Our favourite Vancouver spots

Jesse
Our favourite Vancouver spots

Our favorite restaurants

Vancouver has so many amazing food options. Here is a list of some of our favorites, from quick eats to fine dining.
Our favourite! Fancy Japanese-Italian cuisine and cocktails in a 60s style restaurant. You absolutely have to reserve well in advance.
63 moradores locais recomendam
Kissa Tanto
263 E Pender St
63 moradores locais recomendam
Our favourite! Fancy Japanese-Italian cuisine and cocktails in a 60s style restaurant. You absolutely have to reserve well in advance.
Upscale restaurant serving rustic Italian fare a short drive, bus ride or walk from our house. Reserve ahead of time.
180 moradores locais recomendam
Osteria Savio Volpe
615 Kingsway
180 moradores locais recomendam
Upscale restaurant serving rustic Italian fare a short drive, bus ride or walk from our house. Reserve ahead of time.
Fancy Aguri (flame seared) sushi right by the water.
169 moradores locais recomendam
Miku Vancouver
200 Granville St
169 moradores locais recomendam
Fancy Aguri (flame seared) sushi right by the water.
Same owner and similar style sushi as Miku, in trendy Yaletown.
144 moradores locais recomendam
Minami
1118 Mainland St
144 moradores locais recomendam
Same owner and similar style sushi as Miku, in trendy Yaletown.
Belgian cuisine serving Pacific Northwest seafood in a cozy, exposed brick wall restaurant. Fancy food and totally unpretentious.
371 moradores locais recomendam
Chambar Restaurant
568 Beatty Street
371 moradores locais recomendam
Belgian cuisine serving Pacific Northwest seafood in a cozy, exposed brick wall restaurant. Fancy food and totally unpretentious.
Perfect place to go for fish tacos or fish and chips if you're headed to Granville Island or strolling along the seawall. Outdoor seating only. Don't come too hungry as you usually have to wait in line.
61 moradores locais recomendam
Go Fish
1505 W 1st Ave
61 moradores locais recomendam
Perfect place to go for fish tacos or fish and chips if you're headed to Granville Island or strolling along the seawall. Outdoor seating only. Don't come too hungry as you usually have to wait in line.
Yummy sushi place on the Drive. Only open evenings.
95 moradores locais recomendam
Kishimoto Japanese Restaurant
2054 Commercial Dr
95 moradores locais recomendam
Yummy sushi place on the Drive. Only open evenings.
Crowd pleaser that's popular with locals and tourists alike. It's a chain with several locations. Make sure to hit up the Coal Harbour or English Bay location to enjoy the ocean views and sunset.
167 moradores locais recomendam
Cactus Club Cafe Coal Harbour
1085 Canada Pl
167 moradores locais recomendam
Crowd pleaser that's popular with locals and tourists alike. It's a chain with several locations. Make sure to hit up the Coal Harbour or English Bay location to enjoy the ocean views and sunset.
Indian-Chinese restaurant that's perfect for a quick meal or takeout. Right across the street from us. Make sure to try the spicy eggplant and the Masala fish.
18 moradores locais recomendam
Green Lettuce
1949 Kingsway
18 moradores locais recomendam
Indian-Chinese restaurant that's perfect for a quick meal or takeout. Right across the street from us. Make sure to try the spicy eggplant and the Masala fish.
Vietnamese style plant-based foods that taste amazing just 10 minutes walk from our house.
46 moradores locais recomendam
Chau Veggie Express
5052 Victoria Dr
46 moradores locais recomendam
Vietnamese style plant-based foods that taste amazing just 10 minutes walk from our house.
Great pizza restaurant not too far from our house.
160 moradores locais recomendam
Via Tevere Pizzeria
1190 Victoria Dr
160 moradores locais recomendam
Great pizza restaurant not too far from our house.
Fancy and delicious vegan and vegetarian food.
184 moradores locais recomendam
The Acorn Restaurant
3995 Main St
184 moradores locais recomendam
Fancy and delicious vegan and vegetarian food.
Incredible fried chicken tenders nearby on the Drive. Don't go too spicy as they are HOT!
23 moradores locais recomendam
Downlow Chicken Shack
905 Commercial Dr
23 moradores locais recomendam
Incredible fried chicken tenders nearby on the Drive. Don't go too spicy as they are HOT!
Delicious Mexican tacos and mezcal.
156 moradores locais recomendam
La Mezcaleria
1622 Commercial Dr
156 moradores locais recomendam
Delicious Mexican tacos and mezcal.
Fancy yet approachable restaurant a 10 minute walk from our house. One of our favourite date night spots!
Collective Goods Bistro & Grocer
3532 Commercial Street
Fancy yet approachable restaurant a 10 minute walk from our house. One of our favourite date night spots!

