Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream
Scoops of Ben & Jerry’s premium ice cream in rotating flavours like Half Baked, The Tonight Dough and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
🍽 Signature Sides
Perfect pasta pairings and small plates to round out your meal.
Garlic Bread
Oven baked until crisp on the outside and soft inside, ideal for soaking up extra sauce; ask to add melted cheese for an extra-indulgent side.
Soup Of The Day
Chef’s daily soup selection, featuring either hearty vegetable minestrone or comforting green lentils, both slow-simmered for rich, home-style flavour.
🥗 Salads
Fresh, colourful salads made to complement any of the house pastas.
Pasta Salad
Fusilli pasta tossed with organic mixed greens, tomatoes, red peppers, mushrooms and carrot strings in house balsamic vinaigrette, finished with creamy goat cheese.
Classic Caesar
Crisp romaine lettuce with crunchy croutons, briny capers and shaved parmesan, all coated in a classic creamy Caesar dressing.
House Special Greens
Organic mixed greens with tomatoes, red peppers, pumpkin seeds and carrot strings, tossed in house balsamic vinaigrette and topped with tangy goat cheese.
🥤 Combos
Bread / Soup / Salad Combo
Upgrade any pasta to a full meal with your choice of garlic bread, soup or salad paired with a refreshing drink; an easy way to build a satisfying combo.
🥤 Soft Drinks
Ice-cold canned beverages to sip alongside your favourite pasta or salad.
Soft Drinks
Choice of Coke, Diet Coke, iced tea, ginger ale, 7UP, root beer, Orange Crush, Grape Crush, Cream Soda Crush or bottled water.
🍝 Build Your Own Pasta
Create your perfect pasta bowl by choosing your favourite noodles, sauce, protein, veggies, and garnishes; mix and match as much as you like.
Pick Your Pasta
Start by choosing your pasta style: penne, whole wheat penne, gluten-free penne, linguine, ravioli, gnocchi, farfalle, conchiglie, spaghetti, fusilli, or fettuccine.
Pick Your Sauce
Layer on flavour with your choice of sauce: marinara, Alfredo, pesto, rosé, Bolognese, curry cream, pesto cream, carbonara, or a light white-wine and olive-oil sauce; ask to make it extra spicy if you like some heat.
Pick Your Protein
Add a hearty protein to your dish with options like bacon, chorizo sausage, chicken, shrimp, anchovies, smoked salmon, meatballs, or even a double-meat portion for extra richness.
Pick Your Veggies
Pile on fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, carrots, black olives, corn, spinach, zucchini, peas, red peppers, mushrooms, red onions, asparagus, artichokes, garlic, broccoli, and capers for colour and crunch.
Pick Your Garnish
Finish your custom pasta with cheeses and herbs: choose parmesan, goat, or mozzarella, add extra cheese if you wish, and top it all off with fresh basil, parsley, or oregano for a fragrant, restaurant-style finish.
⭐ Basil Pasta Bar Favourites
These selections are based on dishes commonly praised in Google reviews.
Build Your Own Pasta
The signature Basil Pasta Bar experience lets diners customize their meal with their choice of pasta, sauce and additions, with reviewers especially praising the variety and generous combinations.
Pesto Shrimp Linguine
A recurring customer favourite combining shrimp and linguine with a creamy basil pesto sauce.
BC Smoked Salmon Fettuccine
One of the restaurant’s distinctive house pastas, with smoked salmon and fettuccine earning positive mentions for both flavour and portion size.
Spaghetti & Meatballs
A classic comfort-food choice featuring meatballs, pasta and a rich tomato-based sauce.
Spaghetti Carbonara
A popular pasta featuring a creamy Parmesan sauce, egg yolk, smoked bacon and peas.
Lemon Chicken Fettuccine
A longstanding house favourite praised by customers for its creamy sauce and generous serving.
Chicken Curry Fettuccine
An unusual fusion-style pasta that combines chicken and curry flavours with creamy fettuccine.
Mediterranean Penne
A vegetarian favourite combining penne with pesto and Mediterranean-inspired vegetables.
Penne Arrabiata
A popular choice for diners who like some heat, featuring a spicy marinara-style sauce.
