Guidebook for Vancouver
Food Scene
I love it for the home made hot sauce and breakfast pototoes; also several other locations including one on Main Street, one on Denman and Nelly's Grill on 4th (Joe's brother-in-law)
20 locals recommend
Joe's Grill
1031 Davie StI love it for the home made hot sauce and breakfast pototoes; also several other locations including one on Main Street, one on Denman and Nelly's Grill on 4th (Joe's brother-in-law)
I think it's some of the best Italian food in Greater Vancouver and it's only ten or 15 minutes from our place depending on traffic
8 locals recommend
Italian Tomato Restaurant
8380 Bridgeport RdI think it's some of the best Italian food in Greater Vancouver and it's only ten or 15 minutes from our place depending on traffic
Famous pasta restaurant in the little Italy district of North Burnaby where you get great value and huge portions of awesome pasta; eat half and take half out. Watch out for line ups though; get there early.
74 locals recommend
Anton's Pasta Bar
4260 Hastings StFamous pasta restaurant in the little Italy district of North Burnaby where you get great value and huge portions of awesome pasta; eat half and take half out. Watch out for line ups though; get there early.
Splitz Grill
4242 Main StGreat burgers and fries, made to order. Beer, ice cream...
Really good burgers; try the four cheese burger and a local craft beer
34 locals recommend
Vera's Burger Shack
2922 Main StReally good burgers; try the four cheese burger and a local craft beer
Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
777 Thurlow StHigh end steak and seafood place... awesome
Famous BC restaurant chain known for awesome steaks, unrushed but super attentive and friendly service. Try the prime rib; I'm here all week... :)
10 locals recommend
Thurlow Keg
1499 Anderson StreetFamous BC restaurant chain known for awesome steaks, unrushed but super attentive and friendly service. Try the prime rib; I'm here all week... :)
High end restaurant with great lobster, steak, other seafood... rent a boat and moor it on their pier and show up in style :)
145 locals recommend
Cardero's Restaurant
1583 Coal Harbour QuayHigh end restaurant with great lobster, steak, other seafood... rent a boat and moor it on their pier and show up in style :)
Great craft brews and good food in a super cool building
245 locals recommend
CRAFT Beer Market False Creek
85 West 1st AvenueGreat craft brews and good food in a super cool building
Cool place to have a happy and appy hour and watch people going by on the seawall if you get there early enough
186 locals recommend
Tap & Barrel • Olympic Village
75 Athletes WayCool place to have a happy and appy hour and watch people going by on the seawall if you get there early enough
One of the few restaurants on the beach in Vancouver; make a reservation or get there early and people watch the passers-by on the beach over cocktails/ snacks/ dinnner...
249 locals recommend
Cactus Club Cafe
1790 Beach AveOne of the few restaurants on the beach in Vancouver; make a reservation or get there early and people watch the passers-by on the beach over cocktails/ snacks/ dinnner...
Martini's has great pizzas, salads and greek food and pretty good pasta. Dine in or have it delivered
10 locals recommend
Martini's
151 Broadway WMartini's has great pizzas, salads and greek food and pretty good pasta. Dine in or have it delivered
Panos Greek Taverna
654 SE Marine DrDine in, take out or delivery; great roast lamb
Memphis Blues Barbeque House
1342 Commercial DrVancouver's first BBQ joint; try the Elvis platter
It's east Indian and Chinese and amazing. Try the curry chow mein
6 locals recommend
Chili Pepper House
3003 KingswayIt's east Indian and Chinese and amazing. Try the curry chow mein
Good for brunch (try the Havana bowl) with edgy art on the walls
77 locals recommend
Great Wall Mongolian BBQ Restaurant
717 Denman StGood for brunch (try the Havana bowl) with edgy art on the walls
Chronic Tacos
382 West BroadwayCheap and cheerful order at the counter mexican
When you hungry, they have big portions and a lot of variety. Lots of seating, some with cool views. Usually pretty busy with good energy
Original Joe's Restaurant & Bar
2525 Cambie StreetWhen you hungry, they have big portions and a lot of variety. Lots of seating, some with cool views. Usually pretty busy with good energy
Breakfast restaurant where famously the servers are rude as part of the schtick of the place...
60 locals recommend
The Emerald
555 Gore AveBreakfast restaurant where famously the servers are rude as part of the schtick of the place...
Canadian style smoked meat sandwiches, made famous by the Jewish deli Schwartz's in Montreal; careful of the meat sweats :)
Dunn's Famous Restaurant
827 Seymour StCanadian style smoked meat sandwiches, made famous by the Jewish deli Schwartz's in Montreal; careful of the meat sweats :)
If you're early you can score a patio seat on the seawall and people-watch while drinking local craft beer
16 locals recommend
TAPshack • Burrard Bridge
1012 Beach AveIf you're early you can score a patio seat on the seawall and people-watch while drinking local craft beer
Best fish and chips in historic Steveston which was a fishing village; ask if my sister-in-law Renee is working. She's the best :)
6 locals recommend
Dave's Fish & Chips
3460 Moncton StBest fish and chips in historic Steveston which was a fishing village; ask if my sister-in-law Renee is working. She's the best :)
Havana Vancouver
1212 Commercial DrAwesome Cuban food and good vibe
Big Rock Brewery
310 W 4th AveGreat Canadian beers, a good menu and atmosphere
Drinks & Nightlife
The basement has a pool table, darts (my fave), good craft beer and friendlier people in a snobbier city
9 locals recommend
The Anza Club
3 W 8th AveThe basement has a pool table, darts (my fave), good craft beer and friendlier people in a snobbier city
It's a cool pub on the river by the airport where you can sit on the patio or inside and watch the float planes take off and land...
