Guidebook for Vancouver
Food Scene
Tamam: Fine Palestinian Cuisine
2616 E Hastings StGreat food, friendly owners.
Reasonably priced authentic Salvadorean and Mexican cuisine.
8 locals recommend
El Pulgarcito Restaurant
2522 E Hastings StReasonably priced authentic Salvadorean and Mexican cuisine.
Tentatsu
2430 E Hastings StBest fresh sushi in the neighbourhood. Very reasonable prices.
X-Site Grill and Bistro
The food is pretty average. But they regularly have live entertainment and the staff is very friendly.
20 locals recommend
X-Site Grill & Bistro
4625 Hastings StX-Site Grill and Bistro
The food is pretty average. But they regularly have live entertainment and the staff is very friendly.
Roundel Café
2465 E Hastings StGood bennies, great organic burgers.
Freshest dim sum in neighbourhood. Go as a group so you can try lots of dishes.Hidden gem among non-Asians. Despite large space, get there early to avoid a wait or reserve. Open late.
Pelican Seafood Restaurant
1895 E Hastings StFreshest dim sum in neighbourhood. Go as a group so you can try lots of dishes.Hidden gem among non-Asians. Despite large space, get there early to avoid a wait or reserve. Open late.
Best Vietnamese for miles. Menu strays off the beaten track. Spanking fresh and clean.
2234 E Hastings St
Best Vietnamese for miles. Menu strays off the beaten track. Spanking fresh and clean.
Delectable and authentic thin-crust gourmet pizzas. Octopus salad to die for. Fresh al-dente pasta. Not cheap, but not outrageously expensive. Good lunch specials.
50 locals recommend
Campagnolo Roma
2297 East Hastings StreetDelectable and authentic thin-crust gourmet pizzas. Octopus salad to die for. Fresh al-dente pasta. Not cheap, but not outrageously expensive. Good lunch specials.
2257 E Hastings St
Southern/soul food and craft beers. Delish, reasonably priced.
Can hundreds of Vancouver hipsters be wrong? At $5+ for a 3" taco (vs. the same price for about 4 of the real thing in Mexico), I think just maybe...
147 locals recommend
Tacofino Commissary
2327 E Hastings StCan hundreds of Vancouver hipsters be wrong? At $5+ for a 3" taco (vs. the same price for about 4 of the real thing in Mexico), I think just maybe...
More chocolaterie than café. Just downstairs. It may not be organic (or cheap) but it sure is good.
Schokolade Artisan Chocolate & Cafe
2263 E Hastings StMore chocolaterie than café. Just downstairs. It may not be organic (or cheap) but it sure is good.
Saltenas Cafe
I like the cheese and cheese/spinach empanadas.
Popular brunch spot. Line-ups daily. A bit greasy, but tasty grease.
166 locals recommend
The Red Wagon
2128 E Hastings StPopular brunch spot. Line-ups daily. A bit greasy, but tasty grease.
Not the swankiest coffee shop in the neighborhood, but I like their coffee and baked goods best. They don't do quite a good a job on their Thai cuisine.
Sweet Tooth Cafe
2404 E Hastings StNot the swankiest coffee shop in the neighborhood, but I like their coffee and baked goods best. They don't do quite a good a job on their Thai cuisine.
Le Do Restaurant
2292 E Hastings StThe 2nd best Vietnamese in the neighbourhood. In dire need of a reno.
Restaurant, theatre, art gallery, original Latin-inspired cuisine... A Vancouver and Commercial drive original.
153 locals recommend
Havana Vancouver
1212 Commercial DrRestaurant, theatre, art gallery, original Latin-inspired cuisine... A Vancouver and Commercial drive original.
2401 E Hastings St
Friendly neighbourhood café.
Lovely little garden in back. Nice, relaxing and airy space. Not the best coffee or food, to my tastes.
79 locals recommend
Platform 7 Coffee
2331 E Hastings StLovely little garden in back. Nice, relaxing and airy space. Not the best coffee or food, to my tastes.
James On Hastings Chinese Restaurant
2683 E Hastings StA good late-night Chinese food alternative.
Good coffee. Friendly service. Pretty good baked goods.
38 locals recommend
The Laughing Bean Coffee Co.
2695 E Hastings StGood coffee. Friendly service. Pretty good baked goods.
Everything Else
Best selection and prices on a host of goods, local and imported, organic and conventional. And part-timer Carmen, who remembers the first name of 2000+ customers...!
