VANCOUVER

 

Vancouver! Like London, Vancouver is made up of multiple municipalities that have grown together; there’s Vancouver and then there’s the greater Vancouver area with places like New Westminster, Surrey, Burnaby and the like. Also like London, you can get a transit pass (Compass card) to just add money to and tap in and out of the SkyTrain/buses (you can also tap a credit card). The lower mainland is HUGE so make sure you plan your days by the geography of what you want to see and be prepared for rain; “Raincouver” sees a lot of that.

 

To Drink

Caffeinated

Le Marche St. George

(Mount Pleasant) A cafe that feels like Paris in Vancouver. Amazing croissant sandwiches.

Small Victories Bakery

Bakery is in the title! Need I say more?

Revolver

(Gastown) Small but great coffee.

Liberty Bakery + Cafe

(Mount Pleasant) Great patio and coffee.

Boozy

33 Acres

My favourite brewery! They have 2 sides to it: one more experimental and one more classical.

Main Street Brewing

Lots of indoor space in case it’s raining here!

Brassneck Brewery

Very tight for seating but some great beer.

Electric Bicycle Brewing

Retro vibe.

Brewhall

As the title suggests, a brew hall with lots of beer from around the city on tap; gets really busy in the evenings.

Brewery Lane - Port Moody

Brewery Lane is 6 breweries in a row out in Port Moody. There’s a variety of food trucks for food besides the breweries and a nice park across the way to sit in with a beer or a picnic. My favourite was Yellow Dog Brewery for the excellent sour I had there (although of course, I’m biased for that).

 

to Eat

Brunch & Lunch

The Mighty Oak

A brie and arugula sandwich that I dream about.

Neverland Tea Rooms

Neverland-themed tea/lunch spot.

Meat & Bread

(Gastown) The BEST subs; the meatball especially. Pricy but worth the $$ in my humble opinion.

Cafe Medina

(Downtown) Would make a reservation if you go as it gets busy.

Dinner

Sing Sing

(Mount Pleasant) Pho and pizza spot.

Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana

(Grandview-Woodland) The pizza? The ambiance? Wow.

Havana Vancouver

(Mount Pleasant) xx

Fable Kitchen

(Kitsilano) Recently earned a Michelin star but reasonably priced; slightly dark inside but cosy.

Dessert & Snacks

Earnest Ice Cream

Small inside but oh so GOOD and a Vancouver institution. A must for ice cream enthusiasts. (There are 4 locations around town.)

 

To See & Do

Around the city

Stanley Park

Of course! When in Vancouver. Stanley Park is huge and you could spend ages strolling around this beauty. I recommend a picnic and a stroll in the afternoon. Make sure you stop at Brockton Point and the Totem Poles. The Stanley Park Brewery has good beer and burgers.

Seawall

Make like a local and go for a walk or bike ride along the seawall. There are Mobi bike pickups/drops around the city that can easily be used instead of renting for a whole day.

Kitsilano Pool

The pool with the best views in the city, baby! A delicious outdoor pool in the park; make sure you make a reservation in advance if you want to get in as you swim in timed allotments and it gets busy.

Granville Island

Hyped up but definitely worth it. There will be a lot of tourists, so I recommend getting there early, but it’s a classic for a reason. Filled with beautiful shops and good food, I recommend getting some delicious bagels and fruit from inside the market. Beware of seagulls though! They WILL steal your food—they know no fear. Also, nothing beats arriving to Granville via water taxi! Worth the $10, no contest.

Districts & streets to note

Gastown

Vancouver’s oldest suburb, Gastown has beautiful architecture and upscale shops/dining. Don’t miss a wander through this district and a stop at Revolver (coffee) and a sub from Meat & Bread. The steam clock is…a fancy clock; don’t go out of your way for it but give it a walk by.

Commercial Drive

Lots of restaurants and some nightlife.

Granville Street

Lots of pubs/bars/nightlife here and bustling at night. There’s also a lot of chain retail stores (that I wouldn’t go out of my way for on a visit).

Mount Pleasant

One of my favourite neighbourhoods, Mount Pleasant has beautiful murals and eclectic shops. Spend an afternoon here popping in and out of stores, cafes, and breweries. Start at Liberty Bakery + Cafe and walk Main Street into Mount Pleasant.

South Granville

Vancouver’s upscale neighbourhood for shopping, art, wine, and food. A great spot to wander down.

 

To Hike

Lynn Canyon

The tourist sites will tell you to go to Capilano Suspension Bridge, and while a beautiful spot, I’d recommend going to Lynn Canyon instead to avoid the tourists. Easiest by car but also accessible on transit.

 

TO DAY TRIP

(or not to day trip)

Whistler

If you don’t have time to stay for a few days in Whistler, you can drive up for a day if you want the views. It’s a beautiful drive to a beautiful spot. If you happen to go to Whistler, a few suggestions to check out:

  • Lost Lake (beautiful beach and swimming)

  • Pure Bread (delicious pastries)

  • Whistler Train Wreck (a short, easy hike up to an old train wreck)

  • Scandinavian Spa Whistler (best if you’re going for a few days as it’s expensive to just go for a few hours)