Guidebook for Vancouver

Janice
Guidebook for Vancouver

Food Scene

excellent coffee, friendly staff, cycling folk, delicious pastries and healthy lunch options (salads, sandwiches)
16 locals recommend
Musette Caffè and Bar
16 locals recommend
excellent coffee, friendly staff, cycling folk, delicious pastries and healthy lunch options (salads, sandwiches)
good space to work on a laptop with tea or coffee and great soup and sandwich lunch; a young but mature vibe on a quiet street and a local hangout for freelancers.
93 locals recommend
Greenhorn
994 Nicola St
93 locals recommend
good space to work on a laptop with tea or coffee and great soup and sandwich lunch; a young but mature vibe on a quiet street and a local hangout for freelancers.
Great value, around the corner and one of a few Pho places that offer vegetarian options. If you bring your own container (there are some in the apartment) they will fill it for take out.
21 locals recommend
Pho Goodness
1150 Davie St
21 locals recommend
Great value, around the corner and one of a few Pho places that offer vegetarian options. If you bring your own container (there are some in the apartment) they will fill it for take out.
get a free coffee and 10% off if you load up a JJBean card
490 locals recommend
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
3010 Main St
490 locals recommend
get a free coffee and 10% off if you load up a JJBean card
vegan, veggie and sustainable seafood options and it's delicious!
17 locals recommend
Shizenya Restaurant on Broadway
1333 W Broadway
17 locals recommend
vegan, veggie and sustainable seafood options and it's delicious!
excellent vegan and vegetarian options and super fresh sustainable seafood
27 locals recommend
Shizenya
965 Hornby St
27 locals recommend
excellent vegan and vegetarian options and super fresh sustainable seafood
Excellent quality and value with any of the looseleaf teas. The shop owners are friendly and know me and my mom by name. The tea pots and accessories are lovely too!
Tea Time
1418 Lonsdale Ave
Excellent quality and value with any of the looseleaf teas. The shop owners are friendly and know me and my mom by name. The tea pots and accessories are lovely too!
Really good Italian coffee made by Italians in festive setting with statues and fountains. Supposedly the oldest Italian cafe in Vancouver.
25 locals recommend
Cafè Calabria
1745 Commercial Dr
25 locals recommend
Really good Italian coffee made by Italians in festive setting with statues and fountains. Supposedly the oldest Italian cafe in Vancouver.
My favourite French fine dining restaurant in the city. If you appreciate impeccable service and magnificent food served in a classic elegant setting (and believe in paying for art) dine here.
50 locals recommend
Le Crocodile
909 Burrard St
50 locals recommend
My favourite French fine dining restaurant in the city. If you appreciate impeccable service and magnificent food served in a classic elegant setting (and believe in paying for art) dine here.
Poutine! With sodas in glass bottles and classic rock often playing, one may also enjoy a vegetarian poutine here! Best in town.
17 locals recommend
La Belle Patate Vancouver
1215 Davie St
17 locals recommend
Poutine! With sodas in glass bottles and classic rock often playing, one may also enjoy a vegetarian poutine here! Best in town.
Watch them make noodles by hand!
13 locals recommend
Legendary Noodle
1074 Denman St
13 locals recommend
Watch them make noodles by hand!
Where the locals (and well informed tourists) eat ramen. No vegetarian broth here.
52 locals recommend
Kintaro Ramen
788 Denman St
52 locals recommend
Where the locals (and well informed tourists) eat ramen. No vegetarian broth here.
amazing pies. also serves soup and sandwiches with freshly baked breads.
26 locals recommend
Tartine Bread & Pies
770 Beach Ave
26 locals recommend
amazing pies. also serves soup and sandwiches with freshly baked breads.
Unique healthful menu of food with locally blended teas and serves good coffee too. Michelle and her daughter have done a great job creating warm and bright atmosphere. A great stop for a snack whilst shopping at the trendy Gastown boutiques.
The Capilano Tea House
221 Abbott St
Unique healthful menu of food with locally blended teas and serves good coffee too. Michelle and her daughter have done a great job creating warm and bright atmosphere. A great stop for a snack whilst shopping at the trendy Gastown boutiques.

