Vancouver is known for its beautiful mountains and beaches and rightly so. You can start the day skiing in Whistler and be rollerblading on the seawall in Stanley Park by the afternoon. Come spring you’ll find us cycling, playing beach volleyball, paddle boarding, kayaking, and hiking. Basically, Vancouverites try to maximise the number of hours spent outside.
But in addition to the city’s beautiful landscapes and outdoor lifestyle, it is also a city of food lovers. Vancouver’s west coast twist on Canadian cuisine is certainly not found wanting. West coast cuisine uses a lot of fresh local products, particularly seafood, and pulls inspiration from surrounding cultures; you’ll frequently see some sort of Asian fusion dish in the best restaurants. Chefs here are not afraid to experiment with the ingredients and push creativity. Some of the best places to try west coast cuisine are Fable, Hawkesworth Restaurant, PiDGiN and Cactus Club, run by Canada’s first Iron Chef Rob Feenie.
Due to its multicultural population, Vancouver is one of the best cities to experience foods from all over the world as well as great Canadian cuisine. There was a huge influx of immigration from Hong Kong in the 90s, and from China in the last five years and as such the best international cuisine in Vancouver is, without a doubt, Chinese.
Café Gloucester and iCafe are great Hong Kong style cafes, specialising in home-style dishes such as baked spaghetti, and baked pork chop with rice. Long’s Noodle House is famous for its Shanghainese cuisine – try the xiao long bao (soup dumplings) and wonton chicken hot pot. Some other notable cuisines to try in Vancouver include Taiwanese, Japanese, Indian, Greek, and Italian.
With an abundance of eclectic neighbourhoods, Vancouver has got something for everyone. Here are some of my favourite places to explore and eat …
Mount Pleasant
The up and coming Mount Pleasant is home to Vancouver’s hipsters. And where there’s hipsters there are invariably great vintage stores to be found, among other things. I love to browse Front & Company and C’est La Vie for unusual items – they’re treasure troves for lovers of thrift shop chic.
If you’re ready to rest those shopping-weary feet, Mount Pleasant also has an abundance of cafes to choose from. My personal favourite is 49th Parallel Roasters, where doughnuts are made fresh daily at its in-house shop Lucky’s Doughnuts.
Or if you’re feeling more like a beer, the eponymous 33 Acres Brewing Company has more than a dozen of its own craft ales and lagers to try.
For a slightly different dining experience check out Fox Cabaret. The space was formerly an adult theatre and has now been converted into a restaurant with a venue for independent artists to share their art.
Kitsilano
Kitsilano, or as the locals call it, Kits, is a beautiful neighbourhood by the beach. Regardless of the season, you’ll see people strolling on the seawall, playing beach volleyball, or just relaxing on the beach. One of the best spots for people watching in Kits is the Local Public Eatery. Just a few steps from the beach, this pub has a huge patio and an equally large selection of craft beer; the perfect combination for whiling away an afternoon.
For a taste of what west coast cuisine is all about, you have to go to Fable Restaurant on West 4th Avenue. Fable got its start on season two of Top Chef Canada, and chef Trevor Bird is now a pioneer of the city’s farm-to-table movement and a great advocate for sourcing fresh local ingredients directly from local farms.
For those with a sweet tooth, Kitsilano is also home to one of the city’s few handcrafted ice cream shops. Rain or Shine Ice Cream makes its ice cream in-house, using only local seasonal ingredients.
Kitsilano’s West 4th Avenue is also home to some of Vancouver’s trendiest stores. The now global yoga and gym wear brand Lululemon got its start on this famous street. There’s also gravitypope, an independent boutique featuring an extensive collection of footwear and high-end streetwear, and Zulu Records – an independent record store and label. If you’re looking to embrace the active lifestyle of Vancouver’s locals, give yoga a try at YYoga or Semperviva Yoga.
Gastown
Gastown is one of Vancouver’s most historic neighbourhoods. It was established the same year that Canada became a nation in 1867, and the British Columbia government declared Gastown a historic area in 1971. It still retains its original architecture, character and charm and is a must-do for any visitor to the city. One famous landmark is the Steam Clock on Water Street. The clock was the first of its kind in the world. It whistles every 15 minutes and the open design allows visitors to see the intricacies of its mechanism.
While Gastown is one of Vancouver’s more touristy areas, it is also home to the city’s tech startup scene. And where the techies are there is bound to be some amazing coffee shops. Take a pit stop at Revolver, a small shop that features coffee from some of North America’s top roasters. Consistency is key here, take a quick glance at the coffee bar and you’ll see the baristas even weigh how much water goes into each delicious cup.
Gastown is also home to some great restaurants: Tacofino’s tacos are a cult favourite among locals who flock here to feast on fish tacos – stuffed with pacific cod, salsa, and chipotle mayo – or the octopus tostada, a delicious combination of grilled pacific octopus, avocado-jalapeno cream and chilli oil sitting on top of giant crunchy corn chip. French-Asian fusion restaurant PiDGiN offers some of the city’s best fine dining, with the pick of its innovative dishes being the oyster shot with apple and horseradish.
Looking for some live music and a little nightlife? Gastown and Commercial Drive are the hubs for both. Revel Room has live music four nights a week while the Clough Club features local musicians every Thursday and Saturday night. If DJs and dancing are more your thing, the Granville Street Entertainment District has countless nightclubs, restaurants, and bars that are open until the early hours of the morning. Shine Nightclub hosts some of the best electronic dance music and hip-hop DJs on Fridays and Saturdays.
My city has so many more neighbourhoods with their own diverse culture that are well worth exploring. I’d definitely recommend a visit to Little India, Richmond, Granville Island, Yaletown, and a hike up the Grouse Grind while you’re here. Be warned though, you may never want to leave.
To find out more about Canada and book your visit, go to keepexploring.com.au
Vancouverite Michelle Lacusta writes about food and lifestyle for Vancity Buzz and can be found tweeting at @michelle_au
