Vancouver - City Center

The City Center district is the heart of Vancouver. Unlike many North American cities, there is a very high density of residential areas in the downtown core, second only to Manhattan in North America. This includes the very exclusive high-rise areas of Yaletown, Coal Harbour and the huge Concorde Pacific development on the north side of False Creek. It also includes the Stanley Park, West End, Gastown and Vancouver's Chinatown.

The center of gay culture in Vancouver is on Davie Street in the West End.

Travel to Vancouver - City Center - Visa Requirements

As the City Center is the destination for most transit users, this area is well served by transit. Parking is as you would expect for a city center, expensive and at times hard to find. Expect to pay between $6-20/day for parking in a parkade. The parking meters are in effect from 9AM-8PM 7 days a week. Many of the streets become no parking zones during rush hour.

Your best bet is to leave your car outside of the city center and use SkyTrain (from the east) or SeaBus (from the North Shore) to enter the area.

Vancouver - City Center tourist attractions and sightseeing

• Vancouver Lookout, 555 West Hastings Street(top floor of Harbour Centre), ☎ +1 604 689-0421, [1]. Daily 9AM-9PM (winter), Daily 8:30AM-10:30PM (summer). Located on the top floor of the Harbour Centre, the Lookout offers a full 360-degree panoramic view of the city from 130m up. You'll see the downtown area, Stanley Park, the North Shore mountains and even the skyline of nearby Burnaby. The ticket is good for two trips during the day, so you can see it in the daytime and return for the sunset view.$13, discounts for children, seniors and students available; best prices if bought at Tourism Vancouver office.  

• Science World, 1455 Quebec Street, (604) +1 604 443-7443 [2]. This science centre is located in the distinctive building from Expo 86 at the end of False Creek. Has a wide range of participatory exhibits. Get off the Skytrain at the Main St/Science World station. The building is a unique shaped building that was constructed for Expo 86. Popular with the young and with those who like science. An Omnimax theatre is in this building as well. $8.50 per person.

• Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street, (604) +1 604 662-4719 [3]. You can see and learn a lot about Emily Carr in the permanent collection, but the rest of the gallery varies in quality depending on what they have been able to attract as special exhibits. Take advantage of admission by donation on Tuesday evenings (5pm - 9pm) and sample what is there before paying the full $15 admission ($11.90 students).

• Vancouver Public Library, 360 West Georgia Street, (604) +1 604 331-3600 [4]. The modern and attractive central branch of the City of Vancouver's Public Library is located in an architecturally interesting building, designed by Moshe Safdie. It was chosen in a public design competition and is based on a Roman Colosseum. There are large public spaces around the building and a nice atrium space in the lobby. Most of the internet terminals require a library card (residents only). However, many terminals allow access to selected resources (bus schedules, government pages, etc) and there are a few that allow wider access to the internet without a library card.

• Yaletown and the Vancouver Marina are a beautiful micro-community in the heart of downtown. Take a walk through this area, check out the yuppie side of Vancouver. Hamilton & Mainland Streets are in actuality lanes (or back-alleys) with old loading docks, but have been converted into European-style high-curb streets.

• Gastown is the oldest part of downtown. You will find cobble-paved boulevards and over-priced tourist traps selling every imaginable thing you can print "Vancouver" on. Popular with tourists are the Gastown Steam Clock, promoted as the only active steam clock in the world but in fact an electric clock that pumps steam rather an underwhelming experience; the Gassy Jack sculpture immortalizing the legendary Vancouver pioneer. The area is notorious for aggressive beggars-drug addicts who are quite unsettling.

• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, 578 Carrall St, (604) +1 604 662-3207 [5]. A Ming-dynasty style garden located in Chinatown. The gardens combines traditional Chinese buildings, plants, a small lake, and curved footpaths to create the illusion of a very big place within a single block. Tours are available.

• BC Place [6] and GM Place are the homes of the BC Lions CFL football team and Vancouver Canucks NHL hockey team respectively. Both buildings are also home to many conventions/tradeshows and big name concerts, although these days GM Place is preferred for concerts due to its superior acoustics. BC Place has the distinction of being the largest air supported dome in the world, and can pack in 60,000 people. Both buildings are located off the Georgia Street Viaduct at Pacific Blvd. near the shore of False Creek.

Architecture

While Vancouver may not be famous for its architecture, the City Center is home to some unique buildings both new and old.

• Christ Church Cathedral, 690 Burrard Street. Vancouver's oldest surviving church was completed in 1889. Often in the shadow of its neighbour, the 23 story Cathedral Place, you should visit in the afternoon to see the sun shining through the stained glass windows.

• Marine Building, 355 Burrard Street. This 22 story Art Deco office tower was completed in 1930. Because of the great depression, only four floors were occupied for the first several years. Note the attention to detail on both the exterior, and in the lobby.

• Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia. The third such hotel in this spot, the Hotel Vancouver was built over 11 years and completed in 1939. As with all Canadian Pacific hotels in Canada, the chateau style is truly impressive. The hotel's first guests were King George and Queen Elizabeth. Bring binoculars for a close up view of the building's many gargoyles.

• Robson Square, 800 Block Robson Street. Designed by Vancouver wunderkind Arthur Erikson (also famous for the Museum of Anthropology and Simon Fraser University) this building which houses Vancouver's Provincial and Supreme Courts was completed in 1979 allowing the Vancouver Art Gallery to take over its former digs across the road. This organic building featuring flowing water and greenery allows you to literally walk all over it.

• Canada Place, 999 Canada Place. Built for Expo 86 as Canada's exhibit, today the building serves as a cruise ship terminal and convention centre, and is also the site of an IMAX theatre and the luxurious Pan Pacific Hotel. Walk around the unique sailed structure and take in views of the building itself, Coal Harbour, and the North Shore. It uses white colour with a roof of funky "sails" or "waves", which is a curved triangular shape, that has made it a modern gem.

• Library Square, 350 West Georgia. Designed by Moshe Safdie (who also designed the National Gallery in Ottawa). Constructed as a 'square within a circle', this building is reminiscent of a modern Roman Colosseum. Completed in 1995.

