CityGuide2017

+ 120 Insider Picks

Your Guide to Where to Eat, Shop + Explore

Editor’s Note

Do as the Locals Do

General Manager | Publisher Dee Dhaliwal

miliar part of town, or visiting a new city altogether, I hit the usual internet suspects to research some crowdsourced greatest hits. But what I really want is to be toured around by a local: someone who’s eaten up and down the block, been to all the buzzed-about restaurants and zeroed in on the best-money-for-your-dollar take-out from all the hole-in-the-wall mom-and-pops.

It’s these little insider details that create the true local experience.

Which is why we editors at Vancouver magazine relish curating this City Guide. In addition to the pound-the-pavement reporting pulled from our own pages, we’ve tasked home-grown writers to dig up the dirt on noteworthy sights, shops and new restaurants in their neighbourhoods. Eating is a pursuit paramount in our minds and hearts, so we’ve also put together ultimate dining guides for where to eat—and drink—downtown (see page 8), on the west side (page 30) and the east side (page 48). As a special treat, local celebs and tastemakers (TV host Riaz Meghji from Breakfast Television, Truvelle bridal founder Gaby Bayona and Instagram foodie guru Emma Choo to name a few) share their favourite picks for everything from the best brunches to killer patios.

And because Vancouverites can’t stop talking about real estate, we’ve included neighbourhood-specific market reports and snapshots of property listings—from the price of one-bedroom condos to the gated mega-mansions—so you don’t have to wonder what it costs to live like a local.

Prepare to be a well-heeled expert no matter what the cross street.

Julia Dilworth

EDITOR julia.dilworth@vanmag.com

My top three neighbourhood picks are…

Editor Julia Dilworth Art Director Natalie Gagnon Editorial Director, Vancouver Anicka Quin Art Director, Vancouver Paul Roelofs Contributing Editors Jessica Barrett, Kaitlyn Gendemann, Stacey McLachlan, Neal McLennan Editorial Interns Christine Beyleveldt, Jorda Grundy, Gabrielle Lakusta, Maansi Pandya, Aryn Strickland, Carly Whetter, Aoife Woods Art Intern Lydhia-Marie Bolduc-Gosselin Contributing Writers Real Estate: Jennifer Van Evra.

Neighbourhoods: Andrea Garza, Laura Rodgers, Maia Odegaard. Food guides: Jenni Baynham. Local Picks: Dominika Lirette.

Editorial Email mail@vanmag.com Account Managers Corinne Gillespie, Judy Johnson, Jeff Leyland, Jenny Miller, Manon Paradis, Gabriella Sepúlveda Knuth Sales Coordinators Karina Platon, Theresa Tran Production Manager Lee Tidsbury Advertising Designer Swin Nung Chai Marketing & Events Manager Dale McCarthy Event Coordinator Kaitlyn Lush Marketing Intern Rachel Cheng Online Coordinator Leah Webb Sales Email t.tran@vanmag.com Vancouver Office Suite 560, 2608 Granville St. Vancouver, B.C., V6H 3V3 604-877-7732 National Media Sales Representation Mediative Senior Account Manager, National Sales Ian Lederer 9778748 Canada Inc. 37 Front St. E, Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1B3 604-877-7732 U.S. Sales Representation, Media-Corps 1-866-744-9890, info@media-corps.com Yellow Pages Digital and Media Solutions Ltd. Vice-President & Chief Publishing Officer Caroline Andrews

MAIN AT TR ACTION

Last year a mural festival redecorated Mount Pleasant with colourful, dreamy street art (and it’s returning this August!).

The ‘Present is a Gift’ double feature that's visible from Main Street brightens my mood every time I see it. vanmuralfest.ca

BEST BUNS

The second I walk by Aling Mary’s corner store the sweet smell of freshly baked pan de sal (Filipino sweet buns) makes me weak in the knees. Buy them while they’re still warm ($2.05 per half-dozen) and share with your favourite people. 2656 Main St.

CL ANDESTINE COCK TAIL

I love underground bars, but when The Narrow is predictably short on space I like to visit Upstairs at Campagnolo (look for a green door next to Campagnolo) to leisurely sip a slow cocktail from a moustachioed barkeep in suspenders. 1020 Main St.

Data Sources † City of Vancouver, Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey, Canadian Rental Housing Index, Vancouver School Board. ‡ City of Vancouver, Statistics Canada, Canadian Rental Housing Index, Vancouver School Board.

City of Vancouver, Statistics Canada, 2011 National Household Survey, Canadian Rental Housing Index.

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CITY GUIDE 201

VANCOUVER NEIGHBOURHOODS GUIDE is published once s a year by 9778748 Canada Inc. Copyright 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the publisher’s written permission. Not responsible for unsolicited editorial material. Privacy Policy: On occasion, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened organizations whose product or service might interest you. If you prefer that we not share your name and address (postal and/or email), you can easily remove your name from our mailing lists by reaching us at any of the listed contact points. You can review our complete Privacy Policy at Vanmag.com. Indexed in the Canadian Magazine Index by Micromedia Ltd. and also in the Canadian Periodical Index. International standard serial no. ISSN 0380-9552. Canadian publications mail product sales agreement #40068973. Printed in Canada by Transcontinental Printing G.P. (LGM Graphics), 737 Moray St., Winnipeg, MB, R3J 3S9. All reproduction requests must be made to: COPIBEC (paper reproductions) 800-717-2022, or CEDROM-SNi (electronic reproductions) 800-563-5665. Distributed by Coast to Coast Ltd.

COVER ILLUSTRATION: EDWARD MCGOWAN; PORTRAIT: ANDY YANG, HAIR/MAKEUP: MEL ANIE NEUFELD; MURAL: DREW YOUNG & JAY SENETCHKO; BUNS: MJ QUIBUYEN

WHETHER I’M DROPPING IN on an unfa-

#SupremeContemporary @GranvilleIsland

Contents

INSIDE LOOK This is your neighbourhood by neighbourhood guide to Vancouver’s best shops, things to see and do, and places to eat—complete with top picks from the city’s locals.

30

all the best westside eats

32

UBC & West Point Grey

DOWNTO 34

WES T

Kitsilano

36

Kerrisdale E XPLORE THE ’HOODS

Visit vanmag.com/neighbourhoods

6

CITY GUIDE 201

66

plus What to Do

WN

8

in West & North Vancouver

where to eat downtown

20 16 12 28 52 Coal Harbour

West End

Downtown

Gastown

24

Commercial Drive

50

64

Yaletown

46 38 44

False Creek & Olympic Village

ABOVE BAR: CARLO RICCI; DRINK: VICTORIA BL ACK

South Granville

Fairview

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60

Chinatown & Downtown Eastside

Strathcona

HastingsSunrise b

EAST 54 Main Street

South Cambie

58

Fraser Street

48

your ultimate east-side dining guide CITY GUIDE 201

7

Dining Guide

Tacofino

Cactus Club Timbertrain

Postmark Brewing

Meat and Bread

Though downtown Vancouver can feel a little daunting to neighbourhood dwellers—yes, you do have to cross a bridge to get there— those willing to step outside their own 10-block radius are in for a treat. BY Jenni Baynham

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CITY GUIDE 201

hawksworthrestaurant.com). With plates the likes of brown-butter crusted lamb saddle served with smoked cauliflower, it’s of little wonder that David Hawksworth’s flagship has become a stalwart of the fine-dining scene. If carbs are calling, let chef Andrew Richardson serve you up some handmade pasta or organic aged carnaroli risotto at 2 CinCin (1153 Robson St., cincin.net).

Test new waters with the boundary-pushing modern menu at 3 Royal Dinette (905 Dunsmuir St., royaldinette.ca), where dishes like North Thompson pork with adobo sauce and blackbean fricassee are served up alongside glasses from a list of fully sustainable wines. For fine brunching, try 4 L’Abattoir’s (217 Carrall St., labattoir.ca) full breakfast, where the expected focus on meat (think duck sausage and pork on the same plate) is sure to delight carnivorous appetites.

5 Guu has several rooms peppered around downtown— including a great patio over by the law courts—but head to the original on Thurlow (838 Thurlow St., guu-izakaya.com) and try the pumpkin croquette for the true experience.

Pop into 6 Café Medina (780 Richards St., medinacafe .com) for a waff le and a lavender latte (because every-

LEAD: CULLEN PHOTOS; CACTUS CLUB: CARLO RICCI

dining downtown

ASK ANYONE where to take out-of-town guests and the answer has become obvious: 1 “Hawksworth” (801 W Georgia St.,

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CAFÉ MEDINA: AMY HO; THE PARLOUR: MAKITO INOMATA

Café Medina

body does), but stay until the sun starts dipping to try a carefully crafted cocktail like the Samanyolu—where gin, Fernet Branca, juniper and black tea syrup meet the smooth flavours of local supplier Odd Society’s crème de cassis.

For the best view of the North Shore, it has to be 7 Cactus Club Coal Harbour (1085 Canada Pl., cactusclubcafe.com), but poke your head just around the corner to find the also well-positioned 8 Miku (7–200 Granville St., mikurestaurant.com).

Order the Aburi selection for six pieces of flame-seared sashimi served with signature sauces (cue mouths watering at the thought of seared salmon topped with crunchy jalapeno).

If you’re craving pizza, head to Yaletown’s 9 the Parlour (1011 Hamilton St., theparlourrestaurants.com) and order the Goldmember: caramelized onions, mushrooms duxelles, and Yukon Gold

potatoes drizzled with truff le oil. If you’re going to commit to carbs then you might as well put potatoes on it.

Looking for a quick lunch? Pop into 10 Meat and Bread (1033 W Pender St. and 370 Cambie St., meatandbread.ca) for the classic porchetta sandwich, or sample the daily special, like pulled-turkey fajitas. If the bricks-and-mortar 11 Tacofino (15 W Cordova St., tacofino.com) is too packed to play host, jump on Twitter to find out where their food truck has taken up shop for the day.

If you have the option of enjoying a longer lunch, the collaboration between 12 Postmark Brewing and Belgard Kitchen (55 Dunlevy Ave., postmarkbrewing.com) has resulted in a lunch menu that has been a pleasant surprise to locals. Try the Japantown ramen bowl alongside Postmark’s Blonde for a light finish to balance the spicy miso pork

broth. (Hint: substitute the sweet soy pork for Postmark Stout-braised pork belly for a real treat.)

We’re not suggesting a coff ee crawl—your doctor definitely isn’t either—but between 13 Matchstick (213 E Georgia St., matchstickyvr .com), 14 Timbertrain (311 W Cordova St., timbertraincoffeeroasters.com) and 15 Revolver (325 Cambie St., revolvercoffee.ca), Gastown has your next few caff eine hits covered.

If you’re looking to hang for a few hours, settle in for the long haul with a pour-over and roast veg sandwich at the oh-so-charming 16 Birds and the Beets (55 Powell St., birdsandbeets.ca), or commit to surviving on baked goods for the next few days at 17 Purebread (159 W Hastings St., purebread.ca). Carrot whoopie cookies count as one of our five a day, right?

CITY GUIDE 201

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Designed and Handcrafted in Vancouver

Four Seasons Hotel, 791 Georgia Street, Vancouver | 604.682.1158 1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver | 604.925.8333

STITTGEN.COM

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Downtown

DOWNTOWN PROPER (bordered by the West End, Gastown and Yaletown) contains the entertainment district, which delivers a steady supply of energetic nightlife within the city’s densest collection of bars, pubs, clubs and concert venues. But historic locales like the baroque-style Orpheum Theatre and the art-deco Commodore Ballroom keep the strip on the right side of rowdy, and the shopping on Robson Street and at Pacific Centre mall provides plenty of entertainment for the daylight hours. Not everyone you’ll pass on the sidewalk is there purely for fun, of course: alongside all this lies Vancouver’s central business district and some of the largest highrise apartment towers in the city, housing much of the young and stylish professional populace.

RE AL ESTATE

Dinner and a Show

Catch a late-night concert from the balcony seats at the Vogue (918 Granville St., voguetheatre.com), dance the night away at the raucous the Roxy (932 Granville St., roxyvan.com) or opt for a symphony performance at the Orpheum (601 Smithe St., vancouver.ca), which has hosted everything from vaudeville to civic theatre since the 1920s. Pro tip: source half-price tickets for a spontaneous night out from ticketstonight.ca.

When You're Priced Out of Yaletown

Singles, couples without kids, investors seeking rental properties, travellers looking for a pied-à-terre, and working pros who don’t have Coal Harbour or Yaletown budgets make up much of the real estate mix downtown, where slightly older buildings and less distinct neighbourhood character mean lower prices.

Unlike many major cities whose downtowns turn into ghost towns at night, Vancouver’s core continues to buzz—and the close stroll to English Bay, Coal Harbour and Stanley Park bolsters the real estate interest. The financial gains haven’t been as great as other spots, however, with benchmark prices rising 75 percent over 10 years, but with a parade of new luxury retailers moving in and high-end towers going up, the good deals are fewer and farther between.

FOR SALE

$599,900

939 Expo Blvd.

1 bed, 1 bath

$1,255,000

979 Richards St. 2 bed, 2 bath

$7,300,000

499 Pacific St. 3 bed, 5 bath

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CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE; GRANVILLE STRIP: JASPERDO; REAL ESTATE SOURCE: REALTOR PAUL ALBRIGHTON

WHAT TO DO

DID YOU KNOW?

0

From the 1950s to 1970s, Vancouver held the second-place spot for the most neon signs in the world, thanks to the well-lit Granville Street entertainment district, until “anti-blight” crusaders changed the bylaws. Those 19,000 neon signs meant one sign for every 18 people in the city at the time.

6

Schools

Parks

SHOPPING

Used House of Vintage 1008 Robson St., 604-683-6887

Used House of Vintage

In keeping with the funky vibes of Granville Street, Used House of Vintage offers retro clothing and accessories sourced from all over the world. Find anything from vintage fur coats to classic ’80s band T-shirts to quirky 1950s Halloween costumes.

Holt Renfrew

737 Dunsmuir St., holtrenfrew.ca

Victoria's Secret

Field and Social

Victoria’s Secret

750 Burrard St., victoriassecret.com

Robson Street is one of the city’s prime shopping strips, with tons of well-known brands—including the world’s second-largest Victoria’s Secret. Its 35,000 square feet, two storeys, 30-foot video screen and spiral staircase bring a little spectacle to Robson.

