Freeal Speci e! I s su
2016
Neighbourhoods Guide
40
+
Perfect Places to Buy, Shop, Eat, Drink, Play, and Live Like a Local
Vanmag.com / Neighbourhoods
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NEIGHBOURHOODS GUIDE
Contents Sweet treats worth the trek (Butter Baked Goods, pg. 44)
EDITORS Jenni Baynham and Julia Dilworth
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ASSISTANT EDITOR Stacey McLachlan ART DIRECTORS Nathalie Uribe and Paul Roelofs
Downtown ..................... 10 West End .........................16 Coal Harbour ..................18 Gastown .........................22 Crosstown ...................... 25 Railtown ........................ 25 Chinatown .....................26 Downtown Eastside ...... 27 Yaletown.........................28
ART INTERN Megan Patrick EDITORIAL INTERNS Ames Bourdeau, Eliot Escalona, Dominika Lirette, Giordano Rizzuti, Willem Thomas CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Eric Blair, Bianca Bujan, Michaela Davies, Eliot Escalona, Jessica Gares, Tom Gierasimczuk, Gayle McLeod, Trevor Melanson, Maia Odegaard, Hans Ongsansoy, Miranda Sam, and Laura Rodgers
VANCOUVER MAGAZINE GM & PUBLISHER Tom Gierasimczuk EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Max Fawcett SENIOR EDITOR Trevor Melanson ART DIRECTOR Paul Roelofs ASSISTANT ART DIRECTOR Jenny Reed MARKETING & EVENTS MANAGER Dale McCarthy EVENT COORDINATOR Laura Lilley AD TRAFFIC & OFFICE COORDINATOR Kaitlyn Gendemann PRODUCTION MANAGER Lee Tidsbury GRAPHIC DESIGNER Swin Chai
gastown: david strongman; medina: issha marie; capilano: capilano suspension bridge park; sai woo: rodrigo tibyrica
ADVERTISING SALES Vancouver Office ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Edwin Rizarri ACCOUNT MANAGERS Deanna Bartolomeu, Corinne Gillespie, Judy Johnson, Theresa Tran, Carly Tsering, Gabriella Sepulveda Knuth Suite 560, 2608 Granville St., Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3v3 Phone: 604-877-7732 Advertising email: edwin.rizarri@ypnexthome.ca
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EDITORS’ NOTE
PRESIDENT Jacky Hill DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SALES & CHANNEL MANAGEMENT, LIFESTYLE Nadine Starr NATIONAL SALES MANAGER, NATIONAL SALES & CHANNEL MANAGEMENT, LIFESTYLE Ian Lederer NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Moe Lalani DIRECTOR OF CONTENT Susan Legge
HEAD OFFICE 500–401 The West Mall Etobicoke, Ontario, M9C 5J5 Phone: 855-626-4200 Fax: 416-789-9705
YELLOW PAGES DIGITAL & MEDIA SOLUTIONS LTD. VICE-PRESIDENT & CHIEF PUBLISHING OFFICER Caroline Andrews
vancouver neighbourhood guide is published annually by Yellow Pages Homes Ltd. Copyright 2016. Printed in Canada by TC • Transcontinental, LGM-Coronet, 737 Moray St., Winnipeg, Man. R3J 3S9. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to Circulation Dept., Ste. 560, 2608 Granville St., Vancouver, B.C. V6H 3V3. Distributed free in areas of Vancouver. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited. All reproduction requests must be made to COPIBEC (paper reproductions), 800-717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions), 800-563-5665. The publisher cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. This publication is indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index and the Canadian Periodical Index, and is available online in the Canadian Business & Current Affairs Database. ISSN 1920-0668 (British Columbia edition). Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement #400068973. privacy policy On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and/or email), you can easily remove your name from our mailing lists by reaching us at any of the listed contact points. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at westernliving.ca.
DOWNTOWN
We hope you don’t scare easy! (pg. 80)
54
EAST SIDE
Mount Pleasant & Main Street .................... 54 Riley Park ....................... 56 Renfrew.......................... 58 Killarney......................... 58 Strathcona ..................... 59 Hastings-Sunrise ..........60 Commercial Drive .........62 Victoria-Fraserview ......64 KensingtonCedar Cottage ................ 65 Sunset .............................66
32
WEST SIDE
Kitsilano.........................32 False Creek .....................34 Olympic Village .............36 South Cambie ................ 38 South Granville .............40 Kerrisdale.......................44 Shaughnessy ..................46 Arbutus Ridge ...............46 Dunbar ........................... 47 Marpole .......................... 48 Oakridge ........................ 48 West Point Grey ............. 52 UBC ................................ 53
68
NORTH SHORE
Lonsdale.........................68 Pemberton Heights ....... 70 Ambleside & Dundarave ......................71 British Properties .......... 72 Horseshoe Bay ............... 74 Caulfeild ......................... 74 Seymour & Deep Cove .. 76 Lynn Valley .................... 78 Capilano .........................80
Why there’s a lineup at Medina Cafe (pg. 10)
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NEIGHBOUR HOOD MAP
YOUR VANCOUVER
Past meets present at Sai Woo in Chinatown (pg. 26)
Contents | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016 3
Yours to Discover Whether you’re a newcomer to our incredible city or a lifelong resident, this is your playbook for our epic playground
After all, “the seawall” is a blanket term for the massive walk’n’-cycle strip that stretches from the tip of west side’s beaches to downtown and Stanley Park—but where is Vancouver’s “other seawall?” (pg. 47). And when it comes to destination suspension bridges, not many know (yes, Lynn Valley residents, we see you waving your hand furiously here) that we actually have two of them (pg. 78). Then there are the food and drinks, and while a food-focused city like Vancouver naturally offers up plenty of interesting options for dining, snacking, and desserting, sometimes they can be a bit overwhelming. Here’s our advice: start with Maenam, Vancouver Magazine’s 2016 Restaurant of the Year, which is on page 32. The most lovable tourist trap? It’s Stepho’s Souvlaki Greek Taverna, which is on page 16. The hardest-to-get farm-to-table reservation in the city? That would be AnnaLena, also on page 32. The coolest after-work cocktails? You’ll find a lot of them in Gastown, which is on page 22. The best patios? Coal Harbour and False Creek duke it out on pages 18 and 34. The oldest craft brewery you’ve never heard of? It’s tucked away in Horseshoe Bay (and on page 74).
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Editors’ Note | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
That’s not all. From vintage clothing shops to the gamut of AnnaLena designer retailers (note: bookmark the can’t-miss annual shoe sale on page 27), to envy-inducing homewares (think Versace Home, pg. 24, all the way to the more accessible EQ3, pg. 42), we’ve got all the important shopping destinations you’ll want to hit up. And that’s without mentioning the sights, viewpoints, landmarks, and goose-poop-free parks (yes, they actually exist) worth trekking to on a sunny day with your $2.75 in bus fare. Now, to really get to know all of Vancouver’s 40-plus neighbourhoods like a local, you have to live there for longer than a semester. You have to become entrenched in a ’hood’s rhythms, transit routes, and coffee shops. You have to take the late-night bagel runs, the early morning jogs, and the afternoon latte trips. But if you don’t have time for that, the good news here is that we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Consider this guide your cheat sheet, your playbook, and your licence to explore. What are you waiting for? —The Editors
Jenni Baynham
Julia Dilworth
FIND YOUR PERFECT ‘HOOD In our Neighbourhoods issue of Vancouver Magazine (May 2016) we ranked the city’s neighbourhoods using a boatload of data. Whether it’s where the best place is to raise kids, which areas of the city are the most affordable, or where all of the singles live, you can find it all online—along with the customized ranking tool that’s just begging to be fiddled with—at vanmag.com/neighbourhoods.
charleson park: david strongman; annalena: luisvaldizon
A
sk any Vancouverite about what a visitor to their city should see and do first, and the answer is likely to include one of the following: “seawall,” “Canucks game,” and “trying not to pee your pants on the 70-metre-high Capilano Suspension Bridge.” But if there’s one thing we’ve learned from putting together Vancouver Magazine’s Neighbourhoods Guide, it’s that there’s a wealth of hidden gems that have stayed off the collective radar—places so hidden that even born-and-bred Vancouverites don’t know about them.
Bahaneh Grewal shot our cover photo from her balcony in Metrotown
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Welcome to the Neighbourhoods The City at a Glance CAULFEILD Don’t know the difference between the West End, the west side, and West Van? This map has you covered. West Vancouver On it, we’ve outlined the four major regions in Vancouver, all colour coded to help you navigate this guide—and this city.
DOWNTOWN There’s a reason Vancouver’s signature building form is the glass condo tower. After all, our downtown core is bursting with them. With so many people living in the city centre, things don’t slow down as soon as the working day is over. Downtown’s streets are packed with people rushing to restaurants and cocktail bars, getting some power-shopping done on Robson Street, or fitting in an evening jog on the seawall. It’s easy on the eyes, too, given that it’s surrounded by water and framed with views of Stanley Park and the North Shore mountains.
Yaletown
KITSILANO WEST POINT GREY
WEST SIDE Everything west of Ontario Street is called the “west side”—including major neighbourhoods like Kitsilano, Kerrisdale, Shaughnessy, and West Point Grey. It’s a lush, park-filled mix of urban and suburban (that includes the expansive University of British Columbia Endowment Lands) and it’s home to some of the city’s most expensive neighbourhoods—the median price of a detached home on the west side is around $3 million.
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Vancouver Map | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
UBC DUNBARSOUTHLANDS
yaletown: kyle pearce/cc by-sa 2.0; ubc: elina gress; kits: nick lau/cc by-sa 2.0; capilano suspension bridge: tom gierasimczuk; commercial: eco dalla luna; brassneck: vishal marapon
AMBLESIDE & DUNDARAVE
LYNN VALLEY
SH TIES
NORTH SHORE If a traffic jam on the Lions Gate Bridge doesn’t make your blood boil, or you consider the SeaBus the perfect way to reach Vancouver’s downtown core, then you’ve got what it takes to live in this naturelover’s paradise. With single-family homes still within reach—and perhaps even a chance at your very own yard—Vancouverites are flocking north for a sense of community, ample green space, Wednesday night skiing, and, of course, the mountains at their doorstep.
CAPILANO
LONSDALE PEMBERTON HEIGHTS
SEYMOUR
COAL HARBOUR
RAILTOWN GASTOWN
WEST END DOWNTOWN
DOWNTOWN EASTSIDE
CROSSTOWN CHINATOWN
YALETOWN
COMMERCIAL DRIVE
EAST SIDE HASTINGS-SUNRISE
STRATHCONA
OLYMPIC VILLAGE FALSE CREEK
MOUNT PLEASANT SOUTH GRANVILLE
ARBUTUS RIDGE
SHAUGHNESSY
Brassneck
SOUTH CAMBIE
RENFREWCOLLINGWOOD RILEY PARK KENSINGTON
OAKRIDGE
East Vancouver may have a grittier past, but neighbourhoods like Main Street in Mount Pleasant, Commercial Drive, and Hastings-Sunrise (sorry, the “East Village”) are becoming downright posh in 2016. But they haven’t lost touch with the brand of East Van cool they helped popularize, one that means you can’t swing a growler without hitting a craft brewery and cycling is the commuting method of choice. Traditionally, cheaper rents have also made East Van a popular home for small boutique business owners, creative types, and young families (although time will tell just how long that lasts).
KILLARNEY
KERRISDALE SUNSET
VICTORIA-FRASERVIEW
MARPOLE Commercial Drive
1044 Robson St
Oakridge Centre
Metrotown
Guildford Town Centre
604.684.5656
604.266.0388
604.431.1866
604.496.0406
shop boysco.com
Unlike other big cities, you’ll find a huge population of Vancouverites live right downtown There’s something special about being surrounded by water in a downtown metropolis. Thousands of locals seem to agree, given that they live in 500-square-foot condos that are squeezed between the financial district’s towering office blocks and large department stores. Developers are still finding space to build bigger, higher, shinier options for those who want in, which means you can expect Vancouver’s skyline to drastically change over the next five years.
Medina Cafe
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Downtown | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
What won’t change is the fact that it features some of the city’s best restaurants. Take Cinara, a family-owned restaurant serving modern Italian cuisine that won gold for Best Downtown at this year’s Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. Its general manager was also recently acclaimed for outstanding service, so keep your expectations high (350 W. Pender St., 604-428-9694, cinara.ca). Medina Cafe routinely sports a lineup of wouldbe diners around the block (it’s renowned for its signature lattes) so make sure you get there early (780 Richards St., 604-879-3114, medinacafe .com). At the foot of the boutique Loden Hotel sits Tableau Bar Bistro; try the cheeseand-charcuterie plate with a generously poured cocktail on a rainy
aerial view: Magnus larsson; cafe Medina food: issha Marie
DOWNTOWN
Downtown
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DOWNTOWN
’HOODS: DOWNTOWN
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR The most restaurants & cafes
Prohibition
Vancouver evening (1181 Melville St., 604-639-8692, tableaubarbistro.com).
Downtown has also become the department-store core. The opening of Nordstrom’s Vancouver location delivered brands the West Coast has been waiting for, along with carefully curated localdesigner goods (799 Robson St., 604-6992100, shop.nordstrom.com). Longtime resident Holt Renfrew has a huge expansion in the works (737 Dunsmuir St., 604681-3121, holtrenfrew.com), and all eyes are on Hudson’s Bay to see what will be coming next from the sartorial giant (674 Granville St., 604- 681-6211, thebay.com). 14
Downtown | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
women shopping: mauricio orozco; nordstrom: go to van
Need a drink? The green light above non-signposted wooden doors signal the entrance to Prohibition in the basement of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia (801 W. Georgia St., 604-673-7089, prohibitionrhg.com). Try the Inception cocktail, composed of a ball of frozen negroni inside a traditional negroni. If you’re looking for an after-work vibe, Joey Bentall One is a hotspot for those seeking plentiful drink options and a well-rounded menu from chef Chris Mills after a crazy day at the office (507 Burrard St., 604-915-5639, joey restaurants.com). Grabbing a drink before a BC Lions or Canucks game? Back Forty is a winning option (118 Robson St., 604-688-5840)—try the fried chicken.
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2016-06-03 2:38 PM
La Jolie Madame LINGERIE
Finest in lingerie & undergarments. Specializing in bra fittings. 32A to 44H
701 West Georgia Street Pacific Centre Mall, Upper Level 604.669.1831 lajoliemadameboutique.com
Meet the neighbourhood where life really is a beach The West End: it’s real, and it’s spectacular. From tourist-focused seaside restaurants and street cafes to each summer’s electric Pride celebrations, it’s full of life no matter the time of year. If you’re not taken by its charms, you might actually be immune to very idea of charm itself. But the West End isn’t just one neighbourhood—it’s also a neighbourhood vanmag.com/neighbourhoods of neighbourhoods. The Davie Village, Vancouver’s original
TOP
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Places for singles
English Bay sunset
gaybourhood, is well-known, but the area is also home to Japanese-Canadian outpost Little Ginza, a strip of indulgent street food-style cafes along Denman Street, a friendly tourist and hotel district, and sleepy treelined streets of singlefamily homes.