153 locals recommend
Donald's Market
2342 E Hastings StBest selection and prices on a host of goods, local and imported, organic and conventional. And part-timer Carmen, who remembers the first name of 2000+ customers...!
For the carnivores among us, good selection of local free-range meats, artisan salami and sausages. A bit of a wallet-raider, but worth it for a treat.
9 locals recommend
Windsor Meats
2276 E Hastings StFor the carnivores among us, good selection of local free-range meats, artisan salami and sausages. A bit of a wallet-raider, but worth it for a treat.
Not cheap, but high quality foods and crafts direct from the producer. Saturdays 9 am-2pm. Go early to avoid the crush and for best selection, just before closing for deals.
33 locals recommend
Vancouver Farmers Markets
1991 Grant StNot cheap, but high quality foods and crafts direct from the producer. Saturdays 9 am-2pm. Go early to avoid the crush and for best selection, just before closing for deals.
In the process of moving up the street. In new location at 2474 in early August 2014. Baking like no mother I know. Their chocolate pie is rumoured to be the work of the devil. Sell your soul here...
19 locals recommend
Black Rook Bakehouse
2474 E Hastings StIn the process of moving up the street. In new location at 2474 in early August 2014. Baking like no mother I know. Their chocolate pie is rumoured to be the work of the devil. Sell your soul here...
Chinese bakery. Love their mango cakes. The steamed pork and vegetable buns are also particularly tasty.
Pine House Bakery Hastings
2462 E Hastings StChinese bakery. Love their mango cakes. The steamed pork and vegetable buns are also particularly tasty.
Among Vancouver's top yoga studios. Just two drop-in classes a week (small studio), but well worth it if your schedule fits and you need a yoga fix while in town.
2645 E Hastings St
Among Vancouver's top yoga studios. Just two drop-in classes a week (small studio), but well worth it if your schedule fits and you need a yoga fix while in town.
Italian deli, pastas, olive oil, cheeses... If you can't find it at Windsor Meat, Ugo's probably got it and at a better price then elsewhere.
11 locals recommend
Ugo & Joe's Lucky Meats
Italian deli, pastas, olive oil, cheeses... If you can't find it at Windsor Meat, Ugo's probably got it and at a better price then elsewhere.
The neighbourhood bike shop. Reasonably priced. Good selection. Best repairs are from the owner.
Mactalla Cycles
2626 E Hastings StThe neighbourhood bike shop. Reasonably priced. Good selection. Best repairs are from the owner.
Malaysian cuisine. The laksa will set your tail on fire if you're unaccustomed to spicy food. Other dishes are less sweat-inducing. Ask. All quite tasty.
19 locals recommend
Laksa King
2546 E Hastings StMalaysian cuisine. The laksa will set your tail on fire if you're unaccustomed to spicy food. Other dishes are less sweat-inducing. Ask. All quite tasty.
London Drugs
2696 E Hastings StThe neighbourhood pharmacy (and more) for many a decade.
You haven't been to Vancouver if you haven't done Grouse. Hike the Grouse Grind, nature's Stairmaster" for an incredible workout (and a bundle of savings) then take the skyride down.
249 locals recommend
Grouse Mountain @ Skyride station
You haven't been to Vancouver if you haven't done Grouse. Hike the Grouse Grind, nature's Stairmaster" for an incredible workout (and a bundle of savings) then take the skyride down.
Lonsdale Quay Hotel
123 Carrie Cates CtNot quite Granville Island, but a fun quick browse and shop.
Public market, crafts, restaurants, bike trails, water views, the False Creek Ferries plying the bay. So much to see and do. Great fun!
1659 locals recommend
Granville Island
Public market, crafts, restaurants, bike trails, water views, the False Creek Ferries plying the bay. So much to see and do. Great fun!
Arts & Culture
The food is pretty average. But they regularly have live entertainment and the staff is very friendly.
13 locals recommend
Tentatsu
2430 E Hastings StThe food is pretty average. But they regularly have live entertainment and the staff is very friendly.
Historic Theatre, The Cultch
1895 Venables StLive-performance space
Skip the restaurant. Interesting Tiki-tacky bar. Live entertainment regularly. A recently revitalized Vancouver cultural venue.
8 locals recommend
Hotel At The Waldorf
1489 E Hastings StSkip the restaurant. Interesting Tiki-tacky bar. Live entertainment regularly. A recently revitalized Vancouver cultural venue.