Jinya Ramen Bar

NE W ROOMS LOCAL PICKS

Riaz Meghji Host of Breakfast Television Vancouver

“It’s a discreet rooftop patio space that feels like an escape from the downtown core.” 777 Thurlow St., joefortes.ca

Best Brunch

Jinya Ramen Bar

“I find myself ordering the same thing every time I go (with one of their waffles to seal the deal).”

780 Richards St., medinacafe.com

This new Telus Garden spot, Jinya’s second Vancouver room, grows the menu from their obsessively broth-focused ramen into new small-plate offerings and a full-featured drink menu packed with sake options and local craft beers. The chic, modern design features sleek dark colours and brick accents throughout the bar and out to the street-side patio.

Joe Fortes Seafood and Chop House

Harissa Burger at Café Medina

Best Quick Bite Body Energy Club

“I like that BEC has healthy takehome meals (like kale Caesar salads) that do the trick.” 428 Robson St., bodyenergyclub.com Harissa Burger at Café Medina

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CITY GUIDE 201

415 Dunsmuir St., fieldandsocial.com This is where health-conscious foodies head for lunch.

White and marble focal points accented with wooden and metallic fixtures keep the decor understated and elegant, while the robust salad selection adds the colour: try the Bombay Bowl with chutney-marinated chickpeas or the Market Bowl with spiced wheat berry and roasted tri-colour carrots.

Best Patio Spot

Joe Fortes

Field and Social

541 Robson St., jinya-ramenbar.com

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/downtown

NEON: CHRISTIAN Y VES OCAMPO; HOLT RENFREW: EVA AN KHERA J; VICTORIA'S SECRET: CHRIS LEE; JOE FORTES: DAVID STRONGMAN; CAFÉ MEDINA: AMY HO

Holt Renfrew

With three floors, over 200 luxury brands and its own in-store Ladurée patisserie, Holt Renfrew’s only Vancouver location provides a full day’s activity. If that's still not enough, branch out into the adjoining Pacific Centre, with almost 100 more shops to explore.

FaubourgNB2017HH_lt.indd 1

2017-06-21 2:09 PM

Local craft beers, Italian pizzas, handcrafted cocktails, and a new spin on the game of golf.

Welcome to the #NewStandard

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West End

the West End, is home to one of the largest LGBTQ communities in Canada— but the rainbow-painted crosswalks represent just one component of the diverse community. Bordered by Stanley Park, English Bay and central downtown, it’s also an ideal home base for families and international students (the most westerly stretch of Robson Street features a robust selection of Japanese and Korean restaurants and groceries), and a hot spot for tourists getting pumped up to rollerblade the ninekilometre seawall that surrounds the park.

VANCOUVER ’S “GAYBOURHOOD,”

WHAT TO DO

First Dancing, Then Drag

Some of Vancouver’s hottest clubs and bars—gay and straight—are located along Davie Street. See a Saturday night drag show at the Junction (1138 Davie St., junc tionpub.com), or try the wild Celebrities Nightclub (1022 Davie St., celebrities nightclub.com), known for bringing in international DJs. Or do both—the entertainment goes on long into the night.

RE AL ESTATE

Beaches and Bidding Wars

With its older buildings, many co-ops and leaseholds, the West End has long been the place to find picturesque value—and those who didn’t mind mustier walk-ups and ’80s stucco mid-rises were rewarded with easy access to Stanley Park and English Bay, lively street life and tight-knit communities. But now prices are rising, and rapidly, as both local buyers and investors snap up almost anything that hits the market. Condos that were $350,000 just two years ago are selling for more than $550,000; a co-op one-bedroom with no view, parking or balcony recently sold for $140,000 over asking. “It’s ridiculous. There’s nothing to sell people, so when something comes on there’s a bidding war,” says realtor and long-time West End resident Rob Joyce. “It’s changing the makeup of the West End and who owns there.”

FOR SALE

1367 Alberni St. Studio, 1 bath

$1,380,000

1221 Bidwell St. 2 bed, 2 bath

$5,250,000

1861 Beach Ave. 2 bed, 3 bath

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CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE

$424,900

A NEW YORK ITALIAN STEAKHOUSE

IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER Vancouver’s newest dining experience reintroduces the city to Chef Bruce Woods. Chef Bruce puts a premium on locally sourced and curated ingredients. His homemade pastas and the finest cuts of beef, guarantee a truly memorable dining experience. Our award winning wine list and wine by the glass program is sure to contain a new gem for discovery.

Located in the Century Plaza Hotel

1015 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y5

T (604) 684 3474 F (604) 682 5790

W W W. C P R I M E . C A

Gastown 219 Abbott St Vancouver 604.662.8300 Mon - Fri: 10-6 Sat: 11-6, Sun: 12-5

Main St 3553 Main St Vanocuver 604.428.8400 Mon - Fri: 10-6 Sat: 11-6, Sun: 12-5

bruceeyewear.com

DID YOU KNOW?

3

Rainbow-themed Jim Deva Plaza, located in the heart of Davie Village (1200 Bute St.), exists in honour of the late owner of iconic queer bookstore Little Sister’s. The bookstore fought a lengthy federal legal battle to stand up against LGBTQ censorship and discrimination in the 1980s and ’90s.

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Forkhill House SHOPPING

Kimprints

1179 Denman St., kimprints.com

Kimprints

A variety store that encapsulates the mixed-bag vibe of the West End, Kimprints began as a custom framing shop and now sells prints, greeting cards, gifts and novelty items. Around for more than 30 years, this shop is a neighbourhood darling.

Grow Urban Landscaping and Decor 1209 Bute St., growvancouver.com

Grow Urban Landscaping and Decor The Soap Artisan

A flower shop that seamlessly blends ecology with artistry. With a focus on local and ethical sourcing, their products include colourful terrariums, tastefully designed planter boxes and custom-made vertical gardens. Talk about living art.

The Soap Artisan

1782 Alberni St., thesoapartisan.ca

This shop picks up on the highend aspects of the neighbourhood with its collection of all-natural artisanal bath and body products.

Handmade scents like honey oatmeal, lemongrass and orange cinnamon fill the shop’s air—and soon, perhaps, your own bath.

Roomxxxxx Cacao 70

NE W ROOMS

Caitlin "Ms. West End 2008" Howden Member of The Sunday Service, Vancouver's longest-running independent comedy show

Best Night Out The Comox

The Comox Nook

“It’s one of the last dive bars in the area. Follow the neon lights, find MaryLynn and don’t ever get the draft beer. Go before it becomes a place you’re only told about.” 1763 Comox St., facebook .com/comoxbar

Best Place for Dinner Nook

“While it’s technically a block out of the West End, it’s my favourite.

Get their pizzas, oh god… and the ambiance, it’s just… Nook, if you’re reading this, I love you.” 781 Denman St., nookrestaurant.ca

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CITY GUIDE 201

Forkhill House

1616 Alberni St., forkhillhouse.com Forkhill House is casual fine dining with an emphasis on the unpretentious. The homey decor feels like a dressed-up version of a classic Irish pub, with its dark wood and leather tempered by bright white walls and lighting. The menu is all about Irish comfort food— think pork pies with Guinness cheese, triple-cream brie and whisky apricot chutney—embellished for the sophisticated, yet accessible, atmosphere.

Cacao 70

1047 Denman St., cacao70.com Quebec-based chocolate house Cacao 70 has opened a new West End location that’s quickly gaining buzz.

The classy but unassuming interior leaves room for the sweets to do all the talking—and talk they do. From dessert pizzas to hot chocolate flights to molten fondue with flame-roasted marshmallows—we want it all.

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/westend

JIM DEVA PL A ZA: ROSS G. STRACHAN

LOCAL PICKS

SUMMER #onROBSON Premier fashions, celebrated eateries, diverse people watching & great cafĂŠ culture robsonstreet.ca

@RobsonStreet

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Coal Harbour

THOUGH NAMED FOR its history of industry and mining, Coal Harbour is a relatively new neighbourhood, redeveloped in the ’90s to bring in residences without sacrificing the waterfront view. The resulting high-rises attract big spenders, and the theme of luxury continues with local shopping. While technically a block north, people associate Coal Harbour with the tony Alberni Street shopping district, which is home to some of the finest designer stores in the city—think Prada, Tiffany and Co., and Hermès.

WHAT TO DO

Show Me the Patio

Visiting Coal Harbour without checking out the harbour itself would be close to blasphemy. Walking the seawall around the Convention Centre is a perfect activity for a sunny day, and if the weather agrees, stop in one of the many patios—hello, Tap and Barrel (1055 Canada Pl., tapandbarrell.com)—along the waterfront for dinner and a beautiful view.

RE AL ESTATE

The City’s Playground for the Wealthy

Nowhere is Vancouver’s ritzy reputation more true than in Coal Harbour, where jetsetters, upscale downsizers and top execs enjoy access to luxury Alberni Street shops, Stanley Park trails and beaches, award-winning restaurants, and ritzy marinas.

Awaiting their return are gleaming suites with concierge service—for an equally handsome price. With many properties going for $2,000 per square foot or more, and $2 million as a starting price for a basic two-bedroom, buyers need deeper pockets than almost anywhere in the city. “The 15-percent tax for foreign buyers definitely reduced the number of sales, but there aren’t many good deals. It sounds crazy, but the ownership is not really affected by short-term, intermediate market changes,” says realtor Paul Albrighton. “It’s more of an investor community.”

FOR SALE

1331 W Georgia St. 1 bed, 1 bath

$1,788,000

1616 Bayshore Dr. 2 bed, 2 bath

$6,880,000

1169 W Cordova St. 2 bed, 3 bath

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CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE

$548,888

UNIQUELY WEST COAST DISTINCTIVELY CASUAL URBAN DINING 333 MENCHIONS MEWS, VANCOUVER (604) 689 5438 | liftbarandgrill.com

DID YOU KNOW?

0

The Olympic torch from the 2010 Games continues to hold a spot of honour in Jack Poole Plaza. A whopping 12,000 runners carried the flame 45,000 kilometres, with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky carrying the final torch to light the Olympic cauldron at the Convention Centre.

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SHOPPING

Leone

757 W Hastings St., leone.ca

Leone Stefano Ricci

Since 1987, Leone has become known as a staple of high-end fashion retail in Vancouver. It is the only licensed retailer of Versace and Roberto Cavalli in the city—you might even spot visiting celebrities doing a little souvenir shopping.

Stefano Ricci

1139 W Georgia St., stefanoricci.com

A recent addition to Vancouver, Stefano Ricci’s location on West Georgia is the Italian fashion retailer’s first free-standing store in Canada. The shop stocks designer menswear, accessories and now home decor, and (naturally) includes a VIP room.

Heritage Asian Eatery Nightingale

TWG Tea

1070 W Georgia St., twgtea.com

TWG Tea

TWG Tea, a world-renowned luxury tea retailer with more than 800 types of tea in its collection, also built its only Canadian location in Coal Harbour. Part boutique and part café, TWG is as stylish and sophisticated as the surrounding neighbourhood.

NE W ROOMS

Tyson Villeneuve Co-Founder of the Social Concierge

Best Patio

Lift Bar and Grill

Lift Bar and Grill Fairmont Pacific Rim Lobby Lounge Bar

“Aside from some of the most technologically progressive awning coverage in the city, the views can′t be beat. Stanley Park, the water, seaplanes, yachts and fireplaces. You can sit at any angle and have a great view.” 333 Menchions Mews, liftbarandgrill.com

Best After-Work Drink Corpse Reviver No.2 at the Fairmont Pacific Rim Lobby Lounge Bar

“Not only do they make a damn good one at the bar, but the gin and absinthe also gives conversational pep!” 1038 Canada Pl., fair mont.com/pacific-rim-vancouver

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CITY GUIDE 201

Heritage Asian Eatery

1108 W Pender St., eatheritage.ca The minimalist space is casual, open and communal, but those perks are nothing compared to the food.

The counter-service restaurant offers lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, and the menu items provide a delicious modern take on classic Far East comfort food. The flavourful pork belly bao sandwich is a must.

Nightingale

1017 W Hastings St., hawknightingale.com If Hawksworth is high-end dining, Nightingale is its laid-back, cooler cousin. The new spot features two storeys of bright, open space and classy-casual decor.

Gold accents, wrought-metal chandeliers and carved woodwork highlight the ornate wall-to-wall liquor display and brick-inlaid bar. The food is inspired by modern L.A. dining, and artisan thin-crust pizza has become a menu focal point.

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/coalharbour

FAIRMONT: ARIANA GILLRIE

LOCAL PICKS

RETAIL HOURS: Mon-Sat: 10am-5:30pm Closed: Sundays and Holidays

Enjoy the finest shopping and services surrounded by the stunning architectural heritage of Sinclair Centre including: • Gastown Photo • Leone

• L2 • Phera Diamonds

• Sinclair Travel • Sinclair Wellness Centre

Just steps from Waterfront Station

• The Perfume Shoppe • The UPS Store

757 WEST HASTINGS STREET, VANCOUVER WWW.SINCLAIRCENTRE.COM

R

ST

SM

IT

H

E

ST

E

PAC

IFIC

AT T

Y

ST

EL

SO

BE

ER M O AV I

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D

N

N

40.5

Median Age of Residents

Households

3,365

41% 59% Own Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

1,576

$

106,989

$

Avg. Total Household Income

DATA SOURCES ‡ PAGE 4

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CA MB IE ST

Yaletown

YALETOWN WAS ONCE home to one of the first railway stations in the city, but today historic redbrick warehouses and railroad platforms serve as stylish boutiques and sunny patios for the nü yuppies that populate the neighbourhood. The offerings here reflect the trend-loving population, with dog boutiques, nail salons and luxe design shops peppering the narrow streets. By day, the seawall and coffee shops are packed; come night, the plentiful bars and cocktail clubs are thumping.

WHAT TO DO

Strut the Seaside

Grab an iced tea to go from nearby Cha Le Tea (1207 Hamilton St., chaletea.com) and start walking: the seawall acts as the neighbourhood’s southern boundary and makes a lovely spot for a sunny waterfront stroll, with its lush neighbouring city parks and beautiful views of False Creek.

RE AL ESTATE

Trendy Waterfront Hot Spot Soars Out of Reach

Ever since its 1990s overhaul from industrial area to a SoHo-style district complete with trendy shops, sidewalk cafés, slick towers and lofts, Yaletown has remained one of the hottest real estate markets. The smaller condos draw millennials, but urban professionals and retirees also love the area for its convenience, buzzing street scene and proximity to waterfront walkways and parks. Sellers are making a pretty penny, too: after a small correction in the fall of 2016, Yaletown condo prices have surpassed their earlier peak, and the benchmark price for a two-bedroom townhome has hit $1.5 million. “It’s simple supply and demand. People want to be there, and there’s not enough for sale,” says realtor Paul Albrighton. “And if people go to presales...the prices are 50 to 100 percent more than something that’s five or 10 years old.”

