Guidebook for Vancouver

Carmen
Guidebook for Vancouver

Food Scene

Can't say enough about the owners Grace & Eric or their little restaurant! They welcome you like it is their home and you are their honored guest. Loving and personable service, detailed and elaborate presentation, fresh ingredients, and a cozy ambience are coupled with shockingly low prices (for the quality of the food!). Needless to say, it is a must go if you are in the area.
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Ginger Sushi
1437 Commercial Dr
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Can't say enough about the owners Grace & Eric or their little restaurant! They welcome you like it is their home and you are their honored guest. Loving and personable service, detailed and elaborate presentation, fresh ingredients, and a cozy ambience are coupled with shockingly low prices (for the quality of the food!). Needless to say, it is a must go if you are in the area.
This has to be one of the best coffee shops in all of Vancouver. Try any of their coffees (which they roast in house) or, my personal favorite, their Chai Latte and you will not be disappointed. Don't forget to pair that with a flaky chocolate croissant, which they are also famous for.
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Moja Coffee
1102 Commercial Dr
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This has to be one of the best coffee shops in all of Vancouver. Try any of their coffees (which they roast in house) or, my personal favorite, their Chai Latte and you will not be disappointed. Don't forget to pair that with a flaky chocolate croissant, which they are also famous for.
Also known as simply Mezcal, this place is always buzzing with locals looking for great Mexican food or a cold beverage. For brunch, I recommend their eggs benedict (around $13). If you are only looking for a snack, try their chips and salsa (which is made fresh in-house daily) for only $5. Pair that with a mojito and watch the bartender work his magic!
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La Mezcaleria
1622 Commercial Dr
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Also known as simply Mezcal, this place is always buzzing with locals looking for great Mexican food or a cold beverage. For brunch, I recommend their eggs benedict (around $13). If you are only looking for a snack, try their chips and salsa (which is made fresh in-house daily) for only $5. Pair that with a mojito and watch the bartender work his magic!
Arguably the best budget pizza (mainly takeout, $2.50/slice) on Commercial Drive, their crust is incredibly thin.
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Pizza Garden
675 Smithe St
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Arguably the best budget pizza (mainly takeout, $2.50/slice) on Commercial Drive, their crust is incredibly thin.
Voted the best pizza restaurant (mainly sit down, pizza not available by the slice) for many years in a row by many leading publications, this lovely little place actually happens to be the nearest restaurant to our home.
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Via Tevere Pizzeria
1190 Victoria Dr
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Voted the best pizza restaurant (mainly sit down, pizza not available by the slice) for many years in a row by many leading publications, this lovely little place actually happens to be the nearest restaurant to our home.
Great Thai food in a modern ambience.
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Kin Kao Thai Kitchen
903 Commercial Dr
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Great Thai food in a modern ambience.
Another budget pizza place (mainly takeout, $2.50/slice) on Commercial Drive, but with very interesting toppings. Depending on the time of day, they even offer interesting options such as a smoked salmon pizza, masala chicken pizza, stir fry pizza and my personal the spinach and feta pizza.
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Fire Pizza
1918 Commercial Dr
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Another budget pizza place (mainly takeout, $2.50/slice) on Commercial Drive, but with very interesting toppings. Depending on the time of day, they even offer interesting options such as a smoked salmon pizza, masala chicken pizza, stir fry pizza and my personal the spinach and feta pizza.
Another good coffee shop.
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Prado Cafe
1938 Commercial Dr
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Another good coffee shop.
Great brunch place, even on weekdays.
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The Red Wagon
2128 E Hastings St
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Great brunch place, even on weekdays.
Famous for their fish tacos.
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Tacofino Commissary
2327 E Hastings St
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Famous for their fish tacos.
Another good sushi restaurant.
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Tatsu Japanese Bistro
1441 Commercial Dr
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Another good sushi restaurant.
Very good Indian food.
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Sula Indian Restaurant
1128 Commercial Dr
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Very good Indian food.
Ice cream shop with 200+ flavors, ranging from classics (chocolate, vanilla) to modern creations (garlic, curry, wasabi).
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La Casa Gelato
1033 Venables St
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Ice cream shop with 200+ flavors, ranging from classics (chocolate, vanilla) to modern creations (garlic, curry, wasabi).
Some people say this is the best sushi in Vancouver. Others say it's the best sushi they've ever had. Closed in the afternoons and expect a lineup every night starting at 5pm.
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Kishimoto Japanese Restaurant
2054 Commercial Dr
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Some people say this is the best sushi in Vancouver. Others say it's the best sushi they've ever had. Closed in the afternoons and expect a lineup every night starting at 5pm.