Drinks & Nightlife

good tacos and drinks, open late.
51 locals recommend
Lolita's
1326 Davie Street
51 locals recommend
good tacos and drinks, open late.

Everything Else

Amazing flavours in these gourmet donuts. It's a thing here in Vancouver.
110 locals recommend
Cartems Donuts
2190 Main St
110 locals recommend
Amazing flavours in these gourmet donuts. It's a thing here in Vancouver.
A must-see if you're near Chinatown. Tranquil place to recharge and appreciate the thoughtful design of this cultural treasure.
221 locals recommend
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall St
221 locals recommend
A must-see if you're near Chinatown. Tranquil place to recharge and appreciate the thoughtful design of this cultural treasure.
A beautiful sanctuary with the longest red carpet in the city.
St. Andrew's Wesley United Church
1022 Nelson St
A beautiful sanctuary with the longest red carpet in the city.
For when you are off the gluten, this place has take home stuff and pretty good cinnamon buns.
42 locals recommend
The Gluten Free Epicurean
633 E 15th Ave
42 locals recommend
For when you are off the gluten, this place has take home stuff and pretty good cinnamon buns.
I don't swim in chlorinated pools but if you do, I hear this is a great facility.
42 locals recommend
Vancouver Aquatic Centre
1050 Beach Ave
42 locals recommend
I don't swim in chlorinated pools but if you do, I hear this is a great facility.
This one has modern machines, yoga studios, a cafe and an ozonated swimming pool.
34 locals recommend
Robert Lee YMCA
955 Burrard St
34 locals recommend
This one has modern machines, yoga studios, a cafe and an ozonated swimming pool.
For those who conference and trade.
204 locals recommend
Vancouver Convention Centre West
1055 Canada Place
204 locals recommend
For those who conference and trade.
A place to see movies on the big screen, two and a half blocks away.
259 locals recommend
Scotiabank Theatre Vancouver
900 Burrard St
259 locals recommend
A place to see movies on the big screen, two and a half blocks away.
Get a fine hair cut here or colouring with chemically reduced dyes. As eco-friendly as a salon can get and the stylists are terrific.
Citrus Hair Salon
1036 Mainland St
Get a fine hair cut here or colouring with chemically reduced dyes. As eco-friendly as a salon can get and the stylists are terrific.
It's closer to the apartment than Spokes and they have more available than the other one on Davie.
21 locals recommend
English Bay Bike Rentals
1754 Davie St
21 locals recommend
It's closer to the apartment than Spokes and they have more available than the other one on Davie.
Good value and friendly service. I've always been happy with the results from silk blouses to wool jackets. And they use less harmful processing for humans and environment.
Sperle's Dry Clean
1177 Davie St
Good value and friendly service. I've always been happy with the results from silk blouses to wool jackets. And they use less harmful processing for humans and environment.

Shopping

I love this place! Excellent products for a clean and sustainable household. I get 99% of the cleaning products for the BnB here, refillables!
22 locals recommend
The Soap Dispensary and Kitchen Staples
3718 Main St
22 locals recommend
I love this place! Excellent products for a clean and sustainable household. I get 99% of the cleaning products for the BnB here, refillables!
Try their Masala Chai with ginger and cayenne. Sometimes I'll make the trip to the island just for this.
Granville Island Tea Company Ltd
1689 Johnston St
Try their Masala Chai with ginger and cayenne. Sometimes I'll make the trip to the island just for this.
Award-winning gelato and steps away from a great place to enjoy the water and mountain view.
77 locals recommend
Bella Gelateria
1752 W Cordova St
77 locals recommend
Award-winning gelato and steps away from a great place to enjoy the water and mountain view.
Delicious chocolates from bean made here. A social enterprise that helps women change their lives.
8 locals recommend
East Van Roasters
319 Carrall St
8 locals recommend
Delicious chocolates from bean made here. A social enterprise that helps women change their lives.
Historical significance for Vancouver's first immigrant settlers who worked in the Cannery, Steveston village is a quaint place with local shopkeepers and artisans. Try a mini donut, some local bread, and browse some delightful gift shops. If you want a local spot for fish and chips instead of tourist-priced places, go to Dave's Fish and Chips on Moncton Street.
114 locals recommend
Steveston Harbour
3820 Bayview St
114 locals recommend
Historical significance for Vancouver's first immigrant settlers who worked in the Cannery, Steveston village is a quaint place with local shopkeepers and artisans. Try a mini donut, some local bread, and browse some delightful gift shops. If you want a local spot for fish and chips instead of tourist-priced places, go to Dave's Fish and Chips on Moncton Street.

