The Ultimate In-Depth Guide to Everything Vancouver!
The best of the West Coast Canadian city's restaurants, beaches, shops & nature escapes
If you’ve ever had the luxury of visiting the West Coast of Canada you know its filled with some of the country’s best nature - skiing, hikes, any outdoors-y activity you can name, basically - but it can’t be forgotten that Vancouver has some real hidden gems within its city centre too.
I recently had the pleasure of spending three and a half weeks back in Vancouver, my hometown, which is the longest consecutive amount I’ve time I’ve been there in nearly 10 years (since I hightailed it out of there, into the “big world” immediately after high school).
In my years of popping back to the city here and there for a few days, or a week or two max., I’d missed out on experiencing the relaxed (yes, it is a crunchy, granola-y laid-back West Coast city), yet vibrant feel of its heart.
As a kid, I was so wrapped up in the never-ending routine of school, dance classes & bopping from one friend’s house to the next, that I never fully appreciated the city I grew up in.
So, with that, I’ve been able to rediscover the city, reacquaint myself with its energy, and now have the pleasure to share with you my favourite bits and pieces of the beautiful Western Canadian city: VANCOUVER.
1. VANCOUVER FOOD
Restaurants:
Miku is forever my #1 favourite sushi restaurant & the best for a fancy Japanese lunch or dinner (perk: a great view of the waterfront). You cannot skip their Salmon or Ebi Oshi (pictured below) — life changing dishes, trust me…
L’Abbatoir for French food in an industrial setting in Gastown
Nightingale for delicious pizzas and a bustling atmosphere
Kingyo on Denman street (a street that runs across downtown from English Bay to the start of Stanley Park & is packed full of all different kinds of food spots) for an Isakaya restaurant
La Mezcaleria for the city’s best Mexican food with top-notch margaritas
Burgoo for a casual lunch meal with the most ooey gooey buttery grilled cheese you will ever taste in your lifetime (*this was an absolute childhood staple)
LOCAL in Kitsilano in the summertime for a drink on their large patio situated directly across from the beach
Vij’s for the well-known Chef Vikram Vij’s scrumptious Indian cuisine
Cafés:
Small Victory - the perfect spot for a great quick coffee to-go
49th Parallel Coffee Roasters (*hot tip: you can find Lucky’s Donuts here too)
Prado Café - several locations around the city!
Thierry - fabulous for their tea & pastries
Melo Patisserie - really great croissants (and you can trust me, I live in Paris - aka the capital of croissants - now)
Elysian Coffee Roasters - another spot with multiple locations
Nemesis Coffee - High quality coffee & fun pastries
Fable Café - this café is connected to the Canadian homeware brand’s store (bonus: you can drink your coffee or matcha latte, albeit mildly overpriced, while browsing perfectly sculpted plates & glassware)
Markets:
Granville Island — yes, I added a whole section just for this one spot. Granville Island is truly the best, they have every market food item you could imagine (fruits, meats, olives, fresh pasta, fudge, Montreal-style bagels… the list goes on!), but they also have a great variety of lunch food stands and different local artisan shops (clothing, bead stores, touristy spots, a kid’s market — loved this when I was young, and tons more)
Sweet Treats:
Earnest Ice Cream — without question, Vancouver’s best ice cream spot (*my top flavour picks: London Fog, Whiskey Hazelnut, Salted Caramel)
Rain or Shine — another top ice cream spot! (with a very fitting name considering Vancouver is locally known as “Raincity” after all)
Lemonade Gluten Free Bakery — my rec for all us GF girlies :)
TrafiQ Café & Bakery - great for their cakes
2. VANCOUVER ACTIVITIES: In the City
Areas to Wander:
Gastown
Yaletown
Coal Harbour
Vancouver Seawall
Beaches:
Kitsilano Beach
Jericho Beach
English Bay
Parks:
Stanley Park (*tip: rent a bike or scooter at one of the multitude of shops on Denman Street to take a ride around the park)
Shopping Areas:
Robson Street (the main street in Vancouver’s downtown area)
4th Avenue (a fun street in Kitsilano with all sorts of different clothing shops)
Main Street (great one-of-a-kind shops, *my top recs: Front & Company, KOTN, Coco et Olive)
Park Royal (an indoor/outdoor mall in North Vancouver)
*Side note: the best local Canadian brands to shop include Lululemon, Aritzia & Arc’teryx
Cultural Activities:
Visit the art exhibits at Vancouver Art Gallery
See Ballet BC perform at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
3. VANCOUVER ACTIVITIES: Nature Escapes
Nature Activities Within Reach of the City:
Sea to Sky Gondola
Capilano Suspension Bridge Park
Lighthouse Park
Joffre Lakes Park
Brandywine Falls
Ski Mountains:
Local Mountains (for skiing, snowshoeing, skating & sledding): Grouse Mountain, Cypress Mountain, & Seymour Mountain
North America’s #1 Ski Resort: Whistler Blackcomb (I’ve linked my full guide to Whistler below!)
Ski Destinations: Whistler, Canada
If you are planning a trip to Vancouver, Canada during the winter (or summertime!) you cannot skip a side trip to Whistler Blackcomb. It’s arguably North America’s best ski resort with unbeatable terrain, breathtaking views from the alpine, and a very cute village at the base.
I hope you enjoy all of the natural beauty and vibrant city hotspots from the place where I grew up. Let me know in the comments if there are any other local Vancouverite spots you’d be interested to learn about!
In the meantime, happy reading. ◡̈
xo chat soon
Thank you for your recs!