Guidebook for Vancouver

Cecilia
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 locals recommend
Matchstick Fraser St.
639 E 15th Ave
165 locals recommend
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.
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 locals recommend
Hawkers Delight Deli
4127 Main St
40 locals recommend
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.
Pure comfort food. Great sandwiches and mac & cheese, as well as a good beer/cocktail selection. Almost always packed at night.
113 locals recommend
Burgoo
3096 Main St
113 locals recommend
Pure 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 locals recommend
Ba-Le Deli & Bakery
701 Kingsway
23 locals recommend
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.
Vancouver's answer to Starbucks. Better coffee, good wifi, big patio for sunny days.
490 locals recommend
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
3010 Main St
490 locals recommend
Vancouver'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 St
HK-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 locals recommend
Toshi Sushi
181 E 16th Ave
131 locals recommend
Lineups 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 locals recommend
Les Faux Bourgeois
663 E 15th Ave
203 locals recommend
Nice 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 locals recommend
Vancouver Public Library, Mount Pleasant Branch
1 Kingsway
9 locals recommend
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.
Often has events at night, from improv to indie theatre. Check the website for listings.
14 locals recommend
Little Mountain Comedy Community Centre
195 E 26th Ave
14 locals recommend
Often 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 locals recommend
Yuk Yuk's Comedy Club Vancouver
17755 Cambie St
29 locals recommend
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.

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 locals recommend
Open Door Yoga
2940 E 15th Ave
8 locals recommend
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.
A bit more than a pharmacy - toiletries, snacks, and a bit of everything. Open til midnight.
692 locals recommend
Shoppers Drug Mart
1006 Homer St
692 locals recommend
A 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 locals recommend
Mount St. Joseph's Hospital
3080 Prince Edward St
13 locals recommend
The 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 locals recommend
Mount Pleasant Community Centre
1 Kingsway
48 locals recommend
Local 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 locals recommend
Save-On-Foods
2949 Main St
70 locals recommend
Biggest 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 locals recommend
Launder All Coin Laundry
2706 Main St
7 locals recommend
One 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 locals recommend
Brassneck Brewery
2148 Main St
289 locals recommend
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.)
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 locals recommend
The Cascade Room
2616 Main St
102 locals recommend
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.
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 locals recommend
Colony Bar Main
2904 Main St
20 locals recommend
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.
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 locals recommend
Fox Cabaret
2321 Main St
66 locals recommend
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.
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 locals recommend
The Narrow Lounge
1898 Main St
94 locals recommend
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.

Parks & Nature

This is our version of a local landmark. Snap a selfie!
43 locals recommend
Guelph Park
2390 Brunswick St
43 locals recommend
This 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 locals recommend
Queen Elizabeth Park
4600 Cambie St
830 locals recommend
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.

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 locals recommend
Welk's
3511 Main St
42 locals recommend
So 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 locals recommend
MEC Vancouver
111 E 2nd Ave
51 locals recommend
Canada'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 locals recommend
Enterprise Rent-A-Car
1111 Granville St
65 locals recommend
Closest car-rental place if you're planning on a daytrip further out. Limited hours on weekends - book ahead.