To see the area like a local, skip the busy shores of English Bay and instead head to Second Beach (off Beach Avenue at Lagoon Drive) in Stanley Park. It’s more secluded (but far from empty come summertime) with
English Bay crash pad
a family-friendly atmosphere and an outdoor pool. The rest of Stanley Park is an obvious entry in any guidebook, and it belongs there—but skip the overhyped kiddie train and instead chart your own path through the gardens and greenery.
Couple strolling the West End’s streets
WHAT’S FOR DINNER? Are we thinking big steaks, bigger reds with Manhattan-style ambiance? That’s C Prime (1015 Burrard St., 604-684-3474, cprime.ca). For fab xiao long bao and everything else Shanghaiese north of Richmond, head to Dinesty (1719 Robson St., 604-669-7769, dinesty.ca). The tourists are all lined up for massive portions at Stepho’s Souvlaki Greek Taverna (1124 Davie St., 604683-2555), but the noodles at Legendary Noodle House (1074 Denman St., 604-669-8551) are also worth a visit. C Prime
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West End | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Couple : West end BIA; grAssy AreA: West end BIA
DOWNTOWN
West End
Client: C|Prime / Size: 7.125” x 4.90” / CMYK / Vancouver Neighbourhood
A NEW YORK ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE
IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER Reflected in its carefully crafted menu, C|Prime puts a premium on locally sourced and curated ingredients. Using the finest cuts of BC-raised meats, fresh seafood, vegetables and cheeses paired with innovative, rich sauces and salts, the restaurant offers incomparable dishes that showcase both Italian and New York inspired flavours.
Located in the Century Plaza Hotel
1015 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y5
Untitled-5 1
T (604) 684 3474 F (604) 682 5790
W W W. C P R I M E . C A
2016-06-06 4:41 PM
Adjacent to the city’s financial district, this is the place for working hard and living well Coal Harbour is often grouped in with downtown, but in truth this district of shiny condo towers and well-heeled residents has its own identity. Many locals occupy the high-priced condos parttime during the summer and decamp to warmer climes during the rainy season. (Those docked yachts aren’t all just for show.) Locals that live in this eight-block-wide chunk—stretching from just behind the Westin Bayshore hotel (1601 Bayshore Dr., 604-682-3377, westinbayshore .com) to the Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Pl., 604-689-8232, vancouverconventioncentre.com)—get to enjoy some of downtown’s most stunning ocean views, all overlooking a picturesque marina quay, float-plane takeoffs, and the beauty of Stanley Park. People come from all over to bike, run, and dog-walk this strip of the seawall that’s so conveniently peppered with refreshments and refuelling stations along the way—not to mention patios for every season. Cardero’s (1583 Coal Harbour Quay, 604-669-7666, vancouverdine.com) is the obvious date-night spot in these parts (the 300-plus capacity restaurant sits suspended over the water on a dock). Inside, the massive windows of water views and
Coal Harbour
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR Restaurants & cafes
Cultural diversity
bobbing boats do not disappoint, and neither does the full-length outdoor patio. To cap off a casual seafood meal (one that’s on par with Earls prices), head pub-side for cocktails and live music. Never one to skimp on location, Cactus Club (1085 Canada Pl., 604-620-7410, cactusclubcafe.com) snapped up an equally stunning view on a Convention Centre outcrop. Make a reservation, as only a minority of tables have a full view of the ocean immediately beside the restaurant. The menu, of course, runs the gamut from reliably well-executed
Cactus Club
18 Coal Harbour | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
fare like squash ravioli to pub classics like sliders—great for a group with a few picky eaters. For views of the ocean and the Olympic cauldron, try Tap & Barrel (1055 Canada Pl., 604-2359827, tapandbarrel.com) or Mahony & Sons (1055 Canada Pl., 604-647-7513, mahonyandsons.com). Tucked behind Cardero’s is Cafe Villaggio (1506 Coal Harbour Quay, 604-6876599), which has a menu specialized for the nearby seawall clientele: items like the well-priced Runner Special for morning joggers ($3.99) and fresh bakery treats like fruit tarts and cinnamon buns. Your obligatory gelato pit-stop is surely Casa Dolce (510 Nicola St., 604-6693376)—take a double-scoop waffle cone to-go as you hunt for coveted open benches along the waterfront. Oh and one last thing. If you’re walking, stay off the bike path (if you value your life).
rowers: ross g; cactus club: michael elkan
DOWNTOWN
Coal Harbour
SPONSORED REPORT
Five Sails Modern classics and spectacular views in an elegant waterfront setting
Proprietors – Gerry Sayers & Chef Ernst Dorfler
T
he Billowing white sails of Canada Place mark the spot where award-winning cuisine and AAA Four Diamond service meet in an utterly magical setting. Husband and wife team, Chef Ernst Dorfler and Gerry Sayers, bring years of experience to Five Sails, skillfully fusing modern, continental cuisine with European and global influences and warm, inviting hospitality to cultivate a memorable dining experience like none other. “We are able to bring the best of both worlds to our guests,” says Gerry, “balancing a breathtaking hotel setting with the personal touches that only come with private proprietorship.” This year marks the ninth anniversary of Ernst and Gerry taking over sole ownership of this waterfront gem. Dramatically situated at the luxurious Pan Pacific Hotel, the striking room has been custom-designed to perfectly compliment the breathtaking backdrop of the inner harbour, Stanley Park and the Coast Mountains visible from the large bay windows. A chic lounge area with elevated banquettes, contemporary bar and cozy fireplace offers a relaxed atmosphere to sample from the inspired menu, while the dining room exudes an understated elegance. Just steps from the new Vancouver Convention Centre, Five Sails boasts an elegant and totally exclusive 20-seat private dining room, making it the ultimate setting for locals and visitors alike to host intimate functions or special celebrations. Chef Dorfler focuses his formidable attention on exciting new menu items each season, while honouring the classics
Roasted Brome Lake duck breast
that have cultivated a strong loyal following. Showcasing the mastery that made him an internationally acclaimed Culinary Olympic World Champion, his signature mountain-style raviolis stuffed with spinach, herbs and ricotta then finished with a drizzle of hazelnut brown butter harkens back to Chef Dorfler’s Austrian childhood. The innovative “Catch!,” a veritable cornucopia of fresh half Atlantic lobster, caramelized Weathervane scallop and a line-caught catch of the day enrobed in a lemongrass sauce perfumed with coconut, displays world-class passion and artistry. Sommelier Ramon Fresneda always brings impressive knowledge and unpretentious flair in providing optimal wine pairings from a list consistently honoured with the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. The gracious service and exemplary dining combined with sweeping views of ships sailing off into the setting sun against the towering Coast Mountains is an experience that may leave you grasping for superlatives, but the memory will last a lifetime.
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“R” Level 999 Canada Place
(located in the Pan Pacifi c Hotel)
604.844.2855 fi vesails.ca
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRUCE LAW (LEFT), PAUL JOSEPH (FOOD)
757 West Hastings Street | Just steps from Waterfront Station | sinclaircentre.com
Sinclair Centre 757 West Hastings Street Just steps from Waterfront Station | sinclaircentre.com
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Downtown’s historic heart of restaurants, swanky brick lofts, and tech startups is a hub for all things cutting-edge Gastown has a huge number of studios all within a few blocks, making it the centre of Vancouver’s contemporary art scene. Check out events like the Eastside Culture Crawl (each November, culture crawl.ca) and Swarm (each September, paarc.ca)—both hybrid party-exhibitions where you can wander through various galleries, sip a beverage, and chat with artists about their work.
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD TO Fall in love (Technically—it’s the place with the highest population of singles)
There’s no shortage of options when it comes to filling your belly in Gastown, either. Try a ploughman’s lunch at the eclectic Nelson the Seagull (315 Carrall St., 604-681-5776, nelsontheseagull .com), curried sausage at Bestie (105 E. Pender St., 604-620-1175, bestie.ca) or tacos at Gringo (27 Blood Alley Square, 604-721-0607, gringogastown .com).. Shopping is a study in contrasts:
Gastown’s historic Water Street
SIP THIS: YOU FORGOT THE BLUEBERRIES COCKTAIL Gastown’s Secret Location (1 Water St., 604-685-0090, secretlocation.ca) not only has designer labels the likes of which Vancouver has never seen (expect to see wealthy tourists head straight here from the airport), but an accessible cocktail menu to boot. Take the You Forgot the Blueberries cocktail: with English Harbour rum, Ardbeg 10, blueberry shrub and jam, and grapefruit juice, it produces a smoky and fruit-forward refreshment ($15).
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Gastown | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
gastown: david strongman
DOWNTOWN
Gastown
life styled One part lifestyle boutique, one part restaurant,
Secret Location offers thought-provoking fashion and food.
concept store | one water street, vancouver, canada | secretlocation.ca
DOWNTOWN
’HOODS: GASTOWN
rockabilly-punk clothing store New World (306 W Cordova St., 604-6873443, newworlddesign.ca) adjoins ultra-luxe Versace Home (310 W Cordova St., 604-336,7390, versacehome .it). One could spend an entire day searching through vintage and antique store Space Lab (230 E Pender St., 604-875-0450, space-lab.tumblr.com), filled with everything from hunting trophies to old-school typewriters. At night, the neighbourhood passes the torch to the back-alley cabarets, cozy gastropubs, and tucked-away tasting lounges that make it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. At Guilt and Co. (1 Alexander St., 604-2881704, guiltandcompany.com), catch local soul, swing, and funk musicians while sipping cocktails and nibbling hors d’oeuvres. Inside the city’s oldest brick building, a modestly-sized Six
L’Abattoir
Acres (203 Carrall St., 604-488-0110, sixacres.ca) serves elevated comfort food along with a well-curated list of beer and spirits. Or sample local cheese, wine, and charcuterie at Salt Tasting Room (45 Blood Alley Square, 604633-1912, salttastingroom.com) before finishing with creative cocktails and
dessert at L’Abattoir (217 Carral St., 604-568-1701, labattoir.ca). For dinner and dancing, order the goat curry and a Dark & Stormy at the much-hyped Caribbean bistro Calabash (428 Carrall St., 604-568-5882, calabashbistro .com), before heading downstairs to the venue’s reggae dance floor.
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Gastown | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Now serving weekend brunch and dinner daily. Group lunch bookings are available Monday to Friday.
217 Carrall Street | 604.568.1701 | labattoir.ca @labattoir_van | labattoir.van
DOWNTOWN
Crosstown A vibrant neighbourhood in the centre of it all Between Gastown, Downtown, Chinatown, and Yaletown, the few blocks known as Crosstown—bordered by Beatty, Carrall, Dunsmuir, and Pender—are a central location with plenty of great amenities. Within the area is International Village Mall, home to the Cineplex Odeon International Village theatre (88 W. Pender St.,
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
TOP 10 ’HOODS FOR Cultural diversity
604-806-0799, cineplex.com); Yokoyaya 123, a cousin of the ultra-convenient Japanese $2 store Daiso (88 W. Pender St., 604-682-8073, yokoyaya .com); and popular Asian supermarket chain T&T (179 Keefer Pl., 604-8998836, tnt-supermarket.com)—a place to grab steamed barbecue pork burns or sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaves for next to nothing. Dining options in the area include relaxed-luxe Belgian bistro Chambar (568 Beatty St., 604879-7119, chambar.com), where locals f lock for steaming pots of mussels with a side order of fries, and the craft-beer
chambar drink: Luis VaLdizon; chambar interior: farah nosh
The Alibi Room was Railtown before Railtown was Railtown. It’s the granddaddy of Vancouver craft beer bars, serving a long list of high-quality, hard-to-find brews before the rest of the neighbourhood sprung up around it (157
focused Devil’s Elbow (562 Beatty St., 604559-0611, devils elbowalehouse.com), with a special late-night menu for the wee hours of the morning.
New developments mean first-time buyers can get in the market with 500–sq.–ft. properties selling for around
Railtown Railtown is as much an idea as it is a place: it’s the name for the hip design and tech boom currently taking place on the formerly ignored industrial northern fringe of the Downtown Eastside
Chambar
Alexander St., 604-623-3383, alibi.ca). It’s now joined by Postmark Brewing (55 Dunlevy Ave., 604-699-1988, postmarkbrewing.com), whose restaurant is attached to the Vancouver Urban Winery, which has many wines available on tap (55 Dunlevy Ave., 604566-9463. vancouverurbanwinery .com). After wetting your whistle, try Vancouver Magazine’s 2015 Restaurant of the Year, Ask for Luigi, just around the corner (305 Alexander St., 604-4282544, askforluigi.com). The area is a hub for up-and-coming interior design, with the creativemod Hinterland (503 Railway St., 604-885-8215, hinterland design.com), custom furniture at Bloom (495 Railway St., 604-215-0051,
$300,000 bloomfurniturestudio.com), and modernist Inform to the Trade (405 Railway, 604-255-2500, informinteriors.com). For a stylish remodel, check out chic rugs at Colin Campbell (494 Railway St., 604734-2758, colin-campbell.ca), unexpected patterns at Crown Wallpaper & Fabrics (611 Alexander St., 604-736-4541, crown wallpaper.com), and everything else at Layers and Layers (807 Powell St., 604708-5180, layersandlayers.com), Paradigm Kitchen Design (720 Alexander St., 604-326-3000, paradigmkitchendesign .com), The Robert Allen Showroom (430 Railway St., 604-255-0010, robertallen design.com), and Tritex Fabrics (611 Alexander St., 604-255-4242, tritexfabrics .com)—all within the same few blocks.
