Megan’s Vancouver Guidebook
Food scene
Has the best oysters and a great ambiance + great happy hour pricing. They take reservations. [2 min walk]
214 locals recommend
Rodney's Oyster House
1228 Hamilton StHas the best oysters and a great ambiance + great happy hour pricing. They take reservations. [2 min walk]
Italian - a long wait hardest place in Vancouver to get a table… but the BEST food I’ve had in Vancouver. There is a brewery down the block (Postmark Brewery) to wait it out that also has great food and drinks [7 min walk]
172 locals recommend
Ask For Luigi Restaurant
305 Alexander StItalian - a long wait hardest place in Vancouver to get a table… but the BEST food I’ve had in Vancouver. There is a brewery down the block (Postmark Brewery) to wait it out that also has great food and drinks [7 min walk]
An absolute Vancouver favourite and one of the highest rated restaurants in Canada. Considered “fine dining” and really great interesting meals. [2 min walk]
158 locals recommend
L'Abattoir
217 Carrall StAn absolute Vancouver favourite and one of the highest rated restaurants in Canada. Considered “fine dining” and really great interesting meals. [2 min walk]
Great tacos, a great happy hour 3-6pm, burrito bar in front and restaurant in back [1 min walk]
207 locals recommend
Tacofino Taco Bar
15 W Cordova StGreat tacos, a great happy hour 3-6pm, burrito bar in front and restaurant in back [1 min walk]
Picture fancy comfort food with an amazing ambiance, incredible drinks, and decent prices. That is Flying Pig. Highly recommend either location in Yaletown or Gastown. The Risotto is A++++. They take brunch reservations but lunch/dinner are first come, first serve. [5 min walk]
128 locals recommend
The Flying Pig Gastown
102 Water StreetPicture fancy comfort food with an amazing ambiance, incredible drinks, and decent prices. That is Flying Pig. Highly recommend either location in Yaletown or Gastown. The Risotto is A++++. They take brunch reservations but lunch/dinner are first come, first serve. [5 min walk]
In Chinatown, a really funky Chinese food spot, a local fav, right by Keefer Bar. Great date night spot! [7 min walk]
250 locals recommend
Bao Bei
163 Keefer StIn Chinatown, a really funky Chinese food spot, a local fav, right by Keefer Bar. Great date night spot! [7 min walk]
Amazing brunch spot, only downside is you have to wait in line (usually 45 mins). Never have I regretted the wait. Go early for slowest wait **open for brunch every day ** [5 min walk]
117 locals recommend
Jam Cafe
556 Beatty StAmazing brunch spot, only downside is you have to wait in line (usually 45 mins). Never have I regretted the wait. Go early for slowest wait **open for brunch every day ** [5 min walk]
Usually not a long wait, have great small menu. I love the tomato benny. They also have beer flights. Also great spot for drinks/all other meals **brunch only on weekends!** [4 min walk]
207 locals recommend
Alibi Room
157 Alexander StUsually not a long wait, have great small menu. I love the tomato benny. They also have beer flights. Also great spot for drinks/all other meals **brunch only on weekends!** [4 min walk]
Fav Bar
FAV SPOT! Live music, snacks and great prices. Early on it’s more relaxed, later it turns into a bar with dancing in a bar/cave environment. Cover is by donation to artists most nights. Drinks are average priced. This is a hidden gem and not yet overly popular. Also great odds you may see one of the many celebrities living in Vancouver! Perfect second stop after dinner in Gastown!
171 locals recommend
Guilt & Co
FAV SPOT! Live music, snacks and great prices. Early on it’s more relaxed, later it turns into a bar with dancing in a bar/cave environment. Cover is by donation to artists most nights. Drinks are average priced. This is a hidden gem and not yet overly popular. Also great odds you may see one of the many celebrities living in Vancouver! Perfect second stop after dinner in Gastown!
A great spot for upscale drinks. They also have a great happy hour with selected drinks $4 off. The servers are great and all the drinks are one of a kind. Also great dinner spot [2 min walk]
189 locals recommend
The Diamond
6 Powell StA great spot for upscale drinks. They also have a great happy hour with selected drinks $4 off. The servers are great and all the drinks are one of a kind. Also great dinner spot [2 min walk]
One of the hippest bars and a spot that a lot of celebs check out. Amazing cocktails, intimate and small [6 min walk]
250 locals recommend
The Keefer Bar
135 Keefer StOne of the hippest bars and a spot that a lot of celebs check out. Amazing cocktails, intimate and small [6 min walk]
Neighbourhoods
Where you are! Gastown is an absolute hub of cute shops, amazing food, and great drinks. Those 3 things alone can take up a whole trip! Once you exit the apartment building gate, turn right and take a right down Carrall St. and you’ll be in the heart of it all. The steam clock is very popular to watch and the area has tons of interesting spots to explore.
