Vancouver - Gastrofork

Vancouver:
A Local’s Guide
Written by:
Domenic De Los Santos
Design + Photo by:
Nathalie De Los Santos
Coal Harbour
Gastown
Coal Harbour connects the waterfront district to
Stanley Park. Consisting of mainly apartments
and condominiums, this area is popular for dog
enthusiasts and those who love a nice view of the
North Shore.
Bella Gelateria (1001 W Cordova)
Chinatown
Phnom Penh (244 E Georgia)
for their Vietnamese and Cambodian
dishes such as butter beef, wings, etc
New Town Bakery (148 E Pender)
for Filipino Chinese baked goods like
steam buns, apple tarts and egg tarts
Calabash Bistro (428 Carrall)
for Caribbean dishes and the largest
rum collection in the city.
Must-sees: Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical
Chinese Garden, Vancouver Chinatown
Gate, West Han Dynasty Bell, Sam Kee
Building (The World’s Narrowest Building),
Catfe (a cat cafe, 88 W Pender)
for the best, award winning artisan gelato
Tableau Bar Bistro (181 Melville)
for French bistro classics and fabulous brunches
Chewies Oyster Bar (1055 W Hastings)
for New Orleans inspired cuisine with Happy
Hour Buck-a-Shuck oysters
Mink Chocolates (863 W Hastings)
for local artisan chocolates.
Gastown
L’Abbattoir (217 Carrall)
for fabulous cocktails and food
Guu Otokomae (375 Water)
for authentic Japanese pub food
Purebread (159 W Hastings)
for one of the best bakeries in
town
Revolver (325 Cambie)
for the best place in the city to
grab a cup of coffee.
Must-sees: FlyOver Canada,
Steam Clock, Waterfront Station,
Woodward’s Building
Chinatown
Historic.
Modern.
Stylish.
You can walk along the Waterfront/Seawall
promenade to get to Stanley Park. Or check out
the Vancouver Aquarium. Get active at
Harbour Green Park & Cardero Park. Take a
selfie at Marina Square & Lost Lagoon.
City Centre
Yaletown
Yaletown
Blue Water Cafe (1095 Hamilton)
Luxurious and top quality West Coast
Seafood ($$$)
DD Mau (1239 Pacific Blvd)
for upscale Vietnamese sandwiches
(banh mis) and coffee
Black Rice Izakaya (782 Cambie)
for hako (also known as oishi) sushi &
tapas.
Small Victory Bakery (1088
Homer) for a good place to grab a
matcha latte and some baked goods
PARKS! David Lam Park, George
Wainborn Park, Coopers Park
COMMUNITY! Vancouver Public Library,
Roundhouse Community Centre,
Aquabus ART! VanCity Theatre
Vancouver’s bustling city core plays host to the
Pacific Centre/Nordstorm and Robson street if
you’re a big shopper, but also to our music and art
scene with the Vancouver Art Gallery (by donation
on Tuesdays) and the Orpheum & Vogue within a 5
minute walk away. Love churches? Visit Holy
Rosary or Christ Church.
West End
Nero Belgian Waffle Bar (1703
Robson)
for delicious and beautiful waffles
Stepho’s (1124 Davie)
for cheap and big portioned Greek food
Marutama Ramen (780 Bidwell)
for delicious handpulled ramen
Dinesty (1719 Robson) for one of
Vancouver’s best spot to get Shanghai
dumplings - Xiao Long Baos
AND MANY OTHERS! Joe Fortes,
Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie
Cafe, Forage, Chatime
BEACHES! Sunset Beach, English Bay
Beach CULTURE! Inukshuk sculptures,
Laughing Men statue
West End
Food
Chambar (568 Beatty) serving creative Belgian
cuisine and one of the best places in the city for
cocktails
Japadog (530 Robson) the international sensation
Japadog, your classic hot dog with a Japanese twist
Finch’s (353 W Pender) a small but busy cafe that
serves up beautifully arranged sandwiches and
salads
Faubourg (769 Hornby) is a Parisian cafe that
serves a multitude of French pastries and desserts
EAST VAN
COU
VER
Art & Indie.
Music & Food.
Boutiques.
STRATHCONA
MT. PLEASANT
CLARK
KINGSWAY
COMMERCIAL
DRIVE
SUNSET
SOUTH
VANCOUVER
Main St
Main Street
Au Petit Cafe (4851 Main)
regarded as Vancouver’s best place to
have a Vietnamese sandwiches
Hawker’s Delight (4127 Main)
cheap and greasy Malaysian food
East is East (4433 Main)
a fantastic Middle Eastern experience
complete with belly dancing on Thursday evenings
Le Marche St. George (4393
Main) is a friendly neighbourhood cafe
and corner store that not many know
about, great place to grab a coffee and
pastry
Solly’s (4071 Main) Vancouver’s
most popular Jewish bakery that
serves up chocolate babkas.