Crosstown & Railtown | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016 25
Where historic landmarks and seedy watering holes share a sidewalk with the city’s coolest haunts Growing pains or growing gains? When it comes to the best way to describe the changes in one of North America’s biggest Chinatowns, the answer depends on who you ask. The challenge will be retaining the vibrancy and character as condos and restaurants continue to annex more territory within its historic core, bordered by East Pender Street, Gore Avenue, East Georgia Street, and Carrall Street. Never before have there been so many Vancouver restaurants serving up Asian dishes with a twist, and the bulk of them are doing so right inside Chinatown, the city’s cradle for authentic Far Eastern cuisine. The grand dame of this burgeoning scene is Bao Bei (163 Keefer St., 604-688-0876, bao-bei.ca), when you pay her a vist don’t forget to order the Chinese brasserie’s shao
Sai Woo
26
Bao Bei
bings: crunchy flatbread stuffed with lamb, onions, and peppers. Next door on the Keefer Street strip is the newly opened Juniper Kitchen and Bar (185 Keefer St., 604-681-1695, junipervan couver.com), which specializes in all types of gin and tonics. Don’t dine in Chinatown without stopping at Sai Woo (158 E. Pender St., 604568-1117, saiwoo.ca), which was originally Sai Woo Chop Suey, circa 1925. Today, the modernized landmark is the new residence for one of the city’s most exciting chefs. Chef Keev Mah (formerly of Pidgin and Bambudda) creates inventive global cuisine with a nod to his Malaysian roots and French training—and does it in one of the best-designed rooms in Vancouver. As for the spot that tourists might overlook, that’s got to be Phnom Penh (244 E. Georgia St., 604-682-5777), the family-owned, Vietnamese/Cambodian holein-the-wall that has become a mainstay in these parts. You’ll have to wait for a table, but the signature deep-fried chicken wings
Chinatown | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Minutes to downtown
4 6 4 9 (with lemon pepper dipping sauce) are more than worth it. There are still many market shops selling ginseng and fresh produce—Sunrise Market (300 Powell St., 604-685-8019, sunrise-market.ca) is a family-owned and-operated institution—but urban streetwear brands like El Kartel (104 E. Pender St., 604-683-2171, elkartel.com) and Livestock (141 E. Pender St., 604559-0877, deadstock.ca) are changing the retail landscape one sneakerhead at a time. Reclaimed wood furniture stop Studio 126 (126 E. Pender St., 778-8390975, studio126yvr.com) is this area’s answer to Union Wood Co. Not-to-be-missed cultural landmarks include a walk under the iconic Vancouver Chinatown Millenium Gate at Pender and Taylor streets, a stroll past the sixfoot-wide Sam Kee building (8 W. Pender St.) and a peaceful afternoon spent at the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden (578 Carrall St., 604-662-3207, vancouverchinesegarden.com).
Bao Bei: HuBert Kang; Sai Woo: rodrigo tiByrica
DOWNTOWN
Chinatown
DOWNTOWN
Downtown Eastside Gentrification’s neighbourhood of choice Gritty, varied, authentic, fraught: few areas of Vancouver are home to as much controversy as the Downtown Eastside. Once the glittering centre of downtown, the area is now home to a dense concentration of services for people on the margins, and was until recently also known as “Skid Row.” But look past the reputation and you’ll find a changing neighbourhood filled with historic landmarks and plenty of underappreciated businesses worth a visit. A former kung-fu movie theatre, the Rickshaw now hosts indie and alternative musicians of all stripes from British punk pioneers the Buzzcocks to balladeer Kurt Vile (254 E. Hastings St., 604-681-8915, liveatrickshaw .com). For everything from ’90s dance parties to Monday night karaoke, check out the dicey but welcoming Astoria (769 E. Hastings St., 604-254-3636, facebook .com/astoria.hastings).
Save on Meats milkshake
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR Affordability Save on Meats, a butcher shop with a stick-to-your-ribs cafe on site, is intent on fully integrating into the community. Like many businesses in the area, they hire workers with high barriers to employment, and they offer a token program to buy breakfast sandwiches for people in need (43 W. Hastings St., 604-569-3568, saveonmeats.ca).
highly competitive field of Vancouver microbrews (1357 Powell St., 604-558-2537, powellbeer.com). If you haven’t seen a show at the Imperial (319 Main St., 604-428-2272, imperialvancouver.com) yet, you’re in for a treat. Size-wise it’s like a more intimate Commodore Ballroom, with the same mix of seats and standing room to suit all preferences, and you’ll enjoy the cool Asian-inspired decor.
rickshaw: steve louie
Footwear fiends from across the city flock to Army and Navy for their muchhyped annual shoe sale, where boots, sandals, and heels are sold off for as little as $50 (36 W. Cordova St., 604682-6644, armyandnavy.ca). But the discount department store is also worth a visit all year round: it’s a highly affordable one-stop shop (something that can be hard to find close to the downtown core) for family needs from clothing to toiletries to camping equipment.
D.O.A. rock the Rickshaw
Out on the neighbourhood’s eastern fringes, visit Powell Street Craft Brewery, an absolute standout even in the Downtown Eastside | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016 27
It’s not all small dogs and blow-dry bars (but it has plenty of those, too) Old is new again along vanmag.com/neighbourhoods the trendy streets of Yaletown, where the raised brick sidewalks are lined with restaurants, cafes, beauty bars, and Household income boutiques. Overhanging canopies and brick-laid sidewalks pay homage to the neighbourhood’s historical roots as a warehouse district, yet Yaletown is now the place to see and be seen at some of the best restaurants and cafes in the city. Here, patio seats are prime real estate for watching the world go by, and high-rises tower above False Creek, which, bordered by the seawall, naturally beckons runners, cyclists, and saunterers of all ages.
TOP 10 ’HOODS FOR
There is no shortage of new eateries, but Homer St. Cafe and Bar still attracts locals for its comfort food and heritage charm (898 Homer St., 604428-4299, homerstreetcafebar.com). For an afternoon pick-me-up after all that seawall walking, try Small Victory
Mainland Street
for coffee and a freshly baked croissant that will transport you straight to Paris (1088 Homer St., 604-899-8892). When it comes to brunch, walk down to the waterfront’s Provence Marinaside (1177 Marinaside Cres., 604-681-4144, provencemarinaside.ca) for prime cuisine and people watching. After dark, this part of town knows how to party, too—we like The Distillery Bar + Kitchen (1131 Mainland St., 604-6692255, mjg.ca/distillery-bar-and -kitchen) for its great atmosphere and even better drinks. 28 Yaletown | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
DaviD Strongman
DOWNTOWN
Yaletown
SPONSORED REPORT
Cioppino’s Serves Up Old World Charm Quality Italian Cuisine from one of Vancouver’s Premier Chefs
C
hef Giuseppe Posteraro feels he has achieved what he set out to do. “The mission was to create a world class Italian/Mediterranean restaurant,” explains Pino, as he is known among locals. “I wanted to provide customers with creative meals and excellent service in a relaxed environment. Vancouverites were behind us all the way.” Posteraro opened Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca in 1999, following stints at reputed restaurants around Europe and in Singapore. He believes that it is a perfect balance of tradition and evolution that brings people back. “It’s that mix of personable service and familiar faces with the highest standard of professionalism and consistency.” Of course most would argue that the chef’s extraordinary skill plays a key role in Cioppino’s success. Renowned for his exceptionally light Italian-inspired dishes, including house-made pastas, the 2008 and 2014 Vancouver Magazine Chef of the Year has long been
garnering attention and acclaim as one of the city’s top culinary talents. Posteraro believes that Vancouver’s small-town vibe and unparalleled access to local products make working in the city more fun, although he says that ultimately inspiration comes from within. Long list of accolades considered, Posteraro is still most proud at the end of a long night. “A successful evening with perfect food creations, great service and happy customers; that is what makes me happy,” he shares humbly. You’d be hard pressed to find this award-winning chef without a smile from ear to ear. “How lucky am I to do what I love and never have to work a day in my life?”
Created by the Vancouver advertising department in partnership with Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca
1133 Hamilton Street 604.688.7466 cioppinosyaletown.com PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRUCE LAW
DOWNTOWN
’HOODS: YALETOWN
Shopping the neighbourhood in this fashion-forward pocket of Vancouver is a must—so let well-cushioned footwear walk you first to Moulé (1062 Homer St., 604 685-1062, moulestores.com) to find the perfect outfit that transitions effortlessly from work to dinner. If you’re looking for accessories, clothing, or a perfect hostess gift, Fine Finds (1014 Mainland St., 604 669-8325, finefindsboutique.com) is your go-to. When it comes to interior decor, Yaletown is home to one of the most coveted design shops in the city: The Cross Decor & Design (1198 Homer St., 604-689-2900, thecrossdesign.com) has everything from dreamy linens to darling dishware (you will not be leaving empty-handed). Or if your style leans more modern, Designhouse (851 Homer St., 604-681-2800, designhouse .ca) is your source for brands like Blu Dot and Normann Copenhagen—and an in-store Marimekko shop offers all the pretty patterns your heart desires.
30 Yaletown | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Yaletown’s charming streets
jazz festival: tourism vancouver and coastal jazz & Blues society/douglas Williams; coBBlestone streets: david strongman
TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival
SPONSORED REPORT
A Certain Je Ne Sais Quoi
Reputed sommelier and current Service Director Sebastien Le Goff leads on Cactus Club’s eastward expansion
S
ebastien Le Goff has one word to describe the competition in Toronto: fierce. “You have to want things more than the guy next door,” says Cactus Club’s Service Director who followed the West Coast brand eastward to support its Ontario expansion last year. Le Goff isn’t new to the big city. The Nantes, France native spent five years in T-Dot before Vancouver’s culinary scene drew him west. “Every chef in Toronto was talking about a few big Vancouver names,” recalls Le Goff, listing Chef Rob Feenie among them. “I always wanted to meet him.” The rest, as they say, is history. Since the acclaimed sommelier joined Cactus Club in 2011 the Feenie/Le Goff duo have brought fine dining to the masses. “Rob spends a lot of time in the dining room. We build a real relationship between food and wine.” At Cactus Club both elements emphasize environmental sustainability and locally sourced products. “The menu reflects our proximity to Asia, to the Pacific Ocean and
our partnership with initiatives like Green Table and OceanWise™,” he shares. Local influence also seeps into the contemporary West Coast interior aesthetic with original artwork by B.C. talents like Brent Comber, Graham Gillmore and First Nations carver Beau Dick. Of course, things are different in Toronto. The 15,000 square foot First Canadian Place restaurant, which features four distinct concepts, is positioned in the heart of the bustling financial district. “250,000 people work around here Monday to Friday,” tells Le Goff. “It’s like its own city.” Toronto’s palate is proving to be different too. Experimental items that have seen huge success out east include the Beef Duo, Duck Confit and Niagara wines. But regardless of the location, Cactus Club’s incredible team culture remains consistent. “I’ve never been a part of anything like this before,” raves Le Goff—and Toronto has recently added the icing to his Cactus Club cake. “We just put a Negroni on tap.”
Created by the Vancouver advertising department in partnership with Cactus Club Cafe
Various locations cactusclubcafe.com
PHOTOGRAPHS BY RICK COLLINS (TOP), LUIS VALDIZON (FOOD)
It doesn’t get more West Coast than this There’s something about Kitsilano that makes you want to throw on some active wear, hop on a paddleboard, get in your kayak, or put on those rollerblades and earn the delectable brunch that’s waiting for you at a local restaurant. The best part? You’ve got plenty of options when it comes to both adding and burning the calories that come with it. If getting your om on is more your style, you can choose from any one of 12 yoga studios like the popular YYoga (1915 W. Fourth Ave., 604-336-4599, yyoga.ca) or Semperviva (2201 W. Fourth Ave., 604-739-2009, semperviva.com). But if feeling your muscles burn is your jam, hop on a stationary bike at Method’s new Kitsilano location (2020 Arbutus St., 778-379-9779, methodindoorcy cling.com). That said, no matter how good a class might be, it’s hard to beat a fresh ocean breeze. Walk down to the beach, jump on a paddleboard or kayak from Vancouver Water Adventures, (open May to September, 604-736-5155, vancouverwateradventures.com), and prepare to get wet. Now that you’ve made some extra space for brunch, you’re ready to enjoy the culinary pleasures found in Kitsilano. For coffee and pastry lovers, Forty Ninth Parallel Cafe and Lucky’s Doughuts never fails to please with its fresh decor and enclosed patio (2198 W. Fourth Ave., 604-420-4901, 49thcoffee.com). Tread off the beaten path of West Fourth to find Arbutus Coffee, which resides in a room older than the average Kitsilano dweller and offers home-baked goods and drinks (2200 Arbutus, 604-736-5644, facebook .com/arbutuscoffee). If you’re looking to fi ll the tank a bit more, head to Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe (2095 W. Fourth Ave., 604-732-6810, sophiescosmiccafe.com) an iconic Kits room that practically created the city’s
brunch scene (or, at least, the idea of lining up for it). If Sophie’s is packed, there’s Epicurean Caffé Bistro (1898 W. First Ave., 604-731-5730, epicurean caffe.com), a place whose food and decor can make you feel like you’re minutes from a Mediterranean coastline. One of the hardest-to-get reservations in the city is at the modern and chic AnnaLena (1809 W. First Ave., 778-3794052, annalena.ca), but locals have an easier time squeezing in at their equally stellar brunch. If you want to feel like a true Kits dweller, you can head over to Benny’s Bagels and find your spirit bagel (2505 W. Broadway, 604-731-9730). If you want to get some shopping done and have a thing for shoes (we won’t judge), your first stop has to be Gravity Pope (2205 W. Fourth Ave., 604-7317673, gravitypope.com). Then there’s XO Bella (2294 W. Fourth Ave., 604-5584589, xobellaclothing.com), an activewear boutique that helps women stay fit with style. Remember the fleece craze? Patagonia (1994 W. Fourth Ave., 604-7328670, patagonia.com) blends fashion and function—if you need to stock up on fleece this is the place to do it. And you can show your passion for cultural fusion by buying a pair of new Blundstones from the Australian Boot Company (1968 W. Fourth Ave., 604-738-2668, austra lianboot.com) and walking a few doors down to Maenam (1938 W. Fourth Ave.,
32 Kitsilano | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
604-730-5579, maenam.ca), the 2016 Van Mag Restaurant of the Year, for a unique taste of Thailand. Still hungry? If you’re looking for something slightly more continental, head to The Oakwood Canadian Bistro (2741 W. Fourth Ave., 604-558-1965, theoakwood.ca), or embrace your inner hippie at The Naam (2724 W. Fourth Ave., 604-738-7151, thenaam.com), an institution that has been open late since 1968. Finally, check out Rain or Shine for seasonal ice cream and home made waffle cones to die for (1926 W. Fourth Ave., 604428-7246, rainorshineicecream.com).
3 FLAVOURS TO TRY First time to Rain or Shine? Start with one of our faves: 1 Honey Lavender 2 Peanut Butter 3 Coconut Chocolate Chunk (vegan)
kitsilano beach: tourism vancouver and canadian tourism commission; rain or shine: slice of pai
WEST SIDE
Kitsilano
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Kerrisdale • Hornby • Park Royal
Vancouver’s answer to Parisian elegance and decadent gastronomic adventures
@FaubourgBakery • info@faubourg.com • faubourg.com
Spend the day creekside, exploring the city’s coolest market and prime patios An area that was once a polluted mess of sawmills, factories, and industrial waste has become one of the city’s most beautiful neighbourhoods. Today, the 1970s-era idea that blended social housing, public green space and private property is an unqualified success. But while False Creek is a great place to live, it’s nearly as attractive for visitors—and their travels should begin at the Granville Island Public Market (1661 Duranleau St., 604666-6655, granvilleisland.com) a place that personifies that social experiment.
