Posted by Canada’s west coast metropolis, with its stunning waterways and surrounded by soaring mountains, Vancouver easily ranks up there with some of the world’s prettiest and most livable cities. Whilst it’s a big and bustling city, it also offers that friendly and laidback character that Canadian’s are so well known for.
If you must start your day with a good coffee, Gastown is the heart of the city’s coffee culture, home to many a great roaster. Daytime adventures offer a smorgasbord of outdoorsy activities, with Stanley Park, Granville Island or chilled Kitsilano Beach all easily accessible, whilst longer day trips offer the chance to explore much more of the surrounding landscapes.
At night, the city’s buzzing precincts like Gastown and Yaletown offer a thriving dining and drinking scene, made all the more invigorating by the diverse ethnic population that has been drawn to Vancouver. Chinatown is also a lively nightlife locale, especially for creative cocktail bars. For a more local buzz, just a ten-minute drive from downtown, the South Main and Mt Pleasant neighbourhoods reveal a more eclectic Vancouver, with small bars, craft breweries and vintage stores.
Expect it to rain if you’re visiting in winter (or even summer), but don’t let that put you off your explorations, as this is a city that just gets on with things, regardless of what mother nature is providing.
This Guide to Vancouver was updated in June 2025.
Just Coffee..
Revolver Espresso | 325 Cambie St, Gastown
Rustic hipster coffee shop with all the right looks and moves, the coffee is some of the best in town, but it’s also a great place to simply hang out. Revolver Espresso
Nelson The Seagull | 315 Carrall St, Gastown
A bakery and coffee house with a very chilled vibe, it’s quite a large space so is well placed for a break from the hustle and bustle, where there’s space to sit down and reflect over a good coffee. Nelson The Seagull
Timbertrain Coffee Roasters | 311 W Cordova St, Gastown
This cute café is housed in a historic building, the room is flooded with light from oversized windows and offers snazzy little booths to sink into whilst sipping some truly excellent coffee. Timbertrain Coffee Roasters
Buro Espresso | 579 Robson St, Downtown
With four venues sprinkled around the city, Buro has a loyal following of caffeine lovers. This outlet is rather compact but offers good coffee in a part of town that lacks many other decent caffeine options. Buro Espresso
Elysian Coffee | 1100 Burrard St, Downtown
A tight menu of modern café fare and top notch coffee is the draw at this small, stylish café. There are also a couple of other Elysian outlets around town. Elysian Coffee
Matchstick | 1305 Davie St, West End & 1328 Richards St, Yaletown
This small local collection of chic coffee stores serves excellent coffee, plus tea and maccha too. They also offer a concise brunch and sandwich menu, though the coffee rather than the food is the highlight here. There are five outlets in total around the city. Matchstick
Viva | 1555 Yew St, Kitsilano
A bright, breezy coffee house with a street-side deck, serving really good coffee plus bakery treats including pastries, wraps and baguettes. Viva
Breakfast & Brunch…
Medina | 780 Richards St, Downtown
Centrally located, this large and elegant café dishes up sensational food and is suitably super busy and bustling (there’s a good chance you will need to wait to get in). The breakfast menu has a balanced blend of modern and traditional dishes, spanning cuisines that include French and Northern African. Feast on a simple brunch like the La Sainte (a soft-boiled egg with marinated tomato, olive tapenade and avocado) to something more complex like a rich cassoulet. If you’re craving something sweet, waffles are one of their specialties, and you have to love a 9-11am happy hour when Bellini’s and the like are flowing. Medina
Jam Café | 556 Beatty St, Downtown
Jam is a beloved spot with a cult-like following, often drawing lines down the street before opening time. The extensive menu offers Southern-inspired comfort food, including seven types of Eggs Benedict, waffles, pancakes and other sweet things. Portions are generous, and the rustic, cozy atmosphere adds to its undeniable charm. They also have two other locations in Vancouver. Jam Café
Purebread | 5 E 5th Ave, Mt Pleasant
As soon as you step foot into the smartly renovated warehouse the beautiful aromas will seduce you first, followed by the visual seduction from their display cabinets overflowing with all sorts of decadent baked goods – from sweet to savoury and everything in between. Think artisan loaves of bread, cakes, scones and brownies to name just a few of the temptations on offer here. They make a pretty decent coffee too. Purebread
Kits Beach Coffee | 1945 Cornwall Ave, Kitsilano Beach
The permanent home of what started as a seasonal coffee cart by the beach, Kits offers a relaxed, beachy vibe with cozy outdoor seating and community features like a noticeboard and equitable library. Their brunch menu is small but satisfyingly sufficient, featuring granola bowls, breakfast sandwiches, wraps and homemade baked goods. They roast their own coffee and brew teas using local ingredients. Kits Beach Coffee
Go Fish | 1505 W 1st Ave, Granville Island
This basic fish shack at Fisherman’s Wharf, just near Granville Island, turns out uncomplicated, fresh, simply delicious fish & chips and other seafood options. A relaxed, happy place for when you just need good seafood.