MUSIC: The Biltmore, Fox Cabaret, Red
Cat Records CRAFTS: Urban Source,
Collage Collage. Go antiquing and
consigment shopping here! Front &
Co, Main & 30 to 18th have many, many
antique shops
The Drive
Kishimoto (2054 Commercial)
If you don’t mind the wait, this is one of
the best Japanese food experiences!
Viva Tevere (1190 Victoria Dr)
Excellent Neapolitan pizza
Belgian Fries (1885 Commercial)
Authentic Canadian poutine
Havana (1212 Commercial) Neuvo
Latino Cuisine and Cocktails
Walk up the street! Since it’s Little Italy, lots
of character is in this neighborhood. Storm
Crow Tavern is a board game pub. The
Rio is an indie movie-house.
The Drive
Strathcona
South Vancouver
E Hastings always scares off tourists, but further
past this troubled area is a vibrant residential area
that’s often overlooked. Beta5 Chocolates uses
unique ingredients and is a local chocolate-maker.
Yolk’s is well known for it’s chicken and waffles. La
Casa Gelato has over 200 flavors of gelato. For a
breakfast spot, Red Wagon is recommended! There
is also the Rocky Mountaineer Station, Playland
Amusement Park and plenty of street art. The
Astoria & Waldorf Hotel are cheap clubs with an
more eccentric crowd.
Two words: Duffin’s Donuts. If you
want a good slice of Vancouver street
life, the occasional crazy person, good
donuts and greasy fried chicken, this is
the spot. (Knight & 41st)
Clark & Powell
Truly an underappreciated area. This area hosts the
Powell Street Festival. There is the
prestigious ARC Collective for Artists. Kessel &
March is a lovely restaurant that sits next to the
Odd Society Spirits where you can get local
distilled spirits. Further along the street is the
Volunteer Orphan Kitten Rescue Association
which always takes donations.
Sunset
Sunset is known as Little India with many spice shops,
fabrics and dining establishments owned and operated
by East Indians. Dosa’s Corner has massive Indian doasa. Breka serves Eastern European pastries. There are
pockets of Chinese and Filipino restaurants as well. If
you’re looking for a giant bowl of soup you can customize down to noodles and filling for under $10, then Deer
Garden is the spot. Angel Cafe is a Hong Kong style
cafe. There is also the Sunset Skating Rink!
WEST
VANCOUVER
W. POINT GREY
ARBUTUS
DUNBAR
KERRISDALE
KITSILANO
OLYMPIC VILLAGE
BROADWAY
UBC
Wellness.
Style.
Heritage.
Kits
Kitsilano
05 Rare Tea Bar (2208 W 4th Ave)
carries specialty teas that are handpicked by the owner in the mountains
of China, they also serve kombucha
Fable (1944 W 4th Ave) home to Top
Chef Trevor Bird, the menu offers farm
to table cuisine
Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe (2095 W
4th Ave) kitschy breakfast and brunch
diner
Museum of Vancouver, Planetarium,
Vanier Park, Kitsilano Beach,
Vancouver Maritime Museum
Kerrisdale
Ajisai (2081 W 42 Ave)
A very popular sushi bar in Kerrisdale
serving up fresh rolls and sashimi
Faubourg (2156 W 41st) the original
Faubourg cafe from Paris; they have
desserts and pastries
Secret Garden Tea Company
(5559 West Blvd) offers a large list of
specialty teas and high tea options
The Bootery (a family shoe store),
Bean Brothers Cafe (for people
watching), Hills (for shopping)
Kerrisdale
Olympic
Village
Arbutus + Dunbar
Neverland Tea Salon offers an
affordable but boutique experience of
high tea. Jethros Fine Grub was featured in Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives for
its hub cap sized bacon infused pancakes. The Musqueam Cultural Centre
lies in the heart of Dunbar.
Olympic Village
Terra Breads (1605 Manitoba St)
a bakery with an assortment of breads
and pastries
Flying Pig (127 W 2nd Ave)
a nouveau Canadian bistro
Legacy Liquor Store (2095 W
4th Ave) rare liquors and new spirits
are sold here! If you love liquor, it’s like
being in a candy store.
Science World, Bird Sculpture,
Creekside Park
Broadway
Cafe de Salade de Fruits
Delicious French brunch
Beaucoup Bakery
a bakery started by a local legend
Suika a small and quaint Japanese
tapas and bistro.
Bump and Grind a grab and go
cafe and coffee place
Take a walk from Main to
Macdonald - Broadway will have
lots of little shops and locals
walking around.
W. Point Grey + UBC
Visit the university! It is its own small
town. There are plenty of family
activities too: Jericho Beach, Spanish
Banks, Museum of Anthropology,
TRIUMF labs, Pacific Spirit Regional
Park, Wreck Beach, Foreshore Trail
and the Apple Festival during the fall.
Broadway
Oakridge
OAKRIDGE
MARPOLE
LANGARA
SHAUGHNESSY
Family.
Melting pot.
Old & New.
Oakridge
Sushi Miura Cheap sushi and a
Granville
wonderful sit down experience
Mimibulovesme Japanese parfaits
and crepes
Anna’s Cake House
a popular Asian bakery.