Essentials
Best selection and prices on organic and non-organic local and imported goods in the 'hood. And part-timer Carmen who remembers the names of 1000s of customers.
2342 E Hastings St
Best selection and prices on organic and non-organic local and imported goods in the 'hood. And part-timer Carmen who remembers the names of 1000s of customers.
English is a bit of an anomaly here. Not always the warmest or fastest service, but truly authentic Polish sausages, hams and other old-country foods.
Polonia Sausage House
2745 E Hastings StEnglish is a bit of an anomaly here. Not always the warmest or fastest service, but truly authentic Polish sausages, hams and other old-country foods.
Not the most elegant store in the neighbourhood, but a very "real" Asian market. Love their BBQ duck. Go around noon so you're getting it at its yummy freshest.
2438 E Hastings St
Not the most elegant store in the neighbourhood, but a very "real" Asian market. Love their BBQ duck. Go around noon so you're getting it at its yummy freshest.
Italian specialty foods. Selection, price, original funky East Vancouver location.
36 locals recommend
Bosa Foods
562 Victoria DrItalian specialty foods. Selection, price, original funky East Vancouver location.
Sightseeing
Little-used bikeway along Wall. Burrard Inlet views, New Brighton Park, trail through forest to Burnaby. Access from perpendicular Lakewood bikeway, 2 blocks west.
Wall Street
Wall StreetLittle-used bikeway along Wall. Burrard Inlet views, New Brighton Park, trail through forest to Burnaby. Access from perpendicular Lakewood bikeway, 2 blocks west.
Fun, quirky one-off shops, cafés, restaurants. From Venables south, a great urban walk. Along with my stretch of Hastings, one of the city's last character neighbourhoods.
296 locals recommend
Commercial Drive
Commercial DriveFun, quirky one-off shops, cafés, restaurants. From Venables south, a great urban walk. Along with my stretch of Hastings, one of the city's last character neighbourhoods.
The cheapest cruise you'll ever take is the Seabus. Hop on the Skytrain after for bird's-eye views of much of the city. (Some portions underground, e.g. much of the Canada Line to the airport).
158 locals recommend
Waterfront Station
601 West Cordova StreetThe cheapest cruise you'll ever take is the Seabus. Hop on the Skytrain after for bird's-eye views of much of the city. (Some portions underground, e.g. much of the Canada Line to the airport).
A Vancouver tourism essential. Think twice about the crowded Seawall (or go very early on a weekday), and stroll through the peaceful forest trails inside the park.
2658 locals recommend
Stanley Park
610 Pipeline RdA Vancouver tourism essential. Think twice about the crowded Seawall (or go very early on a weekday), and stroll through the peaceful forest trails inside the park.
Vancouver's historic neighbourhood. Window shop the tourist boutiques, then find it elsewhere cheaper...
1068 locals recommend
Gastown
Vancouver's historic neighbourhood. Window shop the tourist boutiques, then find it elsewhere cheaper...
Shopping
Dayton Boots
2250 Hastings St. EastThe place to go for quality custom-made clod stompers.
Eclectic antiques, collectibles estate-sale items. Think the antique store in the opening scenes of Guillermo del Toro's "Cronos". Generally only open weekends.
2303 E Hastings St
Eclectic antiques, collectibles estate-sale items. Think the antique store in the opening scenes of Guillermo del Toro's "Cronos". Generally only open weekends.
2014 Winner - North American Gelato World Tour Championship. Need I say more?
77 locals recommend
Bella Gelateria
1752 W Cordova St2014 Winner - North American Gelato World Tour Championship. Need I say more?
An institution. 218 flavours, some pretty weird (Garlic? Wasabi??), some quite delicious. Not the absolute best, but an essential East Van experience.
66 locals recommend
La Casa Gelato
1033 Venables StAn institution. 218 flavours, some pretty weird (Garlic? Wasabi??), some quite delicious. Not the absolute best, but an essential East Van experience.
Drinks & Nightlife
More of a craft-beer pub than a restaurant. Very popular with locals.
35 locals recommend
The Brighton
2471 E Hastings StMore of a craft-beer pub than a restaurant. Very popular with locals.
For those who need their chain-store coffee, yes we've got two. There's another 24-hour store a couple of blocks east.
2531 E Hastings St
For those who need their chain-store coffee, yes we've got two. There's another 24-hour store a couple of blocks east.