Guidebook for Vancouver
Everything Else
Choices Markets
1202 Richards StGreat organic and wholefoods grocery store.
Stong's Market
2150 Dollarton HwyGreat family owned, independent grocery store.
Wonderful local, independently owned sci/fi/mystery bookstore. The owners are an absolutely delightful couple.
White Dwarf Books, Dead Write Books
3715 W 10th AveWonderful local, independently owned sci/fi/mystery bookstore. The owners are an absolutely delightful couple.
Great BC owned chain of fruit and vegetable stores. Staff are always friendly and helpful and prices are very reasonable. They are much more likely to stock local produce than the big chain stores.
59 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kin's Farm Market
1160 Davie StGreat BC owned chain of fruit and vegetable stores. Staff are always friendly and helpful and prices are very reasonable. They are much more likely to stock local produce than the big chain stores.
Great low cost super market with...little decorative panache but delightful sales staff.
62 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Alfie's No Frills
1688 W 4th AveGreat low cost super market with...little decorative panache but delightful sales staff.
Granville Island Market is a local icon- there are arts and crafts, fruit, vegetable and specialty food stores, and also many artisinal businesses, including divine glass stores, a wonderful gin distillery and much, much more! In addition multiple live theatres are located at the Market all of which put on a wide variety of excellent productions. There is even a cooking school which hosts excellently priced meals cooked by students. Don't miss the little ferry that shuttles back and forth from False Creek (the location of the market) and the downtown, which is fun and useful. Performers of all types are frequently at the market, especially in the summer, providing free entertainment.
1659 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Granville Island
Granville Island Market is a local icon- there are arts and crafts, fruit, vegetable and specialty food stores, and also many artisinal businesses, including divine glass stores, a wonderful gin distillery and much, much more! In addition multiple live theatres are located at the Market all of which put on a wide variety of excellent productions. There is even a cooking school which hosts excellently priced meals cooked by students. Don't miss the little ferry that shuttles back and forth from False Creek (the location of the market) and the downtown, which is fun and useful. Performers of all types are frequently at the market, especially in the summer, providing free entertainment.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Naam
2724 W 4th Ave24 hour vegetarian/vegan restaurant.
Food Scene
La Cigale Bistro
1961 W 4th AveFabulous French restaurant.
Moderne Burger
865 W BroadwayGreat, delicious family burger joint!
Love this little sushi place- very fresh and lovely staff. We go almost every week!
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Irori Sushi
3692 W 4th AveLove this little sushi place- very fresh and lovely staff. We go almost every week!
Great greek food, and of course, pizza. Serving staff are very friendly and service is quick.
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Olympia Pizza
3205 W BroadwayGreat greek food, and of course, pizza. Serving staff are very friendly and service is quick.
Nice medium priced Indian restaurant. Great thali plates.
16 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jolly's Indian Bistro
2928 West 4th AvenueNice medium priced Indian restaurant. Great thali plates.
La Notte Restaurant
3307 Dunbar StItalian fare just down the block.
Vij's
3106 Cambie StreetMore expensive but amazing food!
Wonderful croissants and local family who have run the bakery for years. My French husband likes Baguette and Co better, but I like Patisserie Bordeaux :D You decide!
Patisserie Bordeaux
3675 West 10th AvenueWonderful croissants and local family who have run the bakery for years. My French husband likes Baguette and Co better, but I like Patisserie Bordeaux :D You decide!
My French husband declares this is the best local French bakery. It's very nice but I like Patisserie Bordeaux better ;-)
11 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Baguette & Co (La Baguette et Compagnie)
3273 W BroadwayMy French husband declares this is the best local French bakery. It's very nice but I like Patisserie Bordeaux better ;-)
Grounds for Coffee
2565 Alma StAMAZING CINNAMON BUNS! Good coffee too.
I haven't been there but my daughter says it's amazing!
77 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bella Gelateria
1752 W Cordova StI haven't been there but my daughter says it's amazing!
You HAVE to go here if you like chocolate. So many delicious, amazing, unusual combinations of chocolates and flavours. It's right beside Granville Island Market too, which is another great tourist destination.
Chocolate Arts
1620 W 3rd AveYou HAVE to go here if you like chocolate. So many delicious, amazing, unusual combinations of chocolates and flavours. It's right beside Granville Island Market too, which is another great tourist destination.
Because cheese. That's all. You can't get out of here easily. If you love cheese this place is for you!
38 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
les amis du FROMAGE
843 E Hastings StBecause cheese. That's all. You can't get out of here easily. If you love cheese this place is for you!
We went here recently for a vegetarian friend's birthday. As a non-vegetarian, but with a vegan daughter, I have to say this is one of the best vegetarian restaurants I've been to. Lots of different menu items, all prepared with local produce, and plenty of vegan dishes as well. The appetisers and desserts were also wonderful.
