Neighbourhood highlights
My apartment is located at the downtown side of The West End. My building has a Walk Score of 98 and a Transit Score of 100, literally less than one block from the Hop-On-Hop-Off tourist buses, buses to Capilano, etc..
My apartment is situated very centrally, immediately to the west you're in a typical old West End neighbourhood of heritage homes and beautiful landscaping on a traffic calmed road with a bike path leading directly to Vancouver's most famous park, Stanley Park.
A few blocks north is Alberni Street, now considered to be one of the most prestigious retail addresses in North America, with luxury brands continuing to open stores in an area that has been dubbed the city’s ‘Luxury Zone’.
Immediately to the south, you are in the middle of "Davie Village", known for its inclusion of all people, all genres, a colourful street lined with reasonably priced ethnic restaurants and gay friendly bars.
"City Centre" (where all the trains and transit connect) is a few blocks to the east.
According to Vancouver's Tourism website, The West End is described as:
Tucked up tightly against the city’s downtown core, the West End is one of the easiest neighbourhoods for visitors to explore, getting a real taste of how real Vancouverites live. A gateway to Stanley Park, the neighbourhood is bordered by the park on one side, as well as English Bay, Granville and Robson Streets. ... the area became the city’s first upscale neighbourhood. These days, it’s an incredibly diverse area, home to the city’s gay community (centred around Davie Village), heritage homes, and around 40,000 people living in high-rise apartments. The parks and beaches are the main attractions, but the people-watching and dining come in close behind.
Directly adjoining Stanley Park, the West End is a great place to start and finish your explorations. Biking through the neighbourhood, along the Seawall, and into the park is a favourite pastime—bicycles are easily rented along Denman Street, and it’s easy to get around with dedicated bike lanes criss-crossing the West End. If you have a taste for outdoor adventure, rent a kayak or try stand-up paddleboarding right on English Bay. Continuing east along the Seawall, you’ll find Vancouver’s famous inukshuk statue, which inspired the logo for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. You’ll also find many more striking public art installations, a legacy of the Vancouver Biennale. A visit to the Roedde House Museum, located in a Victorian-era heritage home, will uncover the neighbourhood’s historic roots.
Whatever you’re hungry for, you’ll find it..! While there are some exceptional high-end stand-outs, the spotlight falls on an incredibly diverse selection of great value restaurants offering cuisine from every part of the globe. Davie Street also offers some great neighbourhood dining, with legendary gay hubs, farm-to-table bistros, taco joints, burger bars and more. And this is a neighbourhood that knows how to party, with enough pubs, brew-houses, and clubs to make sure you won’t go thirsty.
Being so close to downtown and Stanley Park, the West End sees its fair share of visitors, and you’ll have no trouble finding traditional souvenirs and knick-knacks, especially along Denman Street. Most of the retail along Davie Street caters to local residents, but there are a few standouts such as unique bookstores, gourmet food and wine markets, and homewares.
My apartment is only 4 blocks to the famous Robson Street, described by the Vancouver tourism website:
With BC Place Stadium at one end, Stanley Park at the other, and the city’s best-known shopping precinct in between, Robson Street is a must-stroll for most visitors to Vancouver. One of Vancouver’s oldest commercial streets, it was once known as Robsonstrasse for the sheer number of German and European stores that opened up after the Second World War. The international character of the street still exists. Being right in the heart of the downtown core, you’ll find yourself walking right alongside locals on their way to the office, sports fans heading to the game, and Asian students lining up outside noodle shops.
Starting at the east end of Robson Street, sports fans will enjoy a visit to BC Place Stadium, home of two of Vancouver’s professional sports teams: the BC Lions Canadian Football League team, and the Vancouver Whitecaps—the city’s team in the North American professional soccer league, the MLS. Even if it’s not game day, check out the BC Sports Hall of Fame, housed within the stadium, with galleries such as those dedicated to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, the city’s professional teams, and hometown heroes like Terry Fox. There’s also a sculptural tribute to Fox right outside on the plaza. Head west along Robson and you’ll walk past the Coliseum-like Vancouver Public Library, before coming to the iconic Vancouver Art Gallery, which is part of Robson Square. Under the street you’ll find a covered event space that hosts ballroom dancing evenings in the summer, and a free, public ice skating rink in the winter.
In keeping with Robson Street’s historically international flavour, you’ll find a bit of everything along the strip. Towards the middle of Robson, you’ll find some excellent higher-end option, many of which are above street-level, giving you a good perch for some people watching. Head further west towards Stanley Park and you’ll find an excellent choice of well-priced Asian restaurants, packed with locals. Try an izakaya—similar to a Japanese pub, explore Korean cuisine, or slurp your way through a bowl of ramen. If you’re looking for a caffeine refueling you won’t have to walk far; every fourth storefront along Robson appears to be a café.
Shopping is what Robson Street is famous for. Whether you’re looking to give your credit card a thorough workout, or window shopping is more your speed, Robson Street will hit the spot. The main retail shopping area starts around Granville Street, which is where you’ll find the Nordstrom department store and the entrance to the Pacific Centre shopping mall, stretching down to Jervis Street. In between, you’ll find most of the major North American fashion brands, along with a lively mix of sporting goods, accessories, homewares, beauty and wellness purveyors.
You’ll find a number of international luxury brands along Alberni Street, a block north of Robson, between Thurlow and Burrard Streets, Dior, Tiffany, Hermès, Burberry...
I love my neighbourhood, or maybe I should say my neighbourhoods...and hope you do too.
