Guidebook for Vancouver

Mel
Guidebook for Vancouver

Entertainment & Activities

Old school bowling alley with 10-pin downstairs and kitschy glow-in-the-dark 5-pin upstairs. Rainy day fun with kids or without.
25 locals recommend
Grandview Lanes
2195 Commercial Dr
25 locals recommend
Old school bowling alley with 10-pin downstairs and kitschy glow-in-the-dark 5-pin upstairs. Rainy day fun with kids or without.
Great playground, bike polo and people watching.
32 locals recommend
Grandview Park
1657 Charles St
32 locals recommend
Great playground, bike polo and people watching.
Beautiful outdoor pool overlooking the ocean inside Stanley Park. Gradual entry for the little ones. (Summer only.)
31 locals recommend
Second Beach Pool
31 locals recommend
Beautiful outdoor pool overlooking the ocean inside Stanley Park. Gradual entry for the little ones. (Summer only.)
Pitch & Putt is very Vancouver and this is one of the prettiest courses you'll ever golf on.
24 locals recommend
Stanley Park Pitch & Putt
2099 Beach Ave
24 locals recommend
Pitch & Putt is very Vancouver and this is one of the prettiest courses you'll ever golf on.
Great for kids. Lots of fun science-themed exhibits.
837 locals recommend
Science World at TELUS World of Science
1455 Quebec St
837 locals recommend
Great for kids. Lots of fun science-themed exhibits.

Food Scene

Yummy Lebanese food in a stylish space.
57 locals recommend
Jamjar Canteen
2290 Commercial Dr
57 locals recommend
Yummy Lebanese food in a stylish space.
We haven't tried this place yet, but have heard good things.
Wishes + Luck
2270 Commercial Dr
We haven't tried this place yet, but have heard good things.
Local coffee roasters offering tasty small-batch brews and baked goods.
490 locals recommend
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
3010 Main St
490 locals recommend
Local coffee roasters offering tasty small-batch brews and baked goods.
Great coffee in a beautiful lofty space.
168 locals recommend
Prado Cafe
1938 Commercial Dr
168 locals recommend
Great coffee in a beautiful lofty space.
Yummy modern Thai.
41 locals recommend
Kin Kao Thai Kitchen
903 Commercial Dr
41 locals recommend
Yummy modern Thai.
A Canadian Institution. Order a "Double-Double" (double cream, double sugar).
191 locals recommend
Tim Hortons
3463 Dunbar St
191 locals recommend
A Canadian Institution. Order a "Double-Double" (double cream, double sugar).
Lofty, light-filled room. Great coffee and pastries.
62 locals recommend
Moja Coffee
1102 Commercial Dr
62 locals recommend
Lofty, light-filled room. Great coffee and pastries.
The antidote to the $5 Starbucks latte. Not fancy, but totally authentic. The best cappuccino in town, if you're lucky, served by Joe himself, who started the shop with his brother in 1974. *Cash only
7 locals recommend
Joe's Cafe Bar
1150 Commercial Dr
7 locals recommend
The antidote to the $5 Starbucks latte. Not fancy, but totally authentic. The best cappuccino in town, if you're lucky, served by Joe himself, who started the shop with his brother in 1974. *Cash only
Excellent wood-fired pizza. Go early. This place lines up.
159 locals recommend
Via Tevere Pizzeria
1190 Victoria Dr
159 locals recommend
Excellent wood-fired pizza. Go early. This place lines up.
Very cool space with a great patio and sangria by the jug.
153 locals recommend
Havana Vancouver
1212 Commercial Dr
153 locals recommend
Very cool space with a great patio and sangria by the jug.
Family-run Italian coffee house. *Cash only*
25 locals recommend
Cafè Calabria
1745 Commercial Dr
25 locals recommend
Family-run Italian coffee house. *Cash only*
Great sandwiches. Cozy ambience.
32 locals recommend
Finch's
353 W Pender St
32 locals recommend
Great sandwiches. Cozy ambience.
Delicious food in a cool, under-the-radar back alley location.
207 locals recommend
Tacofino Taco Bar
15 W Cordova St
207 locals recommend
Delicious food in a cool, under-the-radar back alley location.
Don't let it's back alley location put you off. Very cool spot specializing in cheeses, cured meats & housemade condiments with regional wine pairings.
63 locals recommend
Salt Tasting Room
227 W Pender St
63 locals recommend
Don't let it's back alley location put you off. Very cool spot specializing in cheeses, cured meats & housemade condiments with regional wine pairings.
Modern Chinese cuisine in an elegant, eclectic space. Very unique and cool.
250 locals recommend
Bao Bei
163 Keefer St
250 locals recommend
Modern Chinese cuisine in an elegant, eclectic space. Very unique and cool.
Great way to get a birds' eye 360-degree view of the city. The elevator ride is free when you eat at the restaurant, which is a bit pricey, but worth it for the incredible views.
44 locals recommend
Top Of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant
555 W Hastings St
44 locals recommend
Great way to get a birds' eye 360-degree view of the city. The elevator ride is free when you eat at the restaurant, which is a bit pricey, but worth it for the incredible views.
25 locals recommend
Pepino's Spaghetti House
631 Commercial Dr
25 locals recommend