• One Wall Centre— Voted the world's best new skyscraper in 2001 by Emporis.[7].

• Shangri-La. H: 197m, C: 2008. This building is the new tallest in Vancouver and includes beautiful hotels, offices, and other stuff. It uses a timeless glass frame and a subtly cool top part. 

• The Melville.  

• Science World.  

• The Province Building.  

• Harbour Centre. This is a beautiful Brutalist buidling that uses tinted concrete in a boxy format. It is minimal and uses punched windows and atop is a retro observation deck that is, well, "well rounded" with a space theme akin to Space Needle. 

• Bentall 5.  

• Bentall Complex.  

These are Architecture tours:

• Yaletown

Skyline Views

• Stanley Park offers the most majestic view of downtown Vancouver. In it you can have the trees as a little detail then the skyscrapers peek behind of Coal Harbour and the Business District. Very photogenic.

• Above basically means go into a helicopter and take a tour and take pictures from above.

• 12th and Cambie offers a more buzzing view with cluttered low rise enterprises in the foreground then behind the massive Vancouver skyline. Good for those who like contrast, grit, cluttered photographs, or vibrancy.

• CRAB Park is in East Van and offers a less known view of the magnificent skyline. It shows some of the new development in east downtown along with the normal business district towers. Definitely a neat one to see.

• Spanish Banks offers a neat view of downtown. It shows so much density it's incredible and you'll be having to take a deep breath cause it's so good.

• Londsdale Quay is a neat way to view Vancouver from far away. Sometimes it isn't visible due to fog or rain.

• Queen Elizabeth Park

• Harbour Centre is right downtown and gives nice aerial views of central Van.

Stanley Park

With 1000 acres of mostly forested land at the western tip of downtown this is one of North America's largest urban parks [8], and quite literally, is an oasis of wilderness in the middle of the city. The park is surrounded in its entirety by a 9km paved path called the seawall; a great place for rollerblading, cycling, jogging or just taking a pleasant walk. There is also hundreds of kilometers of inland trails crisscrossing the park in every direction. Stanley Park park attracts over 8 million visitors per year.

The park includes both heavily forested natural areas, manicured gardens and totem poles. As tall and old as the trees appear, it is interesting to know that much of them are second-growth, as the area was heavily logged from 1860-1880. There is a free bus that shuttles visitors around the loop to the different parts of the park. The bus operates in the summer, every 12-15 minutes. It takes 45 minutes to do the full loop. There are stops near all of the major attractions including:

• Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, ☎ 604-659-3474, [9]. Open 10AM-5:30PM, summer hours 9:30AM-7PM. Located in Stanley Park near its eastern edge. Be sure to visit the Amazon River section for some truly unusual and extraordinary animals. The last weekend in April, there is a salmon release event where you can learn about the Aquarium's new salmon breeding program and get to release and name your own fish.Adult $24.95, Senior/Student/Youth $19.95.  

• Children's Farmyard and Miniature Railway, +1 604 257-8531. Young children always like to see and pet farm animals and who doesn't like to ride a miniature railway? At Christmas, there is a very popular light display for the miniature railway. Adult $5, less for seniors, children and youth (Slightly higher during special events).
• Second Beach Pool A very large heated outdoor swimming pool. Adult $4.40, Children $2.25 (Family entry at child rate). Alternatively you could swim at the beach or use the spray park near Lumberman's arch for no charge. There are lifeguards at both Second Beach and Third Beach.

• Prospect Point— At the north tip of Stanley Park, Prospect Point affords stunning views of the Lions Gate Bridge and First Narrows. There is a concession and bathrooms here, and sometimes you may spot a large contingent of racoons begging for food. Please don't feed them.

• Beaches— Second and Third beaches are spaced along the western part of the seawall in Stanley Park.

• Nine O'clock Gun— Originally used by mariners to set their chronometers. However, during and after World War II, this gun has marked 9PM every night since 1894.

• Stanley Park Pitch & Putt, along Lagoon Drive, 604-681-8847, [10]. 18 hole course set amid rhododendron gardens. Holes range in length from 40 - 100 yards. $12.

Trivia: Every single one of Stanley Park's grey squirrels was descended from eight pairs given to Vancouver as a gift from New York City in 1909.

Vancouver - City Center city tours

• English Bay— The beach right in the west end. A popular place to watch the sunset. Probably the best place to see the Festival of Lights.
• Vancouver Opera, 835 Cambie St, ☎ 604-683-0222, [11]. Offers world-class performances from some of the world's best composers. 
• Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, ☎ 604-876-3434, [12]. A great night out at reasonable prices. 

• Pro Sports The Vancouver Canucks are Vancouver's NHL club [13]. The season runs from October into the spring. The games are played at GM place, it will be difficult and expensive to get tickets since all games sell out. BC Lions play in Canada's most elite football league the CFL[14]. The Vancouver Whitecaps play professional soccer, but it is amateur compared to European leagues. Vancouver also has several minor league teams such as the Vancouver Giants of the WHL and the Vancouver Canadian's of single A baseball.

• Geogad Mobile Tours— Geogad has two free MP3 walking tour of Vancouver that can be downloaded directly from the Geogad website. The tour can be uploaded to any MP3 device and works best on MP3 players that can display the tour photos and maps. One tour covers the downtown Vancouver and Gastown while the second focuses on Chinatown, Yaletown and Granville Island. These tours cover much of the interesting architecture and must-see sights in Vancouver's city center. Either tour is a great way to relax and explore Vancouver at your own pace.

• Spokes Bicycle Rentals, 1798 West Georgia St(right on the corner at Denman), ☎ 504-688-5141(info@spokesbicyclerentals.com, fax: 604-688-5581), [15]. Daily 8AM-9PM. Offers bike rentals and guided bike tours from a fantastic location on the doorstep of Stanley Park. Various styles of bikes for adults and children, plus helmets and locks. Weekly and monthly rates also available. $4.72/hr, $14.16/6 hrs.  