FOR SALE

$899,000

$1,899,000

930 Homer St. 3 bed, 4 bath

$4,250,000

1033 Marinaside Cres.

5 bed, 4 bath

24

CITY GUIDE 201

ARIANA GILLRIE

1495 Richards St. 1 bed, 1 bath

SPONSORED REPORT

CIOPPINO’S: Tradition and evolution in the art of fine Italian Cuisine, in the true spirit of Canada West Coast Quality Italian Cuisine from one of Vancouver’s Premier Chefs Chef Giuseppe (Pino) Posteraro

Canadian Wagyu beef carpaccio with arugula and Parmigiano

C

Ravioli of buffalo milk ricotta with sustainable wild rock prawns

hef Giuseppe Posteraro feels he has achieved what he set out to do. “The mission was to create a world class Italian/Mediterranean restaurant,” explains Pino, as he is known among locals. “I wanted to provide customers with creative meals and excellent service in a relaxed environment. Vancouverites were behind us all the way.”

Posteraro opened Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill and Enoteca in 1999, following stints at reputed restaurants around Europe and in Singapore. He believes that it is a perfect balance of tradition and evolution that brings people back. “It’s that mix of personable service and familiar faces with the highest standard of professionalism and consistency.”

Of course most would argue that the chef’s extraordinary skill plays a key role in Cioppino’s success.

Renowned for his exceptionally light Italian-inspired dishes, including house-made pastas, the 2008 and 2014 Vancouver Magazine Chef of the Year has long been

garnering attention and acclaim as one of the city’s top culinary talents.

Posteraro believes that Vancouver’s small-town vibe and unparalleled access to local products make working in the city more fun, although he says that ultimately inspiration comes from within. Long list of accolades considered, Posteraro is still most proud at the end of a long night.

“A successful evening with perfect food creations, great service and happy customers; that is what makes me happy,” he shares humbly. You’d be hard pressed to find this award-winning chef without a smile from ear to ear.

“How lucky am I to do what I love and never have to work a day in my life?”

Created by the Vancouver advertising department in partnership with Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill & Enoteca

1133 Hamilton Street 604.688.7466 cioppinosyaletown.com PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRUCE LAW

DID YOU KNOW?

1

Yaletown owes much of its heritage to the railroad, but in 1907 it also saw the opening of Canada’s first gas station. Gasoline was hand-transferred to cars from a large wooden barrel with the help of a single attendant—and several bucketloads.

5

School

Parks

SHOPPING

Fine Finds Boutique 1014 Mainland St., finefinds boutique.com

Fine Finds Boutique

Mainland Street is home to many luxury clothing and gift shops, and Fine Finds Boutique is a must-visit.

Think one-of-a-kind jackets, vegan leather bags and backpacks, and Vancouver-sourced handmade soy candles. It’s chic and trendy—and undeniably Yaletown.

The Cross

1198 Homer St., thecrossdesign.com

The Cross Karameller

The Cross has become a staple in the Vancouver home design scene, known for its playful, feminine style. Here, find unique handwoven textiles, original art pieces, whimsical paper products and custom-designed furniture.

Mister

Karameller

30–1020 Mainland St., karameller.com

Nuba

NE W ROOMS LOCAL PICKS

Jewel Staite Actress, Serenity

Best Patio

Provence Marinaside

Provence Marinaside

“It’s right on the water so it has a beautiful view, plus the people watching is great. I’m obsessed with their happy hour and small plates like the trio of smoked fish or the saffron risotto balls. Their wine bar next door has lots of local wines on tap, too.”

1177 Marinaside Cres., provencemarinaside.ca

Best Coffee Shop Small Victory

“It’s all white marble, brass and wood—just the right amount of hipster with really high-quality coffee and tea.”

1088 Homer St., smallvictory.ca Small Victory

26

CITY GUIDE 201

Mister

1141 Mainland St., madebymister.com What’s cooler than cool? Turns out it’s liquid nitrogen ice cream, a dessert trend that Mister ice cream parlour may have perfected. Rotating artisanal flavours like avocado, double Oreo and crème brûlée can come in cone, cup or sandwich form. Add the shop’s sleek geometric design and constant waves of liquid nitrogen fog, and it’s an experience that borders on the ethereal.

Nuba

508 Davie St., nuba.ca Already well known and loved around the city, Lebanese chain Nuba has finally opened their Yaletown room. Its lively decor mixes pastels with pops of brightly coloured tile, and pointed archways add the finishing touch to its sunny Middle Eastern look. It offers lunch and dinner service and new daily specials, along with staple favourites like hummus and falafel.

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/yaletown

K ARAMELLER: EMA PETER; PROVENCE: EPH PHOTOGRAPHY; SMALL VICTORY: DAVID STRONGMAN; MISTER: FAHIM

Sweet tooth? Stop in at the chic Swedish-style candy shop Karameller. Its dreamy white-onwhite decor, as Scandinavian as the products, ensures the colourful candy really pops—from liquorice to fizzy rainbow rolls.

FASHION, FUN AND ACCESSORIES FOR DOGS AND THE PEOPLE WHO LOVE THEM. 1188 Homer St, Vancouver 604.647.2275 | barkingbabies.com @barkingbabies

WINE O’CLOCK JUST LEVELLED UP AT

25% OFF BUBBLES EVERY SATURDAY 5:00 TO CLOSE

Bike Rentals 110 Davie Street (Yaletown) Vancouver | 604-648-2600 Electric Bike Rentals 1357 Hornby Street (Hornby Bike Lane) Vancouver | 604-669-8311

VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE OUR DAILY DEALS WWW.THEWINEBAR.CA 1167 Marinaside Crescent Vancouver, BC. V6Z 2Y3 | 604.681.4144

Median Age of Residents

C

H

S

ST

P OW

S T IN

75% Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

$

826

$

54,727

Avg. Total Household Income

ST

E COR DOVA ST GS S

T

MAIN ST

E HA

ELL

3,155

Own

W PEND ER ST

Gastown

and venture deeper into this historic ’hood to sip cocktails on a cobblestone patio and watch the tourists take photos of anything and everything. People watching is practically a mandatory pastime for those who live and work here—there’s no shortage of subject matter—but if you’d prefer to look at actual artwork, Gastown is home to a dozen or so galleries open to the public too. There are also several creatively focused post-secondary institutions nearby, including the Vancouver Film School (alma mater of famous dropout Kevin Smith) and the renovated Woodward’s department store, which now houses the fine arts department of Simon Fraser University.

SKIP THE STEAM CLOCK

RE AL ESTATE

Heritage Character Comes at a Cost

WHAT TO DO

Did Someone Say Art Crawl?

With so many studios peppering Gastown, a gallery hop is a visual (and air-conditioned) treat. Check out the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver (206 Cambie St., inuit.com), featuring the finest aboriginal artists and craftspeople of the Pacific Northwest, or the Gam Gallery (110 E Hastings St., gamgallery.com), which is both a studio and meeting place for artists.

Few neighbourhoods have changed as much as Gastown, which has transformed from an area of offices and tourist shops to a well-heeled, design-minded hub that’s drawing young, creative buyers. Amenities from grocery stores and pharmacies to trendy restaurants, shops and clubs have followed—and with the SkyTrain next door, it’s a favourite for car-free millennials. It’s also where architecture-lovers nab century-old character spaces with exposed brick, wood beams, loft bedrooms and high ceilings that are almost impossible to find in other areas of the city—and they’re paying a stiff premium even as other areas have cooled. Gastown has seen an influx of globetrotting buyers unfazed by the area’s edginess, says realtor Paul Albrighton. “People want to be somewhere more unique and hipster-like. They want more flavour.”

FOR SALE

$495,000

66 W Cordova St. 1 bed, 1 bath

$829,000

55 Alexander St. 2 bed, 2 bath

$3,198,000

128 W Cordova St. 2 bed, 3 bath

28

CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE

RI

D AR

Households

DATA SOURCES ‡ PAGE 4

44.6

25%

DID YOU KNOW?

0

In 1971 hippies and police clashed in what would later be known as the Gastown Riot. Vancouver artist Stan Douglas painstakingly reenacted the event and produced a breathtaking 8-by-13-metre photograph permanently on display in the new Woodward’s building.

2

Schools

Parks

COS

Meet in Gastown

SHOPPING

COS

10 Water St., cosstores.com

John Fluevog

H&M’s upscale brand COS recently opened in the neighbourhood, offering modern, minimalist staples for both men and women, with a focus on clean design, right down to the building that houses the store.

John Fluevog

65 Water St., fluevog.com

Famed Canadian shoe designer John Fluevog, whose curious footwear has garnered him attention worldwide, has a gorgeous flagship location on Water Street that appears to occupy a repurposed alleyway between two brick buildings, with a vaulted glass ceiling soaring overhead.

Örling and Wu

28 Water St., orlingandwu.com

Örling and Wu

Örling and Wu has a beautifully curated shop with endless treasures displayed simply on open surfaces and shelves, including to-die-for wallpaper.

Joe Pizza

NE W ROOMS LOCAL PICKS

Gaby Bayona Creative director of Truvelle Bridal, truvelle.com

Best Local Gem

GABY BAYONA: CARLO RICCI; GABY BAYONA: JILL SCHWEBER

One of a Few

One of a Few

“Such an amazing curation of womenswear and little knickknacks. Everything I buy from here will have somebody asking me, ‘Where’d you get that?’” 354 Water St., oneofafew.com

Best Bev

Smart Mouth Cafe's Chai Latte

“I replaced coffee with matcha and chai lattes years go. I travel a ton for work, and have tried chai lattes in upwards of 40 cities; Smart Mouth Cafe has the best one I’ve ever had.”

117–131 Water St., facebook.com /smartmouthcafe)

Meet in Gastown

12 Water St., meetonmain.com Purveyors of plant-based comfort food Meet on Main expanded into Gastown in early 2016. Treat yourself to decadent meat-free burgers piled high with coconut bacon and cashew queso, or nibble on sweet chili beer-battered cauliflower and whiskey barbecue chiggin’ things.

Joe Pizza

2 W Cordova St., eatjoepizza.com The crew responsible for the award-winning Pizzeria Farina have opened a new room, Joe Pizza, at the corner of Carrall and Cordova serving up thick, al taglio-style pizza. While a square wedge of pie will set you back $5 to $10 (a marked difference from most local by-theslice joints), they’re focused on the quality of ingredients, right down to the flour.

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/gastown

Smart Mouth Cafe

CITY GUIDE 201

29

Dining Guide

Grapes and Soda

Bufala

Beaucoup Bakery

Lucky Taco

Maenam

The west side might currently be less buzzy than its eastern counterpart, but don’t let that dissuade you from discovering some hidden neighbourhood gems amid the best scenery in the city. BY Jenni Baynham

30

CITY GUIDE 201

START YOUR DAY off right with 1 Caffé Barney’s (2975 Granville

St., caffebarney.com) huevos rancheros: two over-easy eggs layered with refried beans, tortilla and signature hash. If you’re looking for a plate with some more local flavour, try the 2 Farmer’s Apprentice (1535 W 6th Ave., farmersapprentice.ca) for regionally sourced goods like coho salmon with whey and clam sauce. If you’re there around happy hour, make sure to stop in next door at 3 Grapes and Soda (1541 W 6th Ave., grapesandsoda.ca) for a glass from their fully organic wine list.

For a quick pastry fix, pick up something warm and flaky from 4 Beaucoup Bakery (2150 Fir St., beaucoupbakery .com). Or, if you’re looking to snuggle in somewhere for the long haul, get yourself a cup of java and a warm berry scone from third-wave coffee spot 5 Bump n Grind (3010 Granville St., bumpngrindcafe.com).

Head a little further west along Broadway and you’ll stumble upon 6 Thomas Haas (2539 W Broadway, thomashaas.com). Though you might not be able to see in the window because of all the Vancouver magazine Restaurant Award certificates, look for a spherical cake

LEAD: ARIANA GILLRIE; MAENAM: HAMID AT TIE; GRAPES AND SODA & FARMER'S APPRENTICE: CARLO RICCI

dining on the west side

Farmer's Apprentice

CORNWALL AVE

13

W BROADWAY

8

6

4

32 7

9 FIR ST

BURRAR D ST

11

10

W 4TH AVE

MACDONALD ST

Suika

12 14

1 5 W 16TH AVE OAK ST

GRANVI LLE ST

ARBUTU S ST

DUNBAR ST W 33RD AVE

W KING EDWAR D AVE

15 W 41ST AVE

Thomas Haas

dipped in milk chocolate: the passion fruit mousse interior and coconut base layer offer a little taste of heaven.

Speaking of the VanMag Restaurant Awards, this year’s Restaurant of the Year winner, 7 Dynasty Seafood (777 W Broadway, dynasty-restaurant.ca), is where you can test executive chef Sam Leung’s impressive contributions to Vancouver’s culinary scene. Head over for Sunday morning dim sum or BBQ pork cha siu bao.

At Angus An’s 8 Maenam (1938 W 4th Ave., maenam.ca), cocktails like the Rusty Bumper (salted plum and cumin brandy with lemon and Peychaud’s bitters) make the perfect opener to dishes like the gang kau curry, served with grilled striploin beef and shredded wild ginger.

Continuing the Asian theme, we suggest a self-guided food tour around three sister

restaurants dotted across the west side.

Order as many delicious plates of Japanese tapas as you can handle at 9 Suika (1626 W Broadway, suika-snackbar.com)—but please, god, make sure one of them is the beef short rib—before popping along to 10 Raisu (2340 W 4th Ave., raisu.ca) for some ice-cold beer and pork cutlet curry noodles. Last, but not least, step into the cozy ambiance of 11 Rajio (3763 W 10th Ave., rajiopublichouse.com) to eat pretty much anything you can think of—from shitake to octopus—on a stick, Osakastyle, paired with delicious housemade sauce (just watch the double-dipping).

Steps from the beach, 12 Nook (1525 Yew St., nookrestaurant.ca) presents a spread of antipasto worthy of a full evening’s attention, while a little further west, 13 L’ufficio’s (3687 W 4th Ave.,

laquercia.ca/lufficio.html) small-plate menu—featuring a dream array of formaggio—offers suggested wine pairings that will see you into the wee hours of the morning.

New to Yew Street, 14 Lucky Taco (1685 Yew St., luckytaco.ca) offers fried chicken tacos the likes of which you’ve never seen before, and one bite of the corn-on-the-cob topped with queso and pico de gallo will make this room a new must-stop each time you hit the beach this summer.