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR Overall liveability, as ranked by Vancouver Magazine
Granville Island Public Market
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False Creek | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
During the daytime, fill up on food, specifically the offerings at Oyama Sausage Co. (1689 Johntson St., 604-327-7407, oyamasausage.ca) and Lee’s Donuts (1689 Johnston St., 604-685-4021). Visit the variety of local merchants, like the tasting room at The Liberty Distillery (1494 Old Bridge St., 604-558-1998, thelib ertydistillery.com), in the afternoon before taking in a local performance by the Arts Club Theatre Company (1585 Johnston St., 604-687-1644, artsclub.com), or check out the stunning views from the deck at the The Sandbar (1535 Johnston St., 604669-9030, vancouverdine.com/ sandbar).
Granville island Market top: david J laporte/CC By 2.0; BottoM: liGhtloG/CC By 2.0
WEST SIDE
False Creek
WEST SIDE
And if your itinerary takes you across the water to Yaletown or down the creek to Olympic Village, there’s water taxi companies standing—well, f loating—at the ready nearby. Don’t forget about the other side of the creek, though. The trio of establishments clustered there—Mahony & Sons (601 Stamps Landing, 604-876-0234, mahonyandsons.com), The Wicklow (610 Stamps Landing, 604-879-0821, thewicklow.com), and Branas Mediterranean Grill (617 Stamps Landing, 604-568-6707)—all offer some of the most stunning views in the city on a sunny day.
The Liberty Distillery
Mahony & Sons
Branas Mediterranean Grill
WHAT THE LOCALS ARE DOING
liberty: jeremy segal; seagulls: flightlog/cc by 2.0
You’ve seen, you’ve shopped, and you’ve eaten. Now, it’s time to get off your feet and enjoy Granville Island’s other forms of entertainment. Watch the Running of the Tourists If you’re planning to visit Granville Island Market, there are two things you need to know: first, any attempt to take food outside will be met with an aerial attack from seagulls trying to snatch it from you, and second, most tourists don’t know this—so you can bet that there will be fries flying. Grab a latte and a chair on the second floor of Blue Parrot Coffee (1689 Johnston St., 604-6885127, blueparrotcoffee.com) to watch the fun unfold. Get Rolling If you need to get away from the sea of humanity that floods into Granville Island in the summer, wander a few minutes southeast away from the market and toward the Granville Island Hotel (1253 Johnston St., 604-683-7373, gran villeislandhotel.com). There, you’ll find Ron Basford Park, a man-made hill that offers great views for the adults and some epic human log rolling for the kids— or the adults who can still tap into their inner child.
False Creek | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016 35
Glass towers, ice cream, and craft breweries—a haven for young professionals Olympic Village is the embodiment of revival. Over the last decade, the neighbourhood has gone from abandoned shipyards, to hosting Olympians, to empty buildings with an unclear fate, to the bustling enclave it is today. Now, in its latest version, resident “villagers” enjoy easy transit and an incredible view of the mountains. Located at the eastern end of False Creek, Olympic Village’s proximity to the water allows residents to enjoy everything from paddle boarding and kayaking to dragon boating, the neighbourhood’s unofficial sport. Most locals get their reps in at The Dragon Zone (1 Athletes Way, 604-6882382, dragonzone.ca). Spending a day at Olympic Village cannot be complete without a full tour of the six craft breweries within the village’s 14-block radius. If you’re looking for the full experience, Craft Beer Market has more than 100 beers on tap (85 W. First Ave., 604-709-2337, craftbeermarket.ca), and if you want a more local feel, Steel
Seaside walkway
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR Affordability
Smart, engaged residents
Sparrow Sculpture at Olympic Village Plaza
36 Olympic Village | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Toad Brewpub has its own homebrews on tap along with other local options (97 E. Second Ave., 604-709-8623, steeltoad.ca). The village is also home to several hidden culinary gems, including the Argo Cafe (1836 Ontario St., 604-876-3620, argocafe.ca), which has been around since 1954. A slightly more contemporary destination is the seaside Tap & Barrel (1 Athletes Way, 604-685-2223, tapand barrel.com), which infuses local ingredients with an epicurean-style cuisine and an impressive list of beers and B.C. wines (and wait until you see that patio). Last, but definitely not least, are the village’s two ice cream shops. Earnest Ice Cream (1829 Quebec St., 778-379-0697, earnesticecream.com) draws huge crowds (and lineups) for its classic flavours like salted caramel and café au lait as well as seasonal and vegan options, while Amato Gelato Café (“Mario’s” to the locals) serves up more than 72 rotating flavours of gelato like tartufo and tiramisu (78 E. First Ave., 604-879-9011, amatogelato.com).
walkway: david strongman, sparrow sculpture: elina gress
WEST SIDE
Olympic Village
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Developers at the ready… If there’s one word to describe South Cambie, it’s “central.” Since the Canada Line opened in 2009, this neighbourhood has become perhaps the most convenient in Vancouver. It’s truly (single-digit) minutes from downtown, and is equally close to popular spots in East Vancouver and the west side.
Honey Gifts
This ’hood was forced into upheaval during the cut-and-cover construction of the Line, which decimated shopping traffic and caused many business closures. But the area’s stalwarts kept on, and there are plenty of new gems here, too. Long home to quaint village low-rises and plenty of Vancouver Specials—the two-tiered boxy home that defined the city’s residential architecture from the ’60s to the ’80s—the area is densifying fast as the sheer convenience of rapid transit woos developers. On a clear day, grab a coffee at Elysian Coffee (590 W. Broadway, 604-874-5909, elysiancoffee.com) and wander through the tree-lined streets to the north to spot a couple of gingerbread-perfect heritage homes. Or make a trek to Dragon Ball Tea House (1007 W. King Edward Ave., 604-7383198), widely touted as one of the best bubble tea shops in the city—it’s open late, and offers flavours like fresh avocado and Bartlett pear.
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR Smart, Affordability engaged residents Kids
Douglas Park
38 South Cambie | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Walrus
It’s hard to talk about food in the area without first mentioning the brand new Vij’s (3106 Cambie St., 604-736-6664, vijs.ca), the Indian-cuisine staple so deservedly hyped it needs no introduction. But prepare for a wait: there are no reservations, and always long lines. The quaint feel of the area still remains in specialty shops like Walrus, a hip gift boutique with goodies like locally made pottery and playful laser-cut trivets in the shape of a Vancouver street map (3408 Cambie St., 604-874-9770, walrushome .com). It wouldn’t really be accurate to call Honey Gifts an adult novelty store, though they sell similar wares—this shop’s welcoming, high-end atmosphere and selection of only slightly risqué items, like lingerie and massage oil, makes it a destination for couples across the city (3448 Cambie St., 604-708-8065, honeygifts.com).
walrus: gucio photography; park: elina gress
WEST SIDE
South Cambie
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Great shopping? Check. Great food? Check. Great neighbourhood? We think so If you’re looking for that perfect piece to decorate your home (and you’ve got a few bucks to spare) this is the neighbourhod for you. South Granville has a rich supply of studios, galleries, and other art-oriented spaces, and it’s no wonder, given that the neigbourhood sits near some of the largest, most expensive, and most luxurious single-family homes in the city. The good news for everyone else is that means plenty of top-of-the-line boutiques and restaurants are here, too. A short jaunt east to Spruce Street brings you to Tojo’s, Vancouver’s legendary fine-dining sushi bar (1133 W. Broadway, 604-872-8050, tojos.com).
Tojo’s
Farmer’s Apprentice
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South Granville | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Try Salmon n’ Bannock Bistro for a First Nations’ take on creative West Coast cuisine, featuring ingredients like seaweed emulsion and elk (1128 W. Broadway, 604-568-8971, salmonandbannock.net). Or, give Farmer’s Apprentice and organic wine bar Grapes & Soda (1535 W. Sixth Ave., 604-620-2070) a try, both of which were created by Vancouver Magazine’s 2016 Chef of the Year David Gunawan.
FARMER’S APPRENTICE: CARLO RICCI; TOJO’S: MARTIN TESSLER
WEST SIDE
South Granville
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR View over Granville Street
Aside from art, shopping in South Granville focuses on stylish homewares and coveted designer fashion. The pedestrian-friendly concentration of contemporary furniture and houseware chains makes for fun browsing, like at the industrial-chic mainstay Restoration Hardware (2555 Granville St., 604-731-3918, restorationhardware .com), Pottery Barn (2600 Granville St., 604-678-9897, potterybarn .com), or West Elm (2947 Granville St., 604-733-6730, westelm.com). There’s also the crowd-pleasing Urban Barn (2354 Granville St., 604-731-9047, urbanbarn.com), kitchenware mecca Williams-Sonoma (2903 Granville St., 778-330-2581, williams-sonoma.com), and the Canadian standout EQ3 (2536 Granville St., 604-681-5155, eq3.com). Boboli
The fashion boutiques here are painstakingly tasteful, and they cater to a
42 South Granville | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Affordability
Household income
large age range. Adore Fashions offers child-size Versace raincoats and Dolce & Gabbana rain boots for mini fashionistas (2814 Granville St., 604-620-8212, adorefashions.com). Bacci’s sells labels that skew a little avant-garde along with trendy retro-surrealist ceramics from Fornasetti (2788 Granville St., 604733-4933, baccisvancouver.com), while Boboli carries a curated collection featuring designers from Maison Margiela to Valentino (2776 Granville St., 604257-2300, boboli.ca) and Misch stocks minimalist-chic pieces from labels like Isabel Marant and Helmut Lang (2960 Granville St., 604-731-1017, misch.ca).
granville street: south granville BIA
WEST SIDE
’HOODS: SOUTH GRANVILLE
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WEST SIDE
Kerrisdale Expensive? Sure. But there’s still lots to do in this familyfriendly neighbourhood Soaring home prices have yet to harsh the friendly vibe that makes this neighbourhood a great place to live, while Kerrisdale Village, with its blend of independent boutiques, eateries, and markets, is still a draw for both locals and the visitors with whom they share the brick sidewalks along 41st Avenue.
Bufala
Hungry? Get a taste of Faubourg Paris’s French flair with their incredible pastries, gourmet sandwiches or stop by for a macaron-making class (2156 W. 41st Ave., 604-266-2156, faubourg.com). If you’re looking for rave-worthy pizza, meanwhile, hit up Bufala (5395 West Boulevard, 604-267-7499, bufala.ca). Then there’s Ajisai Sushi Bar, which offers authentic Japanese cuisine in an intimate spot tucked in the walkway between 41st and 42nd Avenues (2081 W. 42nd Ave., 604-266-1428). Hills of Kerrisdale is the place to spy the latest trends and covetable brands (2125 W. 41st Ave., 604-266-9177, hills ofkerrisdale.com), but you’ll also score great finds at Courtney Boutique (2184 W. 41st Ave., 604-261-7633, courtney boutique.com). Kids in tow? Drop in at Cowboys and Angels to get creative in their ceramics studio (2120 W. 41st Ave., 604-568-6673, cowboysandangels.ca).
Ajisai Sushi Bar
MUST-TRY: THE SECRET GARDEN TEA COMPANY This Kerrisdale gem is hardly a secret. Welcomed with open arms by locals since the first cup of tea was poured 20 years ago, The Secret Garden Tea Company is known as a quaint spot to engage in timeless delights, steeped in tradition. It offers a cozy ambience complete with a high tea experience, including dainty house-made treats paired with popular tea blends and served on vintage china. Owners (and sisters-in-law) Erin and Kathy intended to create a space where one is encouraged to unplug and indulge in the simplicity of tea, pastries, and personal connection—phones down, pinkies up (5559 West Boulevard, 604-261-3070, secretgardentea.com).
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Kerrisdale | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Behold, Vancouver’s largest lots and oldest houses
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
First Shaughnessy, the area bounded by West 16th, King Edward, Arbutus, and Oak, was originally developed by the CPR in 1907 with designs on making it the city’s most exclusive residential area. Well, mission accomplished. If you walk through this neighbourhood you’ll see features rare in Vancouver’s increasingly densified urban landscape: front (and back!) gardens, driveways, fences, and single-family homes over three storeys tall. And while there was concern they’d become a casualty of the city’s hot real estate market, a decision by the City of Vancouver in 2015 to designate First Shaughnessy as the city’s first-ever heritage conservation area means they’re safe for future generations. This area is more residential than
BEST ’HOOD FOR Household income
commercial, which means you might struggle to find a spot to have lunch when walking around The Crescent—one of Shaughnessy’s premier addresses, featuring a circular park rumoured to have one tree from each province planted in it—but nearby Oak Street offers dining options like local favourite Max’s Deli, where you can grab a coffee and a bagel to stay or go (3105 Oak St., 604-733-4838, maxsdeli .ca). Next door, B-Bin sushi has a slightly more adventurous menu than your regular sushi haunt (try the misoblackened cod), but with pitchers of Sapporo on tap and daily specials, their food guarantees to please (3093 Oak St., 604-568-8215).
Arbutus Ridge Is it Kits? Is it Kerrisdale? Actually, it’s both
marshmallows and red velvet whoopee pies (4907 Mackenzie St., 604-221-4333, butterbakedgoods.com).
The sleepy, residential midpoint between boho Kitsilano and posh Kerrisdale, Arbutus Ridge is both quiet and comfortably suburban. Large lots and mature tree-lined streets give a familyfriendly atmosphere to an area set for growth, particularly with the new Ridge condo development and popular grocery store Loblaws.
For a no-fuss casual meal, try the fish and chips at Finest at Sea (4675 Arbutus St., 604-266-1904, finestatsea.com), or bring home some of their deli offerings, like octopus terrine or seafood bisque with saffron aioli. Friendly staff can recommend one of the house-made marinades to accompany the fresh fish on offer, like Moroccan spice with preserved lemon.
Amenities are fairly sparse within this mainly residential area, but the ones that exist are top-notch, with cute cafes and specialty shops among the standouts. Pop in for an indulgent snack at Butter Baked Goods in Mackenzie Heights, a twee, wallpapered tea-and-cakes room with rich treats like house-made violet
Standout high-end floral arrangements are available at Quince (4870 Mackenzie St., 604-263-0202, quincefineflorals .com), many in the low-and-lush Dutch Masters style currently in vogue (think tumbling, bountiful bowls of peonies and wildflowers). They’re just the thing to complement the kind of chic,
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Shaughnessy & Arbutus Ridge | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
Butter Baked Goods
west-side homes you’ll find here. Not everything in the area is upscale, though, and (relative) bargains can be snapped up at the touted, whimsical MacGillycuddy’s Children’s Consignment ((4881 4881 Mackenzie St., 604-263-5313, vankids.ca vankids.ca), where a play area keeps little hands occupied as parents hit the racks. And if you need to take the pooch for a run (or just love dogs), there’s an off-leash area for furry friends at Quilchena Park ( 4590 Magnolia St.).
shaughnessy street: popejon2
WEST SIDE
Shaughnessy
WEST SIDE
DunbarSouthlands Want that small-town vibe in the big city? This is the place for you
residential street top right: Julian schünge
Dunbar residents run the gamut, from retirees to UBC students crammed into overcrowded houses. So does the neighbourhood: to the south you’ll find a network of equestrian stables and one of the quietest waterfront parks in the city (Deering Island Park), while to the north there’s a family-friendly community with a small, but unique, retail district. Local men swear by The Clippers Edge (4535 Dunbar St., 604-224-0500), where banter is as important as a good haircut and hot shave, and classic James Bond movies are screened for patrons.
hard-to-find items like haggis, as well as plenty of U.K.-only snacks and teas.
