Guidebook for Vancouver
Food Scene
Espana Restaurant
1118 Denman StExcellent food. Very small though so go early.
Great atmosphere, fresh local ingredients, good Italian food. No attitude. No reservations.
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Nook
1525 Yew StGreat atmosphere, fresh local ingredients, good Italian food. No attitude. No reservations.
Amici Miei Italian
1114 Denman StGreat Italian family restaurant. Homemade pasta.
24 hour cafe. It's always hopping and they have great pasteries. Skews college age.
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Breka Bakery & Café
855 Davie St24 hour cafe. It's always hopping and they have great pasteries. Skews college age.
One of the best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. A little pricey but worth it.
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Miku Vancouver
200 Granville StOne of the best Japanese restaurants in Vancouver. A little pricey but worth it.
Love the atmosphere here. It's always busy. Moderately priced.
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Chambar Restaurant
568 Beatty StreetLove the atmosphere here. It's always busy. Moderately priced.
Opens at 6am, closes early evening. Great coffee shop, 1 min. away, exit from the basement in our buildin. Get the coffee in the to-go cup though, their glass cups cool quickly. Nice quick bites too.
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Greenhorn
994 Nicola StOpens at 6am, closes early evening. Great coffee shop, 1 min. away, exit from the basement in our buildin. Get the coffee in the to-go cup though, their glass cups cool quickly. Nice quick bites too.
Earl's is very reliable chain restaurant with a good wine list. Casual fine dining with lots of TVs in this particular place. There's also one on Robson, but I like this one better.
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Earls Kitchen + Bar
6070 Silver DrEarl's is very reliable chain restaurant with a good wine list. Casual fine dining with lots of TVs in this particular place. There's also one on Robson, but I like this one better.
Tacofino Taco Bar
15 W Cordova StHip. Great happy hour 4-6. Excellent pork tacos.
Hip, with a range of 25-55 year olds. I like sitting at the bar. It's always busy. Also has a good happy hour.
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The Flying Pig Yaletown
1168 Hamilton StreetHip, with a range of 25-55 year olds. I like sitting at the bar. It's always busy. Also has a good happy hour.
Glowbal
590 W Georgia StThis is where you go to be seen.
This often busy. The chef has created some wonderful food using local ingredients. I was not wowed the last time I went though.
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Forage
1300 Robson StThis often busy. The chef has created some wonderful food using local ingredients. I was not wowed the last time I went though.
Great Chinese at a reasonable price. Known for its potstickers. They do take out. The restaurant is pretty bare bones.
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Hon's Wun Tun House
1339 Robson StGreat Chinese at a reasonable price. Known for its potstickers. They do take out. The restaurant is pretty bare bones.
A lot of Greek food for the price. There's usually a line up so I'm recommending this for take out. I'm not saying it's the best, but it's good.
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Stepho's Souvlaki Greek Taverna
1124 Davie StA lot of Greek food for the price. There's usually a line up so I'm recommending this for take out. I'm not saying it's the best, but it's good.
Bao Bei
163 Keefer StExcellent modern Chinese restaurant. It's busy.
A vegetarian's dream restaurant. And, they make some serious cocktails.
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The Acorn Restaurant
3995 Main StA vegetarian's dream restaurant. And, they make some serious cocktails.
Reliable mid-range dining with food created by a well known and talented chef.
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Cactus Club Cafe
357 Davie StReliable mid-range dining with food created by a well known and talented chef.
Cozy family operated place that has been around for awhile. The sushi is fresh.
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Miko Sushi
1335 Robson StCozy family operated place that has been around for awhile. The sushi is fresh.
Vegan friendly. The french fries with cashew gravy are amazing. There's another one in Gastown, but I haven't been there yet. Very casual vibe.
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MeeT on Main
4288 Main StreetVegan friendly. The french fries with cashew gravy are amazing. There's another one in Gastown, but I haven't been there yet. Very casual vibe.
A little pricier, but this is a sustainably-focused restaurant that fuses Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. It's located on the waterfront of False Creek.
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Ancora Waterfront Dining and Patio
1600 Howe StA little pricier, but this is a sustainably-focused restaurant that fuses Peruvian and Japanese cuisine. It's located on the waterfront of False Creek.