For pizza, it has to be 15 Bufala (5395 West Blvd., bufala.ca). Start with the smoked olives while you peruse the menu, continue with the burrata and end with the andouille and zucchini pizza.

Still hungry? Finish with the tiramisu, because when in Kerrisdale…

CITY GUIDE 201

31

LV D

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IN

ED

Population

Median Age of Residents *Data for West Point Grey

12,795

58% 42% Own

Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

1,280

$

147,605

$

Avg. Total Household Income

W 16TH AVE

DUNBAR ST

SW

ALMA ST

UBC

BLA NCA ST

W 10TH AVE

West Point Grey

37.6

PAGE 4

RB

DATA SOURCES

CH A N C ELLO

R

West Point Grey & UBC

notions of college towns—this corner of Vancouver is home to some of the city’s priciest real estate ($5.1 million for a single-family home, anyone?), all bordering the largest university in B.C. To the east of campus, snuggled next to beautiful Jericho Beach, is West Point Grey, a primarily residential area with its own little cluster of retail shops and eateries. While visiting the area, hit West 10th Ave. to stroll through local boutiques or grab a bite on your way to the beach.

FORGET ANY PRECONCEIVED

3 THINGS TO DO

Nitobe Garden

1895 Lower Mall, botanicalgarden.ubc.ca

RE AL ESTATE

A walk through this traditional Japanese garden is the campus’s secret stress-reliever.

Koerner’s Pub

Koerner’s Pub

Urban Yarns

6371 Crescent Rd., koerners.ca (weekdays only)

This grad student haunt on the UBC campus isn’t your average college watering hole.

Relaunching with a new menu and design in 2013, its innovative take on traditional pub fare will satisfy your grown-up palate (think Vietnamese pho nachos and chicken karaage)—plus you can still play shuffleboard.

Urban Yarns

4437 W 10th Ave., urbanyarns.com

If shopping is what you’re after, head down 10th Avenue to browse boutiques like Urban Yarns. Stock up on all your knitting needs, or take a class.

32

CITY GUIDE 201

From Teardowns to the Untouchables

Waterfront walkways, top private schools and ocean-view properties are just a few of the pluses that draw buyers with big bucks—both local and foreign—to West Point Grey. And with teardowns on a standard lot at around $3 million and 50-foot lots over $5 million, it’s easy to see why longtime owners are cashing in. “It’s always been a prestigious neighbourhood,” says realtor Stuart Bonner. “But lately, with the shortage of supply, prices have been driven way up—and only the wealthy can consider being there.” With most of the properties on leasehold land and a major building boom underway, UBC is a different story. There, faculty and students’ parents are steadily buying up freshly built, and comparatively affordable condos, many of which are still in the mid-six digits—although the market dip hit harder there.

FOR SALE

$489,000

4691 W 10th Ave. 1 bed, 1 bath

$2,898,000

4438 W 5th Ave. 6 bed, 3 bath

$12,880,000

2016 Western Pkwy.

6 bed, 8 bath

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE; NITOBE GARDEN: TOURISM VANCOUVER AND CANADIAN TOURISM COMMISSION

Nitobe Garden

30

TH ANNIVERSARY 29 STORES IN THE LOWER MAINLAND

K I N ’S

FA R M M A R K E T PROUDLY SERVING THE POINT GREY COMMUNITY SINCE 2010 KINSFARMMARKET.COM

Untitled-5 1

2017-06-22 3:08 PM

A BOUTIQUE WINERY POURING ONLY THE BEST OF EACH HARVEST

AWARD-WINNING BC VQA WINES IN AN EXCEPTIONAL LOCAL SETTING 3033-232nd Street, Langley, BC | 604 539 9463 | Tasting Room & Wine Shop open 11am-5pm daily

Untitled-1 1

2017-06-23 11:07 AM

Median Age of Residents

CORNWALL AVE

Population

41,375

43% 57% Own Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

1,204

$

$

87,825

Avg. Total Household Income

DATA SOURCES † PAGE 4

20-39

W 4TH AVE BURRAR D ST

ALMA ST

W BROADWAY

W 16TH AVE

Kitsilano

CLOSE TO DOWNTOWN , close to the

beach, close to restaurants and great shopping—there’s not a lot this neighbourhood lacks. Once a hippie haven, Kitsilano has evolved into a yuppie paradise, replete with endless yoga studios and trendy baby boutiques.

While the grocery stores and many restaurants still focus on health foods, there are plenty of ways to indulge: heaping scoops of Rain or Shine ice cream to keep you company while you walk to the beach, a lazy brunch at retro diner Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe or pitchers of beer on the expansive beachside patio at Local Public Eatery.

One Truly Awesome Pool

Built in 1931 as a DepressionEra job creation project, Kits Pool (2305 Cornwall Ave., vancouver.ca/parks) is still a marvel. It’s a 137-metre-long outdoor pool with a gradient that slowly leads you toward the deep end, but that’s not the only ocean-like feature —it’s filled with salt water provided by the Pacific.

RE AL ESTATE

Beach Lovers, Bohemians and Health Nuts

With its mix of condos, townhouses, duplexes, triplexes, singlefamily homes and mansions, not to mention rental suites tucked into every nook and cranny, Kits is the most eclectic west-side ’hood—at least from a real estate perspective. But it’s the proximity to the ocean and mountain views, as well as the healthand fitness-minded shops and eateries along bustling 4th Avenue, and the food stands and cafés on West Broadway, that continue to draw buyers of all stripes and incomes. Those who purchased a while back are sitting pretty, too: over the last decade, the average two-storey detached home has increased in value by more than 133 percent. “Some people are leaving Kits and moving to Main Street, Cambie or Commercial Drive,” says realtor Rod MacKay. “Other people don’t want to be anywhere but Kits, and they just never leave.”

FOR SALE

$439,900

2040 Cornwall Ave. 1 bed, 1 bath

$1,398,000

2480 W 8th Ave. 2 bed, 2.5 bath

$18,800,000

3241 Point Grey Rd. 5 bed, 3 bath

34

CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE; KITS POOL: EVA AN KHERA J

WHAT TO DO

DID YOU KNOW?

5

West 4th was known colloquially as Rainbow Road in the 1960s because of the proliferation of hippies, health food stores and vegetarian restaurants, including The Naam (2724 W 4th Ave., thenaam.com), Vancouver’s oldest vegetarian restaurant (open 24/7)—a Kits staple since 1968.

18

Schools

Parks

SHOPPING

Parthenon Supermarket 3080 W Broadway, parthenonsupermarket.com

If specialty foods are your indulgence of choice, pay a visit to Parthenon Supermarket on West Broadway: the Greek market has an amazing deli and an extensive collection of vegan and glutensensitive specialty items.

Parthenon Gravitypope

Gravitypope

2203 W 4th Ave., gravitypope.com

Another 4th Avenue must-visit shop is Gravitypope, a shoe store and neighbouring tailored goods outlet with a carefully curated collection from around the world.

Kit and Ace

Turf Bistro The Kitchen Table

2235 W 4th Ave., kitandace.com

Kit and Ace

Kitsilano’s West 4th Avenue is home to some true Vancouver sartorial originals. You may already be aware of Lululemon—for a time its yoga pants were Vancouver’s uniform—but you may not know of founder Chip Wilson’s familial side project, Kit and Ace, which attempts to bring athleisure wear to the boardroom with its patented “technical cashmere” fabrics.

NE W ROOMS LOCAL PICKS

Emma Choo Instagrammer/Food Blogger @vancouverfoodie

Best Patio

Local Public Eatery

“Located right across from Kits Beach, people watch at any hour of the day, catch some rays to get your vitamin D on and enjoy a pint of local beer while you’re at it.” 2210 Cornwall Ave., localpubliceatery.com

GRAVIT YPOPE: DAVID STRONGMAN

Local Public Eatery Octopus Garden

Best Sushi

Octopus Garden

“This is not your average Vancouver sushi joint—we’re talking jumbo uni shots and foie gras nigiri. Try to grab a seat at the bar to catch the tricks that head chef Sada-san has up his sleeve.” 1995 Cornwall Ave., octopusgardensada.com

Turf

2041 W 4th Ave., ourturf.com Newly opened Turf is a café and fitness studio providing quintessentially Kitsilano fare. Dig into piles of healthful kimchi ’n’ mash, frosty green smoothies and locally roasted Moja coffee, or treat yourself to craft beer or wine on tap after your cardio class. They also have an adorable selection of apparel, accessories and other items for your home.

The Kitchen Table

1618 Yew St., thekitchentablekits.com The former location of local pub the King’s Head Inn is now occupied by The Kitchen Table, a local watering hole with a mixed menu of traditional pub food (nachos, fish and chips, burgers) and a few fun, if unconventional, dishes (parmesan pickles, fried peanut butter and jelly sandwich, truffle popcorn), as well as the perfect patio for taking in the ’hood.

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/kitsilano

CITY GUIDE 201

35

W 49TH AVE

Median Age of Residents

Population

14,735

Own

Avg. Monthly Rent

1,394

$

PAGE 4

35% 65% Rent

151,582

$

Avg. Total Household Income

DATA SOURCES

40-64 GRAN VILLE ST

BLENHEIM ST

W BOULEVARD

W 37TH AVE

SW MA RI NE DR

Kerrisdale

POPULAR AMONG retirees and starving students alike, Kerrisdale exudes a certain small-town charm while offering convenient proximity to the city centre. The main drag (West 41st Avenue between Maple and Balsam streets) is peppered with chain stores and local businesses, some occupying their locations since the mid-1920s. Despite its vanilla demeanour, the Kerrisdale Arena played an integral role in the city’s music scene, hosting Vancouver’s first rock concert in 1956 and many other historic shows until the early 1980s.

3 SHOPS TO VISIT

Hill’s of Kerrisdale

Get in a good blouse browse at this iconic century-old, family-owned clothing store— it’s also the birthplace of international mega-brand Aritzia.

Buchan’s Stationery

Hill's of Kerrisdale

2141 W 41st Ave., buchanst.com

Long before bullet journalling was a thing, locals flocked to this quirky neighbourhood staple for everything from pretty agendas to pens, wrapping paper and gifts.

Gem Chocolates

Buchan's Stationery Gem Chocolates

36

CITY GUIDE 201

2029 W 41st Ave., gemchocolates.ca

Not quite happy hour?

Sample the new gin and tonic or mojito chocolates (natural flavours, no preservatives and handmade with gin and rum, respectively) from award-winning chocolatier and owner Glenn Knowles.

RE AL ESTATE

Quiet Kerrisdale Is Waking Up

Kerrisdale has long been known as a sleepy retirement area, and the tree-lined neighbourhood is a key spot for downsizers who sell their west-side homes but don’t want to leave its charms behind. But with more row houses and townhomes, the mom-and-pop 41st Avenue shops, proximity to good schools and the redevelopment of the Arbutus Greenway— which runs from Marpole to Kits—Kerrisdale is increasingly an area of choice for young families, too. “It’s not as hip as Kits or Yaletown or Olympic Village, but if you want to raise kids where you can have a patch of grass and not have people on top of you, it’s a great place to be,” says realtor and Kerrisdale local Andrew Hasman. However, even the most basic postwar bungalow goes for $2.5 million and a livable family home sells for $4 million and up.

FOR SALE

$546,000

5723 Balsam St. 1 bed, 1 bath

$2,799,000

1682 W 66th Ave. 2 bed, 5 bath

$23,988,800

4670 Connaught Dr. 5 bed, 8 bath

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE

2125 W 41st Ave., hillsofkerrisdale.com

30

TH ANNIVERSARY 29 STORES IN THE LOWER MAINLAND

K I N’S

FA R M M A R K E T PROUDLY SERVING THE KERRISDALE COMMUNITY SINCE 2015 kinsfarmmarket.com

KinsFarmPointGreyNB2017HH_sc.indd 1

Untitled-1 1

2017-06-22 3:10 PM

2016-06-09 3:42 PM

37.6

BURR ARD ST

Own

Households

2,570

78% Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

1,072

$

$

56,517

Avg. Total Household Income

W BROA DWAY

W 12TH AVE

OAK ST

GRAN VILLE ST

Median Age of Residents

22%

DATA SOURCES ‡ PAGE 4

W 4TH AVE

W 16TH AVE

South Granville

the late 19th-century campground it once was, the historic neighbourhood of South Granville is now a major shopping district, a veritable playground of clothing boutiques, home design stores and salons (hello, Aveda's Civello!) for the ladies who lunch. That’s not to say all sense of history has been stripped from the ’hood, though: here you’ll find a selection of art galleries and antique dealers, as well heritage brick apartment buildings and character storefronts.

A FAR CRY FROM

WHAT TO DO

Top-Secret Brunch

Book the Birds Nest (birdsnestdining.com) for a secret brunch, private meal or customized hands-on cooking class in the home of a local underground chef.

The location is revealed upon booking, and space is limited.

RE AL ESTATE

Idyllic Haven in Short Supply

“Shaughnessy North” is the moniker some use for this tony zone, where empty nesters and upscale downsizers have flocked for its condos with water views, tasteful townhomes, walkability and mix of clothing shops, design stores and foodie havens. It’s also a top spot for seniors who still want to be in the heart of the action without having to cross the bridge into downtown.

Well-managed concrete buildings add to the allure, but low supply and a lack of new developments have sent prices sky high—as much as $1,300 per square foot. “Real estate is very challenging to get there,” says realtor Clair Rockel. “I’ve had clients move in and get letters saying, ‘I want to buy in your building. Please call me if you’ve got something.’” And detached homes? That ship has sailed, with benchmark prices rising more than 240 percent in the last decade.

FOR SALE

1775 W 11th Ave. 1 bed, 1 bath

$999,800

1565 W 6th Ave. 2 bed, 2 bath

$1,389,000

1476 W 5th Ave. 2 bed, 3 bath

38

CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE

$478,000

VANCOUVER

SOUTHGRANVILLE.ORG

DID YOU KNOW?

1

The Stanley theatre has had a tumultuous history since opening as a movie house in 1930. It closed in 1991 and was nearly torn down, but a group of dedicated citizens brought it back to life in 1997 and had it retrofitted for live performances.

1

School

Park

Structube SHOPPING

Structube

2401 Granville St., structube.com

This area has a cluster of chic home decor emporiums that make it a destination for the do-it-yourself interior designer: West Elm, Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn are all within a few blocks. Most recently, Montreal-based Structube joined the ranks, offering affordable apartment-friendly furnishings, many of which come flat-packed, Ikea-style.