Breweries and drinks

Vancouver has a host of microbreweries. Hop on a mobi bike and go brewery hopping! Here are also some cocktail bars we like.
One of the first microbreweries and one of the best (in our opinion). Often has a food truck outside as well.
307 moradores locais recomendam
33 Acres Brewing Company
15 W 8th Ave
307 moradores locais recomendam
One of the first microbreweries and one of the best (in our opinion). Often has a food truck outside as well.
Rustic setup and tasty beers, not far from 33 Acres.
289 moradores locais recomendam
Brassneck Brewery
2148 Main St
289 moradores locais recomendam
Rustic setup and tasty beers, not far from 33 Acres.
Another fave that's close by the other breweries. In an old heritage building.
134 moradores locais recomendam
Main Street Brewery
261 E 7th Ave
134 moradores locais recomendam
Another fave that's close by the other breweries. In an old heritage building.
Definitely not close by and we only recommend the trip if you are going in that direction anyways, but their beer is fantastic and they've won lots of prizes for it. You can also just hit up the local liquor store to get yourself a taste.
9 moradores locais recomendam
Four Winds Brewing Company
4-7355 72 St
9 moradores locais recomendam
Definitely not close by and we only recommend the trip if you are going in that direction anyways, but their beer is fantastic and they've won lots of prizes for it. You can also just hit up the local liquor store to get yourself a taste.
Fancy cocktails and a cool ambiance.
250 moradores locais recomendam
The Keefer Bar
135 Keefer St
250 moradores locais recomendam
Fancy cocktails and a cool ambiance.
Chain that keeps on snatching up the best patio spots in the city. Try the one in Coal Harbour by the Convention Centre or in the Olympic Village. There's also a smaller TapShack under the Burrard Bridge. Lots of beers on tap. Food is ok.
186 moradores locais recomendam
Tap & Barrel • Olympic Village
75 Athletes Way
186 moradores locais recomendam
Chain that keeps on snatching up the best patio spots in the city. Try the one in Coal Harbour by the Convention Centre or in the Olympic Village. There's also a smaller TapShack under the Burrard Bridge. Lots of beers on tap. Food is ok.
Prohibition-style cocktail bar in the heart of Gastown.
189 moradores locais recomendam
The Diamond
6 Powell St
189 moradores locais recomendam
Prohibition-style cocktail bar in the heart of Gastown.
The lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim is a lovely place to have a drink, listen to live music and people watch.
56 moradores locais recomendam
Hotel Fairmont Pacific Rim
1038 Canada Pl
56 moradores locais recomendam
The lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim is a lovely place to have a drink, listen to live music and people watch.
Local microbrewery that's great to visit with kids. It’s family-friendly, especially during the day (nighttime gets pretty shoulder-to-shoulder busy). Mom and dad can enjoy a craft beer sampler or a pint of R&B’s signature brews, including the Dude Chilling Pale Ale and East Side Bitter. There’s also wood-fired, thin-crusted Neopolitan-style pizza (try the mushroom), and for the kids, there are complimentary roasted marshmallows, served tableside. There’s also a big toy bin and games, and in the summer, there’s a narrow but sunny patio with turf green flooring, where the kids are nicely corralled behind the patio fencing.
53 moradores locais recomendam
R&B Ale & Pizza House
1-54 E 4th Ave
53 moradores locais recomendam
Local microbrewery that's great to visit with kids. It’s family-friendly, especially during the day (nighttime gets pretty shoulder-to-shoulder busy). Mom and dad can enjoy a craft beer sampler or a pint of R&B’s signature brews, including the Dude Chilling Pale Ale and East Side Bitter. There’s also wood-fired, thin-crusted Neopolitan-style pizza (try the mushroom), and for the kids, there are complimentary roasted marshmallows, served tableside. There’s also a big toy bin and games, and in the summer, there’s a narrow but sunny patio with turf green flooring, where the kids are nicely corralled behind the patio fencing.