• City Salsa Vibe (Empire Landmark Hotel), 1400 Robson St, ☎ +1-778-TO-DANCE (863-2623), [16]. Fridays: Doors open 8:30PM, Free lesson 9PM, party 10PM-1:30AM. Free salsa lessons, followed by a salsa party with expert performers and a sophisticated crowd. Fully licensed bar. Street and Hotel parking. Dress Code: upscale casual or better, no torn jeans, no tennis shoes, collared shirts preferred for men.$12 cover for party.  

• Vancouver Trolley Company is a nice way to explore Vancouver. As any Vancouverite will tell you, parking in Vancouver can be a nightmare, so exploring the city on a narrated tour bus ride is a worthy alternative. This is a "hop-on, hop-off" type of tour with stops in numerous places around town and the drivers narrate the history and peculiarities of the city along the way. You are limited to one time around the loop. The City attraction tour is $35 for adults, $18.50 for children.

• Vancouver Five in One is a convenient admissions pass to combine with a Hop-on, Hop-off tour of the city. The card gives entry to Capilano Suspension Bridge, Vancouver Aquarium, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden, IMAX at Canada Place, and the Vancouver Lookout for $70 for adults, $47 for children. [17]

• Vancouver Talks Audio Tour [18] is a neat way to hear about the city while seeing it. The audio tour covers four downtown neighbourhoods and incorporates documentary interviews and historical quotations. It can be rented from Tourism Vancouver [19] (200 Burrard) or bought (CD/map format) from most local book retailers. It costs about $15 to rent or buy the product and can keep you busy for a few hours or a few days depending on how much of the city you want to cover.

Events & Festivals

• 4:20. On April 20th people congregate at the Vancouver Art Gallery to smoke marijuana and celebrate this unofficial holiday, a reflection of British Columbia's relaxed attitudes towards cannabis.

• Canada Day at Canada Place, 999 Canada Place(On a pier stretching north from Canada Place (a street) between Burrard and Howe streets), (events@canadaplace.ca), [20]. July 1 only, 10am–7pm. A large, engaging, though somewhat corporate celebration of Canada's national holiday. The citizenship ceremony can be moving. There are usually several bands, fun activities for the kids, and exhibits of Canadian Forces and other bits of Canadiana.Free.  

• Canada Day Fireworks, ☎ +1-604.925.1912(events@canadaplace.ca), [21]. July 1 only, 10:30pm-11pm. Restarting an old tradition, there is a fireworks display after dark on Canada Day. In 2008, this was a coordinated two-barge show, one barge off Canada Place and the other off West Vancouver.Free viewing from streets, premium Canada Place seating for a fee.  

• Chinese New Year. Because there is such a strong Chinese population in the city, the Lunar New Year period is often one of the most exciting and colourful in the city. There is usually a parade in Chinatown and many of the public schools usually have a day off on Chinese New Year. You can also catch celebrations at Tinseltown mall (1 minute from Stadium Skytrain station), and in Richmond at the International Buddhist Temple. There, visitors can experience Chinese New Year festivities with traditional snacks and foods, auspicious flower arrangements, Chinese calligraphy, exciting raffles, and much, much more.

• Gay Pride Parade and Festival happens on the Sunday before the first Monday in August. The parade happens on Denman Street, turning onto Beach Avenue with the festival happening at Sunset Beach. This is the largest celebration of its kind in Western Canada, in 2007 attracting over 380,000 festival-goers from all over North America. Parties, arts and cultural events lead up to this colorful parade and beach side festival.

• Festival of Lights (Fireworks)[22]. Seen one fireworks show, seen them all? Think again. Most Vancouverites come out to this event to enjoy the beach, the breeze and the hundreds of thousands of people who turn out. The fireworks themselves are just the excuse. Four shows, late July/early August. Make sure you take public transit; streets are closed and crowds are heavy.

• Lantern Festival at Trout Lake Park— Come see the most amazing hand crafted lanterns demonstrated in a parade round the lake on Vancouver's East side. Takes place each July on the 4th Sunday.

• Vancouver Zombie Walk. Usually either in the summer or near Halloween, anyone can choose to dress up and act as the living dead during this parade through Downtown. Although this has only been in Vancouver for about 2 years, thousands of people have already participated, and at least 500 people each year join in on this zombie walk. It is free, and mostly for plain fun, and is also an unofficial event. Each year, there is a set meeting spot. Everyone then walks throughout Downtown and up streets and parks all in one large group. Information on this event is usually found with a quick search on google.

Vancouver - City Center souvenirs and shopping

Shopping Areas

• Robson Street downtown is the main high end shopping district.
• Yaletown is the newest Urban Residential area of Vancouver. Rather yuppie, you will find many beauty shops and self-improvement facilities (such as cosmetic dentistry and plastic surgery). Start your tour at Davie & Hamilton, walk along Mainland St, Pacific, Homer and finish at the spectacular Marinaside Crescent. This was formerly a warehouse district that is now a high end residential area with many upscale and mid-range stores. As an illustration of the neighbourhood's character, one cosmetic surgery office has valet parking in front.
• Gastown is the area along Cordova street east of the Seabus terminal. This is a tourist area that has numerous souvenir shops. Some of the shops have nice first nations carvings. If you want a snow globe of Canada Place or a "My grandma went to Vancouver..." t-shirt this is the place to get it.
• Chinatown is centered on Pender Street around Main. This is the second largest Chinatown in North America. Many Chinese import shops here.
• Chinatown Night Market 100 & 200 Block Keefer Street, F-Su in the summer 6:30PM-11PM. Styled after Asian marketplaces these very popular nights have all kinds of stuff for sale. Watch out for the cheap imitation knock-offs that are commonly available.

Stores

• Book-off, 636 Hornby Street(between W. Georgia and Dunsmuir St.), ☎ +1-604-605-8887, [23]. Daily 10AM–8PM. A Japanese language bookstore plunked down in Vancouver. Buys and sells books, CDs, and DVDs from Japan and in the Japanese language. Also has some English-language and foreign-language books. Good for the student of Japanese and the homesick Japanese visitor. 
• H-Mart, 590 Robson Street(at Richards St), [24]. Daily 9AM–9PM. Hidden on the second floor is a large grocery store featuring a wide range of high-quality, primarily Korean groceries. Part of a North American chain of Korean stores. The food court offers a number of good lunch choices, too. 