Lunch & Dinner…
Homer St. Café & Bar | 898 Homer St, Downtown
This elegant restaurant features a variety of separate dining rooms (plus a leafy patio) that have been intricately decorated in ‘vintage chic’ style, with a beautiful mix of rustic timbers, polished tiles and ornate lighting. The elevated homestyle fare will take many back to their childhood dining, though the quality is way fancier than you’d ever get back in the day – with freshly shucked oysters, the juiciest rotisserie chicken and a range of lovely sides. The wine list is long, covering North American and European wine regions. Homer St. Café & Bar
Bartholomew | 1026 Mainland St, Yaletown
This wine bar offers an elegant, welcoming ambiance with moody decor and flickering candlelight. The long, narrow room features a lengthy bar, cozy booths, and impressive wine racks that stretch up the walls and across the ceiling. The menu boasts a sharp selection of BC and international wines, house cocktails inspired by cities around the world, and delicious bites like charcuterie (including four types of salumi), bison tartare, and cast-iron garlic prawns. Perfect for a sophisticated evening, whether you’re sampling their charcuterie or indulging in heartier plates, along with good wine of course. Bartholomew
Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie | 163 Keefer St, Chinatown
Bao Bei blends Taiwanese and Chinese roots with a modern, global twist. The dining space oozes cool – think Shanghai vintage meets laid-back minimalism. Kick things off with a sharp cocktail and handmade dumplings, then dive into a short, flavour-packed menu of spicy share plates. The wine list is small but spot-on. With a buzzing front bar, sleek banquette seating, and warm service, it’s a chic, vibrant spot that nails casual sophistication. Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie
Water St. Cafe | 300 Water St, Gastown
On a prominent Gastown corner in a lovely heritage building, this crowd pleasing restaurant has been feeding hungry diners since 1988, dishing up heartwarming classic fare with an Italian bent (though the menu goes broader than just Italian). It’s a bustling place, suited for either a quick meal or something more lingering. Upstairs is 2nd Floor Gastown, their live music and performance venue. Water St. Cafe
Pourhouse | 162 Water St, Gastown
The darkened windows do not reveal the fun and frivolity happening inside Pourhouse, so you’ll have to step inside to truly soak in the atmosphere. It’s rustic, dark and noisy, but there’s an immediate warm embrace when you arrive at this English style gastro-pub. The bill of fare offers classic pub food including steaks, burgers and poutine fries. There’s also a better than expected wine list, including some very quaffable Canadian drops. Pourhouse
Social Corner | 891 Homer St, Downtown
The vast, grand space with soaring ceilings, eye-catching lighting and decadent interiors will grab your attention first. Offering a distinct Mediterranean experience, the menu crosses from Italian to Spanish fare effortlessly, with pizza and pasta, tapas and paella all offered side by side. The wine list is not overly long, but it has a broad selection of international varietals to choose from, with wines by the glass available in a generous 8oz serve if you are really thirsty. Whilst the food is quite lovely, it’s also a great spot for a drink at the bar, if only to soak in the indulgent decor and atmosphere. Social Corner
Rodney’s Oyster House | 1228 Hamilton St, Yaletown
This cool seafood joint offers all the right ingredients; a huge selection of oysters (with eight different sauce accompaniments), cocktail prawns, totally desirable chowders, mussels and clams, plus a broad menu of other seafood favourites. The compact wine list spans the world and includes local drops from the Okanagan region, whilst cocktails are served liberally. Sit at the bar if you want to watch the theatre of the shucking, a buzzy (and at times a little rowdy) atmosphere and the maritime themed decor adds to the charm. Rodney’s Oyster House
Mott 32 | 1161 W Georgia St, Coal Harbour
Mott 32 is a lavish dining experience, celebrating Chinese culture and culinary excellence. The elegant, Old Shanghai-inspired décor sets a dark and moody tone, perfect for indulging in a long menu of dumplings, seafood, meats, and noodles, all rich and deep in flavour. The extensive wine list, including a Coravin system for premium wine by the glass, offers global selections with ample champagne and sake options. It’s an expensive, splash-out meal destination ideal for special occasions. This Vancouver outpost is part of a growing global chain, founded with the mothership venue in Hong Kong. Mott 32