Coffee and treats

Some of our favorite coffee shops, bakeries and ice cream places.
A 15-minute walk away on Kingsway, this is a great local coffee spot for your morning joe.
73 moradores locais recomendam
Pallet Coffee Roasters
323 Semlin Dr
73 moradores locais recomendam
A 15-minute walk away on Kingsway, this is a great local coffee spot for your morning joe.
Award winning ice cream place. So delicious. You will have to wait in line for quite a bit on a sunny weekend though.
77 moradores locais recomendam
Bella Gelateria
1752 W Cordova St
77 moradores locais recomendam
Award winning ice cream place. So delicious. You will have to wait in line for quite a bit on a sunny weekend though.
A local favourite run by one of our dear friends. Rotating flavors. Whiskey and hazelnut is the best!
353 moradores locais recomendam
Earnest Ice Cream
3992 Fraser St
353 moradores locais recomendam
A local favourite run by one of our dear friends. Rotating flavors. Whiskey and hazelnut is the best!
Local donut store with vegan and gluten free options. Earl Grey is their most popular flavour, but get a stuffie if they have them.
110 moradores locais recomendam
Cartems Donuts
2190 Main St
110 moradores locais recomendam
Local donut store with vegan and gluten free options. Earl Grey is their most popular flavour, but get a stuffie if they have them.
Great coffee and lovely atmosphere. Win-win.
22 moradores locais recomendam
Nemesis Coffee Gastown
302 W Hastings St
22 moradores locais recomendam
Great coffee and lovely atmosphere. Win-win.
Several locations serving delicious coffee and homemade treats.
165 moradores locais recomendam
Matchstick Fraser St.
639 E 15th Ave
165 moradores locais recomendam
Several locations serving delicious coffee and homemade treats.
Best baked goods in Vancouver, hands down. And yummy coffee. Stop here if you're downtown.
85 moradores locais recomendam
Small Victory Bakery
1088 Homer St
85 moradores locais recomendam
Best baked goods in Vancouver, hands down. And yummy coffee. Stop here if you're downtown.
Delicious bubble tea close to our house.
17°C Bubble Tea & Dessert Café
2229 Kingsway
Delicious bubble tea close to our house.
Delicious freshly baked bread, coffee and treats a short walk from our house.
Kozak Ukraїnian Eatery
5077 Victoria Dr
Delicious freshly baked bread, coffee and treats a short walk from our house.
Amazing sourdough bread made from freshly milled grains. Good sandwiches and coffee, and delicious local/regional staples - great if you're looking for something 'Vancouver' to take home. They sell wine too!
19 moradores locais recomendam
FLOURIST
3433 Commercial St
19 moradores locais recomendam
Amazing sourdough bread made from freshly milled grains. Good sandwiches and coffee, and delicious local/regional staples - great if you're looking for something 'Vancouver' to take home. They sell wine too!

Groceries and essentials

We have a grocery store within a few blocks in pretty much every direction (just don't head north). The closest pharmacy and walk-in clinic are both a block away.
Large western style grocery store chain. Often has savings that you can only unlock with a Save on More card. Use Jesse's phone number (604-616-3851) and name to get the discount.
83 moradores locais recomendam
Save-On-Foods
1403 E King Edward Ave
83 moradores locais recomendam
Large western style grocery store chain. Often has savings that you can only unlock with a Save on More card. Use Jesse's phone number (604-616-3851) and name to get the discount.
The closest Asian grocery store just a couple blocks away on Victoria drive. Great selection of fruit and veggies.
28 moradores locais recomendam
88 Supermarket
2611 E 49th Ave
28 moradores locais recomendam
The closest Asian grocery store just a couple blocks away on Victoria drive. Great selection of fruit and veggies.
Brand new massive Asian supermarket just a few blocks East on Kingsway. Tons of fresh fish and produce. Also has a small bakery and hot bar.
326 moradores locais recomendam
T&T Supermarket
179 Keefer Pl
326 moradores locais recomendam
Brand new massive Asian supermarket just a few blocks East on Kingsway. Tons of fresh fish and produce. Also has a small bakery and hot bar.
Lots of organic meat and bulk items. Their produce section is a bit small though. Get their frozen BC salmon if you're looking for things to cook.
73 moradores locais recomendam
Famous Foods
1595 Kingsway
73 moradores locais recomendam
Lots of organic meat and bulk items. Their produce section is a bit small though. Get their frozen BC salmon if you're looking for things to cook.
Pharmacy and drug store right around the corner from our house. Doesn't have the best evening opening hours but really close by and the staff are super friendly.
Pharmasave Kingsway & Commercial
1808 Kingsway
Pharmacy and drug store right around the corner from our house. Doesn't have the best evening opening hours but really close by and the staff are super friendly.
Walk-in clinic right around the corner from our house. Make sure to bring your insurance information. Open Monday-Saturday. You can check wait times ahead of time by going to medimap.ca. The website also shows you what clinics are open Sundays.
Simply Wellness Medical
1818 Kingsway
Walk-in clinic right around the corner from our house. Make sure to bring your insurance information. Open Monday-Saturday. You can check wait times ahead of time by going to medimap.ca. The website also shows you what clinics are open Sundays.