Vancouver - City Center Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

The different parts of the City Center have diverse characteristics. The central business district has, as you would expect, a high number of coffee shops and lunch places, the West End has a wide variety of restaurants, Yaletown has a number of high end restaurants and Chinatown has many Chinese restaurants. Vancouver is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world and this is reflected in its cuisine, particularly Asian. Some of the best Japanese food outside of Japan is in Vancouver and its Cantonese and Korean offerings are also world-class.

Budget

• Thai Away Home, 1206 Davie St, +1 604 682-8424. Open daily from noon to 9:30PM. This small restaurant serves up good Thai food in a casual atmosphere. True to the name, you can eat-in (if you can find a seat) or take the food home and warm it up there. The price is certainly right, ranging from $5.00 to $7.50 for lunch and just slightly more for dinner.

• Samurai Japanese Restaurant, 1108 Davie Street (at Thurlow), ☎ +1-(604) 609-0078. until 24h. Well known for having huge portions for small prices. It also has fresher sushi than some more expensive places. During meal times, it can be very difficult to get a seat. In the summer, it can be nice to get take out and walk down to Sunset Beach (4 blocks southwest on Thurlow, ~20min). Be sure to try their toro (fatty tuna), and salmon sushi/sashimi. Stay away from their tuna sushi/sashimi because it tends to be too frozen. There are other location at Cambie Street and 43rd Ave in Vancouver South, and on Fraser Street in East Van.$10.  

• Stepho's Souvlaki Greek Taverna, 1124 Davie Street, ☎ +1-604-683-2555. Daily. A Greek restaurant in downtown Vancouver, famous for long lines of customers waiting for a table, hungry for Stepho's abundant and delicious platters of Greek favourites.Almost all under $10.  

• Fritz Frie House, 718 Davie near Granville in downtown 1-604-684-0811, boasts what is arguably the best poutine in town. The curds are imported from Quebec. The garlic lover's mayo is fantastic too. Cleverly located next to the local Fitness World. $5 for a medium. Open until the wee hours in the morning, frequented by night clubbers. Regularly wins local awards for fries.

• Moonpennies, 456 Howe Street, 899-1271. Simple food and great coffee in a friendly atmosphere. $6-$8.

• Capers Community Market, 1675 Robson St, +1 604 687-5288. Open Mon-Sat 8AM-10PM Sun 8AM-9PM. Self service take away or eat in. A great place for vegetarians and vegans. Food is charged by weight.

• Vancouver Community College Cafeteria, Dunsmuir and Hamilton (located on the second floor), Weekdays Breakfast & Lunch. The cafeteria is run by the culinary arts program so you get gourmet food at cafeteria prices. Usually have a large seafood selection. Don't miss the Asian Food program which has a separate service area. As you would expect from students, the quality can vary. However, it is hard to complain when you get a fancy meal for less than $8.

• Pita Wrap Cafe, 565 Dunsmuir St., ☎ +1-604-681-7634. Mo-Fr 8AM-4PM. The usual falafels, souvlakis, shawermas and Greek plates, but very well executed.$5-$8.  

• Denny's 888 Burrard St. Open 24 hours a day Denny's is part of the large chain of diners. Decent fare at low prices make this a popular location at any time of the day. Main dishes start from just $6.

• Kintaro Ramen 788 Denman St, +1 604 682-7568. Authentic Japanese Ramen shop. Often it's crowded and there's a lineup but it moves fast. Close to Stanley Park and the bike/roller-blade rental shops on the end of Denman St.

• Ezogiku Noodle Cafe, 2 locations on Robson St. One near the north end (1329 Robson St, +1 604 683-6111) and the other closer to the Vancouver library and GM Place (270 Robson St, +1 604 685-9466). The speciality here is the Sapporo miso ramen ($6.55), a Japanese noodle soup flavored with miso paste and served with a heap of veggies on top; add in $2.20 for a serve of gyoza dumplings on the side. The servings are large, with a hearty broth and an authentic abundance of ingredients. Vegetarian soups and broths available. Cash only.

• Hon's Wun-Tun House on Robson, 1339 Robson Street, ☎ +1-604-685-0871(fax: +1-604-685-0885), [25]. Sunday-Thursday 11am-11pm; Fridays and Saturdays 11am-midnight. Famous for pot-stickers (pork, chicken, beef, or vegetarian), but has an array of cheap but excellent Chinese food including dim sum, bbq and desserts ranging from $4 to $8. There is a separate kitchen for vegetarian dishes. Lunch special for less than $32 (incl. tax and tip) that feeds 4 people: congee (rice porridge), 2 side dishes, 1 rice or noodles. Robson location only. Located on north side of Robson between Jervis Street and Broughton Street. More locations in Chinatown, New Westminster, and Richmond.$4-$8.  

• Baghdad Cafe, 430 W. Pender(at Richards). Mediterranean cuisine, well prepared, in a charming knick-knack laden interior with friendly staff. Respectable array of vegetarian options.lunch $10.  

• Jang Mo Jib 1719 Robson 1-604-642-0712 Serves home style Korean food and is frequented by the local Korean students. The restaurant almost looks run-down, but it serves excellent food. Try the short ribs.

• You should certainly try the cheesecake at the Trees Organic Café on 450 Granville Street 1-604-684-5060. It's also advertised as the best cheesecake in town and it certainly holds its promises. So don't hesitate and drop in for a good cup of coffee and "Vancouver style" New York Cheese Cake!

Mid-range

• The Mansion, 1523 Davie St, +1 604 689-4334[26]. Italian-styled restaurant in an historic manor house. Owned by USA's 'Romano's Macaroni Grill' chain of restaurants. Meals range from $10 to $20 CAD per person. Opens at noon; closing time varies.

• Elbow Room, 560 Davie St (at Seymour St), +1 604 685-3628[27]. "Food and Service is our name and Abuse is our game (so have some fun)". A restaurant that is famous for abusing its customers. Expect to line up to get in on weekends. Open for breakfast and lunch.