38 locals recommend
Flying Beaver Bar & Grill
4760 Inglis DrIt's a cool pub on the river by the airport where you can sit on the patio or inside and watch the float planes take off and land...
The best patio in Vancouver; call for reservations or show up early and half of your party can people-watch the seawall to the east and the other half can boat-watch westward
36 locals recommend
Mahony & Sons
601 Stamps LandingThe best patio in Vancouver; call for reservations or show up early and half of your party can people-watch the seawall to the east and the other half can boat-watch westward
A cool pub; decent menu, good happy hour from 4-6, tv's for sports which many hipster bars eschew. Good craft beer
42 locals recommend
The Five Point Restaurant & Pub
3124 Main StA cool pub; decent menu, good happy hour from 4-6, tv's for sports which many hipster bars eschew. Good craft beer
Karaoke Wednesday and Saturday; decent beers... gets busy with locals on Saturday nights
Army, Navy, Airforce, Taurus
3917 Main StKaraoke Wednesday and Saturday; decent beers... gets busy with locals on Saturday nights
I love that the upstairs bar is open air when the weather is nice and the patio is pretty awesome. Good food
16 locals recommend
The Wicklow Pub
610 Stamps LandingI love that the upstairs bar is open air when the weather is nice and the patio is pretty awesome. Good food
Brassneck is one of about two dozen craft breweries with tasting rooms and growler take-outs that have popped up in the last few years in Vancouver. I find the selection and quality of beer here consistently awesome
289 locals recommend
Brassneck Brewery
2148 Main StBrassneck is one of about two dozen craft breweries with tasting rooms and growler take-outs that have popped up in the last few years in Vancouver. I find the selection and quality of beer here consistently awesome
Parks & Nature
You can bike or walk along the seawall (or rollerblade) or you can just pick a place to go, like second or third beach and it's all awesome.
2658 locals recommend
Stanley Park
610 Pipeline RdYou can bike or walk along the seawall (or rollerblade) or you can just pick a place to go, like second or third beach and it's all awesome.
You can hike the Grouse Grind if you are a moderate hiker; I very much do not recommend this for beginners. You can take the tram up the mountain for stellar views of the city day or night most of the year and you can ski it in the winter and see the city lights on clear nights. They've added a feature where you can ride on the top of the tram :)
1038 locals recommend
Grouse Mountain
6400 Nancy Greene WayYou can hike the Grouse Grind if you are a moderate hiker; I very much do not recommend this for beginners. You can take the tram up the mountain for stellar views of the city day or night most of the year and you can ski it in the winter and see the city lights on clear nights. They've added a feature where you can ride on the top of the tram :)
It's a cool kids park that they spent a million bucks on apparently; parking is ample, it's close to the ocean and the fraser river feeding into the ocean...
44 locals recommend
Terra Nova Adventure Playground
2340 River RdIt's a cool kids park that they spent a million bucks on apparently; parking is ample, it's close to the ocean and the fraser river feeding into the ocean...
A lake beach in an ocean city with a cool scene and forest surroundings
21 locals recommend
White Pine Beach Rd @ Norton Court
A lake beach in an ocean city with a cool scene and forest surroundings
Kits beach is pretty cool and the parking is usually do-able even if it's not super cheap. It's always busy, has a cool outdoor pool, you can walk up and down the seawall path or just find a spot and chillax
847 locals recommend
Kitsilano Beach Park
1499 Arbutus StKits beach is pretty cool and the parking is usually do-able even if it's not super cheap. It's always busy, has a cool outdoor pool, you can walk up and down the seawall path or just find a spot and chillax
Arts & Culture
As an ex-collegiate athlete, I really appreciate the history of sports here...
11 locals recommend
BC Sports Hall of Fame
As an ex-collegiate athlete, I really appreciate the history of sports here...
Shopping
Main Street
Main StreetCool clothing as well as antiques, art and other cool stores
Essentials
They are a small store; hit up Superstore at Main and Marine for a bigger supermarket or Save-On-Foods at Main and 14th for a medium sized grocery store
113 locals recommend
Buy-Low Foods
370 E BroadwayThey are a small store; hit up Superstore at Main and Marine for a bigger supermarket or Save-On-Foods at Main and 14th for a medium sized grocery store
Entertainment & Activities
One of the first places in Vancouver where you can drink beer in the movie theatre; also has food delivered to your seat which I think is a first here
72 locals recommend
Cineplex Cinemas Marine Gateway and VIP
452 SW Marine DrOne of the first places in Vancouver where you can drink beer in the movie theatre; also has food delivered to your seat which I think is a first here