Shopping

Here are some great places to spend all your money :)
Lots of smaller independent stores.
1068 moradores locais recomendam
Gastown
1068 moradores locais recomendam
Lots of smaller independent stores.
Lovely little store on Commercial Street, just a 10-minute walk away. Features some local designers and lots of lovely home goods. Great for gifts!
6 moradores locais recomendam
Second Nature Home Boutique
3565 Commercial St
6 moradores locais recomendam
Lovely little store on Commercial Street, just a 10-minute walk away. Features some local designers and lots of lovely home goods. Great for gifts!
Lots of great independent shops, especially between Broadway and King Edward.
205 moradores locais recomendam
Main Street
Main Street
205 moradores locais recomendam
Lots of great independent shops, especially between Broadway and King Edward.
Cute little store with lots of fun and eclectic things, also has lots of local food items (East Van honey!). Great place for meaningful souvenirs.
Grubwear - JACKSON'S GENERAL
1490 Kingsway
Cute little store with lots of fun and eclectic things, also has lots of local food items (East Van honey!). Great place for meaningful souvenirs.
Lots of fun little stores towards the north end of Commercial, starting around 1st Ave.
296 moradores locais recomendam
Drive Comercial
Commercial Drive
296 moradores locais recomendam
Lots of fun little stores towards the north end of Commercial, starting around 1st Ave.

Things to see and do

Some of our favorite activities in and around town, plus a few outside.
Amazing museum documenting BC's first nations history.
502 moradores locais recomendam
Museum of Anthropology
6393 NW Marine Dr
502 moradores locais recomendam
Amazing museum documenting BC's first nations history.
Massive Park on the west side of the city. We recommend walking the sea wall or grabbing a mobi bike and riding all the way around.
2658 moradores locais recomendam
Stanley Park
610 Pipeline Rd
2658 moradores locais recomendam
Massive Park on the west side of the city. We recommend walking the sea wall or grabbing a mobi bike and riding all the way around.
Grab a bike and spend half a day just cycling around. Start in Coal Harbour, go around Stanley Park to English Bay and all the way to Yaletown, then go around False Creek and over to Granville Island.
304 moradores locais recomendam
Muralha Marítima de Vancouver
304 moradores locais recomendam
Grab a bike and spend half a day just cycling around. Start in Coal Harbour, go around Stanley Park to English Bay and all the way to Yaletown, then go around False Creek and over to Granville Island.
Lovely beach a bit farther away from bustling Kits beach.
264 moradores locais recomendam
Spanish Banks
264 moradores locais recomendam
Lovely beach a bit farther away from bustling Kits beach.
Vancouver's most popular beach. Gorgeous views and lots of activities. Kits pool is a massive outdoor pool that's great for swimming laps (it's over 125 metres long!). It also has a flat area for kids.
847 moradores locais recomendam
Parque de Kitsilano Beach
1499 Arbutus St
847 moradores locais recomendam
Vancouver's most popular beach. Gorgeous views and lots of activities. Kits pool is a massive outdoor pool that's great for swimming laps (it's over 125 metres long!). It also has a flat area for kids.
Head up to Squamish and take the gondola up the mountain for spectacular views and beautiful hikes. The drive in itself makes the trip worth it!
387 moradores locais recomendam
Sea to Sky Highway
36800 British Columbia 99
387 moradores locais recomendam
Head up to Squamish and take the gondola up the mountain for spectacular views and beautiful hikes. The drive in itself makes the trip worth it!
Beach on the west side of Stanley Park. Amazing sunsets. Tends to attract a younger, hipper crowd. Lots of impromptu music and drum circles at night.
192 moradores locais recomendam
Terceira Praia
192 moradores locais recomendam
Beach on the west side of Stanley Park. Amazing sunsets. Tends to attract a younger, hipper crowd. Lots of impromptu music and drum circles at night.
A 20-minute walk from our house, Trout Lake is a great running or walking trail. It also has a small beach and concession stand.
192 moradores locais recomendam
Trout Lake Beach
192 moradores locais recomendam
A 20-minute walk from our house, Trout Lake is a great running or walking trail. It also has a small beach and concession stand.
Granville Island is a peninsula close to downtown that's know for its arts, entertainment and shopping. The public market is a great place to get a taste (quite literally!) of what Vancouver has to offer. Make sure to stop at Siegel's Bagels for an apricot almond rugelach.
470 moradores locais recomendam
Granville Island Public Market
1689 Johnston St
470 moradores locais recomendam
Granville Island is a peninsula close to downtown that's know for its arts, entertainment and shopping. The public market is a great place to get a taste (quite literally!) of what Vancouver has to offer. Make sure to stop at Siegel's Bagels for an apricot almond rugelach.
Queen E Park is an expansive and stunning park not too far from our house. At 152 metres above sea level, it’s the highest point in Vancouver and makes for spectacular views of the park, city, and mountains on the North Shore. The 52-hectare park is home to the stunning Bloedel Conservatory. There is also a gorgeously landscaped quarry garden, the arboretum with its collection of exotic and native trees, sculptures including one by internationally renowned artist Henry Moore, and diverse recreational offerings such as tennis, lawn bowling and pitch & putt. The park is also the perfect setting for fine dining at Seasons in the Park, a picnic or stargazing!
830 moradores locais recomendam
Parque da Rainha Elizabeth
4600 Cambie St
830 moradores locais recomendam
Queen E Park is an expansive and stunning park not too far from our house. At 152 metres above sea level, it’s the highest point in Vancouver and makes for spectacular views of the park, city, and mountains on the North Shore. The 52-hectare park is home to the stunning Bloedel Conservatory. There is also a gorgeously landscaped quarry garden, the arboretum with its collection of exotic and native trees, sculptures including one by internationally renowned artist Henry Moore, and diverse recreational offerings such as tennis, lawn bowling and pitch & putt. The park is also the perfect setting for fine dining at Seasons in the Park, a picnic or stargazing!