• Wild Rice, 117 W. Pender St (between Abbot and Beatty Streets), +1 604 642-2882 [28]. Wild Rice has a fresh, very tasty reinterpretation of Chinese cuisine, with pan-Asian and North American influences mixed in, set in a sleek black decor. Small plates $6-10, entrees $13-25, desserts $7. Fine teas $3-7 . Dinner for two $45-50 without wine. Located in Chinatown near the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and BC Place, on the north side of a bleak Pender Street block. Lunch Mo-Fr 11:30-4PM. Dinner Su-Th until 12AM midnight, Fr-Sa until 1AM.

• Zakkushi 604-685-1136 823 Denman Street. A small Japanese restaurant that specializes in Japanese skewered meats. It would be a good idea to make a reservation.

• The Irish Heather, 217 Carrall St (at the east end of Gastown), +1 604 688-9779, [29]. Seven days a week, noon-midnight. Nice atmosphere, excellent pheasant, and apparently the only place in Vancouver that serves real Guinness. About $10 for lunch or $15 for supper (not including drinks).

• Earls On Top, 1185 Robson Street. Part of the nation chain of restaurants, Earls offers a moderate selection of contemporary foods ranging from steak and chicken to seafood and pizza. More hip and happening than most of the chains outlets this isn't the place for a quiet meal. Good service and food make this a popular spot.

• Taki's Taverna, 1106 Davie Street, ☎ +1-604-682-1336. Another Greek Taverna with long lines. A good overflow alternative to Stepho's down the block. 

• Maria's Taverna, 1037 Denman St, +1-604 681-8500. Delicious Greek food, including a vegetarian souvlaki platter. The seating spills out onto the sidewalk, which is a treat in warm weather. There's another Maria's at 2324 W 4th Ave in Kitsilano.

• Umberto's is a chain of restaurants throughout Vancouver, most of which are upscale joints serving west-coast variations of Italian classics.

• Caffè Artigiano. Excellent coffee shop featuring "latte art," but it's still great. IntelligentsiA coffee available. Great espresso.

• La Bretagne, "The Original Creperie", 795 Jervis St (just downhill to the north of Robson), +1 604 688-5989. A wide selection of both savoury crepes (with vegetables) and sweet crepes (with cream, fruits, and sugar), plus breakfast offerings and sandwiches. Try the organic buckwheat flour, which gives the crepe the rich dark brown colour of farm bread. A lot of choices for a light lunch or dinner, or mid-afternoon snack. Crepes $6-8, a full lunch $8-15.

• Tree's Organic coffee & roasting house, 450 Granville Street, ☎ +1-604.684.5060(tocoffee@telus.net, fax: +1-604.684.5026), [30]. Mon – Wed 6AM to 8PM, Thurs & Fri 6AM to 10PM, Weekends & Holidays 8AM to 7:30PM. A coffeehouse featuring carefully selected, 100% certified organic, coffee. Famous for its cheesecake. Another location is in Richmond. 

• Kamei Royal, 1030 W. Georgia St, ☎ +1-604-687-8588(fax: +1-604-687-8488). This is the Japanese restaurant to which you can bring your homesick Japanese business partners. Excellently prepared, professional-grade sushi, rice dishes, kushiyaki, and cooked-at-the-table sukiyaki. An authentic Japanese atmosphere, from the irasshaimase greeting to the pretty pictures in the bilingual menus to the serene decor. Tucked above a Tiffany's store on the second floor, you look out over the crowds on Georgia and Burrard, or inside at the chefs in the glass-walled kitchen. Another branch is on West Broadway in Kits.dinner $20.  

• Glowbal grill & satay bar, 1079 Mainland Street, ☎ +1-604-602-0835, [31]. Daily, afternoon menu 3PM - 5PM, dinner 5PM - 12AM midnight; Mon-Fri lunch 11:30AM - 3PM; Sat-Sun Brunch 10:30AM - 3PM. Glowbal is a trendy hit in the heart of the Yaletown restaurant row. Brunches are famous, but dinners are also outstanding. Don't be surprised if the chef stops by to offer some custom-made treat if the menu doesn't suffice, and expect the flavours to be marvellous. Attentive, friendly, and uniformly black-clad service. A top-notch operation in every way. Valet parking Thursday-Saturday nights. Also does catering.Brunch $10-16, Dinner $18-35.  

• Sanafir, 1026 Granville Street, ☎ +1-604-678-1049(info@sanafir.ca, fax: +1-604-602-7523), [32]. Daily from 5PM. Morocco meets Granville Street and serves tapas. Draws from North African, Asian, Middle Eastern, Mediterranian. and Indian. Corporate sibling of Yaletown's Glowbal. Valet parking Thursday-Saturday nights. Tapas $14.  

• Coast, 1257 Hamilton Street(in Yaletown, near Davie), ☎ +1-604.685.5010(fax: +1-604.602.7523), [33]. Daily from 4:30PM. Fresh seafood from coastal regions throughout the world. Try the Chef' s Community Table, where the chef prepares the food for up to 14 diners right at the table. Corporate sibling of Yaletown's Glowbal. Valet parking Thursday-Saturday nights.Dinner $30-60/person plus wine.  

• Italian Kitchen, 1037 Alberni Street, ☎ +1-604-687-2858(fax: +1-604-687-2859), [34]. Lunch Mon-Fri 11:30AM on; Dinner daily from 4:30PM. Corporate sibling of Yaletown's Glowbal. Valet parking most hours the restaurant is open. Reservations recommended.Lunch $11-16, Dinner $18-28.  

• Thai House Restaurant, 1116 Robson Street, ☎ +1-604-683-3383, [35]. Daily 11AM to 10:30PM. Thai and Thai fusion food. Has received awards for Best Thai and Best Asian. A local chain with locations Downtown Robson, Kitsilano and Richmond, plus some differently-themed restaurants. Dine in, take out, or free delivery.$15-30.  

• Chilli House Thai Bistro, 1018 Beach Ave, ☎ +1-604-685-8989, [36]. Daily 11AM to 10:30PM. Sophisticated Thai cuisine with a Vancouver Twist and a great view from the seawall. Specialises in live seafood. Free parking. 