Ming Wo

Jamjar

Ming Wo Le Creuset

For all the finest in kitchenware, look no further than Ming Wo, a Canadian-owned operation celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

Le Creuset

2997 Granville St., lecreuset.ca

The ombre-rainbow cookware giant Le Creuset opened up a 2,000-square-foot stand-alone boutique (complete with coffee bar) last summer and the buzz hasn’t died down yet.

Chat and Choux

NE W ROOMS LOCAL PICKS

Moe Brody Director, Harbour Dance Centre

Best Dinner West

West The Marquis

“I tried this place during Dine Out Vancouver years ago. When a restaurant is very upscale, the food better be worth the price without the serving size of a Costco sample. I had a piece of halibut here about eight years ago. If I can remember that, then it must have been great.” 2881 Granville St., westrestaurant.com

Best Hidden Gem The Marquis

“They have fun happy hour deals and tasty appies at a great price.

It reminds me of something you’d find in NYC: very intimate and quaint.” 2666 Granville St., themarquis.ca

40

CITY GUIDE 201

Jamjar

1488 W 11th Ave., jam-jar.ca Commercial Drive’s Jamjar has opened its second location in the space formerly occupied by popular Vij’s Rangoli (now one door over), bringing laid-back Lebanese cuisine to the neighbourhood. The larger kitchen means they’re now able to offer an expanded menu, including brunch: try the fatteh Benny, with garlic-andcumin-seasoned chickpeas, fried pita bread, poached eggs and a yogurt-based garlic mint sauce.

Slickity Jim's Chat and Choux 1387 W 7th Ave., slickityjims.com

Popular Main Street diner Slickity Jim’s has also opened a second location on the west side: Chat and Choux offers breakfast and lunch every day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. With a decent variety of meat, vegetarian (try the avocado-cheddar “To Kill a Sunrise” omelette) and even vegan options, it’s a great spot for a mixed group.

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/southgranville

STANLE Y THEATRE: ROBERT WERNER; MING WO: ELSA PAN; MOE BRODY: ROB GILBERT PHOTOGRAPHY; JAMJAR: ANDREW QUERNER; CHAT AND CHOUX: ANNET TE FAMA

2707 Granville St., mingwo.com

IN CENTURIES PAST,

the hammam was known as the silent doctor.

A place of cleansing and healing for body and soul. Miraj HAMMAM Spa is an exotic oasis where you can indulge yourself in traditional Middle Eastern steam gommage and massage treatments while your imagination takes you on a mystical journey into the past.

Celebrating 17 years!

Treatments & Programs: HAMMAM • Gommage Massage • Body Masque Aromatherapy Facial 1495 West 6th Avenue (at Granville) 604-733-5151 www.mirajhammam.com Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris, Shangri-La Hotel Toronto 647-253-5770 www.mirajcaudaliespa.com

Hotlist 2013 Editor’s Picks of World’s Best New Spas Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris

lifestyle boutique and café One stop shop for unique gifts, flowers, plants, books, home décor and catching up with a friend for coffee and a pastry!

Bird Lamp made in Paris by designer Challieres

1523 West 8th Ave. Vancouver 604.714.1133 info@goodgeplace.com goodgeplace.com

CAMB IE ST

Median Age of Residents

Population

7,680

61% Own

39% Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

1,307

$

101,740

$

Avg. Total Household Income

OAK ST

GRAN VILLE ST

MAIN ST

W KING EDWA RD AVE

39

DATA SOURCES † PAGE 4

W 16TH AVE

W 41ST AVE

South Cambie

the Canada Line dramatically transformed this tiny neighbourhood as Vancouver prepared to host the 2010 Winter Olympics. While many businesses moved or shuttered permanently during construction, the area is now thriving thanks to its high level of accessibility.

Encompassing the area between West 16th and 41st avenues, it has a concentration of shops and restaurants in the even smaller Cambie Village north of King Edward.

While quite compact, there are some unique experiences to be had; catch a live flamenco performance at Kino Cafe, which also hosts burgeoning stand-up comics Tuesdays, or eat an entirely meatless (and delicious) Chinese meal at 3G Vegetarian Restaurant.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF

RE AL ESTATE

Urban Oasis

Pay a visit to Queen Elizabeth Park (4600 Cambie St., vancouver.ca/parks) for a round of pitch and putt, or visit the stunning Bloedel Conservatory to soak in a little hit of the tropics, parrots and all. Finish the day off with a movie at the delightfully low-key Park Theatre (3440 Cambie St., cineplex.com), which opened its doors in 1941.

Building the Canada Line had an enormous impact on the entire Cambie corridor, from Marine Drive right into downtown, but especially around Cambie Village, which has become one of the city’s most sought-after spaces. West-siders who wouldn’t have dreamed of moving east of Burrard are now looking for prime locales along the area’s pretty parks; it’s also the ’hood of choice for out-of-towners looking for the perfect place to land. And anyone with a lot near the major intersections have made out like bandits, with some selling for three times their previous values. “I have many clients with the budget to purchase in Shaughnessy, but they have no desire to live there,” says realtor Clair Rockel. “They want the closer neighbourhood, the community where they know people, the walkability to schools and parks. They don’t want to be detached.”

FOR SALE

$540,900

4139 Cambie St. 1 bed, 1 bath

$1,298,000

5613 Willow St. 2 bed, 2 bath

$4,198,000

955 W 23rd Ave. 6 bed, 5.5 bath

42

CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE; QUEEN ELIZABETH PARK: S. YUME

The New Preferred Locale for West-Siders

WHAT TO DO

DID YOU KNOW?

2

Black Dog Video (3451 Cambie St., blackdogvideo .bc.ca) is one of the last video stores in Vancouver, but it’s nurtured a loyal clientele over its 20-plus-year history with a robust selection of indie films and cult faves.

4

Schools

Parks

SHOPPING

Walrus

3408 Cambie St., walrushome.com

Walrus Kaboodles Toy Store

Shop for gifts and sophisticated modern items at Walrus, where the owners have carefully curated a mix of well-known brands (Herschel bags, Phaidon books) and up-and-coming producers, with a focus on Canadian designs.

Kaboodles Toy Store 3404 Cambie St., kaboodlestoystore.com

Sorella

For the younger folks in your life, check out this locally owned tot shop. Bonus: there are discounts available for teachers.

Oakridge Centre 650 W 41st Ave., oakridgecentre.com

Oakridge Centre

If your heart is set on thoroughly depleting your bank account, head all the way up Cambie Street to Oakridge Centre, which offers upscale shopping, including the only Crate and Barrel in B.C., as well as luxury brands like Coach, Boss and Tiffany and Co.

Nabebugyo

NE W ROOMS LOCAL PICKS

Daniel Kozlowski and Caroline Boquist Owners of Walrus, walrushome.com

K ABOODLES TOY STORE: RUTH HARTNUP; SORELL A: NIKKI MCKEAN

Best Room for After-Work Drinks Prontino

Prontino

“Great drinks! They serve up classic Italian cocktails in a warm, intimate room. Sitting in there gives you a feeling of being in an old-fashioned train car.” 3475 Cambie St., prontocaffe.ca

Best Hidden Gem

The yet-to-be-named park at 17th Avenue and Yukon Street

“It’s nestled right in the neighbourhood, with a flowing stream of water, modern playground and benches. A perfect spot to be by yourself or with friends.”

Sorella

3369 Cambie St., sorellayvr.com Award-winning French bistro Pied-a-Terre has been transformed into a classic Italian-American restaurant by owner Chris Stewart. The Ferrari-red exterior of Sorella welcomes diners, and familystyle dining options give hungry patrons an easy way to sample a bit of everything on the menu.

Nabebugyo

3190 Cambie St., nabebugyo.com For a range of international flavours where personal hot pots are the star of the show, head to modern mom-andpop eatery Nabebugyo. Choose one of the 10 options inspired by traditional Japanese cuisine, as well as Korean and Thai flavours, then add your chosen protein and loads of veggies to your noodle soup. Newbies fear not, each table comes with hot pot instructions.

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/southcambie

17th Ave. at Yukon St.

CITY GUIDE 201

43

Median Age of Residents

31,440

Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

$

1,154

PAGE 4

42% 58% Own

$

80,073

Avg. Total Household Income

CAMB IE ST

GRAN VILLE ST

W BROADWAY

Population

DATA SOURCES

40

W 6TH AVE

W 12TH AVE

W 16TH AVE

Fairview

ONCE AN UNTAMED rainforest, the Fairview area offers an homage to the gigantic timber that once stood in its spot with tree-named streets running north-south, including Oak, Alder, Birch and Willow. In its heyday, it offered residents pristine views of downtown and the North Shore mountains, resulting in its highly literal moniker. Today you’ll find cyclists making use of its popular bike route along 10th Avenue and other quiet streets lined with big trees and heritage homes. Vancouver General Hospital and adjacent medical buildings occupy a large chunk at its centre, but there’s still some fun to be had for those of us without an M.D. 3 THINGS TO DO

The Umbrella Shop Caffé Cittadella

Fairview Pub

Find yourself experiencing the full force of Raincouver? The Umbrella Shop has been manufacturing, selling and repairing umbrellas since 1935.

Caffé Cittadella

2310 Ash St., caffecittadella.com

Thanks to its side-street location north of Broadway, this is one of Fairview’s best-kept secrets: a coffee shop inside a converted heritage house (circa 1890s) serving up pastries, sandwiches and fancy coffees. Grab your treats and hit the patio for some me time in a totally tucked-away part of the city.

Fairview Pub

898 W Broadway, fairviewpub.ca

Enjoy a live show Thursday through Sunday with primarily blues, soul and rock groups playing to a lively all-ages crowd.

44

CITY GUIDE 201

RE AL ESTATE

Transit Plans Put Neighbourhood on Pause

As the rest of the city booms, Fairview still seems stuck in time, with its mattress shops, medical supply stores and reverse-plan townhomes (bedrooms on the bottom and living areas on top).

The West Broadway stretch is being left almost untouched by new towers, too, with developers waiting until rapid transit plans come into sharper focus before bringing in the backhoes. “They’re waiting for the Broadway subway line, which is the big infrastructure question,” says realtor Keith Roy. “Nobody is going to rebuild anything on Broadway when it’s all going to get torn up. We’ve been expecting it for 15 years now, and it’s probably going to be five to eight years more.”

In the meantime, buyers willing to sacrifice some bells and whistles can still land a relatively sweet deal—and be just a short jump from Kits, Cambie and downtown.

FOR SALE

$429,000

3089 Oak St. 1 bed, 1 bath

$1,888,000

1530 W 8th Ave. 2 bed, 3 bath

$3,789,000

80 W 15th Ave. 8 bed, 6 bath

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE; THE UMBRELL A SHOP: MEGHAN DAVIS; CAFFÉ CIT TADELL A: PRAVIT KIMTONG

The Umbrella Shop

1106 W Broadway, theumbrellashop.com

Households

Median Age of Residents *Data for Olympic Village and South Cambie

Rent

PAGE 4

Avg. Monthly Rent

1,370

$

$

93,073

Avg. Total Household Income

MAIN ST

CAMIBE ST

GRA NVI LLE ST

W 6TH AVE

4,675

53% 47% Own

DATA SOURCES

37.6

W BROADWAY

False Creek & Olympic Village

most memorable events—Expo 86 and the 2010 Winter Olympics—have done much to shape this region, transforming an industrial area into a hot spot. The athlete housing converted into prime real estate at one end of False Creek has invited an influx of trendy businesses, and the seawall path running along the creek connects this area to the perennially adorable Granville Island.

TWO OF THE CITY ’ S

3 THINGS TO DO

Olympic Village Square

Olympic Village Square

Mobi bike

Coffee fix in hand—thanks JJ Bean (188 W 1st Ave., jjbeancoffee.com)—it's time to people watch in Olympic Village Square (between Manitoba Street, Salt Street, Walter Hardwick Avenue and Athletes Way) with the giant bird sculptures from local artist Myfanwy MacLeod.

Bike the Seawall

mobibikes.ca

Grab yourself one of the city’s new bikes from the Mobi bike sharing program (just be sure to register online first) and chase the shoreline along the seawall via comfort-cruiser.

Granville Island Public Market 1669 Johnston St., granvilleisland.com

Granville Island

46

CITY GUIDE 201

Summer isn’t complete without a stroll through Granville Island. Poke around the expansive Public Market with a treat from Lee’s Donuts (1689 Johnston St.) in hand.

RE AL ESTATE

Olympic Village Finally Comes to Life

Plagued by money problems following the 2008 financial crisis, Olympic Village was slow to get off the ground, but now it’s evolved into one of the hottest markets in the city—with some units even fetching Coal Harbour and Yaletown prices. With its central location, built-in amenities and walkability, it’s also rapidly becoming a retirement favourite. The western stretch of False Creek is trickier, with most buildings on leasehold land; to boot, some of those leases are coming up for renewal within 30 years, making it increasingly tough to land a mortgage. The few freehold properties, however, still get snapped up in a flash. “They’re right on the seawall, so they’re buying into a lifestyle—and now there’s all the infrastructure, with banks and markets and bars and restaurants,” says realtor Rod MacKay. FOR SALE

$580,000

1887 Crowe St. 1 bed, 1 bath

$1,680,000

118 Athletes Way 2 bed, 2 bath

$3,898,000

151 Athletes Way 2 bed, 3 bath

TOP: MARK FAVIELL; OLYMPIC VILL AGE SQUARE: K AREN LEE; GRANVILLE ISL AND: CL AY TON PERRY

1650 Manitoba St.

Dining Guide

Fat Mao Noodles Bestie

The Keefer Bar

Slickity Jim’s

Lower commercial rents have resulted in Vancouver’s east side becoming a food lover’s playground. From dark and cozy secret bars to modern and airy tasting rooms, East Van (have you got the T-shirt yet?) is now the place to dine out. But don’t expect to be able to book a table anywhere—today’s hippest rooms eschew reservations in favour of first-come-first-served buzz-building lines. BY Jenni Baynham

48

CITY GUIDE 201

THE RED - LAMPPOST-lined streets of Chinatown have drastically

changed in the last decade, transforming into a mecca for foodies. For starters, there’s Angus An’s 1 Fat Mao Noodles (217 E Georgia St., fatmaonoodles.com), where you have to try the hot and sour pork noodles, and 2 Bestie (105 E Pender St., bestie.ca), which specializes in sausage and beer (shut up and take our money). But if you want to spend a full evening taking in this ’hood, then hit Keefer Street. Meet your friends for a gin and tonic at 3 Juniper (185 Keefer St., junipervancouver.com) —but here the classic G&T gets a twist via rosemary-infused Death’s Door gin with Indian tonic. Then, step next door for dinner at 4 Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie (163 Keefer St., bao-bei.ca), chef Joël Watanabe (VanMag’s Chef of the Year) and owner Tannis Ling’s flagship room, where you can tell the waiter to just keep the crispy pork belly coming.