Essentials

Every Saturday, 9am - 2pm from end of May thru October. Get our coffee and breakfast pastry here, and then some for lunch or dinner.
22 locals recommend
West End Farmers Market
1100 Comox St
22 locals recommend
Every Saturday, 9am - 2pm from end of May thru October. Get our coffee and breakfast pastry here, and then some for lunch or dinner.
It's a good idea to bring a re-useable bag when you shop. Some stores charge extra for plastic bags.
10 locals recommend
West Valley
1156 Bute St
10 locals recommend
It's a good idea to bring a re-useable bag when you shop. Some stores charge extra for plastic bags.
Closest pharmacy and postal mail service here.
692 locals recommend
Shoppers Drug Mart
1006 Homer St
692 locals recommend
Closest pharmacy and postal mail service here.
Davie Village Home Hardware
1053 Davie St

Arts & Culture

Most scenic way (and sometimes fastest way) to get to Granville Island Market is the False Creek water taxi which docks at the beach near the Aquatic Centre. This iconic Vancouver site is home to The Granville Island Tea Company which has one of the best masala chai's in the city! Also get excellent soup at The Soup Market or scrumptious wild salmon burger at The Grill. Amazing organic bakery here too called "Bread Affair". Loads of artisan shops to browse and there is theatre, much of it!
470 locals recommend
Granville Island Public Market
1689 Johnston St
470 locals recommend
Most scenic way (and sometimes fastest way) to get to Granville Island Market is the False Creek water taxi which docks at the beach near the Aquatic Centre. This iconic Vancouver site is home to The Granville Island Tea Company which has one of the best masala chai's in the city! Also get excellent soup at The Soup Market or scrumptious wild salmon burger at The Grill. Amazing organic bakery here too called "Bread Affair". Loads of artisan shops to browse and there is theatre, much of it!
An eclectic and often locally created performances.
71 locals recommend
Historic Theatre, The Cultch
1895 Venables St
71 locals recommend
An eclectic and often locally created performances.
The trip out to UBC is worth it. And if you do go and you like gardens, plan to take a walk through the nearby gardens (Rose and Nitobe Memorial).
502 locals recommend
Museum of Anthropology
6393 NW Marine Dr
502 locals recommend
The trip out to UBC is worth it. And if you do go and you like gardens, plan to take a walk through the nearby gardens (Rose and Nitobe Memorial).
It's in a slightly rough neighbourhood that is seeing some gentrifying change around it, but if you want to know about the history and current state of Aboriginal people in this region, pay this place a visit. There is a shop here where you can buy artworks. It isn't a museum but there may be some interesting conversations that can be had here.
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society
1607 E Hastings St
It's in a slightly rough neighbourhood that is seeing some gentrifying change around it, but if you want to know about the history and current state of Aboriginal people in this region, pay this place a visit. There is a shop here where you can buy artworks. It isn't a museum but there may be some interesting conversations that can be had here.

Parks & Nature

Hiking trails, views of the city, bears and lumberjack show, and dining surrounded by spectacular scenery.
1038 locals recommend
Grouse Mountain
6400 Nancy Greene Way
1038 locals recommend
Hiking trails, views of the city, bears and lumberjack show, and dining surrounded by spectacular scenery.
There is a great view of the Lion's Gate Bridge and mountains from Prospect Point. Also a decent place to grab a burger and a beer up there.
2658 locals recommend
Stanley Park
610 Pipeline Rd
2658 locals recommend
There is a great view of the Lion's Gate Bridge and mountains from Prospect Point. Also a decent place to grab a burger and a beer up there.