• Samba Brazilian Steakhouse, 1122 Alberni Street, ☎ +1-604-696-9888, [37]. Vancouver’s 1st and only Brazilian Steakhouse. Showmanship includes "Passadores" carrying meat to your table on swords. Also a salad bar and hot buffet. Live Latin music and dance show. 

• Waves Coffee, 1263 Pacific Boulevard(between Helmecken and Drake), ☎ +1-604-689-1299, [38]. Daily 24 hours/day. A coffeehouse of the comfortable sofa variety. Features free wireless internet service and staying open all night. Part of a small local chain. 
• Kam's Place, 1043 Davie Street(Between Thurlow and Burrard), ☎ +1-604-669-3389. Mon-Fri 11:00AM-2:30PM, 5:00PM-9:30PM; Sat-Sun 12:00N-2:30PM, 5:00PM-9:30PM. It calls itself a "Singaporean" restaurant, but the menu has a strong segment of Thai along with the Chinese and Malaysian. Generous portions mean you should share entrees or plan to take so home. Good vegetarian selection; the Spicy Lettuce Wrap ($7.95) is a particular treat. "Boo Boo's Special" lychee and coconut milk is delicious as a drink or a light dessert. Free delivery to downtown or West End after 5pm.dinner $9-15/person; lunch specials from $5.75.  

• Plus Alpha, 1099 Richards Street(Richards at Helmecken), ☎ +1-604-633-0355, [39]. Tue-Sat 5PM - 1AM; Sun 5PM - 12AM; Mon closed. "Plus Alpha" is a Japanese term meaning "a little extra", and this compact fusion of polished Japanese with trendy Yaletown provides a little extra interest, a little extra style, a little extra fun. New interpretations of contemporary Japanese standards such as Pumpkin Croquette and "Pimp My Tofu". Lychee martinis in a futuristic glass. A good place to get a dinner with that "plus alpha".dinner $20/person.  
• Okada Sushi(おかだ寿司), 688 Nelson Street #M101(at Hornby, on 3rd floor above courtyard), ☎ +1-604-899-3266(fax: +1-604-899-3277), [40]. Lunch Mon-Fri 11：30AM – 2:15PM; Dinner Mon–Sat 5PM–10PM. A fine sushi restaurant. Given the ambience and the Japanese heard among chefs, servers, and diners alike, you'll imagine yourself in Tokyo. An extensive list of specials, plus a range of sashimi, sushi, maki rolls, and small dishes. Sit at the 10-person counter for a dazzling view of the chefs in action.$20 and up/person for dinner.  

• Shabusen Yakiniku House 202 - 755 Burrard Street +1 604 669-3883 Daily lunch and dinner. A Japanese and Korean BBQ House specializing in a large all-you-can-eat menu. Fun part of eating here is that you can order raw meat and cook it yourself on the provided grill installed in the table. There is another location in South Granville.

Splurge

• Elixir, 350 Davie Street +1 604-642-0557. M-Sa 6:30AM-2AM, Su 6:30AM-Midnight[41]. Charming French brasserie inside the stylish Opus Hotel. Chef Don Letendre's menu is authentic French country cuisine with a modern panache. Roasted sable fish, braise du jour, bacon wrapped petit tenderloin, roasted veal chop and warm sticky toffee pudding are but a few bistro highlights.

• Hy's Encore, 637 Hornby Street, (604) +1 604 683-7671. The most amazing service in Vancouver. This steak house is some fifty years old. Charcoal steaks are the house specialty, although the service is even better. The servers do an incredible job and the food is excellent.

• Joe Forte's Seafood & Chop House, 777 Thurlow St, (604) +1 604 669-1940. [42] Open daily for lunch and dinner; reservations strongly recommended. Usually mentioned amongst the top 5 restaurants in Vancouver, here you will find great food and great service. In the lavishly decorated open space, you may even catch a glimpse of a celebrity as you savour the oysters that are a specialty here. With glamour comes a price; expect to spend about $70/person for a complete dinner.

• Le Gavroche, 1616 Alberni St, (604) +1 604 685-3924 [43]. Open daily for dinner; reservations required. The romantic and intimate setting in an old Victorian house will heighten your senses and put you in the right mood for French cuisine with a West Coast twist. The beautiful view of the mountains is no less impressive than the great food and service you will get here. Be prepared to spend $70/person or more for a memorable experience.

• Parkside, 1906 Haro St, (604) +1 604 683-6912[44]. Open daily for Dinner; French with a touch of Pacific north-west. Some of the best food in Vancouver, in an intimate and pleasant setting. $50 and up including tax+tip.

• Art Gallery Cafe, 750 Hornby Street. It's a little pricey, but it's definitely worth it. 

Vancouver - City Center nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs

• Wine Tastings In Gastown, editor_abv@telus.net, ☎ 604 230 3682. varied. Long time Vancouver wine consultant Stephen Bonner hosts great wine tastings for small groups 6-10 in his loft in historic Gastown. Varied themes and prices but the BC wine and cheese tastings are a big hit with visiting foodies.$30 - $100.  

There are many nightclubs in the City Centre area. Most of them are located in Vancouver's Entertainment District along Granville Street from Robson Street to the Granville Street Bridge.

• Caprice, 967 Granville Street, 604) 681-2114. One of the more exclusive clubs in Vancouver.

• The Cellar/Doollins, 654 Nelson Street, (604) 605-4343. Doollins is a very popular Irish pub with a night club called the Cellar below.

• Commodore Ballroom, 870 Granville St, (604) 683-9413. This is a large venue frequent location for live concerts. Has a large famous 'sprung' dance floor. Capacity is 900 people. On most nights, tickets are required to get in.

• Opus Bar, 350 Davie Street, +1 604-642-0557 [45]. Painfully ‘hip’ bar/lounge inside the much-hyped Opus Hotel in Yaletown. Beyond the fashionable clientele and contemporary décor there’s tapas, cocktails and an extensive list of imported and domestic wines and spirits. Signature small plates include 'O' Dim Sum, merguez corn dog and shish kebob, and Yuzu-spiced garlic wings.

• Roxy's, 932 Granville Street, (604) 331-7999. The house band Dr. Strangelove covers some of the best of the recent 'classic rock' and dance music.

