Guidebook for Vancouver
Food Scene
One of the best local coffee shops around. May get a bit noisy in the mornings. Wifi works well. Also: Earl Grey muffins to die for.
165 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Matchstick Fraser St.
639 E 15th AveOne of the best local coffee shops around. May get a bit noisy in the mornings. Wifi works well. Also: Earl Grey muffins to die for.
A local institution for homecooked Malaysian food - all dishes around $7. Fried pakoras are a must-try. You'll see a true cross-section of Vancouver here.
40 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Hawkers Delight Deli
4127 Main StA local institution for homecooked Malaysian food - all dishes around $7. Fried pakoras are a must-try. You'll see a true cross-section of Vancouver here.
Pure comfort food. Great sandwiches and mac & cheese, as well as a good beer/cocktail selection. Almost always packed at night.
113 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Burgoo
3096 Main StPure comfort food. Great sandwiches and mac & cheese, as well as a good beer/cocktail selection. Almost always packed at night.
THE institution for banh mi (Vietnamese-style sandwiches). For under $5, a really great breakfast/snack on the crispiest baguette ever. Also does decent Vietnamese coffee - hot or cold. May run out of bread early.
23 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ba-Le Deli & Bakery
701 KingswayTHE institution for banh mi (Vietnamese-style sandwiches). For under $5, a really great breakfast/snack on the crispiest baguette ever. Also does decent Vietnamese coffee - hot or cold. May run out of bread early.
Vancouver's answer to Starbucks. Better coffee, good wifi, big patio for sunny days.
490 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
3010 Main StVancouver's answer to Starbucks. Better coffee, good wifi, big patio for sunny days.
HK-style Chinese food. Good quality, good prices. Stays open late, great for wrapping up the night.
Kwong Chow Congee & Noodle House
3163 Main StHK-style Chinese food. Good quality, good prices. Stays open late, great for wrapping up the night.
Lineups most nights of the week. Put your name down and go for a drink across the street. Fresh, authentic sushi at reasonable prices.
131 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Toshi Sushi
181 E 16th AveLineups most nights of the week. Put your name down and go for a drink across the street. Fresh, authentic sushi at reasonable prices.
Nice little bistro offering up unpretentious French classics and a great dining atmosphere. Definitely need to book in advance - they're packed every night.
203 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Les Faux Bourgeois
663 E 15th AveNice little bistro offering up unpretentious French classics and a great dining atmosphere. Definitely need to book in advance - they're packed every night.
Arts & Culture
If you need wifi and a quiet environment for a few hours. You can also book public computers by the hour. Open til 9pm on weekdays.
9 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Vancouver Public Library, Mount Pleasant Branch
1 KingswayIf you need wifi and a quiet environment for a few hours. You can also book public computers by the hour. Open til 9pm on weekdays.
Often has events at night, from improv to indie theatre. Check the website for listings.
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Little Mountain Comedy Community Centre
195 E 26th AveOften has events at night, from improv to indie theatre. Check the website for listings.
A great club with standup acts almost every night. Cover can be a bit pricey at the door, depending on who's performing - keep a look out for coupons.
29 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club Vancouver
17755 Cambie StA great club with standup acts almost every night. Cover can be a bit pricey at the door, depending on who's performing - keep a look out for coupons.
Essentials
First-time drop-in is only $10. Mostly hatha & flow classes, great community vibe. Right after work classes may be a bit full, try to go during off-hours.
8 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Open Door Yoga
2940 E 15th AveFirst-time drop-in is only $10. Mostly hatha & flow classes, great community vibe. Right after work classes may be a bit full, try to go during off-hours.
A bit more than a pharmacy - toiletries, snacks, and a bit of everything. Open til midnight.
692 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shoppers Drug Mart
1006 Homer StA bit more than a pharmacy - toiletries, snacks, and a bit of everything. Open til midnight.
The closest hospital is just a few blocks away. Emergency is open between 8am-8pm. Just in case!
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mount St. Joseph's Hospital
3080 Prince Edward StThe closest hospital is just a few blocks away. Emergency is open between 8am-8pm. Just in case!
Local gym with low drop-in rates. Machines are relatively new, and has a well-stocked weights section.