Capo & The Spritz | 350 Davie St, Yaletown
Attached to the OPUS Hotel, Capo offers homely Italian comfort fare in an elegant yet casual setting. The menu doesn’t stray too far from the classics, featuring antipasto, hearty pasta and around eight pizzas with both traditional and more contemporary topping options. The wines are mostly Italian and French. Capo & The Spritz
Tacofino Ocho | 8 E 5th Ave, Mt Pleasant
Part of a collection of very successful Mexican restaurants around Vancouver, Tacofino Ocho seamlessly blends bar and restaurant vibe in the hip Mt Pleasant enclave. Its décor offers a clean, modern industrial aesthetic, the energy is noisy and fun. They offer a simple menu of Mexican favourites prepared with precision, there’s a small starters section, but tacos are the stars and they are generous with zingy flavours. Drinking wise, you can’t go past a margarita, either classic or with a Tacofino twist, Mexican beers in the bottle or a revolving roster of local craft brews, and if vino is your drop of choice, there’s a tightly curated selection of four. Tacofino Ocho
LOCAL Public Eatery | 2210 Cornwall Ave, Kitsilano
Opposite Kitsilano beach you’ll find this spacious open bar and restaurant with a sunny alfresco deck and relaxed sports bar vibe. There’s a broad menu of classic tavern style fare that spans Latin American and Asian cuisines, and burgers, sandwiches and salads are all included in the offering if something simple is more appealing. A long cocktail list offers plenty of choices, plus all your favourite craft beers and other adult beverages are available. LOCAL Public Eatery
Drinks…
The Keefer Bar | 135 Keefer St, Chinatown
In the midst of Vancouver’s Chinatown is this moody, apothecary inspired bar known for its masterfully crafted cocktails. With a long drinks list, including over twenty-five cocktails, sake, beer, and wine, there’s something for everyone. The convivial atmosphere is perfect for enjoying dim sum snacks while DJs spin tunes. It’s a favourite for those seeking complex and interesting drinks in a laid-back setting. The Keefer Bar
Laowai | 251 E Georgia St, Chinatown
Laowai nails the hidden speakeasy vibe, secreted behind a street-side dumpling joint (where you’ll need to place the secret dumpling order to gain entry to the bar). Inside, it’s all dark glamour: a narrow, moody space with a long bar and sultry horseshoe booths. The cocktail menu’s a full-on book, each drink tied to a Chinese invention. Bold ingredients abound, so ask your bartender for advice before diving in, especially with drinks using strong-aroma Baijiu, a type of Chinese liquor, known for its intense and complex flavours (it can be a little intense!). Their dumplings are juicy and rich, with killer picks like cumin lamb and zhong pork. Laowai
Bagheera | 518 Main St, Chinatown
Bagheera hides behind a betting shop; guess the right horse, and a secret door opens to a lavish, train-carriage-style den. Inspired by Rudyard Kipling’s stories, the cocktail menu is a wild ride – beautifully illustrated, complex, and bold. The space feels like colonial-era India, with a curved ceiling, rich details, and moody charm. Small curries and pakoras are available for sustenance. From the same team as Laowai, it offers a similar secretive spirit, but a totally different adventure. Bagheera
Prophecy | 800 W Georgia St, Downtown
Tucked under the Hotel Georgia, Prophecy is all about mood, stories, and killer cocktails. Their cocktail menu is packed with complex flavours, split into fun categories like herbaceous or lush. Every drink’s got a backstory and a dramatic flair. The space nails that dark, romantic vibe – cool art, cozy lounge seats, and a long bar for chatting up the bartenders. It used to be a sanctuary for Vancouver’s elite-set, now it’s just a cool place for all to hang. Prophecy
Clough Club | 212 Abbott St, Gastown
A petite bar with an old-time look and feel, it’s rather relaxed, with a short but sharp cocktail list and a strong craft beer focus (the wine selection is rather basic though). Midweek it’s more chilled, weekends get rowdier and they offer live music on Friday & Saturday nights. Clough Club
The Alibi Room | 157 Alexander St, Gastown