1068 locals recommend
Gastown
Where you are! Gastown is an absolute hub of cute shops, amazing food, and great drinks. Those 3 things alone can take up a whole trip! Once you exit the apartment building gate, turn right and take a right down Carrall St. and you’ll be in the heart of it all. The steam clock is very popular to watch and the area has tons of interesting spots to explore.
Sightseeing
A stunning area to walk. Close to both Stanley Park and Gastown. Highly recommend going to the convention center area. This is also where the Olympic Cauldron and iconic “Digital Orca” is located. HINT: In this area don’t leave until you climb the stairs to the top of the Cactus Club Café (free entry) and take in the view! [12 min walk]
80 locals recommend
Coal Harbour
A stunning area to walk. Close to both Stanley Park and Gastown. Highly recommend going to the convention center area. This is also where the Olympic Cauldron and iconic “Digital Orca” is located. HINT: In this area don’t leave until you climb the stairs to the top of the Cactus Club Café (free entry) and take in the view! [12 min walk]
Iconic park, can easily spend a whole day there. They also have Horse Drawn Carriage rides. If weather cooperates I highly recommend renting bikes. Spokes is on the way and a great rental company. The whole park is about 10km/6miles. Amazing, jaw dropping views. [15-20min walk]. The Vancouver Aquarium is also in Stanley Park.
2658 locals recommend
Stanley Park
610 Pipeline RdIconic park, can easily spend a whole day there. They also have Horse Drawn Carriage rides. If weather cooperates I highly recommend renting bikes. Spokes is on the way and a great rental company. The whole park is about 10km/6miles. Amazing, jaw dropping views. [15-20min walk]. The Vancouver Aquarium is also in Stanley Park.
the city’s Art Gallery. Exhibits from all over the world. Certainly worth it if you are an art fan! On Wednesdays in the summer they also play popular movies with a 4 story high screen. Helpful hint: On Tuesdays from 5-9 entry is by donation but be prepared to wait in line for at least 45 minutes! Robson St. itself is home to a lot of shopping! Robson St. also has amazing shopping! [15-20 min walk]
1154 locals recommend
Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Hornby Stthe city’s Art Gallery. Exhibits from all over the world. Certainly worth it if you are an art fan! On Wednesdays in the summer they also play popular movies with a 4 story high screen. Helpful hint: On Tuesdays from 5-9 entry is by donation but be prepared to wait in line for at least 45 minutes! Robson St. itself is home to a lot of shopping! Robson St. also has amazing shopping! [15-20 min walk]
beautiful and lively beach. You can start on Sunset Beach and walk over to English Bay. Both are amazing and fun in any type of weather. If you bike Stanley Park you will end up there [30-40 min walk, or 10-15 from the above areas]
537 locals recommend
English Bay Beach
Beach Avenuebeautiful and lively beach. You can start on Sunset Beach and walk over to English Bay. Both are amazing and fun in any type of weather. If you bike Stanley Park you will end up there [30-40 min walk, or 10-15 from the above areas]
One of my favourite parts outside of the downtown core. A small little area with a great brewery (Granville Island Brewery) an indoor Market, cute stores, beautiful view, and the best Fish & Chips you will ever have (Go Fish). For sit down, the restaurant Afghan Horseman has amazing Middle Eastern food and belly dancers on Friday/Saturday. For transport, I recommend taxi/walking or taking the ferry if you don’t want to worry about parking (which can be a pain there!). The view from walk/ferry will be incredible. Walking over the bridge is an incredible experience with a stunning view. To take the ferry walk to David Lam Park [28 min walk]. The ferry is about 10 minutes itself. [12 min drive, 40 min with walk/ferry].
1659 locals recommend
Granville Island
One of my favourite parts outside of the downtown core. A small little area with a great brewery (Granville Island Brewery) an indoor Market, cute stores, beautiful view, and the best Fish & Chips you will ever have (Go Fish). For sit down, the restaurant Afghan Horseman has amazing Middle Eastern food and belly dancers on Friday/Saturday. For transport, I recommend taxi/walking or taking the ferry if you don’t want to worry about parking (which can be a pain there!). The view from walk/ferry will be incredible. Walking over the bridge is an incredible experience with a stunning view. To take the ferry walk to David Lam Park [28 min walk]. The ferry is about 10 minutes itself. [12 min drive, 40 min with walk/ferry].
This is about a 10 minute from Granville Island but well worth it to check out Kit’s Beach and the surrounding area. There are always activities going on here including on occasion beach yoga! Hugely popular area for locals, not as touristy as the other beaches. If you are already in English Bay area, it is another 30 minutes from there. Just google Kit’s beach and you’ll be sold on going, especially on a clear day!
847 locals recommend
Kitsilano Beach Park
1499 Arbutus StThis is about a 10 minute from Granville Island but well worth it to check out Kit’s Beach and the surrounding area. There are always activities going on here including on occasion beach yoga! Hugely popular area for locals, not as touristy as the other beaches. If you are already in English Bay area, it is another 30 minutes from there. Just google Kit’s beach and you’ll be sold on going, especially on a clear day!