After your stomach is sufficiently lined, this block’s last stop is a classic: 5 the Keefer Bar (135 Keefer St., thekeeferbar.com). You could sit inside and sample a house cocktail, but why not try the patio instead?

The fireplace is good, and the noise level is better for conversation (are we getting old?).

As you make your way south on Main, head to 6 the Union (219 Union St., theunionvancouver.ca) for some

SIGN: CHRIS HUGGINS; SLICKIT Y JIM’S: VICTORIA BL ACK; FAT MAO: ANDREA FERNANDEZ

east-side dining

Savio Volpe

2 E PEND ER ST

MAIN ST

KEEFER ST

GO RE AV E

5 4 3 1

QUEBEC ST

E GEORGIA ST

21

6

E HASTINGS ST

UNION ST

20

PR IO R ST GEO RGI A VIA DUC T

Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie

VENABLES ST

7

NANAIMO ST

8 19 E 1ST AVE

11 12 13

W 2ND AVE W 7TH AVE

E BROA DWAY

MAIN ST

CAMBIE ST

Juniper

W 16TH AVE

16

E 12TH AVE

18

KI

NG

SW

AY

15

KNIGHT ST

FRASER ST

17

VICTORIA DR

COMMER CIAL DR

10

9

E KING EDWARD AVE

14

BAO BEI: HUBERT K ANG; BESTIE: WAYNE WEBB; JUNIPER: KK L AW

La Mezcaleria

Korean gochujang with chicken wings, then pop ’round the corner to try out food truck Le Tigre’s bricks-and-mortar 7 Torafuku (958 Main St., torafuku.ca), where pan-Asian experiments are served up in an ultraminimalist room. Look for the unmarked green door and stop in at 8 Campagnolo Upstairs (above Campagnolo Restaurant, 1020 Main St., campagnolorestaurant.ca) for a palate-cleansing (and beautifully crafted) aperitif like the tart Pegu Club.

The east side is home to some of the best breweries in Vancouver, so why not take a tour around the dozen or so within a few blocks of each other? New player 9 Faculty Brewing Co. (1830 Ontario St., facultybrewing.com) has a quaint charm to its tiny room and yeasty smells that will draw you in right off the street. Walk over to 10 Red Truck Beer Company (295 E 1st Ave., redtruckbeer.com) for its impressive decor, merch stand and pleasant-tasting flights to match. 11 R&B Brewing Co. (1–54

E 4th Ave., randbbrewing.com)—grab a pizza while you’re there—is en route to both 12 Brassneck (2148 Main St., brassneck.ca) and 13 Main Street Brewing (261 E 7th Ave., mainstreetbeer.ca), so the beer crawl can march on with ease.

Polynesian-themed cocktails await at the dark, bamboo-laden 14 Shameful Tiki Room (4362 Main St., shamefultikiroom .com)—yes, we’re still on Main Street.

Order the mystery bowl, but don’t lean too close to this flaming super-sized cocktail.

Then head over to vegetable-forward restaurant 15 the Acorn (3995 Main St., theacornrestaurant.ca) for the divine beer-battered haloumi dish that has even carnivores joining the queue.

For lunch, try the thrift store-chic 16 Slickity Jim’s (3475 Main St., slickity jims.com) for a soup and sandwich combo or 17 Don’t Argue! Pizzeria (3240 Main St., dontarguepizzeria.com) for a spicy margherita. For some serious Italian

cuisine, head southeast to where up-andcoming Fraser Street meets Kingsway and 15th Avenue (this cool hipster triangle is known simply as “Fraserhood”) and see if you can get into the alwaysbusy 18 Savio Volpe (615 Kingsway, saviovolpe.com) for fresh pasta and the best roast chicken you’ve ever had.

Over on Commercial Drive, order the molten-cheese queso fundido from 19 La Mezcaleria (1622 Commercial Dr., lamezcaleria.ca), because any restaurant that puts hot cheese on its happy hour menu is our kind of place. Come Sunday morning, make your way to HastingsSunrise and brave the lineup at 20 the Red Wagon Cafe (2296 E Hastings St., redwagoncafe.com) for pulled-pork pancakes and breakfast banh mi, or save your appetite for lunch: albacore tuna tacos (perhaps paired with a $7 El Cesar?) at 21 Tacofino Commissary (2327 E Hastings St., tacofino.com).

CITY GUIDE 201

49

49

Median Age of Residents

E HASTINGS ST

16% Own

Population

12,165

*Data includes Strathcona, DTES and Chinatown

Strathcona TERM

GR

IN A L

E AT N O RTH E

Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

$

611

$

35,904

Avg. Total Household Income

CLARK DR

MAIN ST

PRIO R ST

83%

PAGE 4

Downtown Eastside

DATA SOURCES

Chinatown

AV E

RN W

AY

Strathcona

STEPPING INTO Strathcona feels like climbing the stairs to a top-floor gable room in one of the neighbourhood’s trademark tall houses: while it’s right near the heart of things, with Mount Pleasant just south and downtown just west, it’s calm, less frenzied and away from the hubbub. Unexpectedly, it’s also a great shopping destination, with hidden gems like an authentic Japanese grocery, well-curated clothing boutiques, and an epic cheese emporium.

Charlie and Lee

3 THINGS TO DO

Charlie and Lee

223 Union St., charlieandlee.com

Fujiya Japanese Foods

Fujiya Japanese Foods

912 Clark Dr., fujiya.ca

The learning curve in making your own sushi is steep, but the payoff is worth it. Start by getting the real stuff at Fujiya Japanese Foods, the source for everything from high-quality nori to milky Hi-Chew candy.

Les Amis du Fromage 843 E Hastings St., buycheese.com

Les Amis du Fromage

50

CITY GUIDE 201

Les Amis du Fromage is like a candy store without the sugar crash. Sample their rare, imported washed-rind cheeses, or rent a raclette set for your next dinner party.

RE AL ESTATE

Gritty Community Faces Drive for Densification

Young families, creative types, downsizers and those with slimmer budgets continue to flock to this historic east-side ’hood, which has retained its diverse, tight-knit community feel— despite enormous leaps in real estate values. With its proximity to the Downtown Eastside, it’s still rougher around the edges than many city ’hoods, but the eclectic mix of apartments, townhomes, heritage homes and new builds make it a top spot for buyers seeking character. “There’s a very tight community down here that very few people move from,” says realtor Rick Stonehouse. “I’ve lived in Vancouver my whole life, but it’s the one spot I’ve really felt at home.” With significant densification planned for East Hastings, the building of the new St. Paul’s Hospital, and the removal of the Georgia viaducts, the area will also see major change—and soon.

FOR SALE

$580,000

221 Union St. 1 bed, 1 bath

$775,000

919 Station St. 1 bed, 2 bath

$979,000

1011 Keefer St. 3 bed, 3 bath

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE; CHARLIE AND LEE: REBECCA MCCOLGAN

Minimalist style means buying fewer things, but better things.

Charlie and Lee, with a curated selection of North Americanmade clothing and accessories, is the best place to find items that are wear-forever, not just wear-for-now.

Located inside The Settlement Building in Vancouver’s historic Railtown neighbourhood, Belgard Kitchen offers three distinctive menus: brunch, lunch, and evening. The lunch menu focuses on core items and is accompanied by the “Belgard Fresh Sheet,” that changes daily. The brunch and evening menus are designed for social sharing and offer guests the opportunity to sample multiple dishes. Each menu item is crafted to celebrate ingredients that are local, of the highest quality and seasonal to the West Coast. Sharing the 1920’s converted steel foundry space are sibling-brands Postmark Brewing and Vancouver Urban Winery, whose beer and wine perfectly complement the dining experience.

55 Dunlevy Ave, Vancouver belgardkitchen.com @belgardkitchen

VITAL SUPPLY CO CAFE + BLEND BAR 686 POWELL ST.

HEALTHY MEAL DELIVERY SERVICE + CAFE Vital Supply Co. makes healthy eating convenient, accessible, trustworthy and enjoyable. We fuel healthy bodies, sharp minds and big lives! And, all wrapped up in that, we intend to give you your valuable time back through eating our food. Who doesn’t wish they had more hours in the day?

Whether you’re using our twice-weekly direct delivery service, or visiting us at our first Vital Café + Blend Bar in Strathcona, you’ll see that eating real food is an integral building block in getting the most out of each and every day.

Vital Supply sticks to five simple food philosophies to create that foundation.

•REAL FOOD – we believe in a strict sourcing philosophy that includes a focus on only using REAL FOOD. •GLUTEN FREE – in order to maintain steady blood sugar levels throughout the day and reduce energy spikes and deficits, we eliminate ingredients containing gluten.

•DAIRY FREE – we want to help you be a lean mean fighting machine and eliminating dairy will help that, along with many other health benefits you will discover by going dairy free.

•LOCAL + ORGANIC – we want to bring you the best ingredients that have travelled the shortest distance…they will have the highest nutrient value and the lowest carbon footprint. Win, win for you and Mother Earth!

•NO REFINED SUGAR – let’s face it – sugar is bad for us. It’s addictive, creates peaks and valleys in our energy levels, gets stored as fat when not used as energy, etc.

Come by, refuel, recharge, leave energized.

Visit us online for a special offer: VITALSUPPLY.CO/VANMAG

3

9

Schools

Parks

Kissa Tanto This 80-seat Japanese-Italian restaurant (styled after 1960s Japanese jazz cafés) is atmospheric perfection. Oh, and it’s home to the man Vancouver magazine named Chef of the Year—Joël Watanabe—so no one is going to leave hungry. 263 E Pender St., kissatanto.com

*Strathcona data includes DTES and Chinatown

E HASTI NGS ST

E HASTI NGS ST PRIOR ST

CLARK DR

R ST

MAIN ST

MAIN ST

K EEFE

Chinatown

in the city has a sense of place quite like Chinatown. It’s where you find a slick new art gallery inside a 128-year-old heritage building, a trendy cocktail bar next to an old-school open-air grocery, and the preternatural calm of a classical Chinese garden between high-rises. It’s an area with some of Vancouver’s richest historical character, with a renewed popularity and some great new places to visit.

DATA SOURCES CIT Y OF VANCOUVER , VANCOUVER SCHOOL BOARD

NEW ROOM

NOWHERE ELSE

Wing Sang Building

51 E Pender St., renniecollection.org

Rennie Collection

Book a free tour at the Wing Sang Building’s Rennie Collection for an expert-led walk through an ever-changing exhibition of contemporary art, ending with the view from a rooftop gallery. Catch the Ian Wallace: Collected Works exhibition, on until September 30.

Space Lab

230 E Pender St., space-lab.tumblr.com

Space Lab

You could spend weeks browsing at Space Lab, a one-of-a-kind trove of antiques with the Aubade Coffee bar in the front and a barbershop in the back. Find everything there, including the kitchen sink: vintage typewriters, secretary desks and risqué postcards.

RE AL ESTATE

A Historic Neighbourhood in Transition Like Strathcona, Chinatown is an area in transition—and its rich cultural character, along with its relatively affordable new condos, has transformed the neighbourhood into a hot spot for young buyers. The development push has also been controversial, with many expressing concern that long-time residents and business owners are getting pushed out—and when the viaducts go, the area will face an even bigger shift. “It reminds me of New York’s Meatpacking District. It’s these old funky shops and in between them are new bars and restaurants,” says realtor Rick Stonehouse. “All of a sudden it’s become this vibrant, young, hip place to be.”

52

CITY GUIDE 201

THE DTES is easily misunderstood. Yes, it’s a socially fraught area—but it’s also a cooperative, resilient community. It’s chock full of upscale spaces, but hopscotching one’s way from a trendy restaurant to a hip lounge means missing so much in between.

This is Vancouver’s original urban heart, and it is gritty drag revues at punk bars just as much as it is bootstrappy nanocafés in Railtown (the northernmost tip on and around Railway Street).

It defies easy categorization, and it’s a palimpsest that defines this city better than anywhere else.

WHAT TO DO

Craft-Beer Lover′s Paradise

You could plan an epic crawl of the Lower Mainland’s 50-plus (!) breweries or just go to the Alibi Room (157 Alexander St., alibi.ca) for their pagesdeep craft beer menu. If you’re truly adventurous, ask the beer-nerd staff to pour you a surprise flight.

RE AL ESTATE

As the City Charges East...

A push to densify along the East Hastings corridor, along with the booming popularity of Gastown, Railtown, Crosstown and Strathcona, has put a squeeze on the Downtown Eastside, which has traditionally been home to many of the city’s poorest and most vulnerable. Now prices for everything from heritage conversions to new builds to “micro-suites” are shooting sky high as the area’s gentrification, which the Woodward’s development helped kick into high gear eight years ago, continues.

FOR SALE

$578,000

138 E Hastings St. 1 bed, 1 bath

$799,800

189 Keefer St. 2 bed, 2 bath

$4,880,880

133 Keefer St. 2 bed, 2 bath

CHINATOWN AND DTES MAIN IMAGES: ARIANA GILLRIE; KISSA TANTO: KNAUF AND BROWN; RENNIE COLLECTION: IAN WALL ACE

2 THINGS TO DO

Downtown Eastside

Median Age of Residents

Population

48,195

*Data combined for Mount Pleasant and Riley Park

45% 55% Own Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

1,051

$

75,856

$

Avg. Total Household Income

KNIGH T ST

FRASE R ST

MAIN ST

CAMBIE ST

DATA SOURCES † PAGE 4

36

W BROADWAY

W 41ST AVE

Main Street

has always been cool, but Main Street’s taken its hipness in a more grownup direction as of late, evolving from ironic vintage-tee shops and lawnflamingo-covered dives to minimalistcurated general stores and chic cafés emphasizing local ingredients. In a stroll through the area’s two connected neighbourhoods, Mount Pleasant and Riley Park, you can sip a third-wave latte in a converted bodega; shop locally sourced art, ceramics and leather goods; and unwind with some of the best craft beer in the city.

THIS EAST VAN NEIGHBOURHOOD

WHAT TO DO

The Sunday Service

Vancouver’s best comedy is, somewhat unexpectedly, found at the Fox Cabaret (2321 Main St., foxcabaret.com), a ’70s-era former porn theatre renovated into a stylish arts venue, with cult-favourite weekly improv show The Sunday Service. This improv group has racked up national awards for years, but a ticket to the Sunday night event is still just $7.