Samurai Sushi
large rolls that are ridiculously cheap.
And we mean massive!
Van Dusen Botanical Park, Queen
Elizabeth Park, Bloedel Conservatory,
Rose Garden at QE Park
Memphis Blues BBQ and smokehouse - what else can we say?
Granville Island Market Assorted
cheeses, meats and fresh seafood!
Cafe Crepe
a sit down crepe restaurant with
Western food
GO TO GRANVILLE ISLAND: They
have lots of food, marine lifestyle and
boutiques and arts/culture and a duck
pond!
Granville
( SHAUGHNESSY )
Marpole
Marpole
Dublin Crossing a classy Irish pub
experience
Pink Elephant Thai a quick Thai
food restaurant
T&T Supermarket
Cheap Asian groceries & hot food to go
Gigli Bin Market
An Italian Market
Cineplex Theatres, Marpole Pavillion,
Fraser River Park
Langara
All You Can Eat India Buffer a
little sketchy but an iconic Vancouver
curry place
Church’s Chicken for a late night
fix
Langara College’s Foodcourt
The only attraction is people watching
the red-eyed students
Langara Park is a good run/hike,
there’s a pop up art gallery on Ontario
& 57th.
History
Gastown was once an industrial area and has emerged as one of Vancouver’s hot
spots for cocktails and dining. With it’s cobbled pavements and the iconic Steam
Clock, Gastown is old meets new. Chinatown is gritty but filled with heritage buildings from the early 1900s. Once a bustling Chinese community, Chinatown is slowly
starting to become more densified as more artists and young professionals move into
the area. There are still many sights to behold here.
Coal Harbour connects the waterfront district to Stanley Park. Consisting of mainly
apartments and condominiums, this area is popular for dog enthusiasts and those
who love a nice view of the North Shore. Once filled with warehouses, Yaletown has
evolved into a hip and upscale area that the party scenesters go to be seen. Yaletown
is known for it’s love of dogs, including several parks dedicated for them.
The West End is known for its beaches, good eats and friendly neighbourhood. Davie
Street plays host to one of the largest Pride Parades in North America and welcomes
the diversity with beautiful and vibrant rainbow sidewalks. Vancouver’s bustling city
core plays host to the Pacific Centre mall and Robson street if you’re a big shopper,
but also to our music and art scene with the Vancouver Art Gallery (by donation on
Tuesdays) and the Orpheum and Vogue within a 5 minute walk away.
Independent coffee shops, furniture shops, antiques and a rainbow of different cuisines can be found here on Main street. With a casual, unpretentious atmosphere,
Main street is approachable for everyone.
Known as Little Italy, you’ll find many Italian establishments down Commercial Drive,
but also many other great restaurants ranging from Indian to Japanese cuisine. Commercial Drive is known for it’s large artist population and it’s sometimes eccentric and
eclectic neighbourhood.
Langara
Strathcona is an up and coming neighbourhood that is known mostly for it’s Industrial
areas. But with more and more businesses opening up in the area has attracted more
Vancouverites into this area.
Sunset is known as Little India with many spice shops, fabrics and dining
establishments owned and operated by East Indians. There are pockets of Chinese
and Filipino restaurants as well.
Kitsilano is the embodiment of the Vancouverite - living close to the water, healthy
living. You’ll often see healthy and active Vancouverites walking their dogs and
sipping on their freshly pressed juices wearing yoga pants in this neighbourhood.
Kitsilano has it’s own micro community here that is a diverse mix of sports stores,
healthy eateries, Italian, Thai and West Coast restaurants. A pocket community of
the middle-upper class.
Kerrisdale has it’s carefully curated fashion shop Hills, boutiques and plenty of
coffee shops and specialty tea shops. The area is filled with mostly teenagers who
go to the local school and wealthier families.
One of Vancouver’s busiest transit hubs, the Broadway/Fairview area reflects
this. Many places to grab and go for food, Whole Foods, banks, the hospital and
medical buildings nearby. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes here opened
24 hours or late.
Enjoy.
A quieter, older community, Oakridge is centralized by it’s mall and adjacent parks
for the entire neighbourhood to enjoy.
Considered one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Vancouver, Marpole has been on
a quiet incline recently with the area being upgraded with new eateries and healthy
supermarkets.
Ask Josh & Nathalie & Dee for their life stories and more places to visit!
Notes
Want to explore
more?
NORTH VANCOUVER
& WEST VANCOUVER
are known for their scenic hikes & boating and luxury
lifestyle. Mount Seymour is only an hour away from the city.
RICHMOND
is internationally known for its delicious Chinese cuisine
& lifestyle. Everything here will not break the bank. SilverCity
and Olympic Oval are wonderful family-friendly spots.
BURNABY
has one of the largest shopping malls (Metropolis at
Metrotown). There are also shidden gems for dining.
TRICITIES
has underappreciated gourmet cuisine of all types,
shopping centres and upcoming distilleries.
NEW WESTMINSTER
has beautiful heritage architecture and is often filmed
in. It has many boutiques and a river market.