184 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Acorn Restaurant
3995 Main StWe went here recently for a vegetarian friend's birthday. As a non-vegetarian, but with a vegan daughter, I have to say this is one of the best vegetarian restaurants I've been to. Lots of different menu items, all prepared with local produce, and plenty of vegan dishes as well. The appetisers and desserts were also wonderful.
Again, we visited this for a birthday celebration recently, and loved it. Fable is a contraction of farm to table, reflecting the establishment's efforts to source locally. The menu is creative but homey as well, and desserts were fabulous! Vegetarian and omnivorous options.
104 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fable Kitchen
1944 W 4th AveAgain, we visited this for a birthday celebration recently, and loved it. Fable is a contraction of farm to table, reflecting the establishment's efforts to source locally. The menu is creative but homey as well, and desserts were fabulous! Vegetarian and omnivorous options.
Shopping
If you like to poke around for possible treasures, you never know what you might find.
SPCA Thrift Store
3606 Broadway WIf you like to poke around for possible treasures, you never know what you might find.
I discovered this little place recently and it is a delight! It has an interesting variety of locally made gift options, gorgeous and inexpensive reproductions of vintage posters (french vegetables anyone?), teeshirts of local neighbourhoods, soap, jam and more!
Step Back
2936 W BroadwayI discovered this little place recently and it is a delight! It has an interesting variety of locally made gift options, gorgeous and inexpensive reproductions of vintage posters (french vegetables anyone?), teeshirts of local neighbourhoods, soap, jam and more!
I know, I know, you're unlikely to buy bedding when you're on holiday, but I love this place and have a fantasy of dressing all our beds with their beautiful bedspreads and lovely cotton sheets. They have every colour of the rainbow in sheets, and their batik quilt covers are gorgeous- the kind of shop you pop into just to dream. We have quite a bit of bedding from them, but I NEED MORE!
bed - locally made bedding
2932 Main StI know, I know, you're unlikely to buy bedding when you're on holiday, but I love this place and have a fantasy of dressing all our beds with their beautiful bedspreads and lovely cotton sheets. They have every colour of the rainbow in sheets, and their batik quilt covers are gorgeous- the kind of shop you pop into just to dream. We have quite a bit of bedding from them, but I NEED MORE!
Because gorgeous selection of lingerie and attentive sales staff? Does anyone really need an excuse to buy lingerie?
Diane's Lingerie
2950 Granville StBecause gorgeous selection of lingerie and attentive sales staff? Does anyone really need an excuse to buy lingerie?
MEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) is a Canadian institution- if you need outdoor gear, they have a great selection, very knowledgeable sales staff, and decent prices.
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
MEC Vancouver
111 E 2nd AveMEC (Mountain Equipment Coop) is a Canadian institution- if you need outdoor gear, they have a great selection, very knowledgeable sales staff, and decent prices.
Essentials
NOM! Great selection of cheese/deli meats, Greek speciality foods and all around deliciousness! My son also works there, so you have a chance of seeing him too- tall, handsome and charming :D
27 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Parthenon Market
3089 W BroadwayNOM! Great selection of cheese/deli meats, Greek speciality foods and all around deliciousness! My son also works there, so you have a chance of seeing him too- tall, handsome and charming :D
There is another, closer one located at 4575 West 10th Ave (10th and Sasamat).
56 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Safeway West Broadway
2733 W BroadwayThere is another, closer one located at 4575 West 10th Ave (10th and Sasamat).
Nice selection of fruits and vegetables at a reasonable price. My son also works there, so maybe you'll be lucky enough to meet him!
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kins Farm Market
4516 W 10th AveNice selection of fruits and vegetables at a reasonable price. My son also works there, so maybe you'll be lucky enough to meet him!
Parks & Nature
A Vancouver icon, lots of walks around and through the park, water park for kids, aquarium, bicycle rentals and more!
2658 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iparke ye-Stanley
610 Pipeline RdA Vancouver icon, lots of walks around and through the park, water park for kids, aquarium, bicycle rentals and more!
It's just down the block- nice for kids.
254 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
5495 W 16th AveIt's just down the block- nice for kids.
Lovely gardens with a variety of different foci. Nice casual and more upscale restaurants onsite as well as a small but interesting gift shop.
321 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Isityalo saseVanDusen Botanical
5251 Oak StLovely gardens with a variety of different foci. Nice casual and more upscale restaurants onsite as well as a small but interesting gift shop.
Beautiful park, trails and ocean view,
236 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lighthouse Park | West Vancouver
4902 Beacon LnBeautiful park, trails and ocean view,
Small but lovely park with free entry and suspension bridge. It's not as fancy as Capilano but FREE and very nice.
177 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Centre ye-Ecology ye-Lynn Canyon
3663 Park RdSmall but lovely park with free entry and suspension bridge. It's not as fancy as Capilano but FREE and very nice.
Sightseeing
Amazing selection of artifacts and exhibits. The university itself is a nice place to stroll around and close to the house.
502 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iziko leAnthropology
6393 NW Marine DrAmazing selection of artifacts and exhibits. The university itself is a nice place to stroll around and close to the house.