Next door is the Celtic Treasure Chest (5639 Dunbar St., 604-261-3688, celtic treasurechest.com), which carries the usual shortbreads and sweets, but also
At the heart of Dunbar-Southlands is Stong’s Market (4560 Dunbar St., 604266-1401, stongs.com), an 85-year-old family business that breaks the mold of the
Musqueam Golf & Learning Academy
corporate grocery store with a personal connection to its customers you’d expect in a much smaller town. Stong’s closed temporarily in May, but will re-open at 27th Avenue and Dunbar Street this winter. To experience some of Southlands’ lush backcountry, saddle up at one of the many stables in the area, or work on your swing at the Musqueam Golf & Learning Academy’s driving range (3904 W. 51st Ave., 604-266-2334, musqueamgolf.com). Finally, there’s the Fraser River Trail, Vancouver’s “other seawall” that’s far quieter than the one in Stanley Park. You can access the trail south on Carrington Street, or pick it up at Balaclava Street and Celtic Avenue for a quiet waterfront jaunt. But remember: it was originally developed as a riding trail, so expect to yield to the occasional horse.
Dunbar-Southlands | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016 47
WEST SIDE
Marpole Meet the neighbourhood where east and west, north and south, and past and future all mingle comfortably
Penang Delight
Conveniently located and completely unpretentious, Marpole is where a little bit of East Vancouver bleeds west, and a little bit of Richmond bleeds north. It’s where the tony air of Shaughnessy and Kerrisdale fades away in place of dense, no-nonsense amenities, stripped-down but delicious noodle joints, and neighbourhood pubs with a little bit of grit and a lot of heart. The area is primarily residential, with surprisingly affordable condos and apartment rentals—though single-family lots are keeping pace with the city-wide price boom. For a friendly, local experience, spend an evening at The Yard (8482 Granville St., 604-569-1353, theyardcafe.ca), the kind of neighbourhood pub where bartenders greet regulars by name and you can order pulled pork on top of a bowl of Kraft Dinner. If you want to make friends fast, ring the bell at the end of the bar—according to custom, you’ve now just agreed to put a round of
shots for everyone in the place onto your tab. Visit the cute and cozy Cafe de L’Orangerie (1320 W. 73rd Ave., 604266-0066, cafedelorangerie.ca) which, despite the French-sounding name, serves Japanese riffs on Western comfort food like pasta and breaded chicken. Expect staff to bid you “Itadakimasu!” (roughly, bon appétit), and encourage you to stay for desserts like black sesame parfaits and matcha green tea pudding (our advice: you should listen to them). Next door to L’Orangerie, meanwhile, is the award-winning Penang Delight (1316 W. 73rd Ave., 604-559-9898, penang delight.com), a Malaysian restaurant with dishes like coconut crepes and spicy curry laksa bowls. Like the neighbourhood itself, it’s warm and eclectic.
Oakridge Centre was
Oakridge
Vancouver’s first shopping mall (built in 1959)
tk
With a major redevelopment of its namesake mall on the horizon, young families and boomer downsizers are eyeing up the prospect of this up-and-coming ’hood with its accessible SkyTrain station and arterial roads that head both east and west.
Despite the ongoing urban development in the neighbourhood, Oakridge also offers green space in the form of the perfectlygroomed fairways on the 18-hole Langara Golf Course (6706 Alberta St., 604-7131816). This course is a local favourite, offering generous fairways that are perfect for a relaxing yet challenging game (and a few wayward drives), with pleasant snacks and
Langara Golf Course
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Marpole & Oakridge | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
refreshments at hole nine, and electric golf carts for those with a case of tired legs. The mall itself is already the area’s anchor, but there’s a complete overhaul in the works that will yield a stack of new condos and a brand new community centre for the area, among other goodies. But in its current iteration, the mall, which was Vancouver’s first shopping centre, still offers a wide variety of retailers that carry everything from men’s and women’s fashion to home decor, children’s items, and accessories. And to keep spirits high and energy up while you’re there, the mall has a variety of food options including Cupcakes, David’s Tea, Kernels, and the award-winning Saint Germain Bakery ((650 W. 41st Ave., 604-261-2511, oakridgecentre.com oakridgecentre.com).
penang delight: andrew querner, golf course: instagram @birdiebogeypar
Yes, there’s much more than just the mall
A Timeless Westside Address 3 BEDROOM & DEN TOWNHOMES
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A New Westside Landmark
Alabaster Homes brings new life to Vancouver’s next great neighbourhood
L
iveability, like great taste, is a virtue that’s difficult to summarize. But uncompromising new homebuyers and the enlightened developers they trust know it when they see it. Alabaster Homes has an exacting set of liveability criteria when choosing sites for their projects. Among them: proximity to reputed schools, ample green space, and quality local amenities. According to the Vancouver-based homebuilding company, that makes one particular city neighbourhood a compelling buy: Marpole.
“MARPOLE IS VANCOUVER’S NEXT PRESTIGIOUS NEIGHBOURHOOD.” —YOSH KASAHARA, ALABASTER HOMES
A HIDDEN GEM “Marpole is Vancouver’s next prestigious neighbourhood,” says Yosh Kasahara, Director of Sales and Marketing at Alabaster Homes. “Its Westside location, topranked schools, and proximity to Richmond, YVR, the Cambie corridor and the Canada Line make it the perfect place to live.” Alabaster Homes’ latest project, OAK + PARK, is located on the corner of Oak Street and Park Drive. The company’s third development in the area follows close on the heels of Osler Residences and Shaughnessy Residences, and the goal for OAK + PARK—the area’s largest and most centrally located development—is loftier than anything before it. “This is a flagship project for Alabaster Homes,” reveals Kasahara. “Our vision is to raise the bar for new townhomes in the city.” GREAT SCHOOLS, GREAT HOMES OAK + PARK is located within the catchments for David Lloyd George Elementary and Sir Winston Churchill Secondary, two schools ranked among the best in the country. The prominent development is also close to Oak Park and new amenities at
Created by the Vancouver advertising department in partnership with Alabaster Homes
WHY MARPOLE
IS THE CITY’S
HIDDEN GEM Yosh Kasahara, Director, Sales and Marketing at Alabaster Homes, lets us in on a few secrets Why has Marpole been so undeveloped for so long, despite its great location? Actually, Marpole has been a thriving, family-oriented community for many years. But as the surrounding neighbourhoods of Kerrisdale, Oakridge, and Cambie continue to grow, Marpole has become the next hotspot.
How has Marpole changed since Alabaster first started building homes in the area?
Cambie and Marine Drive, including a T&T Grocery Store and Cineplex movie theatre. Kasahara explains that the unique combination of classically inspired details and modern elements will give OAK + PARK a truly timeless West Coast aesthetic. The design, led by the acclaimed team at Ciccozzi Architecture, features traditional white brick with striking black metal details, while modern yet warm interiors are in the capable hands of Occupy Design, who will complete each home with quartz countertops, premium stainless steel appliances and wide-plank hardwood floors. TOWNHOMES ARE THE NEW DETACHED HOUSES Stunning designs aside, it’s the presence of townhomes in such a sought-after, central location that is impressing demanding buyers. The three-bedroom-and-den homes, which include direct access to parking, air-conditioning and heated ensuite flooring, boast house-sized convenience without the upkeep of yards and maintenance. Anyone familiar with the company’s recent projects has already taken notice of Alabaster’s transformation of Marpole’s aesthetic and investment in its future. In fact, Osler Residences has already sold out and Shaughnessy Residences has seen overwhelming early interest. “Alabaster Homes is quickly developing a reputation as one of the top townhome builders in the industry,” says Kasahara. An Alabaster home is one that you count on for providing comfort and enjoyment for generations.”
Homebuyers are starting to realize that Marpole is the next great investment opportunity. Right now, we are seeing an incredibly strong interest as people from different parts of the city have begun to see moving to Marpole as a way to obtain a coveted Westside Vancouver address.
Why did Alabaster decide to build townhomes here? In a market where detached homes have become impossibly unaffordable for so many families living in Vancouver, townhomes have become a fantastic alternative. At Alabaster Homes, we recognize the importance of having generously sized rooms, usable outdoor spaces, and direct access to parking, so we have designed OAK + PARK to include those features.
In five years, what current neighbourhood today would you compare this area of Marpole to? There are parts of Kerrisdale, and parts of Dunbar, that offer many of the same things— great schools, parks, walkability, and central location. But I think that Marpole has unique character all its own. It’s Vancouver’s hidden gem.
Prepare to have some notable neighbours Quiet and well-heeled, West Point Grey’s local celebrities are like cashmere hoodies: never showy, but innately luxurious— basically, just picture Kit and Ace founder Shannon Wilson. (That also describes the area’s real estate, by the way.) To the north is the calm Spanish Banks beach (at N.W. Marine Dr. and Blanca St.), which is just as amenable to a bracing winter jog as it is to a summertime family outing. Need to get on the water? Rent a stand-up paddleboard at Windsure (1300 Discovery St., 604224-0615, windsure.com) or a kayak at EcoMarine (1300 Discovery St., 604689-7575, ecomarine.com) and actually get to look at the tranquility of the ocean, and not the 20 other people out with the same idea over at English Bay. Locals know they’ll find a much better selection than at the grocery store from The Butcher (4529 W. 10th Ave., 604-224-0602, thebutcher.ca), which
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR Most-educated residents exclusively offers fresh, sustainable, topquality meat, poultry, and fish. Likewise, the cheese and baked goods across the street at Pane e Formaggio (4532 W. 10th Ave., 604-224-1623, pane-eformaggio.com) elevate a meal—particularly if you include one of their wide selection of par-baked loaves.
Spanish Banks
52 West Point Grey | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
EcoMarine
Prefer to eat out? In the Fourth and Alma area there’s Yuji’s (2083 Alma St., 604-428-4688, yujis.ca), a tiny sushi place usually packed to the gills with locals dining on some of the west side’s best raw fish, and the award-winning La Quercia (3689 W. Fourth Ave., 604676-1007, laquercia.ca), an intimate Italian restaurant famed for its annual $250-a-head truffle dinner.
SpaniSh BankS: CurtiSJoneS
WEST SIDE
West Point Grey
WEST SIDE
UBC A world apart, and just a moment away
elina gress
Venture even farther west than Point Grey, beyond the untamed Pacific Spirit Park to the green and sprawling University of British Columbia campus, and you’ll feel like you just left Vancouver behind. You’ll be right, too. The land, west of Blanca Street, is unincorporated and managed by UBC itself—which gives the campus an entirely unique feel. When it’s warm out, grab a pint on the garden patio at Koerner’s Pub (6371 Crescent Rd., 604-827-1443, koerners .ca), an upscale, student-run joint with
The Greenheart TreeWalk at the UBC Botanical Garden
plenty of lounging space and creative pub fare like pho nachos and chicken karaage. Caught in the rain without an umbrella? Warm up with the
mainstays include the fresh, gooey Marbelous tuxedo cookies at Uppercase (6133 University Blvd., 604-8226999), Venezuelan spiced hot chocolate at The Boulevard Coffee Roasting Co. (5970 University Blvd., 604-827-4488, theboulevard.ca), and Sage Bistro’s creative fine-dining lunches with inimitable views (6331 Crescent Rd., 604-822-0968, sage.ubc.ca).
beach: go to van, totem: kyle pearce, savery island: matt lo
On South Campus—the new enclave of slick condos along 16th Avenue—there’s Doughgirls (3322 Shrum Ln., 604-3335474, doughgirlsbakeshop.com), a cafe and bake shop known for its kale biscuits and takeaway pies and soups, and a sprawling terrace at Biercraft (3340 Shrum Ln., 604-559-2437, biercraft .com) that makes the Belgian-style bistro’s two east-side locations jealous.
MOA (Museum of Anthropology)
healthy vegan soups, coffees, and baked goods at Seedlings (6371 Crescent Rd., ubcsprouts.ca), ubcsprouts.ca a popular, green non-profit café hidden on the top f loor of the graduate student building. Other campus
If you’re in need of some cultural stimulation, you’ll be sure to find plenty at the Museum of Anthropology (6393 N.W. Marine Drive, 604-827-5932, moa.ubc.ca). It features exhibitions that blend contemporary art, historical artefacts, and political dialogue to often dramatic effect—all set in one the most exquisite buildings in the city. And if a walk through the forest is more your speed, check out the the breathtaking Greenheart canopy walkway at the UBC Botanical Garden (6804 S.W. Marine Dr., 604-822-4208, botanicalgarden.ubc.ca).
UBC | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016 53
Minutes from downtown but miles from ordinary, this stylish area at the heart of East Van has a little something for everyone Mount Pleasant’s intentions are clear as soon as you spy the KEEP VANCOUVER WET sign at Main Street and 11th Avenue. This is Portland North, an increasingly coveted address with a cool vintage scene and exploding craft brew culture.
More breweries than supermarkets
6th Ave.
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Brassneck tasting room
Don’t forget to stock up from the wide variety of bottles available at Brewery Creek Liquor Store (3045 Main St., 604-872-3373, brewerycreekliquorstore .com), the go-to source for ephemeral finds like lush, citrusy fresh-hop beers in the fall and strawberry-inflected sprucetip ales in the spring. For the full artisanal Homer Simpson, follow up with fare from one of the area’s two gourmet doughnut shops: Lucky’s Doughnuts (2902 Main St., 604-8724901, luckysdoughnuts.com), with unexpected flavours like orange pistachio and PB&J, or Cartems (2190 Main St., 778-707-1114, cartems.com), which offers both gluten-free vegan treats and an indulgent whiskey-bacon flavour. Vintage treasures abound at shops like F As In Frank (2425 Main St.,
Mount Pleasant & Main Street | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
604-568-5130, fasinfrankvintage.com), the Bohemia Gallery loft (3243 Main St., 604-874-2781, bohemiagallery.ca) C’est La Vie (3247 Main St., 604-8762284), and the ever-expanding Front and Company (3772 Main St., 604-8798431, frontandcompany.com), known for its head-turning window displays and well-curated mix of consignment and designer samples. For the determined vintage hound, there’s the huge monthly Eastside Flea market (1024 Main St. and other locations, eastsideflea.com). Then show off that new (old) outfit at one of the Biltmore Cabaret’s weekly themed dance nights (2755 Prince Edward St., 604-676-0541, biltmore cabaret.com), or the cult-hit Sunday Service improv comedy show at the Fox Cabaret (2321 Main St., foxcabaret.com).