Drinks & Nightlife
CinCin Ristorante + Bar
1154 Robson StA little pricier, but reliably excellent.
People say this is the best pizza in the city. I love the atmosphere. Sophisticated.
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Nicli Antica Pizzeria
3142 E Cordova StPeople say this is the best pizza in the city. I love the atmosphere. Sophisticated.
There are a couple of these Lebanese restaurants. It's great for vegetarians, though it's not strictly vegetarian. Cool location downstairs which is not at all dark.
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Nuba in Gastown
207 W Hastings StThere are a couple of these Lebanese restaurants. It's great for vegetarians, though it's not strictly vegetarian. Cool location downstairs which is not at all dark.
This is also a restaurant, but it's nice for dropping in for a drink. The food is good and it's on the water. High tops keep you in the action or sink into their leather chairs in a corner. They had live music the last Friday I was there.
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Cardero's Restaurant
1583 Coal Harbour QuayThis is also a restaurant, but it's nice for dropping in for a drink. The food is good and it's on the water. High tops keep you in the action or sink into their leather chairs in a corner. They had live music the last Friday I was there.
If you are looking for a huge assortment of craft beer, local and international, this is the place. It's also huge physically. They try hard with the food, but it's not for foodies, in my opinion. Also - even though it's a large building, they only have a tiny patio which you most likely won't get into. Visit the washrooms downstairs for a neat look at the old pier on which the building sits.
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CRAFT Beer Market False Creek
85 West 1st AvenueIf you are looking for a huge assortment of craft beer, local and international, this is the place. It's also huge physically. They try hard with the food, but it's not for foodies, in my opinion. Also - even though it's a large building, they only have a tiny patio which you most likely won't get into. Visit the washrooms downstairs for a neat look at the old pier on which the building sits.
If you're looking for a true Canadian experience, this is the place. They serve sustainably-sourced Canadian comfort food (poutine!) and craft beer. The staff are really friendly and well-trained.
Timber
1300 Robson StIf you're looking for a true Canadian experience, this is the place. They serve sustainably-sourced Canadian comfort food (poutine!) and craft beer. The staff are really friendly and well-trained.
Everything Else
My favourite cafe in the city. It's refined and cozy with excellent service.
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Bel Café
801 W Georgia StMy favourite cafe in the city. It's refined and cozy with excellent service.
This is a good place to have a cocktail. Lots of business people stop in here. The chef is a keener.
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YEW seafood + bar
791 W Georgia StThis is a good place to have a cocktail. Lots of business people stop in here. The chef is a keener.
This is the best spa I've been to in the city, though it's one of the priciest ones.
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Hotel Fairmont Pacific Rim
1038 Canada PlThis is the best spa I've been to in the city, though it's one of the priciest ones.
It's a crazy name, but Bobo is one of the best hair dressers in the city but not too expensive. It took me a long time to find him and I've stayed with him ever since. He also knows a lot about Vancouver and is very professional.
Bobos Philosophy Hair Salon
1268 Homer StIt's a crazy name, but Bobo is one of the best hair dressers in the city but not too expensive. It took me a long time to find him and I've stayed with him ever since. He also knows a lot about Vancouver and is very professional.
Essentials
Whole Foods Market
510 W 8th AveIt's more expensive, but it has really good food.
Go here for the inexpensive grocery store "Joe's No Frills". They have good products, just cheaper.
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Denman Place Mall
1030 Denman StGo here for the inexpensive grocery store "Joe's No Frills". They have good products, just cheaper.
The prices are right in between the two other grocery stores I've listed. Plus, it's next to a BC Liquor Store and across from a London Drugs which has most everything.
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Safeway English Bay
1611 Davie StThe prices are right in between the two other grocery stores I've listed. Plus, it's next to a BC Liquor Store and across from a London Drugs which has most everything.
BC Liquor stores are the government run stores. The best prices for buying alcohol will be found here. You can find other BC Liquor stores near grocery stores, but this one is a Signature store which is larger than the others and will have product not available elsewhere.