RE AL ESTATE

The Centre of the City Has Shifted

Less than two decades ago you could pick up a Mount Pleasant home for $200,000—but now, as the heart of the city continues its march east, there’s an extra zero on that price tag. In the last 10 years alone, the hip ’hood—which once was one of the city’s roughest—has seen a 150-percent increase in the price of a detached home. Why? With Queen E Park, the Hillcrest Centre, farmers’ markets, colourful local shops and restaurants, and a distinct community spirit, the area is drawing people from all across Vancouver. The proposed redevelopment of the Little Mountain site, which will feature more than 1,600 new units, will mark a seismic shift, too. “Main Street used to be the dividing line between east and west. “Now it’s the middle of the city,” says realtor Keith Roy. “People don’t want to be on the west side. They want to be on Main Street.”

FOR SALE

688 E 18th Ave. 1 bed, 1 bath

$1,198,000

168 E 35th Ave. 3 bed, 2 bath

$3,540,000

121 W 23rd Ave. 6 bed, 6 bath

54

CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE

$448,000

Monarch Burger prides itself on its ingredients. Our beef is sourced from local farmers who pasture raise and tend their animals with care. We age our beef 45 days, grind it fresh daily and hand form every burger. We start each service with buns still warm from the oven; soft, delicate, and lightly browned with butter on our flat-top griddle.

Vegetarian... Vegan... We’ve got you covered! Mushroom Veggie Burgers for all!

Burger and Beer $12 5-7 Daily!

Photograph by Brett Beettle

monarchburger.com

The American is a new pub located in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood focused on arcade and pinball games, sports & great food and drink.

Photograph by Victoria Black

928 Main St Vancouver, BC 604.398.4010 thecobalt.ca/the-american

DID YOU KNOW?

11

Main Street is the epicentre of Vancouver’s recent beer brewing revival, and that echoes a long history. The city’s first brewery (Vancouver Brewery) was built in the area—at East 7th Avenue and Scotia Street—in 1888.

17

Schools

Parks

Nineteen Ten

SHOPPING

Nineteen Ten

4366 Main St., nineteenten.ca

Minimalist organization gurus say to only buy things that spark joy, but that unfortunately describes everything at Canadian-made homeware shop Nineteen Ten. Pick up a sumptuous linen throw or heirloom-quality cutting board for yourself, and tuck away some ale-mustard seed jelly for a housewarming gift.

Much and Little

Much and Little

2541 Main St., muchandlittle.com

You might wander in just to browse their eclectic gifts or locally made clothing, but you’ll likely leave with something you never knew you needed—fold-up bamboo sunglasses, a beautifully made kitchen gadget or some cheery ceramic servingware.

Umeboshi

The Arbor

Umeboshi

3638 Main St., shopumeboshi.com

The perfect finishing touch, whether it’s a hardware-free leather tote, a glinty silver cuff or a pop-of-colour sock, takes an outfit from plain to perfect. Find all of the above here, plus an impeccably chosen footwear selection.

Federal Store

NE W ROOMS

Erin Ireland Owner of To Die for Fine Foods, itstodiefor.ca

Best Brunch

Southern Fried Artichoke and Waffles at the Acorn

The Acorn

“This sweet and savoury dish, topped with bourbon maple syrup, is served in one of the coolest, most stylish dining rooms run by awesome locals.” 3995 Main St., theacornrestaurant.ca

Best Latte

Elysian’s Almond Milk Latte

“First off, Elysian roasts some of the best coffee beans in town.

Secondly, they use Nuez almond milk, a locally made nut milk that is 16 times creamier than your standard boxed version.” 2301 Ontario St., elysiancoffee.com Elysian

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CITY GUIDE 201

The Arbor

3941 Main St., thearborrestaurant.ca On a nice Vancouver day, all anyone wants is to soak up as much natural beauty as they can, but sometimes there’s only an hour or two to spare. Spend them at the Arbor (within the same block as its big sister restaurant, the Acorn) on its lush garden-oasis patio, sipping a mint-raspberry cocktail and nibbling on satisfying vegetarian bites—think deep-fried oyster mushrooms and artichoke nuggets.

Federal Store

2601 Quebec St., federalstore.ca The vintage sign outside makes it look like a plain corner grocery, but inside you’ll find high-quality provisions and a retro-chic café. Pop by for a Matchstick americano and a flaky cardamom pastry, or fill the picnic basket with cheeky local foods like Spread ’Em turmeric-pepper dip and Brine Adams pickles.

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/mainstreet

NINETEEN TEN: JENNIFER KIEL; MUCH AND LIT TLE: RON YUE

LOCAL PICKS

Clarkdale Volkswagen YOUR VANCOUVER VW DEALER

604-872-5431

The Atlas 3 ROWS. 7 SEATS. 1 REALLY BIG FAMILY.

LEASE FROM $530*/MONTHLY FINANCE FROM $296*/BIWEEKLY *Lease based on 48 months | Taxes included | 12000 kms per year | $2000 down.

Finance based on 84 months | $2000 down | OAC. Ask us for details.

Clarkdale.ca

Untitled-6 1

2017-06-13 3:10 PM

Our vintage recipe Exotic cocktails and passionately built mid century tiki room will take you on an escape like no other in the city. Bring your date for dinner, perhaps your work group for expertly crafted old school tiki cocktails or maybe just you and a Mai Tai to revel in the room itself.

Come escape with us.

Open 7 Days A Week, 5PM – Late 4362 Main Street, Vancouver, BC shamefultikiroom.com

FRASER ST

SW

AY

Median Age of Residents

Population

47,470

57% 43% Own Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

$

974

$

69,785

Avg. Total Household Income

DATA SOURCES

NG

NANAIMO ST

KI

39

PAGE 4

E BROADWAY

E 41ST AVE

Fraser Street

of those high-profile haunts tourists typically put on their itinerary, but it should be. As the chief attraction in the Kensington-Cedar Cottage neighbourhood, Fraser Street (and its retail-meets-eatery locus at Kingsway, Fraser and 15th Ave., known as “Fraserhood”) is the latest up-andcoming area full of cute shops and great restaurants, and its quiet village feel makes it a great place to stroll and enjoy.

THIS ISN’ T ONE

Spool of Thread

3 THINGS TO DO

Spool of Thread Sewing Lounge 649 E 15th Ave., spoolofthread.com

Grubwear

Grubwear

617 Kingsway, grubwear.com

Skip the basic touristy gear and go to Grubwear, a custom-printing shop with its own cheeky merch: tees featuring the Dude Chilling Park sign, “CANUCK AF” and East Van cross print underwear.

The Pie Hole

3497 Fraser St., thepiehole.com

The Pie Hole

58

CITY GUIDE 201

After years of working out of a shared kitchen, pie master Jenell Parsons debuts her bricksand-mortar shop on Fraser.

Inside it’s bright and white with geo tiles and a country diner feel, and the pies are all decadent and toothsome, from the raspberry cream crumble to savouries like mac and cheese.

RE AL ESTATE

Welcome to the New Main Street For decades, real estate prices in Kensington-Cedar Cottage lagged because much of it was a no-man’s land between Main and Commercial. But as the popularity of Commercial spreads west, Main spreads east and the whole city pushes south, it’s no longer considered off the beaten track. Fraser is often called “the new Main,” and the charming Fraserhood pocket of shops and restaurants has become a hotspot, with price hikes to match—but the boggy land keeps some developers steering clear. At the other end of the area, Trout Lake has taken off, becoming an in-demand locale for families as well as for developers, who have hundreds of units in the works along Kingsway and Victoria Drive. “People used to joke about needing passports to come this far east,” says realtor Lisa MacIntosh.

“But now there are lots of west-side folks moving in.”

FOR SALE

$689,000

738 E 29th Ave. 2 bed, 2 bath

$1,288,000

2306 E 28th Ave. 4 bed, 4 bath

$2,600,000

2255 E 30th Ave. 5 bed, 4 bath

TOP IMAGE: ARIANA GILLRIE

Even a beginner who’s never touched a sewing machine can walk away from a class at this teaching shop with a custom self-made skirt, bow tie or tote bag.

– available – O N N E W S S TA N D S M O N T H LY

Median Age of Residents

E HASTINGS ST

Population

27,305

35% 65% Own Rent

Avg. Monthly Rent

$

874

$

57,864

Avg. Total Household Income

DATA SOURCES † PAGE 4

39 NANAIMO ST

COMMERCIAL DR

CLARK DR

E BROADWAY

Commercial Drive

DRIVE,” a.k.a. Commercial Drive, in East Van’s Grandview–Woodland neighbourhood, just might be the city’s most eclectic locale. Starting from Venables Street and heading up to where Commercial turns into Victoria Drive, you’ll find old-school Italian delis, punk-rock vegan eateries and niche new lounges—sometimes all on the same block. It’s an area that truly feels communal, without any see-and-be-seen scenesterism.

Come here for bustling Car Free Day, the dense selection of vintage shops or a relaxed afternoon of the three Ps: patio hopping, people watching and picnicking in the park. “ THE

WHAT TO DO

Craft Brew and Park Sessions

If it’s raining, visit Storm Brewing (310 Commercial Dr., stormbrewing.org), where you can sample off-the-wall local Brainstorm beers that change weekly (like a Vanilla Orange Blossom Ale) in what feels like an eccentric inventor’s workshop. If the sun’s making an appearance, head to Grandview Park (1657 Charles St.), a relaxed bohemian oasis where you’ll likely encounter an impromptu jam session or a game of bike polo.

RE AL ESTATE

Big Changes Coming to Quirky Commercial

A controversial new community plan will bring much more density and taller buildings—including a 24-storey tower at Broadway and Commercial—to the Drive, a favourite area for young families who love its rich character, cultural diversity, deep-rooted community spirit, independent shops and comparatively reasonable prices. It also has a mix of housing, from condos to half duplexes to renovated heritage. But be prepared to duke it out in multiple-offer situations; one home at William and Victoria recently sold in four days for nearly a quarter-million over asking. “In the next 10 to 15 years we’ll see an incredible change,” says realtor and resident Lisa MacIntosh. “The saving grace is that the city has agreed to keep the heart of Commercial Drive as a low-rise commercial area. They want to keep that quirky character.”

FOR SALE

2528 E Broadway 2 bed, 2 bath

$1,798,000

1754 Graveley St. 4 bed, 4 bath

$3,000,000

2062 E Broadway 5 bed, 3 bath

60

CITY GUIDE 201

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE

$318,000

22 AMAZING BLOCKS TO EXPLORE

Home to VANCOUVER’S LITTLE ITALY From downtown to The Drive: downtown

sk

yt

ra

in

commercial drive

A culturally rich and authentic neighbourhood, Commercial Drive - also known as The Drive - is one of the best and most colourful shopping, dining and nightlife districts you will find in the city; and boasts home to Vancouver’s own 8 block Little Italy, representing more than 60 years of Italian heritage. Day or evening, The Drive offers 22 full blocks to explore with over 300 distinct merchants, including quaint boutiques, an eclectic collection of restaurants, a vibrant live music and bar scene, dinner and dancing, theatres, coffee houses, specialty food stores and bakeries. A one of a kind experience. Welcome to The Drive.

TheDrive.ca

25 min

8 min

10 min

DID YOU KNOW?

8

The Drive got its start as a “skid road,” but that isn’t to say it was rundown or shabby. Rather, it was literally a road where horses would pull, or “skid,” logs to Vancouver’s first major business, Hastings Sawmill on Burrard Inlet, in the mid-1800s.

15

Schools

Parks

77K Freeze

The Found and Freed SHOPPING

The Found and the Freed 706 Victoria Dr., thefoundandthefreed.com

This hip antique shop is where you’ll find the kind of rough-edged accents that give an otherwise basic room patina and character, like coveted vintage bus-sign rolls, wooden card-catalogue cabinets and mug-potted succulents.

People’s Co-op Bookstore

People's Co-op Bookstore

There’s a serendipity in old-school bookstores that a screen just can’t replicate. Visit People’s Co-op Bookstore with a vague idea of what you want, and the knowledgeable staff will send you off with the perfect read.

Paranada Traders

1505 Commercial Dr., paranada.ca

Paranada Traders

Vancouver has a hippie history, and, contrary to popular belief, it shines through in places other than Kitsilano. You’ll find the authentic one-love, back-to-nature vibe at Paranada Traders, with a selection of essential oils, bright silks and hand-carved drums.

The Abstract Cafe

NE W ROOMS LOCAL PICKS

Ignacio Arrieta Owner of La Mezcaleria, lamezcaleria.ca

“Delicious sushi here. The nabeyaki udon is so good. It’s a great cure for hangovers.” 1441 Commercial Dr., tatsubistro.com

Best Weekend Activity

The Abstract Cafe

Trout Lake Picnic

1692 Venables St., facebook.com/cafeabstract

Get a bottle of wine from Liberty Wines (1622 Commercial Dr., libertywinemerchants .com), bread from Fratelli Bakery (1795 Commercial Dr., fratellibakery.com), cheese from La Grotta del Formaggio (1791 Commercial Dr., lgdf.ca), and have a picnic at Trout Lake (3300 Victoria Dr.).

This cozy café opened in 2016, but the artsy, more-hippie-than-hipster space already feels like a Commercial Drive classic. Stop by for folksy singalongs, hip-hop showcases and kid-friendly painting jams, or just browse the local art on display over a hot cup of tomato soup with apple and smoked bacon.

Tatsu Japanese Bistro

Fratelli Bakery

62

CITY GUIDE 201

2240 Commercial Dr., 77kfreeze.ca Liquid-nitrogen ice cream isn’t trending just because of the dramatic puff of smoke it’s served out of. The sci-fi-style technique freezes ingredients instantly, allowing for fresher and more creative flavour combinations like blueberry pine or 77K Freeze's signature Snowflake lychee flavour with crisp water chestnut pieces. Bring your cool puns.

Best Place for Dinner

Trout Lake

77K Freeze

For more local picks visit vanmag.com/commercialdrive

SAWMILL: CIT Y OF VANCOUVER ARCHIVES; THE ABSTRACT CAFE: MARK AROMIN AND MELISSA CERNY; TROUT L AKE: AL AN BRUCE; FRATELLI BAKERY: ASH TANASIYCHUK

1391 Commercial Dr., 604-253-6442

Median Age of Residents

E HASTINGS

Population

33,990

Own

Avg. Monthly Rent

$

931

PAGE 4

36% 64% Rent

74,368

$

Avg. Total Household Income

DATA SOURCES

41

Y1

BOUNDARY RD

HW

NANAIMO ST E BROADWAY

HastingsSunrise

THIS FORMERLY SLEEPY residential ’hood has exploded into a foodie mecca and desirable destination.