Essentials

24h grocery store within walking distance of our home.
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Super Valu
1645 E 1st Ave
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24h grocery store within walking distance of our home.
Best dollar store in the area with surprisingly good quality merchandise all priced at $1.25 or lower.
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Dollar Tree
2606 Commercial Dr
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Best dollar store in the area with surprisingly good quality merchandise all priced at $1.25 or lower.
Closest big-chain grocery store.
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Safeway Broadway & Commercial
1780 E Broadway
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Closest big-chain grocery store.

Shopping

Vintage store which captures the feel of Commercial Drive.
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Mintage
1714 Commercial Dr
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Vintage store which captures the feel of Commercial Drive.
Best shopping street in all of Vancouver.
Shopping area
Best shopping street in all of Vancouver.
Ultra high-end shopping district of Vancouver.
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Tiffany & Co.
723 Burrard St
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Ultra high-end shopping district of Vancouver.

Drinks & Nightlife

Great craft beer selection. Also, try their veggie burger if you're hungry.
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BierCraft Tap and Tapas
1191 Commercial Dr
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Great craft beer selection. Also, try their veggie burger if you're hungry.
There are many micro-breweries in the area, but this one is consistently voted one the best. Great tasting room, reasonable prices, tasty beer.
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Brassneck Brewery
2148 Main St
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There are many micro-breweries in the area, but this one is consistently voted one the best. Great tasting room, reasonable prices, tasty beer.

Parks & Nature

Park overlooking downtown Vancouver.
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Iphakamisa Park
1657 Charles St
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Park overlooking downtown Vancouver.
World famous park.
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Iparke ye-Stanley
610 Pipeline Rd
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World famous park.
Another park close to our home.
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Victoria Park
650 Lonsdale Ave
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Another park close to our home.
Famous beach in Vancouver.
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Kitsilano Beach Park
1499 Arbutus St
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Famous beach in Vancouver.

Getting Around

Nearest SkyTrain station to our home. You can either walk 20-25 minutes or taxi (~$8) to/from our home.
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Commercial Platform 3 station
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Nearest SkyTrain station to our home. You can either walk 20-25 minutes or taxi (~$8) to/from our home.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
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Iphondo lezithixo leVancouver
3211 Grant McConachie Way
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Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
Closest SkyTrain station to Science World.
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Main Street-Science World Station
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Closest SkyTrain station to Science World.
"Canada Line" SkyTrain from YVR airport ends here. Change to either "Expo Line" or "Millennium Line" SkyTrain from here to get to "Commercial - Broadway Station" SkyTrain station, which is the closest SkyTrain station to our home. You can either walk 20-25 minutes or taxi from there (~$8) to our home.
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Waterfront Station
601 West Cordova Street
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"Canada Line" SkyTrain from YVR airport ends here. Change to either "Expo Line" or "Millennium Line" SkyTrain from here to get to "Commercial - Broadway Station" SkyTrain station, which is the closest SkyTrain station to our home. You can either walk 20-25 minutes or taxi from there (~$8) to our home.
It is a 5 minute walk to this bus stop from our home to catch the direct bus (#7 Dunbar) to Vancouver Downtown (26 minute ride). Please check Google Maps for the most accurate information before you ride.
NB Nanaimo St FS Charles St
It is a 5 minute walk to this bus stop from our home to catch the direct bus (#7 Dunbar) to Vancouver Downtown (26 minute ride). Please check Google Maps for the most accurate information before you ride.
It is a 7 minute walk to this bus stop from our home to catch the direct bus (#20 Downtown) to Vancouver Downtown (24 minute ride). Please check Google Maps for the most accurate information before you ride.
NB Commercial Dr FS Charles St
It is a 7 minute walk to this bus stop from our home to catch the direct bus (#20 Downtown) to Vancouver Downtown (24 minute ride). Please check Google Maps for the most accurate information before you ride.

Arts & Culture

Great place to take the kids.
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Science World kwiTELUS World of Science
1455 Quebec St
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Great place to take the kids.
Largest art gallery in Western Canada. Over 11,000 pieces of art, including over 200 major works. Live music on the weekends. The gallery cafe is located upstairs and you don't need a ticket to have lunch there. Good value for money.
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I-Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Hornby St
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Largest art gallery in Western Canada. Over 11,000 pieces of art, including over 200 major works. Live music on the weekends. The gallery cafe is located upstairs and you don't need a ticket to have lunch there. Good value for money.