• Richard's on Richard's, 1036 Richards Street, (604) 687-6794. The best spot for great up and coming bands.

• Samba Brazilian Steakhouse, 1122 Alberni Street, ☎ +1-604-696-9888, [46]. 11:30AM to 11PM. A Brazilian steakhouse featuring nightly live Latin music, Brazil's signature cocktail the "Caipirinha", and a Brazilian dance show in the lounge. 

There are dozens of clubs and bars along Granville street in downtown Vancouver. To see a full list of clubs and whats going on check the Vancouver section of Clubzone http://www.clubzone.com/ or Clubvibes http://www.clubvibes.com/ or Granville Street http://www.granvillestreet.com/ or http://www.downtownvancouver.com/.

Vancouver - City Center cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels and lodging

Downtown Vancouver is home to Canada's finest hotels, a list that keeps growing. Vancouver will be the first city in North America to have a hotel from Asia's prestigious five star Shangri-la chain when the 61 story tower is completed in 2008. Downtown is the most densely populated part of Canada and as a result real estate is very expensive and thus so are most hotel rates.

Budget

If you are planning to stay in a hostel downtown, it is probably better to ensure it is located west of Main street and caters mainly to backpackers (tourists on a budget.) Staying downtown keeps much of the frequently visited spots in walking distance. If you were planning to find a cheap (significantly less than $90) hotel downtown, you should know that it is likely to be located in the "East Side", infamous for its prostitution and drug problems.

• American Backpackers Hostel, 347 West Pender St., ☎ +1 604-688-0112, [47]. The rooms are average but the dorms are to be considered by only the poorest of travelers. There are benefits like free beer on summer Saturdays. Book on their website and get a $5 discount on the first night. Minimum age 17, maximum age 35.Dorm bed $10, Single $20, Double $35/night.  

• Cambie Hostel - Gastown 300 Cambie Street (at Cordova Street), +1 604 684-6466, toll free +1 877 395-5335, [48].

• Cambie Hostel - Seymour, 515 Seymour Street (between West Pender and Dunsmuir), +1 604-684-7757, toll free +1 866-623-8496, [49].

• C&N Backpackers Hostel, 927 Main Street, +1 604-682-2441, toll free +1 888-434-6060, [50].

• C&N Central Station Hostel, 1038 Main Street, +1 604-681-9118 [51].

• Columbia Hotel, 303 Columbia St, ☎ +1 604-683-3757, [52]. Hostel accommodations in an old historical building in the middle of Gastown.$39 and up.  

• Global Village Backpacker's Hostel, 1018 Granville St, (604) +1 604 682-8226 (or toll-free (888) 844-7875) [53]. Another appealing downtown option with some package deals and other good pricing choices. Priced from $20-$25 for a bed in 4-person room.

• Grand Trunk, 55 Powell St, ☎ 604-681-8968(gthostel@telus.net), [54]. checkin: 9AM-11PM. Convenient central downtown location with bus stop in front of door, close to Sky Train, Sea Bus terminal, bus and train station, shopping, night life, and attractions.Single bed (shared room) $15, Single room $30.  

• HI-Vancouver Central, 1025 Granville St, (604) 685-5335 [55].

• HI Vancouver (Downtown), 1114 Burnaby St, +1 604 684-4565 [56]. Hostelling International's first downtown Vancouver location. $20-$28 for a bed in a 4-person room.

• Pender Lodge, 431 East Pender St, ☎ 604-681-8968(gthostel@telus.net), [57]. checkin: 9AM-11PM. Run by the people who own Grand Trunk. It is also in a great location and the building itself was recently renovated.Single room $30.  

• SameSun Vancouver, 1018 Granville St, (604) 682-8226 [58]. Where the party animals rest their weary heads, the SameSun Vancouver embodies the lively atmosphere of the street it is located in. Recently renovated, the hostel features modern amenities decorated by bright splashes of colours on the wall.

Mid-range

• Buchan Hotel, 1906 Haro Street, ☎ 1-800-668-6654 (toll-free) or +1 604-685-5354(mail@buchanhotel.com), [59]. B&B style hotel in a West End residential area. Some rooms have private baths while others have shared facilities. No parking available if you have a car.$80-$140, with cheaper rates mid-Oct to March.  

• Bosman's Hotel, 1060 Howe St, +1 604 682-3171, toll free +1 888 267-6267 [60]. Two blocks from Robson Street's shopping and one block from Granville's nighlife, Bosman's Hotel is a very good deal for downtown Vancouver. Outside pool patio, and on-site bar. Price range from $69-$89.

• Burrard Inn, 1100 Burrard Street, ☎ +1 604-681-2331, [61]. Recently renovated hotel. Some rooms have kitchenettes. Guest parking is $13/night.$75-$130.  

• Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, 1763 Comox Street, ☎ 1-800-663-1144 (toll-free) or +1 604-688-7711, [62]. Mix of rooms ranging from standard to premium suites good for long term stays. Guests have access to the nearby Denman Fitness Club and the hotel is located close to shops, restaurants and attractions like Stanley Park and English Bay.$250+ (high season); $140+ (low season).  

• Comfort Inn Downtown, 654 Nelson St, ☎ 1-888-605-5333 (toll-free) or +1 604-605-4333, [63]. A reasonably-priced, well-situated hotel with some decent package deals as well.The smallest room in winter will cost you $89.  

• Hampton Inn & Suites, 111 Robson Street, ☎ +1 604-602-1008(fax: +1 604-602-1008), [64]. Near BC Place stadium.From $129.  

• Kingston Hotel, 757 Richards Street, ☎ 1-888-713-3304 (toll-free) or +1 604-684-9024, [65]. Single, twin and double rooms with shared washrooms. The continental breakfast is free.$55-$170.  

• The Listel Hotel, 1300 Robson Street, ☎ 1-800-663-5491 (toll-free) or +1 604-684-8461(moreinfo@thelistelhotel.com), [66]. Boutique hotel with an arts twist -- a number of the rooms and floors have been decorated by local museums or artists.$150 and up.  