Plentiful commercial space has brought in loads of entrepreneurs with creative ideas, bringing the area from also-ran to must-visit.

3 SHOPS TO VISIT

Filmgo Sales

2741 Skeena St., filmgo.ca

Filmgo Sales

Kingdom Beauty Supply

3623 E 4th Ave., kingdombeauty.com

Kingdom Beauty Supply

As one of the rare pro beauty stores open to the public, Kingdom Beauty Supply is a cult source for high-end cosmetics at bargain-basement prices. The huge selection of professionalquality nail polish from brands like OPI and China Glaze is the main attraction.

Tiny Finery

2629 E Hastings St., tinyfinery.ca

Tiny Finery

64

CITY GUIDE 201

Handmade-jewellery shop Tiny Finery has a delightfully strange aesthetic: silver signet rings with 3D stag heads on them, glint hoop earrings in hair-thin wire and abstract pendants that subtly evoke a coastal forest.

RE AL ESTATE

Make Way for Glass Condo Towers

The “East Village” marketing label may not have exactly caught on, but there’s no doubt that, over the last five to 10 years, the Hastings-Sunrise area has transformed into one of the city’s hippest—and prices are reflecting it. In 2009 you could pick up a detached bungalow for under $500,000; now a family home in decent shape is worth three times that. Still, the prices remain lower than Main or Commercial, so buyers in search of bargains are showing up in droves—and there are still cheap condos north of Hastings. But the neighbourhood is also about to experience a big shift, with the entire Hastings corridor earmarked for greater density and taller buildings.

“It’s always been a bit behind Commercial Drive,” says realtor Lisa MacIntosh. “But in the last five to seven years, it’s just like, ‘Wow, where did these prices come from?’”

FOR SALE

$399,000

2265 E 4th Ave. 2 bed, 2 bath

$1,660,000

3240 Napier St. 6 bed, 4 bath

$2,398,000

2787 E 6th Ave. 5 bed, 5 bath

TOP: ARIANA GILLRIE; TINY FINERY: ARICA SHARMA

Filmgo Sales doesn’t look like your usual vintage home shop, and it isn’t: charged with selling off unused set items from the local film industry, this is your new secret source for perfectly restored mid-century furniture, unique vintage prints and crazy one-of-a-kind accents.

OddSocietySpiritsNB2017HH_lt.indd 1

Self Self Guided Guided Tour Tour

2017-06-22 2:48 PM

LEGENDS OF HOCKEY EXHIBIT

CRAFT BEER FEST NOW FEATURING LOCAL WINERIES!

#TheFair

SAVE ON PASSES AT:

10+

GO FISH

Take to the water to discover the history and wildlife of Howe Sound with Sewell’s Marina (6409 Bay St., sewellsmarina.com). Whether you explore one of North America’s southernmost fjords by guided sea safari, private boat rental or chartered fishing boat, you’ll spend the day getting to know a new side of Vancouver’s backyard (life jacket required).

THINGS TO DO IN

WEST VANCOUVER

Amuse the Bouche

Voted Best North Shore in Vancouver magazine’s 2017 Restaurant Awards, Café Ça Va (1860 Marine Dr., cafecava.com) is led

by Michelin-star chef Alain Rayé and serves elegant French cuisine with a certain joie de vivre.

only as the home of B.C.’s first enclosed shopping mall (we’re looking at you, Park Royal), West Vancouver is now a destination for foodies and outdoorsy folks alike. With the ocean and the mountains right next door, and its farmers’ markets, cafés, museums and galleries, this northwestern municipality offers a plethora of activities for every day of the year. BY Carly Whetter WHILE ONCE KNOWN

2

The West Vancouver Museum (670 W 17th St., westvancouvermuseum .ca) focuses on bringing creators and events that shape the community to the public. This summer, Renée Van Halm’s artwork exhibition, Shape of Things, takes the stage until mid-July, and the annual West Coast Modern Home Tour (July 8), gives participants a peek inside five homes in West Vancouver to spark lively discussions on modernist architecture.

Enjoy the View

3

Nestled at the base of Cypress Mountain, the Salmon House on the Hill (2229 Folkestone Way, salmonhouse.com) is your “special dinner with a killer view” destination. A panorama of glass windows faces the ocean and spans the width of the timber-chic restaurant, so you can sip picks from an award-winning wine list (chosen to pair perfectly with the West Coast fare) over sunsets on Burrard Inlet.

66

CITY GUIDE 201

Get Wet

4

Take a break from city life by going on a kayak tour of Ambleside Beach or take an interpretive tour of the North Shore with Talaysay Tours (334 Skawshen Rd., talaysay.com).

The tour company focuses on First Nations cultural and eco experiences, and offers other walking and kayak tours around the Burrard Inlet and Deep Cove.

CAFÉ ÇA VA: LUIS VALDIZON; WEST VANCOUVER MUSEUM: SARAH JANE MOLDENHAUER; GET WET: ARDEN TEES

Design to Inspire

WE’RE ALL OVER THE MAP...

WORKING HARD TO EARN YOUR BUSINESS!

5351 HEADLAND DRIVE, CAULFEILD COMING SOON!

850 HARBOURSIDE DRIVE, HAMILTON 1233 LYNN VALLEY ROAD, LYNN VALLEY

1122 MAINLAND STREET, YALETOWN

VPG REALTY INC. | 604-770-4353 | 159 - 1233 Lynn Valley Rd, North Vancouver This communication is not intended to cause or induce breach of an existing agency agreement

Sweet Surrender

Better Than a Gift Shop

Just a 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver in picturesque Horseshoe Bay lies the Spirit Gallery (6408 Bay St., spirit-gallery .com), which showcases and sells First Nations bentwood boxes, carvings, jewellery and prints by notables such as Musqueam artist Susan Point.

7

Born in Dundarave, Temper Chocolate and Pastry’s (2409 Marine Dr., temperpastry .com) chef Steven Hodge has earned his place among chocolatiers by working with star-status chefs like Gordon Ramsay and Vancouver’s own Thomas Haas. Visit the mod marble-forward shop any day of the week for a chocolateor pastry-laden pick-me-up.

10

Call of the Wild

For a taste of the wilderness right in the city, visit Cypress Falls Park (find a parking lot and trail entrance near 4698 Woodgreen Pl.). The park’s low elevation makes it an excellent snow-free pick for a hike year-round.

It’s dog friendly, easy to reach by public transit and features a gentle threekilometre hike round-trip to get the blood flowing.

68

CITY GUIDE 201

9

8

Let’s Do Brunch

Hit the Market

Every Sunday, the Ambleside Artisan Farmers’ Market (1000 Argyle Ave., artisanmarkets.ca) features vendors armed with everything from farm-fresh vegetables to tipples to crafts. After you’ve wandered (or eaten) your way through the market, head to the nearby park and beach at Ambleside to round out a day of relaxation.

Feast Dining (2423 Marine Dr., feastdining .ca) is West Vancouver’s self-proclaimed neighbourhood table—and it has the rustic-farmhouse, down-to-earth decor to match. Stop by for brunch, lunch or dinner for time-honoured favourites like chicken and waff les, or treat yourself to happy hour’s $5 drink specials of wine and/or bubbles.

SPIRIT GALLERY: WILDMAN PHOTOGRAPHY; CYPRESS FALLS: JOSH NV

6

5

Drop Anchor

Horseshoe Bay’s Olive and Anchor (6148 Bay St., oliveandanchor.com) was an honourable mention for Best North Shore in Vancouver magazine’s 2017 Restaurant Awards and is well worth the trip. Chef Lisa Kim offers a diverse menu—everything from brioche French toast with mascarpone to Korean bibimbap—to accompany the view in this casual location.

2423 Marine Drive, West Vancouver | 604.922.1155 | feastdining.ca

Feast is part of the neighbourhood and we believe in fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Join us every Saturday for The Neighbourhood Nights, DJ 9 til late.

1457 Bellevue Avenue, West Vancouver | 604.925.8333 Four Seasons Hotel, 791 Georgia Street, Vancouver | 604.682.1158

STITTGEN.COM

10+

ICE CRE AM FLIGHTS F T W

One of the hardest decisions you’ll ever make at the ice-cream counter is being faced with a window of flavours and having to commit to just one. That’s why we love North Van’s new sweet kid on the block, Welcome Parlour Ice Cream (227 E 8th St., welcomeparlour.com), because they offer four-flavour tasting flights (thanks, craft beer craze!) of their rotating natural concoctions—so you don’t have to choose.

THINGS TO DO IN

NORTH VANCOUVER BEHIND ALL THE high-rises that make up Vancouver’s skyline, the North Shore mountains tower like a gateway to Vancouver’s wild backyard. Whenever we’re tired of city crowds, we turn to North Vancouver as a perfect escape. Whether you’re hankering for a view-top hike followed by some vegan bites or yearning for a peaceful spot to enjoy some chocolate pastries and coffee, everything you’re looking for is on the North Shore. BY Gabrielle Lukusta

2

Night Walk on the Cliffs

1

A time-honoured stop for locals of all ages, take your time exploring the 137-metre Capilano Suspension Bridge (3735 Capilano Rd., capbridge.com), as well as the suspended walkways through the trees in this nature park. Pro tip: If you head over after 5 p.m., you’ll skip the crowds and get 30 percent off your ticket (full price for an adult is $42.95) between May 20 and Labour Day. Grab a made-in-North Van Bridge Brewing pale ale at the Logger’s Grill before hitting the Cliff walk for a lights-out evening stroll along the hanging cliff-face path.

Pizza, Please!

HEARTHSTONE BREWERY: DUNCAN JOSEPH

For a primo slice of pie, we recommend the Salsiccia from the warm and inviting Il Castello Pizzeria (119 E 2nd St., ilcastellopizzeria.com).

Think smoked onion sauce, smoked provolone, Italian fennel sausage and kale.

(Almost healthy, right?)

Try to score a seat where you can admire your pizza rising and bubbling in the custom wood-fired oven.

For Nifty Gifties

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In Lower Lonsdale (that’s LoLo for short) Mo’s General Store (51 Lonsdale Ave., mosgeneralstore .com) is the browse-friendly stop for everything from beard oil to cast iron pans. Shelves are stocked with a curated selection of local products staff have tested and loved themselves—bottled laundry soap, wood-carved candle trays, your new favourite coffee maker. Plus, they make custom gift packages wrapped in hip Cumberland Company crates.

Beer Crawl

Kick off a roving beer quest at Hearthstone Brewery (1015 Marine Dr., hearthstonebrewery.ca) with their tropical Berliner Wyld Lychee. Next, walk or bike downhill to Black Kettle Brewing Company (720 Copping St., blackkettlebrewing.com) to sip their White IPA, a dry-hopped wheat ale with notes of orange and fruity hops. Then head over to Green Leaf Brewing Company (123 Carrie Cates Ct., greenleafbrew.com) in Lonsdale Quay for their Black Currant Sour—as it's the year of sours, after all.

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5 Drop the traditional bar and scoop one of the über-popular chocolate cups from Coconama Chocolate (264 E 1st St., coconama.com). Filled with colourful (pink, yellow, green!) chocolate squares, these sweets have a mouth-watering smooth texture and come in a smattering of coveted flavours—try their signature truff les in salted caramel, or local fave, matcha. They also host workshops so you can learn how to make these delicious treats at home.

Coffee Crush

Moja Coffee (1412 Rupert St., mojacoffee.com) is the little gem now supplying their coffee to big chains like Terra Breads and the Four Seasons hotels, but they’ve stayed true to their North Vancouver roots. If you can handle the jolt, go for their house espresso straight up, paired with treats from Vancouver’s own The Lemon Square. And grab a bag of single-origin beans to brew at home when you hit Moja withdrawal.

7 Moja Coffee

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Tasty Night Out

Move over, Richmond: North Vancouver’s own Shipyards Night Market (15 Wallace Mews Rd., northshoregreenmarkets.com) rivals those of other suburbs, with live music, food trucks and a beer garden. Things get under way on Fridays at 5 p.m. from May to September at Shipbuilders’ Square, setting you up for the perfect time and place to watch the sunset while enjoying tasty food-truck bites.

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Sweet Vegan

What do you get when you combine a mother’s dream to open a bakery and a daughter’s celiac diagnosis?

A 100-percent gluten-free artisan vegan bakery like Two Daughters Bakeshop (121 E 1st St., twodaughtersbakeshop.ca).

It’s food-sensitivity friendly, but most people just come for highquality treats. Try one of their chocolate peppermint sandwich cookies or vegan Nanaimo bars.

Grab the Picnic Basket

Time to pull out that picnic basket and head south of Deep Cove to Cates Park (4141 Dollarton Hwy., dnv.org). This park offers tons of grass to picnic on and trees for stealing some shade, and we like that it’s not as tourist-busy as kayak-central Deep Cove. There’s also a beach if you’re interested in taking a dip. Alternatively, go for a walk among the totem poles.

E YE OF THE WIND: DAVE DELNEA

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Taste the Rainbow

New Heights

Getting to the peak of a mountain is thrilling, but we’ll go you one further.

Take the $15 elevator ride to the top of the Eye of the Wind turbine (11 Alpine Trl., grousemountain.com) to get the best 360-degree view atop Grouse (with no trees in the way!). It’s the only turbine in the world visitors can go inside to see heart-stopping vistas from their own viewPOD station— complete with massive rotating blades.

#Vanmagram

Tag your photos #vanmagram for a chance to be featured.

Every day our readers submit amazing snapshots from neighbourhoods across Vancouver. Here are some of our favourites! by Maansi Pandya

South Granville

The prism mural near 7th Avenue and Granville (all brushwork by local artist Milan Basic) comes to life in this @neverbadtimefor changes shot.

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Railtown

Reader @ryanmolag captures a quiet morning view of the Railtown train tracks in the northern fringe of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Hastings-Sunrise

It’s the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge from a whole new perspective.

And, according to submitter @wiz_kenifa, it’s a great spot to check out the sunset.

Kits Beach

Once the sun comes out in Vancouver, there’s only one place we want to be. Instagrammer @wonderful_ida got the moment just right.

IN-STUDIO SHOP NOW OPEN MON - FRI / 9-5 341 WATER STREET VANCOUVER obakki.com

P R O UDLY CANADIA N SIN C E 1 8 8 9

North Vancouver, BC capbridge.com