East Van Groovy Pad Guidebook
Food Scene
White Spot
1476 KingswayFamous BC Burger chain restaurant.
House Of Dosas
1391 KingswayExcellent Dosas and South Asian food.
Les Faux Bourgeois
663 E 15th AveBeloved French Bistro. Excellent.
Sal y Limón
701 KingswayExcellent and popular Mexican Joint. Authentic and yummy.
Good Chewy NYC-style pizza. No delivery, but they sell by the slice or whole pizzas for takeaway. You can eat in.
20 locals recommend
Straight Outta Brooklyn NYC Pizzeria
701 KingswayGood Chewy NYC-style pizza. No delivery, but they sell by the slice or whole pizzas for takeaway. You can eat in.
Matchstick Fraser St.
639 E 15th AveExcellent and super-popular hipster coffee joint.
Green Lemongrass
1086 KingswayExcellent Vietnamese cuisine. Go for Pho!
Cool Vibe in the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood. Great nachos.
37 locals recommend
Jackalopes Neighbourhood Dive
2257 E Hastings StCool Vibe in the Hastings Sunrise neighbourhood. Great nachos.
What's Up? Hot Dog!
2481 E Hastings StCool Hot Dogs, great wings, pinball and a pop culture vibe.
Bustling Italian eatery. A bit more high end, with delicious food. Very popular place.
180 locals recommend
Osteria Savio Volpe
615 KingswayBustling Italian eatery. A bit more high end, with delicious food. Very popular place.
New Town Bakery & Restaurant
148 E Pender StOld School Chinatown Bakery and Diner.
Honest to god authentic old diner. The food is fine, they have alcohol. There are jukeboxes in the booths. I have been coming here since the '80's, and it was old back then.
16 locals recommend
Helen's Grill
4102 Main StHonest to god authentic old diner. The food is fine, they have alcohol. There are jukeboxes in the booths. I have been coming here since the '80's, and it was old back then.
Pallet Coffee Roasters
323 Semlin DrGreat shop on the nearby busy corner. Usually busy.
Delicious Szechuan food. Not too far to dine in and they also deliver. The tan tan noodles and ginger beef are favourites here.
26 locals recommend
ChongQing on Commercial
2808 Commercial DrDelicious Szechuan food. Not too far to dine in and they also deliver. The tan tan noodles and ginger beef are favourites here.
Hey. It's just Domino's, so the pizza might not light your world on fire... but it IS right around the corner.
18 locals recommend
Domino's Pizza
1254 KingswayHey. It's just Domino's, so the pizza might not light your world on fire... but it IS right around the corner.
Excellent "Greek Canadian" style place. That means the pizza is very cheesy and yummy. Not too close, but worth going to, and they also deliver.
9 locals recommend
Neighbour's Restaurant & Pizza House
5108 Victoria DrExcellent "Greek Canadian" style place. That means the pizza is very cheesy and yummy. Not too close, but worth going to, and they also deliver.
Martini's
151 Broadway WNice, dark pizza restaurant. They also deliver.
If you go to Steveston, you should probably have the excellent fish and chips here... right on the dock!
22 locals recommend
Pajo's Fish and Chips
12351 Third AveIf you go to Steveston, you should probably have the excellent fish and chips here... right on the dock!
Feel like pigging out on massive dishes of delicious pasta? This is the place. You might have to wait in line.... I recommend lunch, as long as you're willing to have a nap, later.
74 locals recommend
Anton's Pasta Bar
4260 Hastings StFeel like pigging out on massive dishes of delicious pasta? This is the place. You might have to wait in line.... I recommend lunch, as long as you're willing to have a nap, later.
Plenty of craft brew taps, yummy food, and sports screens in a big airy space. Lots to recommend, here!
57 locals recommend
Bells and Whistles
3296 Fraser StPlenty of craft brew taps, yummy food, and sports screens in a big airy space. Lots to recommend, here!
Jade Dynasty Restaurant
137 E Pender StRemodelled and bright, old-school Chinatown. Fesh and delish!
An east van institution. Beloved vegetarian mexican cuisine. Often very busy.
136 locals recommend
Bandidas Taqueria
2781 Commercial DrAn east van institution. Beloved vegetarian mexican cuisine. Often very busy.
This is tasty Chinese just down the block from the groovy pad. Close and convenient and yummy. They deliver, too.
Moon Cafe - Authentic Hong Kong Style Restaurant
1097 KingswayThis is tasty Chinese just down the block from the groovy pad. Close and convenient and yummy. They deliver, too.
Super popular vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant. Run by folks who have been doing it a long time.
18 locals recommend
Do Chay
1392 KingswaySuper popular vegetarian Vietnamese restaurant. Run by folks who have been doing it a long time.
Parks & Nature
Sunnyside Park
1100 E 17th Ave"Non-official" dog park by the school. Playground... big trees.
Trout Lake is a lovely "official" dog park and has lots to offer.
7 locals recommend
John Hendry (Trout Lake) Park
3300 Victoria DrTrout Lake is a lovely "official" dog park and has lots to offer.
Small buy groovy counter culture beach park, right downtown. Excellent views, great vibe.
76 locals recommend
Crab Park
101 E Waterfront RdSmall buy groovy counter culture beach park, right downtown. Excellent views, great vibe.
Don't feel like going downtown to Stanley Park, but want to walk many kms of lovely trials though tall tall trees? Head up Kingsway to Central Park. There's lots here, including ducks and squirrels galore.