Located in a quiet corner of Gastown, craft beer lovers are spoilt for choice at The Alibi Room, with over 40 taps offering an ever-evolving selection of crafty brews, accompanied by a hearty tavern style menu that highlights local produce. The room is rustic and welcoming, with high ceilings, timber floors, exposed brick walls and a warm buzz from the happy drinkers. The Alibi Room
Yaletown Brewing Company | 1111 Mainland St, Yaletown
A vast bar, restaurant and brewery, the bar section is warm and inviting, with rich red banquettes and an open fireplace, plus an alfresco drinking patio. Befitting its brewery status, there’s an extensive list of beers on tap. This place gets quite lively on a weekend, attracting quite a diverse crowd of locals and tourists alike. Yaletown Brewing Company
The Shameful Tiki Room | 4362 Main St, South Main
Step into a dark cave-like room and you’ll be transported to the South Pacific, as they’ve not held back on the Tiki theme in the décor, the music, the drinks or even the food. The cocktails are flamboyantly over the top, with naturally a large selection of rum based concoctions, though other spirits are well featured too. In tune with the theme, there’s also a few theatrical surprises at The Shameful Tiki Room, but you’ll have to visit to find out what they are for yourself. Reservations are recommended. The Shameful Tiki Room
The Narrow Lounge | 1898 Main St, Mt Pleasant
A little hipster bar on South Main, the obscure entry is marked only by a feint red light that leads you to an unsigned door. Inside, your eyes may take a moment to adjust to the darkness, with dim lamps and flickering candles lighting the narrow room, perfect framing for the hunting lodge style decor, which includes taxidermy on the walls. The blackboard menu offers mainly classic cocktails, craft beers and just three options for wine. As simple as this sounds, it still makes for a lovely bar that you may easily find yourself lingering in for hours. The Narrow Lounge
La Fabrique St-George Winery | 7 E 7th Ave, Mt Pleasant
An urban winery housed in a spacious contemporary styled warehouse, serving their own natural wines with grapes grown in BC’s Okanagan Valley. Some of the wines are made onsite in traditional Georgian Qvevri (clay winemaking vessels) – the offering generally only runs to 5 or 6 drops, as they change up the selection as they run out of each variety. Order a wine flight, create your own picnic platter from their deli selection of cheese, charcuterie and breads, and settle in for a chilled afternoon of indulgence. They do host regular ticketed events, so call ahead to check they are open for walk-ins. La Fabrique St-George Winery
Must Do…
Stanley Park
This huge 400 hectare park is more akin to an urban forest, with lagoons, hiking trails and much more. Due to its size, the best way to explore is by bike (weather permitting), but walking is still good if you have plenty of time. The seaside walk that winds around the edge of the park is a flat and easy stroll, though it’s over 8km long if you do the entire walk. Some of the inland trails offer a more strenuous challenge. Signage and maps inside the park are not great, so take a map or your smartphone. There are cafes and other facilities in the park, but many of these are closed if you’re visiting in winter. Stanley Park
Mt Pleasant Craft Brewery Crawl | Along Ontario St, Mt Pleasant
Take a leisurely stroll along leafy Ontario St in the pretty neighbourhood of Mt Pleasant, and drop into three of Vancouver’s convivial craft breweries, each one offering a very different take on craft beer. Starting at Faculty Brewing Co., this small and unassuming brewery keeps things simple, where sitting in the tight tasting room allows you to virtually reach out and touch the vats that your brew has come from. Next stop is Electric Bicycle Brewing, a tiny yet colourful tasting room that echoes the bright and quirky designs on their beer cans – and their brews are equally as creative, tending to lean more towards big fruity flavours. Just up the road you’ll find R&B Ale & Pizza House, with a retro-chic interior and a sunny pavement seating area (when the sun is out!), offering the usual craft brewery options from small tastings to growler size bottles, plus substantial snacks including pizza and sandwiches. Finish this urban adventure at 33 Acres Brewing Company, one of the more stylish and refined craft breweries in Vancouver, with polished concrete floors and bright white brick walls, they offer a large selection of tap brews (which can be bottled for takeaway) and a pleasing food menu too.