Vishal Marapon
This neighbourhood stands atop a brewing legacy more than a century old, and is now the epicentre of the city’s craft beer revival. Sample a tasting flight at the award-winning Brassneck (2148 Main St., 604-259-7686, brassneck.ca) accompanied by some gourmet munchies from the rotating cast of food trucks parked outside, pair your brew with some music at Red Truck’s (295 E. First Ave., 604-682-4733, redtruckbeer.com) summer concert series, fill a growler with something creative at Main Street Brewing (261 E. Seventh Ave., 604-3367711, mainstreetbeer.ca) or R&B (54 E. Fourth Ave., 604-874-2537, randbbrew ing.com), or snap the perfect Instagram with your pint at the hipster-chic tasting lounge at 33 Acres (15 W. Eighth Ave., 604-620-4589, 33acresbrewing.com).
Cambie St.
EAST SIDE
Mount Pleasant & Main Street
SHOPPING
CHURCH FOOD STORES Buy-Low Foods Host Food Spot
DRUG STORE/PHARMACY Shoppers Drug Mart SERVICES BC Lottery Corp. Eye to Eye Opticians Fast Cell Repair FIDO GVC Credit Union Kingsgate Dental Mandarin 1 HR Photo RBC ATM Rogers Sofia's Hair Studio Sussex Insurance (Auto Plan) Wind Mobility
GENERAL MERCHANDISE BC Liquor Store Dollar Land Easyhome Golden Leaf Jewellers Home Highlights Kingsgate Smoke Shop Lely's Books Shoppers HomeHealth Care The Source Wynn's Plants & Flowers FASHION STORES Ardene Lolli Pretty Jay Set Mark's Payless Shoesource Reitmans
ST. PATRICK’S CATHOLIC CHURCH A community that brings God’s love to everyone. Join us for Mass, parish activities & events. In the Mount Pleasant community on Main Street between 12th & 13th Ave. 604.874.7818 | stpatsvan.com
370 East Broadway Street 604.879.0144 | kingsgatemall.com
SHOPPING
Over 200 local artists – one store. For gift giving that aims higher… think Bird On A Wire! 2535 Main Street @ East Broadway 604.315.1188 birdonawirecreations.com
Venture just a little further down Main to discover this gem of a ’hood Riley Park—sometimes known as Little Mountain—is Mount Pleasant’s older, chiller sibling. It’s a place to which many former west side businesses are retreating, given that it offers all of the foot traffic but a fraction of that west-of-Granville rent. It’s the home of tourist mecca Queen Elizabeth Park (130 acres between Cambie street, Ontario street, 29th and 32nd avenues), a longstanding constellation of treasure-filled antique shops, and a burgeoning vegetarian food scene. Within the 10 antique and vintage furniture shops along Main Street from King Edward to 33rd you’ll find plenty of timeless, mid-century modern items like the ones at ReFind (4609 Main St., 778-855-0969, refind homefurnishings.com). Don’t miss the one-of-a-kind reclaimed and industrial accents at JoJo’s (4376 Main St., 604-876-5866, jojosplace.com). The same area is host to a recent explosion of vegetarian eateries good enough to please meat lovers, too. There’s The Acorn (3995 Main St., 604-566-9001, theacornrestaurant.ca), home to a
Le Marché St. George
beer-battered halloumi more decadent than any fish-andchip plate, and hip hangout Meet (4288 Main St., 604-877-1292, meetonmain.com), with chili fries and sauce-smothered faux wings. The Asian fare is just as solid, with the upscale Vietnamese food (and delightfully innovative cocktails and desserts) at the recently renovated Anh and Chi (3388 Main St., 604-874-0832, anhandchi.com) leading the way. Yes, you can still get the pho (and yes, it’s still good), but there’s much more than that—and a new patio to boot. Also worth noting is Hawker’s Delight (4127 4127 Main St., 604-709-8188), 604-709-8188
Queen Elizabeth Park
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ReFind
The Acorn
a hole-in-the-wall Malaysian/Singaporean restaurant where few of the flavourpacked dishes top $8. The Kinfolk-ready Le Marché St. George (4393 St. George St., 604-565-5107, marchestgeorge.com), a cafe-boutique hybrid with yard-produced eggs, honey, croissants, and crepes, is also worth a visit. Looking for some entertainment? The unique performance art at Little Mountain Gallery (195 E. 26th Ave., littlemountaingallery.ca)—with themes like “Sci-Fi Noir Improv” and “Weird Al Karaoke”—will almost certainly deliver. And for entertainment of a different kind, head to the Anavets Canteen (3917 Main St., 604-8791020, anavets.ca), a divey, classically Canadian Legion-style club offering public memberships, karaoke, shuff leboard, and pool.
the acorn: sean david; park: guilhem vellut; le marché st. george: issha marie
EAST SIDE
Riley Park
The World’s Largest Selection of Hand Crafted Canadian Jewellery 387 Water Street in Gastown, Vancouver 1002 Government Street, Victoria www.artinas.com Showcasing over 100 of Canada’s Top Artists West Coast First Nations Jewellery and Contemporary Canadian Wearable Art
EAST SIDE
RenfrewCollingwood Think East Van has gone completely west side? Think again Renfrew-Collingwood doesn’t have the trendiest reputation, but it’s highly convenient and walkable—nothing to turn your nose up at there. With a SkyTrain station, a dense swath of restaurants along Kingsway serving a variety of worldwide cuisines, and a tightly knit residential neighbourhood surrounding it, RenfrewCollingwood might just become the next go-to ’hood for entrepreneurs. Check out the Jambo Grill, which serves East African-Indian fusion like masala steak and kuku poussin chicken (3219
Chosun
Kingsway, 604-433-5060, jambogrill .ca). Chosun accommodates groups in a spacious, raucous atmosphere with crowd-pleasing cook-at-your-table Korean barbecue stations (3486 Kingsway, 604-434-1222, chosunkorean bbqvancouver.com). Looking for a nerdy evening out? Magic Stronghold is as much a social hub as it is a game shop. Wander in and you’re sure to find intense card and board game play along many roomy gaming tables (3665 Kingsway, 604-568-6030, magicstrong
hold.com). Regular tournaments are held for those looking to get competitive. Computer at home doesn’t quite clock fast enough? Head to MLGB E-Sports Club, where enthusiasts of high-powered competitive online games like Dota and League of Legends can play on Alienware rigs with racing-style chairs and food and beverage service (3665 Kingsway, 604-564-6542). Fuel up with some hot noodles at Ramengers, a comic-andanime-themed casual Japanese cafe with One Piece menu art that’s sure to get a laugh (3520 Kingsway, 604-419-4400).
Killarney Killarney is one of Vancouver’s quietest and most secluded neighbourhoods, with curling single-family residential cul-desacs in Champlain Heights and small shopping plazas sporting Burnaby-sized parking lots. But the allure of quiet waterfront on the Fraser River was too hard to ignore, and a dense patch of condos have sprung up on the area’s southern shoreline. Killarney developed later than the rest of the city, with its main subdivisions sprouting in the ’70s. While spotting a film or TV crew is old hat to anyone in Vancouver’s west side or downtown, the filming of a Michael Bublé video at a Killarney mall was greeted as a major cultural event.
TK
Everett Crowley Park
of south-facing waterfront patios, and far more relaxing than others on False Creek (8683 Kerr St., 604-566-9545, romers burgerbar.com). Champlain Heights’ Village Pub is a rough-around-the-edges watering hole with a small-town feel (7725 Champlain Cres., 604-433-1111). A tranquil green space with jogging trails and an off-leash area, Everett Crowley Park (Kerr Street and SE Marine Drive) was a municipal dump until the ’60s— showing that it really is possible to turn trash into treasure.
The patio at Romer’s Burger Bar in the River District is one of the city’s newest best-kept secrets: it’s one of just a handful Romer’s Burger Bar
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EvErETT: Elina GrEss
Just about as southeast as you can get
EAST SIDE
Strathcona With the viaducts about to come down, this bastion of east-side cool is about to go head-to-head with west-side prices In a town where most buildings look like they were built last Thursday, Strathcona is an old soul with a checkered past and an uncertain future. And while that future will be shaped by the forces of gentrification, they haven’t won yet. Strathcona is still a neighbourhood defined by (and proud of) its economic and cultural diversity, a place where the number of Starbucks locations is still dwarfed by that of artist’s studios and independent businesses.
Trans am ToTem: elina Gress; Breweries: DaviD sTronGman
Hungry? Well, breakfast will never be the same after you sample Yolks Restaurant and Commissary’s hash browns (1298 E. Hastings St., 604-428-9655, yolks.ca), but for a homemade-by-mom vibe, try the traditional Portuguese food at the family-run Union Market (810 Union St., 604-225-5025, unionmarket
Trans Am Totem
.ca) or grab a pear baguette at Finch’s Market Cafe (501 E. Georgia St., 604-558-1644). If you’re looking for a place where your drink looks more like a work of art and less like a can of PBR, head to The Union for their banga cocktails—a Filipino term meaning “jar”—made with simply one glass and a stick (219 Union St., 604-5683230, theunionvancouver.ca). Comb through Charlie & Lee’s racks of indie labels (223 Union St., 604-5583030, charlieandlee.com) then head
next door to the Board of Trade Co., a minimalist’s retail fantasy (227 Union St., 778-318-9697, boardoftradeco.com). If new threads aren’t for you, the Homestead Junction (649 E. Hastings St., 604-568-7675, homesteadjunction.ca) is packed with useful treasures.
The city’s oldest residential neighbourhood Prepare to swoon at London Fields’ assortment of vintage housewares and trinkets (692 E. Hastings St., 604-379-1087, londonfieldsshoppe.com) or step back in time at The Antique Market (1324 Franklin St., 604-875-1434, antiquesdirect.ca).
5 PLACES TO GRAB A BEER IN STRATHCONA Forget the frat-house-style pub crawls. The new way to imbibe en masse is the brewery crawl, and you can barely throw a growler in this city without hitting a craft brewery. Good news: Strathcona is full of them. 1. Bomber Brewing (1488 Adanac St., 604-428-7457, bomberbrewing.com) 2. Off the Rail Brewing (1351 Adanac St., 604-563-5767, offtherailbrewing.com) 3. Callister Brewing Co. (1338 Franklin St., 604-569-2739, callisterbrewing.com) 4. Strange Fellows Brewing (1345 Clark Dr., 604-215-0092, strangefellowsbrewing.com) 5. The Heatley (696 East Hastings St., 604-336-3958, facebook.com/theheatley) Off the Rail Brewing
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A melting pot that Italian grandmas, East Van hipsters, traditional Chinese bakeries, and trendy taco bars all call home Packed with restaurants that boast guaranteed lineups, Hastings-Sunrise is slowly transitioning from a primarily residential neighbourhood to a key contributor to Vancouver’s culinary scene. It’s also home to the newly minted Brewery District, where some of the city’s best craft beers are made. Add in the affordability and convenience factors (you can get pretty much anywhere in 20 minutes by car) and it’s clear why historic Hastings-Sunrise is now attracting the likes of young professionals, artists, and young families. Whether you’re in search of the city’s best tacos (Tacofino Commissary, 2327 E. Hastings St., 604-253-8226, tacofino .com), a new take on an old favourite (Vietnamese at Mr. Red Café, 2234 E. Hastings St., 604-710-9515, facebook.com/mr redvancity), or Tamam, the only Palestinian restaurant in Vancouver (2616 E. Hastings St., 604-620-7078, tamam.ca), Hastings-Sunrise has it all. Oh and did we mention it’s also the city’s mecca for cheese lovers? Les Amis du Fromage (843 E. Hastings St., 604-253-4218, buycheese.com) stocks well over 400 cheeses from around the world. Di Oliva Tasting Bar (2632 E. Hastings St., 604-248-6999, dioliva.ca) also spoils you for choice, with more than 50 different flavour-infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars in stock to sample and savour. Get into the local craft beer scene at tasting lounges in the Brewery District, like Parallel 49 Brewing (1950 60
Tacofino Commissary
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods Triumph St., 604-558-2739, parallel 49brewing.com), or, for fun cocktails, sip rum-based tropical drinks out of coconuts at The Waldorf’s Tiki Bar (1489 E. Hastings St., 604-253-7141, atthewaldorf.com). Downtown may boast all the designer labels, but you’ll love browsing edgy independent shops on East Hastings Street. Baaad Anna’s is not your grandmother’s yarn store (2667 E. Hastings St., 604-2552577, baaadannas.com), Dayton Boots boasts diehard fans like Angelina Jolie (2250 E. Hastings St., 604-253-6671, day tonboots.com), and find everything from 18th-century poetry to local vinyl records at Horses Records (2447 E. Hastings St., 604-336-6776, horsesrecords.tumblr. com). The Gourmet Warehouse is the ultimate home and cookware shop for the chef at home (1340 E. Hastings St., 604-2533022, gourmetwarehouse.ca),
Hastings-Sunrise | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
BEST ’HOOD FOR Affordability
Long-term neighbours
and, as for home decor, check out the local handcrafted goods at Tiny Finery (2162 E. Hastings St., 604-569-2171, tinyfinery.ca). Hastings Park (2901 E. Hastings St.) is home to some of Western Canada’s biggest events—from the family-friendly Fair at the PNE (pne.ca) to the annual sartorial showdown of Vancouver: the Deighton Cup derby (deightoncup.com).
tacofino: gwenael lewis; parallel 49: eydis einarsdottir
EAST SIDE
HastingsSunrise
EAST SIDE
Commercial Drive A colourful strip for the creative types There are two contenders for the old heart of Vancouver’s counterculture: the formerly hippiefied Kitsilano, and the punk-heritaged Commercial Drive. But while Kits’ history as a cheap place to live for free spirits evolved into a slick, high-priced oasis of yoga and kale, the punk roots of “the Drive” (as the locals call it) weren’t so easy to tame. D.I.Y. street festivals co-exist with a heavy concentration of shops and restaurants, which tend to reflect the area’s cultural diversity and occasional anti-establishment leanings. In the summer, enjoy neighbourhood festivities like Car Free Day and Italian Day, which attract tens of thousands of people to the area. But don’t worry too much about the crowds that inevitably flock to the Drive on a warm and sunny day. Locals say it has a “deep bench” when it comes to bars and restaurants, which means it’s easy to get in somewhere even if your first (or second) choice is taken. If your beard is approaching lumberjack length, you’ll fit right in at St. Augustine’s, whose beer leaderboard shows a constantly updated roster of how much beer remains in each keg
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
TOP 5 ’HOODS FOR Affordability (2360 Commercial Dr., 604-569-1911, staugustinesvancouver.com). And if your facial hair has grown all the way into wizard territory, you’ll feel right at home at the original Storm Crow Tavern, ern whose runaway success demonstrates
SHOPPING FIX: KALENA’S SHOES When a store has managed to stick around since 1967, you know it’s got a good thing going. In fact, the owners of Kalena’s Shoes (1526 Commercial Dr., 604-255-3727, kalenashoes.com) —the Casellato family—are so engrained in the Drive that Carmen (current owner Veralena’s father, who has since passed away) was on the founding committee for perhaps Commercial Drive’s most successful event, Italian Day, which drew more than 100,000 people to the neighbourhood last year. Carmen’s sons still serve on the committee to this day.