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BC Liquor Stores Alberni & Bute
768 Bute StBC Liquor stores are the government run stores. The best prices for buying alcohol will be found here. You can find other BC Liquor stores near grocery stores, but this one is a Signature store which is larger than the others and will have product not available elsewhere.
Hopefully, you won't need him, but in case of an emergency, Dr. Tobias is an excellent dentist. He was recommended to me by my orthodontist, who was himself a client, a good testament to Dr. Tobias' skills as any. He's also a professor at the school of dentistry at the University of British Columbia. He and his team are very professional.
Dr. David L. Tobias
805 W BroadwayHopefully, you won't need him, but in case of an emergency, Dr. Tobias is an excellent dentist. He was recommended to me by my orthodontist, who was himself a client, a good testament to Dr. Tobias' skills as any. He's also a professor at the school of dentistry at the University of British Columbia. He and his team are very professional.
Shopping
This is a fantastic little store that sells Canadian made housewares, jewellery, clothes and more. The block around it is neat too with other cool stores and coffee shops.
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Bird On A Wire Creations
2950 West BroadwayThis is a fantastic little store that sells Canadian made housewares, jewellery, clothes and more. The block around it is neat too with other cool stores and coffee shops.
Vancouver Special refers to the style of house that is only found here. You can find neat locally-made products here.
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Vancouver Special
3612 Main StVancouver Special refers to the style of house that is only found here. You can find neat locally-made products here.
This is where the cool kids shop. They sell new and used clothing and it's surrounded by some neat shops. It's a cultural experience, this is the funky, indie, creative crowd. I really like Main Street, it feels like a community and you can find leading edge stuff here.
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Front & Company
3772 Main StThis is where the cool kids shop. They sell new and used clothing and it's surrounded by some neat shops. It's a cultural experience, this is the funky, indie, creative crowd. I really like Main Street, it feels like a community and you can find leading edge stuff here.
This is my favourite shopping mall because it part indoors and also part outdoors. They've just finished a reno on the South side, now they're working on the North side. You'll find top chains such as Anthropologie and Sephora and they also have Simon's which is a Canadian version of H&M and with some neat artwork inside. There are good restaurants at different price points there such as La Trattoria or Cactus Club and hopefully, you can get out on the patio. But, many locals grab something from Whole Foods and sit at their tables in the square there. It's a good place to watch the rich locals who live in the area. It's so easy to get there by bus. Visit Translink.ca
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Park Royal South
Park Royal SouthThis is my favourite shopping mall because it part indoors and also part outdoors. They've just finished a reno on the South side, now they're working on the North side. You'll find top chains such as Anthropologie and Sephora and they also have Simon's which is a Canadian version of H&M and with some neat artwork inside. There are good restaurants at different price points there such as La Trattoria or Cactus Club and hopefully, you can get out on the patio. But, many locals grab something from Whole Foods and sit at their tables in the square there. It's a good place to watch the rich locals who live in the area. It's so easy to get there by bus. Visit Translink.ca
Getting Around
Our bus system is quite good and is a great way to see the city. Visit www.translink.com for more information.
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TransLink
590 Beatty StOur bus system is quite good and is a great way to see the city. Visit www.translink.com for more information.
I love these little ferries. The location indicates "Stamps Landing, but there are many docks - and one is less than a 15 minute walk from the apartment. Just walk south down Broughton St until you reach English Bay. Then walk east along the seawall until just before you reach the base of the bridge (this is the bottom of Thurlow St.). It will take you to Granville Island and other stops along False Creek. It's a pleasant trip which is not necessarily about the destination. Visit http://www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/ There's also http://theaquabus.com/ which is just as good but it doesn't stop at the base of Thurlow St.
Stamp's Landing Ferry Dock station
I love these little ferries. The location indicates "Stamps Landing, but there are many docks - and one is less than a 15 minute walk from the apartment. Just walk south down Broughton St until you reach English Bay. Then walk east along the seawall until just before you reach the base of the bridge (this is the bottom of Thurlow St.). It will take you to Granville Island and other stops along False Creek. It's a pleasant trip which is not necessarily about the destination. Visit http://www.granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/ There's also http://theaquabus.com/ which is just as good but it doesn't stop at the base of Thurlow St.