Vancouver’s acclaimed Autostrada Hospitality has officially expanded beyond city limits with the opening of Autostrada Oyster Bar & Grill in Britannia Village.
Just 40 minutes north of Vancouver along the Sea to Sky Highway, the new restaurant blends West Coast seafood with Italian sensibility, all set in a restored historic schoolhouse overlooking Howe Sound.
It’s a bold move for co-founders Dustin Dockendorf and Lucais Syme, who are known for their acclaimed Vancouver locations. This marks their first foray outside the city, and they’ve chosen a spot with one of the most iconic backdrops in B.C.
“The Sea to Sky is one of the world’s great journeys,” says Syme. “We wanted to create a stop along the way that’s as memorable as the drive itself.”
Reviving Britannia Village
The opening is part of the ambitious Britannia Village redevelopment, a project breathing new life into an area once defined by its copper mine.
The village is now home to eight restored heritage buildings, shops, services, playgrounds, EV charging stations, and dining spots, including Autostrada’s new outpost.
After decades of environmental challenges, Howe Sound has seen salmon return to local rivers, making this opening not just about food, but about celebrating restoration and community renewal.
A Menu Built Around the Ocean
Seafood takes centre stage at Autostrada’s new outpost, with a raw bar that features freshly shucked B.C. oysters, wild Baja prawn cocktails, albacore tuna crudo, and Dungeness crab salad. From there, the menu moves into larger plates that blend Italian traditions with coastal flavours. Guests will find Spaghetti Vongole with clams, white wine, and chili, alongside Bucatini Cacio e Pepe made with single-origin black pepper and pecorino.
For mains, options range from spring salmon served with tartar sauce to a tender beef bavette finished in peppercorn sauce. More casual dishes like the crispy rockfish sando or the shrimp and crab roll highlight the kitchen’s ability to balance elegance with comfort.
The standout, however, is the towering platter of seafood that showcases the very best of the menu. Designed for sharing, it’s the kind of showstopper that draws stares from across the room and invites guests to linger over every bite.
Autostrada hasn’t forgotten those who want something beyond the sea either. Fritto misto, Salt Spring mussels, grilled octopus, and what the team confidently calls one of the best burgers you’ll find this year round out a menu that offers something for every appetite.
Drinks with a Sea to Sky Twist
Autostrada’s beverage program leans heavily on local craft producers. Expect beers from breweries like Coast Mountain (Whistler), Backcountry (Squamish), Four Winds (Delta), and Strange Fellows (Vancouver), alongside a curated wine list and B.C. spirits from Sons of Vancouver, Empress Gin, Driftwood, Shelter Point, and more.
Cocktails range from refreshing spritzes to playful riffs on classics. The El Corazon (think Aperol Spritz meets Margarita) and the Golden Hour (a rum-forward tropical hit) are already standouts.
Designed for Hospitality
The restaurant seats 125 guests between its bar, booths, raw bar, and ocean-view patio. Designed by Vancouver’s Ste. Marie Studio, the space balances rustic heritage with contemporary touches, making it feel equally suited for casual après-hike bites or celebratory dinners.
Dockendorf calls the project a full-circle moment for the brand:
“It fully embraces what inspired us to name our company ‘Autostrada’ the joy of experiencing life by car.”
Location: Britannia Village, 40 minutes north of Vancouver on the Sea to Sky Highway
Vibe: Elevated but approachable, seafood-forward dining with Italian roots
Don’t miss: The Seafood Tower, Golden Hour cocktail, and the view of Howe Sound