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how geek culture has crossed into the mainstream (1305 Commercial Dr., 604566-9669, stormcrowtavern.com). For the less hirsute, there’s Cuban-chic Havana Restaurant, which serves up Nuevo Latino cuisine and killer cocktails on an always-packed patio—there’s also a contemporary art gallery and theatre inside (1212 Commercial Dr., 604-2539119, havanarestaurant.ca). In search of things to do that are a bit left of centre? Catch a crowd-pleasing Dungeons and Dragons or Cards Against Humanitythemed improv show at the Rio Theatre— which, yes, serves alcoholic beverages, but that’s far from the only reason to go there. The Rio is a great place to find a midnight revival showing of a cult movie like unintentional cringe-cinema classic, The Room, or audience-participation favourite, The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1660 E. Broadway, 604-879-3456, riotheatre.ca).
PROUDLY CELEBRATING 49 YEARS ON THE DRIVE
KALENA’S
1526 Commercial Drive, Vancouver | 604.255.3727 Est.1967
MADE IN ITALY
SHOES & ACCESSORIES
Italian Shoe Outlet, 229 Mountain Hwy, North Vancouver | 604.929.7400 kalenashoes.com
A community with an industrial past and a family-friendly future Despite its enviable location on the banks of the Fraser River, with the Knight Street Bridge leading to Richmond and the cool haunts of Commercial Drive a quick hop north, Fraserview has kept its identity as a largely workingclass, pretence-free community. The neighbourhood has a long history as the site of a Musqueam village, and the area’s modern contours began to take shape as it became a family-friendly enclave during the postwar baby boom of the 1950s. For an alternative to Chinatown’s packed storefronts, check out the Chinese-Canadian markets on Victoria Drive between 41st and 49th Avenues. Pick up pork buns at Pine House Bakery (5870 Victoria Dr., 604-325-7222), dried ginseng at Cheung Sing Herbal and Birds Nest Co. (5836 Victoria Dr.), and produce and everything else at Pacific Gateway Supermarket (5818 Victoria Dr., 604-301-1225)—all for prices far below anywhere else in town. For meat-eaters with large appetites, it’s hard to beat Tibisti Lebanese Grill (6990 Victoria Dr., 604-737-1000, tibistigrill.com), a small mom-and-pop
East Side Craft House
restaurant with a lunch buffet serving melt-in-your-mouth meat stews all for $12 and change. For atmosphere, the best place hands-down is the Northern Cafe & Grill (1640 E. Kent Ave., 604313-8118), an old-school diner tucked away in a lumber yard serving up big plates of comfort food with an enviable river view. Looking to unwind after work? A reasonable selection of craft brews, including Fuller’s Nitro Ale, are available at East Side Craft House (1445 E. 41st Ave., 604-324-1400, eastsidecrafthouse.com), along with friendly pub events like trivia nights and music bingo. Fraserview Golf Course
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods Pine House Bakery
BEST ’HOOD FOR Cultural diversity
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Long-term neighbours
And then there’s the golf course that gave the neighbourhood part of its name, Fraserview Golf Course (7800 Vivian Dr., 604-257-6921, vancouver.ca), an inexpensive City of Vancouver classic complete with a driving range and fullservice clubhouse restaurant. For those with little ones, Tecumseh Park (1751 E. 41st Ave. at Bruce St.) is a hidden gem, with a playground featuring a vintage tractor for climbing, water features, and a winding wooden boardwalk.
golf course: ryan willians; pine house: shermansfoodadventures
EAST SIDE
VictoriaFraserview
EAST SIDE
KensingtonCedar Cottage Got a young family? Then this is the neighbourhood for you and yours Like its name, Kensington-Cedar Cottage is a combination of things. There is the intersection it shares with Mount Pleasant—Kingsway and Fraser Street—with high-end restaurants like the newly opened Italian eatery, Savio Volpe (615 Kingsway, 604-428-0072, saviovolpe.com), and the award-winning Les Faux Bourgeois (663 E. 15th Ave., 604-873-9733, lesfauxbour geois.com). And only a little farther east along Kingsway, there is a very different neighbourhood: Little Saigon. That designation wasn’t made official until 2013, after a petition signed by 3,000 local residents prompted the City of Vancouver to recognize its roots. But those roots have been there for decades, when many of Vancouver’s early Vietnamese immigrants arrived during the Vietnam War and transformed the neighbourhood into, among other things, a great place to grab Vietnamese food. If you’re in the mood, try Hai Phong (1246 (1246 Kingsway, 604-8723828, haiphongrestaurant.com). haiphongrestaurant.com
Savio Volpe
Farther down Kingsway you’ll find Victoria Drive. Head north to where Victoria turns into Commercial for mouthwatering tacos at Bandidas Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant that also happens to be vegetarian (2781 Commercial Dr., 604-568-8224, bandidastaqueria.com). Or head south to Chau Veggie Express for another stellar Vietnamese (and, for that matter, vegetarian) option (5052 Victoria Dr., 604-568-9508, chowatchau.ca). And still there is much more to see in Kensington-Cedar Cottage. John Hendry Park at Trout Lake may be the best park in East Vancouver, and it’s far from being the only green space in the area. Indeed, if there is one element tying
together the sprawling patchwork that is Kensington-Cedar Cottage, it may be its family-friendliness, and the area is filled with many family-run businesses and restaurants with recipes that have been passed down for generations. You’ll feel right at home there, too.
John Hendry Park
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Diversity personified (and perfected) Sunset maintains a thriving cultural mix, and it shows in the neighbourhood’s defining features. This is where you’ll find the Punjabi Market area, which is sometimes known as “Little India” (it’s the city’s central source for Muslims seeking halal meat) as well as Mennonite churches operating in at least two languages. This neighbourhood was the city’s original hub for Indo-Canadian immigrants. But with many now leaving for the busier and less expensive Surrey, the area’s percentvanmag.com/neighbourhoods age of Punjabi speakers is dropping. Still, expect to find plenty of great food and shopping.
BEST ’HOOD FOR
desserts like gulab jamun are almost too pretty to eat.
Cultural diversity Try the cavity-inducing treats or the wellSunset is one priced vegetarian of the best buffet at All India Sweets & Restauspots in the city to shop for bulk spices, rant (6507 Main St., 604-327-0891, scarves, fabric, and jewellery. Rokko allindiasweetsrestaurant.com), where Sarees & Fabrics (6201 Fraser St., you’ll find the rows of sugary rainbow 604-327-3033) carries all varieties of
fabric, from silk chiffon to bamboo jersey, at low prices. Stock up on produce and spices at Fruiticana (6257 Fraser St., 604-321-9931, fruiticana.com), or check out the intricate gold parures at Bharti Art Jewellers (6612 Main St., 604-327-8711, bhartijewellers.com). For bulk nuts and lentils, and halal meats prepared by an in-store butcher, go to Gulberg Market & Halal Meat (8244 Fraser St., 604-323-2400).
Sunset Community Centre
All India Sweets & Restaurant
66 Sunset | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
elina gress except all india sweets & restaurant
EAST SIDE
Sunset
Meet the anchor of North Vancouver’s seaside scene From the prestigious residential area of Upper Lonsdale to the industrial-lined, bustling community of Lower Lonsdale (lovingly labelled “LoLo” by locals), this walkable neighbourhood offers the perfect balance of urban flair and rural charm. The Lonsdale Quay, which was built to coincide with Vancouver’s world-renowned Expo ’86, is the gateway to North Vancouver for out-oftowners looking to explore the North Shore by SeaBus. Packed with fresh produce and pronounced personality, The Quay (123 Carrie Cates Ct., North Vancouver, 604985-6261, lonsdalequay.com) is North Vancouver’s answer to the Granville Island Market, a popular destination frequented by visitors and locals alike.
Overlooking downtown Vancouver
mountain-biking trails or mogul-littered runs that await.
La Taqueria
While it would be easy to spend a full day strolling through the shops, and snacking your way through the plethora of vendors within the market, the area of Lonsdale has more to offer. If you want to get some fresh air, make like local outdoor adventurists and head to the North Shore Bike Shop (1831 Lonsdale
Ave., North Vancouver, 604-929-6727, northshorebikeshop.com) or North Shore Ski & Board (1625 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, 604-987-7245, northshoreski andboard.com) for a bike tune-up or those last-minute snow essentials you’ll need before hitting the killer
Further up Lonsdale you’ll find streets lined with dining options from around the world. Sushi Bella (152 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, 604-987-8633, sushi bella.com) is a must for sushi aficionados, or nosh on juicy carnitas (Mexican-style pulled pork tacos) from La Taqueria (1305 Welch St., North Vancouver, 604-9714744, lataqueria.com), located just off the main strip. And for a hearty German dish, head to Jägerhof Restaurant (71 Lonsdale Ave., North Vancouver, 604-980-4316, jagerhof.ca), where you can chow down on bratwurst, wiener schnitzel, and sautéed purple cabbage and sauerkraut—all while downing a pint and tapping your feet to live music on Friday and Saturday nights.
DON’T MISS: SHIPYARDS NIGHT MARKET From May to September locals and tourists alike will be pouring into this picturesque (and totally free) oceanfront market at Lonsdale Quay. It features 4o-plus food trucks offering up everything from sweet to savoury in the Hot Food Alley, a rotating lineup of live music, more than 100 vendors selling fresh food and locally made products, and even a beer garden that serves up craft brew and cider. Be it date night or family night, the Shipyards Night Market makes for a perfect night on the town—at least, when the weather gods are playing nice. (138 Victory Ship Way, northshoregreenmarkets.com)
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downtown view: go to van; la taqueria: Carlo riCCi
NORTH SHORE
Lonsdale
Audi
Capilano
Our Audi Experts are here for you. Serving the North Shore community since 1970. 813, Automall drive - North Vancouver,BC www.capilanoaudi.com | 604.985.0693
NORTH SHORE
Pemberton Heights A magical mash-up of great shops and the great outdoors Perched above the Marine Drive corridor, Pemberton Heights is one of the few North Shore neighbourhoods that offers both accessibility to parks and trails and walkability to rows of retail shops. Residents can enjoy wooded walks through adjacent local parks, then stroll down to the strip for a coffee at Starbucks and a quick shop at Save On Foods—both conveniently located at Pemberton Plaza (1240 Marine Dr., North Vancouver). For dinner, forego the range of restaurant chains in the area and opt instead for a pop in at the Pemberton Station Pub (“The Pemby” to locals)—a great place to grab a brew and watch the game while munching on appies and catching up with friends. Hang all night, or grab a six-pack to go for some cold bevies at home (135 Pemberton Ave., North Vancouver 604-9843558, pembypub.com). A short jaunt up the hill reveals the residential centre of Pemberton Heights, a plateau of hilltop homes surrounded
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TOP
10
Safest ’hoods to live in
by lush greenery. The somewhat hidden community has many desirable homes, with some featuring outstanding views of Marine Drive and the Burrard Inlet. While Pemberton Heights may be considered a quiet enclave, the area is also home to the Corner Stone Bistro (1096 W. 22nd St., North Vancouver, 604-9903602, cornerstone-bistro.com), the first fully licensed corner store, cafe, and bistro in the province. A local hub since the early 1920s, the Corner Stone is an anomaly: a spot where visitors can pick up a bag of penny candies (just like in the olden days), browse wall-hung galleries featuring local artwork, and dine on a three-course dinner while sipping on a cold pint and boppin’ along to live music. Then they can head home with a carton of milk for tomorrow morning’s coffee.
NORTH SHORE
Ambleside & Dundarave Where local stores and family businesses prevail, and the city rush feels far, far away vanmag.com/neighbourhoods Although the popular Park Royal mall is only a two-minute drive away, most of Ambleside and Dundarave has a coastal village-like feel. Your first stop in this seaside neighbourhood is Crema (1495 Bellevue Ave., West Vancouver, 604922-2294, crema.ca), where they serve a variety of home-baked pastries made daily from scratch; or, for a slightly heartier breakfast, try the locally renowned Savary Island Pie Company (1533 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-926-4021, savaryislandpiecompany.com).
beach: Go to van; savary Island PIe comPany: matt lo
If you want to walk off your delicious breakfast, both Ambleside and Dundarave have a walkway by the ocean with views overlooking Vancouver and the Georgia Strait. Along the stroll there are parks with playgrounds and sandy areas perfect for crab hunting. Throughout your walk, you’ll pass community-run art facilities like the Ferry Building Gallery (1414 Argyle Ave., West Vancouver, 604-9257290, ferrybuildinggallery.com), which
BEST ’HOOD FOR Safety (it has the fewest home break-ins) showcases local artists; the Music Box (1564 Argyle Ave., West Vancouver, 604925-7198), which provides people with a space to play music, write, and paint; and the Lawson Creek Studios (1756 Argyle Ave., West Vancouver, 604-925-7290), where people can attend visual art classes. Locally owned stores are dotted all over these parts. Try Treasure Chest Antiques (2465 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604922-2982, treasurechestantiques.ca) for timeless antiques, or Dundarave’s Knit & Stitch Shoppe (2460a Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-922-1023, theknitand stitchshoppe.com), which claims to have the biggest selection of yarn in the city. Red Horses (2460b Marine Dr., West
Savary Island Pie Company
Vancouver, 604-922-3933, facebook .com/redhorsesgallery) has a multitude of kitsch goodies, from jewellery to decorative items and Nordic blankets. For dinner, if French cuisine is the flavour du jour, Cafe Ça Va (1860 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-925-2503, cafecava.com) offers delectable dishes in a relaxing room. Keeping the local theme and offering West Coast cuisine, The Beach House (150 25th St., West Vancouver, 604-922-1414, the beachouserestaurant.ca) is located on the western end of the oceanside walkway and is the place to go for a top-dollar meal. Straying away from white tablecloths and ambient music, Feast (2423 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-922-1155, feast dining.ca) is a more rustic choice, offering deliciously fresh meals made with the best local ingredients.