• Modern Accommodations, 583 Beach Crescent, Vancouver, BC, (parkwest@modernaccommodations.com), [67]. checkin: 3pm; checkout: 11am. Modern Waterfront Furnished Apartment for short term vacation rental and Business travel in Vancouver Yaletown and False Creek North.$129 CAD and Up.  

• The Sylvia Hotel, 1154 Gilford St(Gilford & Beach Ave, on English Bay), ☎ +1 604-681-9321, [68]. Hotel in a heritage building across the street from English Bay Beach. Mixture of standard rooms and suites, some rooms have a kitchen.$115-$200 (May - mid-Oct), cheaper rates available in low season.  

• Victorian Hotel, 514 Homer Street, ☎ 1-877-681-6369 (toll-free) or +1 604-681-6369, [69]. A historic hotel that has recently been renovated. Close walk to most attractions, but note that it is near a rough area of town. Some rooms have shared bathrooms.Prices range from $79-139 in the summer.  

• YWCA Hotel, 733 Beatty Street, ☎ 1-800-663-1424 (toll-free) or +1 604-895-5830,, [70]. A modern hotel (12 years old) with a range of room sizes and prices. Close walk to most attractions and near BC Place Stadium. All rooms are private but some have shared bathrooms.Prices range from $64-155 in the summer..  

• The Metropolitan, 645 Howe Street, ☎ (604) 687-1122‎, [71]. Fantastic location but be sure to book in advance. 

Splurge

• Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel (downtown, steps from Coal harbour) [72] 1128 West Hastings Street, Phone: 1-604-684-1128, Toll-free: 1-800-207-4150. The Vancouver Marriott Pinnacle Downtown Hotel is steps away from Coal harbour and cruise ship terminal and offers a weddings and meetings hotel in downtown Vancouver featuring facilities that include fitness centre, indoor lap pool and whirlpool. Rates from $159 CAD/night.

• Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside (newly renovated guestrooms on the waterfront in downtown Vancouver) [73] 1133 West Hastings Street, Phone: 1-604-689-9211, Toll-free: 1-800-905-8582. The Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside is located on the waterfront in downtown Vancouver within walking distance of the Alaska Cruise Ship Terminal and Vancouver Convention and Exhibition Centre, Historic Gastown and Stanley Park. Rates from $159 CAD/night.

• Crowne Plaza Hotel, 801 W. Georgia St, +1 604 682-5566 [74]. All you would expect from a great hotel, including its wonderful location across from the Vancouver Art Gallery. From $300 although it can be as low as low as $110 for advance purchases and off-season.

• Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 W. Georgia St, +1 604 684-3131 [75]. Vancouver's grand old hotel. Beautifully decorated and a firmly established part of Vancouver's history. From $250-$400.

• The Fairmont Waterfront, 900 Canada Place Way, +1 604 691-1999 [76]. The Fairmont Waterfront has a stunning view wherever there's a window. This 5-star hotel is located right across from Canada Place.From $300-$500.

• Four Seasons Vancouver, 791 West Georgia St, ☎ +1 604-689-9333(fax: +1 604-684-4555), [77]. Classy luxury hotel in the heart of Vancouver, decorated in classic style but with modern amenites. It features a pool, gym and the excellent restaurant and bar "YEW".$270 and up.  

• Hotel Le Soleil, 567 Hornby Street, Vancouver BC, V6C 2E8 [78]. A 119-room deluxe intimate luxury downtown Vancouver hotel with stylish sophistication and old world elegance. Located in the financial, shopping and business districts. Rated "One of the Top 100 Hotels in the World" - by Resorts & Great Hotels Magazine. 4 Diamond rating - American Automobile Association's (AAA), 4½ Star honour - Canada Select.

• LuxuryYaletown, 1067 Marinaside Crescent, ☎ +1-801-953-5483, [79]. Extremely luxuriously outfitted, 3 bedroom 3 bathroom 2 story luxury waterfront townhouse for vacation rental. In the heart of trendy Yaletown, directly on the marina. Website has lots of photos and details, but no mention of price. If you have to ask, you can't afford it. 

• Opus Hotel, 322 Davie Street, (604) 642-6787 [80]. Exclusive & stylish boutique hotel in Yaletown. The hotel boasts the popular Elixir (a French brasserie) [81] and trendy Opus Bar [82]. Café O serves cocktails and lighter gastronomy like croissants and panini. The 96 rooms and suites are available in five separate décor schemes.

• Pan Pacific, 300-999 Canada Place, +1 604 662-8111 [83]. A harbor location just steps away from Stanley Park. If you are staying here, consider paying extra for a view of the coast mountains. At these prices, it would be a shame to miss out on the view. $300-$500.

• Terminal City Tower, 837 Hastings Street, [84]. 60 room full service luxury boutique club hotel in downtown Vancouver BC offering lodging accommodations near tourist attractions, convention centre and cruise ship terminal.

• The Wedgewood Hotel and Spa, 845 Hornby Street, +1 210-507-5999, +1 604-689-7777 [85]. The Wedgewood Hotel and Spa, stately located on Vancouver’s stylish Robson Square, is a charming European boutique hotel. All 83 lavish rooms feature private balconies and posh furnishings. The latest addition is a spa and fitness center. The award-winning restaurant Bacchus is on premises for dining and live entertainment. Downtown location allows for suitable access to shopping, nightlife, parks and recreation, city tours and arts and entertainment.

• The Westin Bayshore Resort & Marina Vancouver, 1601 Bayshore Drive, +1 604-682 3377, [86]. Luxury downtown resort next to the Stanley Park with 510 rooms and stunning views of Coal Harbour and mountains.

• Pacific Pallisades, 1277 Robson Street, ☎ (604) 688-0461‎. Cozy hotel with friendly service. Over 100 rooms.$150-400$.  

• The Sutton Place Hotel.  

This page was last edited by Open Hospitality. Based on work by Stefan Ertmann, Martin McCarvill, Jim DeLaHunt, lou, Carson Roen and Tracy Angulo, Wikitravel user(s) Edmontonenthusiast, Shaund, Mbowe875, Vikkis and MarinaK, Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel and others. - Content on this page is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 1.0 license