The Old Spaghetti Factory
Family of 4
$60-80 CAD (~$45-58 USD) for 2 adults + 2 kids including drinks
Duration
1-1.5 hours
Best Ages
All ages
About
The Old Spaghetti Factory is one of those restaurants that every Vancouver family has a story about. Opened in the 1970s in a heritage Gastown building, it's been serving affordable, comforting Italian food to families for over 50 years. It's not cutting-edge cuisine, and it doesn't try to be — it's the restaurant where your kids will eat without complaint and you won't flinch at the bill.
The Gastown location at 53 Water Street has a distinctive charm. The building is a restored heritage space with exposed brick, stained glass, and Victorian-era decor. The centerpiece is a vintage trolley car inside the dining room where families can request to eat — kids treat it as the ultimate dining experience.
High chairs, booster seats, and a relaxed attitude toward noise make this a genuinely welcoming environment for families with young children.
The kids' menu is outstanding value. For about $7, children get a soup or salad starter, a choice of pasta (spaghetti, tortellini, lasagna) or alternatives like pizza and chicken dippers, and ice cream for dessert. Crayons and coloring sheets are provided immediately.
The adult menu is similarly affordable, with complete meals (starter, entree, dessert, coffee) for reasonable prices. The food is comfort Italian — not gourmet, but satisfying and consistent.
The Gastown location is perfectly positioned for a family evening out. The famous Gastown Steam Clock is two blocks away and kids love watching it whistle on the quarter hour. The cobblestone streets are charming for a post-dinner walk. Waterfront Station is nearby for transit access.
Reservations are recommended for weekend dinners (Friday and Saturday) when wait times can stretch to 20-30 minutes. Weekday dinners and lunches are typically walk-in friendly. The restaurant handles large family groups well and can accommodate birthday celebrations.
For families visiting Vancouver, The Old Spaghetti Factory is a reliable, affordable dinner option that kids genuinely enjoy and parents appreciate for its value and atmosphere. It's not the most exciting meal you'll have in Vancouver, but it might be the most stress-free.
Age Suitability
Parent Logistics
Stroller-Friendly
Yes
Nursing / Changing
partial
Kid Meals
Available
Setting
Indoor
Rainy Day
Great option!
Plan Your Visit
Best Time to Visit
Early dinner (5pm) to avoid the weekend rush. Weeknight dinners are relaxed and family-friendly. Lunch is less crowded than dinner.
Wait Times
10-30 minutes on weekend evenings without a reservation; minimal on weekday lunches
Nearby Food
Located in the heart of Gastown, surrounded by restaurants. Steamworks Brewing is next door. Meat & Bread is nearby for sandwiches. Revolver Coffee is a 2-minute walk. The Gastown neighborhood has dozens of dining options.
Why Kids Love It
The Old Spaghetti Factory has been a Vancouver family institution since the 1970s, and there's a reason it endures. Kids love it because the entire restaurant is designed with them in mind. The Gastown location has a vintage trolley car you can eat inside, which instantly wins over every child who walks through the door.
The kids' menu is comprehensive and includes soup or salad, a pasta entree, and ice cream for dessert — all for about $7. Crayons and coloring sheets are handed out at the door. High chairs and booster seats are plentiful.
The food is comforting — spaghetti, lasagna, tortellini — and the portions are huge. Parents appreciate that it's affordable, reliably kid-friendly, and located right in historic Gastown, making it easy to combine with sightseeing. The ice cream at the end of the kids' meal is the built-in bribe that ensures good behavior.
Pro Tips from Parents
- Ask to sit in the vintage trolley car — kids go wild for it
- The kids' meal includes soup/salad, entree AND ice cream — incredible value
- Make a reservation for weekend dinners — walk-ins can wait 20-30 minutes
- Visit the Gastown Steam Clock (2 blocks away) before or after dinner
- Parking in Gastown is limited — use the Waterfront Station parkade or take transit
What to Bring
- A bib or change of shirt for spaghetti-loving toddlers
- Nothing else needed — the restaurant provides everything
- Patience for weekend wait times (or a reservation)
- An appetite — portions are large
- Cash for the Gastown street performers outside
Cost Info
Estimated Cost (Family of 4)
$60-80 CAD (~$45-58 USD) for 2 adults + 2 kids including drinks
Tips to Save
- Kids' meals are very affordable ($7-8) and include soup/salad, entree, and ice cream.
- The included sourdough bread is unlimited.
- Lunch specials are cheaper than dinner prices.
- No need to order appetizers — the portions are generous.