Ambleside Beach
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Find homes of the rich and famous nestled in these West Van hills West Vancouver’s transformation from boat-access-only beachside enclave to the most prestigious residential neighbourhood on the North Shore can be credited to the Guinness fam-
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR Raising kids Temper Pastry
ily (of Irish stout fame), owners of the British Properties and its surrounding trifecta of iconic landmarks: the Lions Gate Bridge, Capilano Golf and Country Club, and the Park Royal Shopping Centre (one of the first in Canada). More than 80 years later, the Guinness family is still building up the community, with development plans for a cross-community mountain path for pedestrians and cyclists and a hilltop village with shops and recreational activities.
On your way back down the hill, pop into Temper Pastry (2409 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, 604-281-1152, temperpastry .com) for sweet European pastries and
With housing prices ranging from $2 million fixer-upper homes to $14 million (plus) sweeping estates, permanent residency in the area is but a dream for most locals. However, a scenic drive up the windy roads on a sunny Sunday afternoon is a great way to plot out future lottery-winning plans. The ocean views are unparalleled and a drive-by, up-close look at some of the world’s most luxurious properties makes the uphill jaunt worth the drive. 72
British Properties | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
steaming hot Americanos. For a more carb-filled meal, grab a table on the rooftop patio of Trattoria (757 Main St., West Vancouver, 604-424-8777, glowbalgroup .com/trattoria) and gaze down at the L.A.-style shopping mecca that lies at your feet while savouring a bowl of pasta and glass of red. Don’t forget your wallets, because you’re sure to splurge at one of the shops at the picturesque, indooroutdoor Park Royal South (2002 Park Royal South, West Vancouver, 604-9223211, shopparkroyal.com).
HIKE TO LOST LAKE The most epic Vancouver hikes are hybrids of urban panoramas amidst old growth and giant ferns. The Lost Lake section of the Brothers Creek Trail in the British Properties might be your new fave: park at the trailhead off Millstream Road and climb northwest for an hour before arriving at (and possibly jumping in) emerald Lost Lake.
Home: JoHn Sinal; Temper: ellen Ho
NORTH SHORE
British Properties
Creativity by Nature Natural Picture Agate gemstone
1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver | 604 925 8333 Four Seasons Hotel, 791 West Georgia Street, Vancouver | 604 682 1158 WINNERS OF CANADIAN EXCELLENCE IN DESIGN COMPETITION stittgen.com
Just passing through? Here’s why you should stay a while Most people who visit Horseshoe Bay are on their way somewhere else, whether it’s along the Sea-to-Sky Highway or onto ferries to Nanaimo, Bowen Island, and Langdale. But the relaxed seaside community of approximately 1,000 permament residents, which is the ying to West Vancouver’s yang, deserves a visit of its own. The main attraction is the proximity to water and access to some truly unspoiled nature. Whytecliff Park (7102 Marine Dr., West Vancouver) is a world away from busy city beaches, with its tranquil, rocky coastline serving as a sanctuary for hundreds of marine animals. You can enjoy a low-impact hike and cool off with a snorkel in the ocean,
Horseshoe Bay dock
or take advantage of the park’s tennis courts and playground. Affordable boat rentals are offered at Sewell’s Marina (6409 Bay St., West Vancouver, 604921-3474), and they’re the perfect way to explore the islands of Howe Sound and multiple parks in the area that can only be reached by water. If you need to stay in touch with the world during your escape, don’t worry—most of the area has cell service. Then there’s Bowen Island (tourism bowenisland.com), which has all the artsy-hippie flavour of the southern Gulf Islands, but is only a 20-minute ferry ride away. Stay at a marine resort, take a
kayaking excursion, or visit the regular village art markets. Back on the mainland, take your wellearned appetite to Horseshoe Bay Village to feast on oysters, Oceanwise seafood, and creative casual fare at Olive & Anchor (6418 Bay St., West Vancouver, 604-921-8848, oliveandanchor.com). And if you’re a fan of pub food and thirsty for some history, visit the Troller Ale House, the birthplace of B.C.’s craft beer industry (6342 Bay St., West Vancouver, 604-921-7616).
Caulfeild An upscale ’hood offering luxury real estate
of waterfront real estate, with houses propped along the rocky corners of a private island located alongside the area’s marina. The breathtaking estates that line the island’s edge are some of the most high-end properties in Canada, with homes on the market for upwards of $23 million.
At first glance, the spelling of West Vancouver’s westernmost neighbourhood may seem like a typo, but the unique spelling (yes, the “e” comes before the “i”) is part of Caulfeild’s vanmag.com/neighbourhoods charm.
Although primarily a residential neighbourhood, Caulfeild has its Originally own upscale retail plaza— named Skunk the Caulfeild Village Cove, and Shopping Centre (5375 Green space unofficially Headland Dr., West Vancalled “Tidcouver, 604-661-0841), dly Cove” as well as the shorelineby many locals, the neighbourhood of adjacent Caulfeild Park, and over 25 Caulfeild features a distinctive pocket shops and services in the village.
BEST ’HOOD FOR
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Horseshoe Bay & Caulfeild | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
YOUR PHOTO OP Take a peek at the historic St. Francis-in-the-Wood Anglican Church (4773 South Piccadilly Rd.), a snap-worthy heritage building located in the heart of Caulfeild Cove.
Dock: Province of British columBia
NORTH SHORE
Horseshoe Bay
Fusion Japanese Restaurant Home of the Gold Medalist Seoul International Culinary Competition 2004 Winner
With simple yet smart, sustainable and elegant recipes that create an exquisite menu, Fishworks has made its way to become an obligatory stop while visiting Vancouver and the North Shore.
NEW LOCATION #202 – 1184 Denman Street Vancouver | 604.609.9999
1315 Lonsdale Ave North Vancouver | 604.986.0063 sushinamibc.com
Offering tantalizing delights for sea, land and plant lovers, Fishworks promises a unique dining experience.
91 Lonsdale Avenue, North Vancouver 778 340 3449 | fishworks.ca
OUR HEADS ARE IN THE GAME. NOT PLASTERED ON THIS AD.
WE ARE A FULL SERVICE REAL ESTATE COMPANY.
Lately, Real Estate seems to be mostly about fancy bus ads and grand proclimations about being #1, as many Realtors® have lost sight of the fact we are in a service-based business. As we say at VPG Realty, we are in the people business selling Real Estate. We would love to talk to you about what we can do for you. vpgrealty.ca VPG REALTY INC. #159 - 1233 LYNN VALLEY ROAD, NORTH VANCOUVER, V7J 0A1
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Life at the foot of a mountain (yes, it’s good) The Seymour area is more than just a pass-through parkway leading up to the snow-tipped peak of Mount Seymour and the scenic shores of Deep Cove. Serious alpinists flock to Arc’teryx (2220 Dollarton Hwy., North Vancouver, 604-960-3001, arcteryx.com) to suit up in high-end outerwear before hitting the wilderness that lies minutes away. Founded right in the heart of Seymour, the outdoor clothing company is favoured by some of the world’s top athletes.
Mountain biking on Mt. Seymour
View from Quarry Rock
Less-advanced hikers can trudge the rugged yet well-groomed trails of the Seymour Demonstration Forest before cooling off with a dip in Seymour River, known for being several degrees warmer than other bodies of water in the area. Afterwards, abandon the big-chain coffee shops and finish your day with a visit to Belmondo Cafe tourists and locals flock to “the Cove” for fun.
Arc’teryx Gamma MX Hoody
Cafe Orso
(2075 Old Dollarton Rd., North 604-929-6377), a Vancouver, 604-929-6377 local gem offering premium coffee and freshly-baked goods. It’s just a short drive down Seymour Parkway to the quaint seaside village of Deep Cove, the ideal summer wonderland for outdoor enthusiasts. Offering mountainside hiking trails and unparalleled kayaking and paddleboarding options on the calm waters of the Indian Arm, it’s no wonder 76
Seymour & Deep Cove | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
They can also take in the fresh air while hiking up the arborous trail to Quarry Rock, and capture a post-worthy snap of Deep Cove while perched atop its colourful boat-lined shore. If they’ve worked up an appetite, they can head to the awardwinning eatery Arm’s Reach Bistro (4390 Gallant Ave., North Vancouver, 604-9297442, armsreachbistro.com), where you can enjoy waterfront views while noshing on freshly made pasta and sipping on a perfectly paired glass of red. For a lighter pick-me-up, stroll up to Cafe Orso (4316 Gallant Ave., North Vancouver, 778-340-3222, cafeorso.ca), where you can pair a warm cup of 49th Parallel coffee with mouthwatering liege waffles or a European-inspired charcuterie plate.
mountain biking: andy c; cafe orso: andrew querner; view: ruth hartnup
NORTH SHORE
Seymour & Deep Cove
Young families and nature lovers are flocking to this outdoor playground A paradise for mountain bikers and trail runners, the North Vancouver community of Lynn Valley is nestled amid Mount Fromme and Mount Seymour, with the canyon bearing its name providing postcard-perfect scenery. Before a hike through Lynn Canyon, hit Tommy’s Café (1308 Ross Rd., North Vancouver, 604-988-0174, tommycaters .com) for the “Mountain Man,” a six-egg omelette with bacon, ham, and sausage, alongside two waffles, four perogies, beans, toast, and pan fries. Afterward, stop in at the Lynn Canyon Café (3690 Park Rd., North Vancouver, 604-984-9311, lynnval leycentre.ca) for a rasta wrap with jerk chicken salad, or pick up cheap and cheerful sushi specials from Yama Sushi (1232 Ross Rd., North Vancouver, 604-9880082, yamasushi.ca).
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
The Black Bear Neighbourhood Pub (1177 Lynn Valley Rd., North Vancouver, 604-990-8880, blackbearpub.com) pours Stanley Park Windstorm Pale Ale and Howe Sound Best Bitter, among other craft nectars. Browns Socialhouse
BEST ’HOOD FOR Lynn Canyon suspension bridge
Green space
Affordability Kids
Lynn Canyon’s emerald 30-foot pool
78 Lynn Valley | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
(1255 Lynn Valley Rd., North Vancouver, 604-971-5299, brownssocialhouse.com) has cocktails like frozen bellinis and basil-grapefruit martinis. For adventure lovers there’s the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge, which stretches 50 metres above tumbling waters and treacherous pools and is surrounded by Jurassic-sized ferns (lynncanyon.ca). Then there’s Lynn Valley’s Mount Fromme, which is where (along with Cypress and Seymour) North Shore mountain biking was born. Back in the ’80s trail builders and local government worked together to preserve sensitive forest floors by building skinnies, ladders, teeter-totters, and bridges. Celebrate their hard work by paying it a visit. You can even park at the new lot.
tom gierasimczuk
NORTH SHORE
Lynn Valley
VPG REALTY INC. IS NOW OPEN IN LYNN VALLEY 159-1233 LYNN VALLEY ROAD (in Lynn Valley Village)
HELLO LYNN VALLEY! WE’RE YOUR NEW NEIGHBOURS!
We are a full-service Real Estate Brokerage specializing in the marketing and sales of Vancouver’s residential properties. Shunning the traditional brokerage model of cut-throat agents competing against each other, our company fosters a culture of partnership in which all clients and listings are represented in a collaborative environment by all our agents, thereby ensuring every property we list has the competitive edge. This approach has proven highly successful. In just two and a half years, we have established ourselves as one of the preeminent players in the North Shore market. The goal for our brand is to bring to the market a definitive mark of experience, quality, integrity and innovation. Our mission is to earn your business. Details at vpgrealty.ca WE’RE SOCIAL MEDIA SAVVY. WE HAVE THE LARGEST REAL ESTATE PAGE IN VANCOUVER!
WE WORK HERE, LIVE HERE, AND PLAY HERE TOO!
VPG REALTY INC. #159 - 1233 LYNN VALLEY ROAD, NORTH VANCOUVER, V7J 0A1
This ’hood is a haven for thrill seekers and hike-loving families alike This cozy neighbourhood, which is bordered by the towering green giant that is the Lions Gate Bridge and the meandering Capilano River that flows from the top of Capilano Mountain (near Furry Creek) into the Burrard Inlet, is known best for its arborous adventure spots.
vanmag.com/neighbourhoods
BEST ’HOOD FOR
Thrill-seeking tourists love teetering along the Capilano Suspension Bridge (3735 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver, 604985-7474, capbridge.com), which dangles 70 metres above the rushing rapids of the Capilano River. But the adventure doesn’t stop there. Spend weekends re-living childhood dreams by climbing up to the Treetops Adventure, a canopy walk that allows you to stroll from one Douglas fir tree to another while experiencing a squirrel’s-eye-view of the West Coast rain forest below. Or, get your adrenaline pumping with a stroll along the Cliff walk, a cliff-anchored, labyrinthlike series of walkways perched amongst the trees.
Cliff walk at the Capilano Suspension Bridge
Green space
Long-term neighbours Kids
Wind down from outdoor adventure with a hot cup of coffee and a sweet or savoury pannekoeken from De Dutch The Capilano Suspension Bridge
(1634 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver, 604-985-0328, dedutch.com), or grab some sake and a tuna roll at the family-friendly Sushi Mori (4740 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver, 604-929-3444). The Upper Capilano area is known for its windy treelined roads and quiet rural feel, and while the homes are mostly tucked into a tranquil, trail-laden pocket, many residences in the area are located walking 80
Capilano | Vancouver Neighbourhoods Guide 2016
distance from the quaint Edgemont Village. Nestled between the base of Grouse Mountain and the limits of Upper Capilano, the Village offers a range of locally owned stores that are perfect for a midday stroll or a coffee meet-up with friends. Take little ones to BC Playthings (3070 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver, 604-986-4111, bcplaythings.com) and browse through a carefully curated selection of kids books and toys or treat yourself to something sweet from the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (3115 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver, 604-987-3611, rmcf.com) before heading home for the day.
capilano suspension bridge park
NORTH SHORE
Capilano
GET YOUR OOOH FACE ON Cliffwalk, Treetops Adventure, world famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and endless fun, thrills and amazement await at Capilano Suspension Bridge Park.
TREETOPS ADVENTURE
FREE SHUTTLE FROM CANADA PLACE 3735 Capilano Road, North Vancouver 604.985.7474 | capbridge.com
CLIFFWALK
Share Your Views We asked locals to share snaps of their neighbourhood. These are our favourites. But we want to see your photos, too! Hit us with your best shots @vanmag or #vanmag.
ENGLISH BAY
@eddyautomatic
FALSE CREEK
@eve.in.eden
COMMERCIAL DRIVE
@yvrstreetart
GRANVILLE ISLAND
@styledlegally
WEST END
@photosbysan_
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MAIN STREET
@davehamiltonphotography
NORTH SHORE
@mountainbikevancouver
HORESESHOE BAY
@photosbysan_
DOWNTOWN
@indiegirl2012
PASSION FRUIT BELLINI vodka, passion fruit and sparkling wine