Fresh Herb Linguine Aioli
A lighter pasta featuring fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil and white wine.
Garlic Bread
A simple but frequently praised side that has developed a following of its own among regular customers.
🍽️ Dining Experience
Build-Your-Own Pasta Concept
Customization is the defining feature at Basil Pasta Bar, allowing diners to create their own combinations rather than choosing only from predetermined pasta dishes.
Established in Vancouver
Basil Pasta Bar has been serving Vancouver since 2010 and describes itself as the city’s original build-your-own pasta restaurant.
Casual Counter-Service Dining
The Davie Street location is a small, informal pasta shop with counter-style service rather than a traditional full-service Italian dining experience.
Made-to-Order Pasta
Pasta dishes are prepared to order, with customers able to see much of the cooking taking place in the open kitchen.
Late-Night Pasta
Friday and Saturday hours extend into the early morning, making Basil Pasta Bar a useful option for a late meal in Downtown Vancouver.
Vegetarian & Customizable Options
The extensive selection of sauces, vegetables and additions makes it easy to create vegetarian meals and customize dishes around individual preferences.
🅿️ Parking & Accessibility
Downtown Street Parking
Parking in the surrounding downtown area is primarily metered street parking and nearby paid lots rather than dedicated restaurant parking.
Highly Walkable Location
The central Davie Street location is particularly convenient for pedestrians staying, working or living in Downtown Vancouver.
Transit-Friendly
Numerous transit routes and nearby rapid-transit stations make the restaurant easy to reach without a vehicle.
Compact Dining Space
The Davie Street restaurant is small with limited seating, so takeout can be a convenient alternative during busy periods.
📍 Landmarks & Location
Downtown Vancouver
Basil Pasta Bar is located on Davie Street in the southern part of Downtown Vancouver, between the Granville Entertainment District and Yaletown.
Davie & Granville
The restaurant sits just east of Granville Street, putting it within easy walking distance of one of downtown Vancouver’s busiest entertainment corridors.
Yaletown
Yaletown’s restaurants, shops, nightlife and residential towers begin just a few blocks east of the restaurant.
Granville Entertainment District
The nearby Granville Street entertainment area makes Basil Pasta Bar particularly convenient for a meal before or after a night out.
BC Place & Rogers Arena
Both major downtown stadiums are within walking distance, making the restaurant an option before or after concerts and sporting events.
Vancouver Waterfront
False Creek and the Yaletown waterfront are a short walk south, with the seawall providing access to parks and waterfront paths.
📱 Ordering Options
Dine-In
A small number of tables are available for casual dine-in meals at the Davie Street location.
Takeout
The quick-service format and customizable menu make Basil Pasta Bar particularly well suited to takeout.
Delivery
Delivery is available through major third-party ordering services.
Build Your Own Pasta
Diners can select their preferred pasta and customize it with sauces and other ingredients to create their own combination.
House Special Pastas
Those who prefer a ready-made combination can choose from house recipes including Carbonara, Puttanesca, Arrabiata, Mediterranean Penne and several other pasta dishes.
Late-Night Ordering
Extended Friday and Saturday hours make pasta available considerably later than at many traditional Italian restaurants in the downtown core.
💬 Customer Feedback
Generous Portions
Large servings are one of the most consistent themes in customer feedback, with many diners considering the portions a particularly good value.
Customization Is the Biggest Draw
The ability to choose a pasta, sauce and additions is repeatedly singled out as one of the main reasons customers return.
Popular for Takeout & Delivery
The compact restaurant and made-to-order format generate considerable takeout and delivery business in addition to dine-in customers.
Casual, No-Frills Setting
Customers generally describe Basil Pasta Bar as a small, simple pasta shop rather than somewhere to visit for an upscale Italian dining atmosphere.
Good Value for Downtown
Reviewers frequently highlight the combination of substantial portions, extensive choice and comparatively affordable pasta in the Downtown Vancouver area.
Longtime Repeat Customers
Some reviewers mention eating at Basil Pasta Bar for years, with its customizable pasta and convenient location encouraging repeat visits.
Food & Service Can Be Inconsistent
While many customers praise the food, portions and friendly staff, reviews also show some inconsistency in preparation, service and the condition of the small dining space.