114 locals recommend
Central Park
3883 Imperial StreetDon't feel like going downtown to Stanley Park, but want to walk many kms of lovely trials though tall tall trees? Head up Kingsway to Central Park. There's lots here, including ducks and squirrels galore.
You won't believe you are only a half hour drive out of Vancouver. Lovely estuary bird park with hiking trails!
22 locals recommend
George C. Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary
5191 Robertson RdYou won't believe you are only a half hour drive out of Vancouver. Lovely estuary bird park with hiking trails!
Here's an awesome East Van park, with magnificent views, a beach, a dog area, open spaces, and grand vistas. In the summer there's a public outdoor pool.
40 locals recommend
New Brighton Park
3201 New Brighton RdHere's an awesome East Van park, with magnificent views, a beach, a dog area, open spaces, and grand vistas. In the summer there's a public outdoor pool.
Essentials
Save-On-Foods
1403 E King Edward AveFull-size Grocery Store, walking distance.
Buy-Low Foods
370 E BroadwayPretty good grocery store down at Kingsgate Mall.
Famous Foods is a couple blocks past the Save On, but we use it a lot. It's a smaller, old-school neighbourhood grocery store. It focusses on healthier options and imported food, but isn't extra expensive. You'll find organic choices, vegan options, etc.
73 locals recommend
Famous Foods
1595 KingswayFamous Foods is a couple blocks past the Save On, but we use it a lot. It's a smaller, old-school neighbourhood grocery store. It focusses on healthier options and imported food, but isn't extra expensive. You'll find organic choices, vegan options, etc.
Drinks & Nightlife
Funky place at the edge of Gastown, near Crab Park and the Police Museum. Many taps of good beer. Nice food.
207 locals recommend
Alibi Room
157 Alexander StFunky place at the edge of Gastown, near Crab Park and the Police Museum. Many taps of good beer. Nice food.
Vancouver's oldest and most punk rock craft brewery. Excellent beer!
61 locals recommend
Storm Brewing LTD.
310 Commercial DriveVancouver's oldest and most punk rock craft brewery. Excellent beer!
A fun Irish pub. Sometimes they have live music. Recommended.
15 locals recommend
Johnnie Fox's Irish Snug
1601 Main StreetA fun Irish pub. Sometimes they have live music. Recommended.
It's a lovely old Canadian Serviceman's Club. They have a great old British Style Pub, and meat draws, and weekly Prime Rib dinners. A hidden gem.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 178
2020 W 6th AveIt's a lovely old Canadian Serviceman's Club. They have a great old British Style Pub, and meat draws, and weekly Prime Rib dinners. A hidden gem.
Yeah... a dark and secret Tiki Bar. Serious alcohol. Sometimes there's go-go dancers, or live music, or movies. This is fun!
98 locals recommend
The Shameful Tiki Room
4362 Main StYeah... a dark and secret Tiki Bar. Serious alcohol. Sometimes there's go-go dancers, or live music, or movies. This is fun!
Wonderf secret hole-in-the-wall. It has a dark red roon, and a fun secret patio. Good Nachos, no screens!
94 locals recommend
The Narrow Lounge
1898 Main StWonderf secret hole-in-the-wall. It has a dark red roon, and a fun secret patio. Good Nachos, no screens!
Awesome and popular craft brewery in a low rent neighbourhood. Excellent.
131 locals recommend
Parallel 49 Brewing Company
1950 Triumph StAwesome and popular craft brewery in a low rent neighbourhood. Excellent.
Bomber Brewing
1488 Adanac StExcellent beer with a small tasting room.
Entertainment & Activities
Fantastic Theatre with live acts, new movies, second run films, late night shows, burlesque, shows comedy shows, and a LIQUOR LICENSE!
100 locals recommend
Rio Theatre
1660 E BroadwayFantastic Theatre with live acts, new movies, second run films, late night shows, burlesque, shows comedy shows, and a LIQUOR LICENSE!
Getting Around
This is Vancouver's bike share system. They have stations all over the city, especially on the bike routes. They also have day and month passes available. This station at 14th and Main is close to us, about a 20 minute walk. There's another down the hill at Glen and Broadway. Check their website because they are opening new stations all the time. https://www.mobibikes.ca/
36 locals recommend
Mobi Bike Station
This is Vancouver's bike share system. They have stations all over the city, especially on the bike routes. They also have day and month passes available. This station at 14th and Main is close to us, about a 20 minute walk. There's another down the hill at Glen and Broadway. Check their website because they are opening new stations all the time. https://www.mobibikes.ca/
Arts & Culture
Funky museum with an "true crime" vibe. It includes the original city morgue.
15 locals recommend
Vancouver Police Museum & Archives
240 E Cordova StFunky museum with an "true crime" vibe. It includes the original city morgue.
It's up at the University, and worth the trip. Amazing artifacts and genuine, authentic BC Aboriginal totems and carvings, plus mountains of world anthropological stuff. Close to the trail down to Wreck Beach.
502 locals recommend
Museum of Anthropology
6393 NW Marine DrIt's up at the University, and worth the trip. Amazing artifacts and genuine, authentic BC Aboriginal totems and carvings, plus mountains of world anthropological stuff. Close to the trail down to Wreck Beach.
Amazing historical site that is also a Museum. Learn how poor people worked really hard so that the world could enjoy BC Salmon.
21 locals recommend
Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site
12138 Fourth AveAmazing historical site that is also a Museum. Learn how poor people worked really hard so that the world could enjoy BC Salmon.