Fly Over Canada | 201-999 Canada Pl, Financial District
A very cool virtual 3D experience, strap yourself in and imagine you are flying over Canada’s incredible and diverse landscapes. The 8 minute movie includes 18 scenes from across the country, taking you over Canadian icons including Niagara Falls, The Rocky Mountains and Vancouver Island, plus across prairie’s, forests, fjords, snow fields and major cities. An ideal rainy-day activity! Fly Over Canada
Where to Stay…
Vancouver’s city centre is compact enough and very walkable, so whichever part of town you are staying in, it’s still easy enough to get about and see all the popular sights. These hotel recommendations are all quite central, so you’ll find plenty of restaurants, bars and attractions on your doorstep. Note that Vancouver hotels can be rather pricey (even compared to cities like NYC), especially in summer when they fill up with cruise ship passengers on pre and post cruise stays.
EXchange Hotel Vancouver | 475 Howe St, Downtown
On the site of the old Vancouver Stock Exchange building, the historic façade has been retained but behind it you’ll discover a modern and elegant boutique style hotel. The rooms range from compact to spacious, with plush interiors, marble bathrooms and extremely welcoming beds. If downtown Vancouver is where you want to be, the EXchange beats the big-box chain hotels for style and substance. EXchange Hotel Vancouver
OPUS Vancouver | 322 Davie St, Yaletown
In the heart of fashionable Yaletown, OPUS is a pleasant boutique hotel with a little dash of character and a lot of warmth. Though twenty years old now, the colourful rooms have been well maintained, offering plentiful natural light and providing a cosy space to base yourself close to all the action – and some have small outdoor terraces for fresh air. There is a small but lively bar and Italian diner Capo just off the lobby. OPUS Vancouver
The Sutton Place Hotel | 845 Burrard St, Downtown
This well-located upscale hotel hits a sweet spot – refined but not stuffy, elegant yet welcoming. Downtown and within equal walking distance to popular locales like Coal Harbour and Yaletown, the location is ideal. Rooms are spacious with luxe walk-in showers and insanely comfy beds. It’s a little older, but beautifully maintained with a classy mix of old-world charm and modern perks. Service is sharp, and the on-site Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar makes staying in totally worth it. Great value for upscale digs. The Sutton Place Hotel
The Burrard | 1100 Burrard St, Downtown
Close to Davie Village, an older motel property that’s had a fun retro makeover, the rooms are quite sparkly and bright, super clean and more than comfortable for a very reasonable price. The rooms overlooking Burrard St can get noisy, so ask for a back room. There’s a chilled garden courtyard in the middle of the complex and Elysian Coffee on the ground floor. The Burrard
Hilton Vancouver Downtown | 433 Robson St, Downtown
A modern, upscale hotel with spacious rooms and all the amenities you’d expect in a five-star Hilton. What it lacks in character it makes up in comfort and the convenient location which is central enough that you can walk to all of Vancouver’s best neighbourhoods and attractions. Yaletown is just a few blocks away, whilst Gastown is no more than a ten minute walk. Hilton Vancouver Downtown
Travis’ Wish List…
Because there’s always more eating, dining and exploring than can be done in just one visit, Travis likes to keep a wish list so there’s an incentive to visit again.
Vancouver’s dining scene is vibrant and ever changing, so there’s always an enticing array of restaurants that we’ve got on our radar, starting with Hawksworth Restaurant and its more casual sibling, Nightingale, whilst Gastown’s Bar Tartare and Savio Volpe in Mt Pleasant also take our fancy. And when we’re in the mood for Michelin starred dining, we’ll be making reservations for St. Lawrence.
For drinks, we’ll be quenching our thirst at The Boxcar, The Stock Room and Parallel 49 Brewing Company amongst others.
Featured Photo: ‘A-maze-ing Laughter’ – Morton Park, West End
Travis. 