Things to do with kids

Many of the activities and recommendations in this guidebook are kid-friendly, so make sure to check those out as well. Here are some more kid-specific things we like to do.
Spectacular aquarium. Great place to see marine animals and learn about conservation.
663 moradores locais recomendam
Aquário de Vancouver
845 Avison Way
663 moradores locais recomendam
Spectacular aquarium. Great place to see marine animals and learn about conservation.
Great place for a rainy day. Lots of kid friendly fun activities. Has a separate play area for little kids under 5. Creekside Park is a beautiful new playground right outside. Oh, and Earnest Ice Cream is just up the road.
837 moradores locais recomendam
Science World at TELUS World of Science
1455 Quebec St
837 moradores locais recomendam
Great place for a rainy day. Lots of kid friendly fun activities. Has a separate play area for little kids under 5. Creekside Park is a beautiful new playground right outside. Oh, and Earnest Ice Cream is just up the road.
Has a tot gym that's on every day except Sunday from 10-12 (please double check though). Great for kids 5 and under.
50 moradores locais recomendam
Trout Lake Community Centre
3360 Victoria Dr
50 moradores locais recomendam
Has a tot gym that's on every day except Sunday from 10-12 (please double check though). Great for kids 5 and under.
Great indoor pool for rainy days and outdoor pool in the summer. Not far from our house.
68 moradores locais recomendam
Hillcrest Centre
4575 Clancy Loranger Way
68 moradores locais recomendam
Great indoor pool for rainy days and outdoor pool in the summer. Not far from our house.
Great playground right across the street from us. Has recently been redone and has lots of great things for kids, including trampolines!
Brewers Park
4175 Victoria Dr
Great playground right across the street from us. Has recently been redone and has lots of great things for kids, including trampolines!
Great playground that's usually fairly busy with other kids to play with.
Lord Selkirk Elementary School
1750 E 22nd Ave
Great playground that's usually fairly busy with other kids to play with.
Another neat park and playground nearby if you need more playground variety.
6 moradores locais recomendam
Kingcrest Park
4150 Knight St
6 moradores locais recomendam
Another neat park and playground nearby if you need more playground variety.
Community Centre with a tot gym, pool and outdoor playground and skatepark. Check online for tot gym hours. 10 minutes walk from our house.
8 moradores locais recomendam
Kensington Community Centre
5175 Dumfries St
8 moradores locais recomendam
Community Centre with a tot gym, pool and outdoor playground and skatepark. Check online for tot gym hours. 10 minutes walk from our house.
Super fun little area to explore with kids. Lovely stretch of seawall, a nearby playground and a cute peninsula to explore. There are lots of restaurants and coffee shops to stop in at.
83 moradores locais recomendam
Olympic Village Square
83 moradores locais recomendam
Super fun little area to explore with kids. Lovely stretch of seawall, a nearby playground and a cute peninsula to explore. There are lots of restaurants and coffee shops to stop in at.