Drinks & Nightlife

A modern take on tacos and tequila. What's not to love?
155 locals recommend
La Mezcaleria
1622 Commercial Dr
155 locals recommend
A modern take on tacos and tequila. What's not to love?
Beligan and craft beers.
76 locals recommend
BierCraft Tap and Tapas
1191 Commercial Dr
76 locals recommend
Beligan and craft beers.
60+ beers on tap, always changing.
77 locals recommend
St. Augustine's
2360 Commercial Dr
77 locals recommend
60+ beers on tap, always changing.

Everything Else

Cool cuts and even cooler toy collection.
Jefferson's Barbershop
1949 Commercial Dr
Cool cuts and even cooler toy collection.
Great selection of well-curated and re-worked vintage clothing and jewellery. Fun window displays, especially at Hallowe'en.
20 locals recommend
Mintage
1714 Commercial Dr
20 locals recommend
Great selection of well-curated and re-worked vintage clothing and jewellery. Fun window displays, especially at Hallowe'en.
Playground for kids, colourful locals and bocce courts.
18 locals recommend
Victoria Park
650 Lonsdale Ave
18 locals recommend
Playground for kids, colourful locals and bocce courts.
*
76 locals recommend
RBC Royal Bank
1715 Commercial Dr
76 locals recommend
*
Local community centre with skating rink, pool, library, gym and fitness classes.
Britannia Rink
1661 Napier St
Local community centre with skating rink, pool, library, gym and fitness classes.
Built for Vancouver's 2010 Olympic games, this facility has a great ice rink and gym. It also has a great farmer's market during the summer months.
50 locals recommend
Trout Lake Community Centre
3360 Victoria Dr
50 locals recommend
Built for Vancouver's 2010 Olympic games, this facility has a great ice rink and gym. It also has a great farmer's market during the summer months.
Tranquility in the city.
192 locals recommend
Trout Lake Beach
192 locals recommend
Tranquility in the city.
A favourite among locals, this small grocery store is packed with all the essentials including some organic and local produce and non-medicated meats.
112 locals recommend
City Avenue Market
2279 Commercial Dr
112 locals recommend
A favourite among locals, this small grocery store is packed with all the essentials including some organic and local produce and non-medicated meats.
A great way to see local and other marine life--dolphins, otters, belugas, sharks, penguins, sloths (!)... And since it's a non-profit focussing on conservation, you're can go with a clear conscience.
663 locals recommend
Vancouver Aquarium
845 Avison Way
663 locals recommend
A great way to see local and other marine life--dolphins, otters, belugas, sharks, penguins, sloths (!)... And since it's a non-profit focussing on conservation, you're can go with a clear conscience.
Home of Vancouver's CFL team, the BC Lion's.
418 locals recommend
BC Place
777 Pacific Blvd
418 locals recommend
Home of Vancouver's CFL team, the BC Lion's.

Shopping

Excellent independent toy store.
13 locals recommend
Dilly Dally Toy Store
1161 Commercial Dr
13 locals recommend
Excellent independent toy store.
Delicious spanakopita, tzatziki, olives and hummus.
Mediterranean Specialty Foods
1824 Commercial Dr
Delicious spanakopita, tzatziki, olives and hummus.
Legendary deli.
9 locals recommend
J N & Z Deli
1729 Commercial Dr
9 locals recommend
Legendary deli.
Fun gift store with great cards.
6 locals recommend
LaLa's on the Drive
1748 Commercial Dr
6 locals recommend
Fun gift store with great cards.
Great selection of new and used books.
24 locals recommend
Pulp Fiction Books
2422 Main St
24 locals recommend
Great selection of new and used books.
Lovely boutique for women's clothing and accessories.
16 locals recommend
Barefoot Contessa
3715 Main St
16 locals recommend
Lovely boutique for women's clothing and accessories.
Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood and one of the few places you'll actually see brick in the "City of Glass". Great boutiques, cafes, pubs.
1068 locals recommend
Gastown
1068 locals recommend
Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood and one of the few places you'll actually see brick in the "City of Glass". Great boutiques, cafes, pubs.
Hip Vancouver 'hood known for its trendy boutiques, cafes and and restaurants.
205 locals recommend
Main Street
Main Street
205 locals recommend
Hip Vancouver 'hood known for its trendy boutiques, cafes and and restaurants.
Downtown Vancouver's most famous shopping district. Mostly mid-range international brands (GAP, Club Monaco, Aldo, J.Crew) plus some local favs (Aritzia, Lululemon).
789 locals recommend
Robson Street
1155 Robson St
789 locals recommend
Downtown Vancouver's most famous shopping district. Mostly mid-range international brands (GAP, Club Monaco, Aldo, J.Crew) plus some local favs (Aritzia, Lululemon).