48 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mount Pleasant Community Centre
1 KingswayLocal gym with low drop-in rates. Machines are relatively new, and has a well-stocked weights section.
Biggest grocery store around, with fresh produce, deli/bakery, dairy, frozen items, etc. Good bulk section - trail mix and other snacks for the road.
70 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Save-On-Foods
2949 Main StBiggest grocery store around, with fresh produce, deli/bakery, dairy, frozen items, etc. Good bulk section - trail mix and other snacks for the road.
One of the closest, and certainly the cutest laundromat in the hood. Right next door to a 24-hr diner that does good milkshakes.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Launder All Coin Laundry
2706 Main StOne of the closest, and certainly the cutest laundromat in the hood. Right next door to a 24-hr diner that does good milkshakes.
Drinks & Nightlife
There are a number of micro-breweries around, but this one is my favourite. Great tasting room, reasonable prices, tasty beer. Usually food truck parked outside. (Note - room capacity fills up fast. Go around the corner to Main Street Brewing if you don't want to wait.)
289 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Brassneck Brewery
2148 Main StThere are a number of micro-breweries around, but this one is my favourite. Great tasting room, reasonable prices, tasty beer. Usually food truck parked outside. (Note - room capacity fills up fast. Go around the corner to Main Street Brewing if you don't want to wait.)
Good selection of local craft beers on tap, decent food, friendly service. Nice ambience, looks a bit dark from the outside, but comfy couches in the back.
102 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Cascade Room
2616 Main StGood selection of local craft beers on tap, decent food, friendly service. Nice ambience, looks a bit dark from the outside, but comfy couches in the back.
Blessed with a sunny patio and a decent happy hour. Great for knocking back a few while people watching, but can be a bit loud and I've heard varying reviews about the food.
20 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Colony Bar Main
2904 Main StBlessed with a sunny patio and a decent happy hour. Great for knocking back a few while people watching, but can be a bit loud and I've heard varying reviews about the food.
This venue used to be a notorious smut theatre, but has now been renovated into a hopping, independent live music venue. Usually local bands and an eclectic assortment of DJs, dance parties, comedy shows.
66 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fox Cabaret
2321 Main StThis venue used to be a notorious smut theatre, but has now been renovated into a hopping, independent live music venue. Usually local bands and an eclectic assortment of DJs, dance parties, comedy shows.
Blink and you'll miss it - there's no signage at this hidden gem, just a discreet red light indicating that the place is open. Surprise patio in the back, and a great place to rub shoulders with locals over cocktails.
94 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Narrow Lounge
1898 Main StBlink and you'll miss it - there's no signage at this hidden gem, just a discreet red light indicating that the place is open. Surprise patio in the back, and a great place to rub shoulders with locals over cocktails.
Parks & Nature
This is our version of a local landmark. Snap a selfie!
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Guelph Park
2390 Brunswick StThis is our version of a local landmark. Snap a selfie!
Some great views of downtown Vancouver and beyond. Walk up to the top and make sure to hit the well-groomed gardens (including a waterfall) along the way.
830 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Iqela likaQueen Elizabeth
4600 Cambie StSome great views of downtown Vancouver and beyond. Walk up to the top and make sure to hit the well-groomed gardens (including a waterfall) along the way.
Shopping
So much more than a general store, they carry tons of unique and local items. Great for thinking up gift ideas to bring home!
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Welk's
3511 Main StSo much more than a general store, they carry tons of unique and local items. Great for thinking up gift ideas to bring home!
Canada's answer to REI, this is active-wear and outdoor heaven. Suit up before you hit the Grouse Grind!
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
MEC Vancouver
111 E 2nd AveCanada's answer to REI, this is active-wear and outdoor heaven. Suit up before you hit the Grouse Grind!
Getting Around
Closest car-rental place if you're planning on a daytrip further out. Limited hours on weekends - book ahead.
65 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1111 Granville StClosest car-rental place if you're planning on a daytrip further out. Limited hours on weekends - book ahead.