Granville Island crafts
Vancouver shopping is some of the best in the world. When my friends visit from the US or my in-laws come from Brazil, shopping is always at the top of our to-do lists, and that’s doubly true when the holidays are right around the corner!
The fabulous thing about Vancouver shopping is its incredibly diversity, with different Vancouver neighbourhoods offering different wares, ranging from the ultra-hip and fashionable to the inexpensive and eclectic.
Top 10 Vancouver Shopping Destinations
1. Robson Street & Downtown Vancouver – Vancouver’s most famous shopping district has all the international fashion brands, making it a perfect destination for clothes, accessories, shoes, and bags. There’s also a huge variety of shops just off Robson, including book stores, electronics, discount and outlet shops, Pacific Centre Mall, the designer-packed Holt Renfrew and the ultimate Canadian department store The Bay. One block south you’ll find more high-end wares on Alberni Street, Vancouver’s version of Rodeo Drive.
2. Metropolis at Metrotown – With 450 stores, this shopping behemoth is B.C.’s largest shopping centre and it’s just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver by SkyTrain.
3. South Granville - One of my personal favourites, South Granville is the up-and-coming Vancouver shopping district, with loads of independent clothing boutiques, one-of-a-kind home stores (as well as big-names, like B.C.’s only Williams-Sonoma), and Vancouver’s greatest concentration of commercial art galleries, earning it the moniker Gallery Row.
4. Gastown – Not only is Gastown the epicentre for interior design in Vancouver—exemplified by the internationally-acclaimed Inform—it’s also one of the best places to find independent Vancouver fashion, First Nations art (at the Coastal Peoples Fine Art Gallery), antiques, and gorgeous gifts (try the reasonably-priced Parliament).
5. Main Street, between 20th & 23rd Avenue – Another personal favourite, Main Street has made a name for itself by offering a variety of original Vancouver and Canadian fashion boutiques—Twigg&Hottie is a must-visit—as well as high-quality second-hand wares, collectibles (at Front & Company), and antiques.
6. Little India / Punjabi Market – The commecial centre of Vancouver’s Indo-Canadian community, this shopping mini-mecca has gorgeous Indian fashion, beautiful beaded bags, loads of jewelry—both real and costume—housewares, and fabulous fabrics.
7. Chinatown – From inexpensive Chinese imports to high-concept China-chic housewares (check out Peking Lounge), Chinatown has everything: jewelry, clothes, toys, art, Chinese-language books and DVDs, herbal medicines, tea accessories, and more.
8. Granville Island - One of the best places to shop for gifts, Granville Island has a wide variety of shops, including handmade arts and crafts via artists’ workshops and co-ops, First Nations art and collectibles, clothing and jewelry, and everything-for-kids (and the young at heart) at the Granville Island Kids Market.
9. Kitsilano’s West 4th Avenue – The original home of the now world-famous Lululemon, Kits’ West 4th is a the perfect shopping destination for sports- and yoga-wear, sports equipment, maternity fashion, baby stores, clothes, housewares, and kitsch.
10. Portobello West – An art and fashion market that’s only open on the last Sunday of every month, this Vancouver institution has become a hot-spot for unique, local wares, including clothes, crafts, jewelry, and gifts.
Think I missed a great Vancouver shopping destination? Or have a favourite shopping spot you’d like to share? Please share in the comments!
12:00 pm
MINT Interiors is pleased to announce that the company’s first retail store is now open in Vancouver’s newest shopping area, the Armoury District.
MINT Interiors is an innovative home furnishings company making a name with unique furniture and objects from around the globe. MINT Interiors is the only store in Vancouver, BC to carry the Trove line of photographic wallpaper. Among other items they carry that rate highly for originality and beauty are tables that echo the animal world, Italian modernist cuckoo clocks, glass lamps by Les Heritiers, and textiles from Aviva Stanoff.
Rien Sharma, Co-owner of MINT Interiors with Michael McNamara, states, “The Armoury District emerged as a cutting edge design area after the recession in 2009, when several vacant storefronts opened up beside East India Carpets on 2nd Avenue between Fir and Pine. Now there are over 10 shops in the district offering a fantastic array of items for the home. When we were searching for a location for MINT Interiors, this district was the first to come to mind. With our truly unique product line, we wanted to be located in the center of this up and coming area for innovative interior design and home furnishings.”
This historic area has housed creative individuals for many years, from the studios at Armoury Recording Studios and Nettwerk Music Group to well-known architects. The next home furnishings company to move into the Armoury District will be Living Space Interiors, relocating from the Main St area in 2011.
“The neighborhood has started to evolve as a place filling up with a group of creative and design driven people,” said Kelly Deck, Director of Kelly Deck Design and host of HGTV’s “Take it Outside” design series. “Vancouver is hungry for more unique furnishings and MINT Interiors has fabulous unique pieces.”
MINT Interiors retail outlet is open to the public and caters to designers and shoppers who are seeking to create homes that reflect their individuality. MINT Interiors’ address is 1805 Fir Street (at West 2nd Avenue). Hours are Monday to Friday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Sunday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm. Please visit the store and discover our wide array of furnishings that capture the imagination. Visit our website at http://www.mintinteriors.ca.
8:36 pm
If I got to Vancouver I will go anywhere at all.
Pingback: South Granville listed in Tourism Vancouver’s Top 10 Vancouver Shopping Destinations | South Granville
10:04 am
We are planning a shopping trip to Vancouver and I am just wondering where the best place is to stay that is close to most of these shopping areas??
thanks,
Paula
12:30 pm
Paula,
Anywhere you stay in downtown Vancouver will be close to several of these (Robson St., Chinatown, Gastown, etc.) and close to public transit/SkyTrain which can take you to the rest. (All destinations are within 20 minutes of downtown by car, except Metropolis at Metrotown, which is 15 minutes by SkyTrain.)
If you’re coming in January, check out the great Dine Out hotel deals: Hotel Deals During Dine Out 2011.