Essentials

Great deli. (Try the garlic havarti.) Cash/Interac only.
59 locals recommend
Santa Barbara Market
1322 1322 Commercial Dr
59 locals recommend
Great deli. (Try the garlic havarti.) Cash/Interac only.
Wine, beer and liquor. Not cold. If you want it chilled, head to Liberty down the street.
256 locals recommend
BC Liquor Stores
4423 Main St
256 locals recommend
Wine, beer and liquor. Not cold. If you want it chilled, head to Liberty down the street.
Global specialty foods, herbs and spices.
6 locals recommend
South China Seas
1502 Victoria Dr
6 locals recommend
Global specialty foods, herbs and spices.

Sightseeing

Arguably the coolest thing about Vancouver--a 1,001-acre public park bordering downtown that's almost entirely surrounded by water. Rent bikes and ride the perimeter (1 hour) or walk around (3 hours)
2658 locals recommend
Stanley Park
610 Pipeline Rd
2658 locals recommend
Arguably the coolest thing about Vancouver--a 1,001-acre public park bordering downtown that's almost entirely surrounded by water. Rent bikes and ride the perimeter (1 hour) or walk around (3 hours)
One of the largest historic Chinatown's in North America, the largest in Canada.
109 locals recommend
Vancouver Chinatown Festival
100 Keefer St
109 locals recommend
One of the largest historic Chinatown's in North America, the largest in Canada.
The first of its kind outside of China, it's an authentic representation of an age–old garden tradition which reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty. Admission $14 Adults/$10 Seniors+Student/$28 Family
221 locals recommend
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall St
221 locals recommend
The first of its kind outside of China, it's an authentic representation of an age–old garden tradition which reached its peak in the Ming Dynasty. Admission $14 Adults/$10 Seniors+Student/$28 Family
At 28km, it's the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path and the most popular recreational spot in the city. Walk it, jog it, or rent bikes and cycle this masterpiece in urban planning.
304 locals recommend
Vancouver Seawall
304 locals recommend
At 28km, it's the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path and the most popular recreational spot in the city. Walk it, jog it, or rent bikes and cycle this masterpiece in urban planning.
Great place to take a dip or catch a Vancouver sunset.
537 locals recommend
English Bay Beach
Beach Avenue
537 locals recommend
Great place to take a dip or catch a Vancouver sunset.
A former manufacturing site reborn as a unique shopping district. Don't miss: Public Market (groceries), Net Loft (cool shops), Kids' Market, Railspur Alley (artists' studios) and the G.I. Brewery.
1659 locals recommend
Granville Island
1659 locals recommend
A former manufacturing site reborn as a unique shopping district. Don't miss: Public Market (groceries), Net Loft (cool shops), Kids' Market, Railspur Alley (artists' studios) and the G.I. Brewery.
Passenger ferry serving False Creek destinations. Best way to get to Granville Island. Adults fare: $3.50 to $5.50. Twenty-five minute mini-cruise around False Creek: $8 adults, $4 seniors + kids.
54 locals recommend
Aquabus Ferry Ltd.
1587 Johnston Street
54 locals recommend
Passenger ferry serving False Creek destinations. Best way to get to Granville Island. Adults fare: $3.50 to $5.50. Twenty-five minute mini-cruise around False Creek: $8 adults, $4 seniors + kids.
Pricy, but the ride up the mountain is exhilarating and the views are breathtaking. Nice restaurant at the top. Wait for a clear day. Adults $44 roundtrip.
249 locals recommend
Grouse Mountain @ Skyride station
249 locals recommend
Pricy, but the ride up the mountain is exhilarating and the views are breathtaking. Nice restaurant at the top. Wait for a clear day. Adults $44 roundtrip.
Very popular tourist attraction. Not for those fearful of heights. Adults $38.
1150 locals recommend
Capilano Suspension Bridge
3735 Capilano Rd
1150 locals recommend
Very popular tourist attraction. Not for those fearful of heights. Adults $38.