People exploring Gastown in the fall, autumn
There’s no better way to discover Vancouver’s hidden gems than slipping on your walking shoes. Vancouver is made up of a diverse mosaic of vibrant neighbourhoods, from boutique shopping and one-of-a-kind restaurants to seaside strolling and public gardens. Walk, don’t run! It’s time to discover Vancouver on foot in our Walkable City weekend.
Day One
GASTOWN
Located conveniently downtown, Gastown is known for its historic buildings and streets, independent retailers, and as a culinary highlight of the city. Start your day with a coffee at Milano and spend the morning browsing the many local clothing and gift boutiques. Put down your shopping bags and find a seat on the streetside patio at the Water Street Cafe for a glass of wine and bite to eat.
Make a stop at the Coastal Peoples Gallery to see original work from Indigenous artists, including ceremonial masks, totem poles, bowls and rattles, bentwood boxes, basketry, paddles, original paintings, carvings, sculpture and handcrafted jewelry. Finish your day by dining at French-influenced West Coast restaurant L’Abattoir. The name pays homage to the history of the area, located in the site of Vancouver’s first jail, the 19th century building was originally buttressed to the city’s main butchery and meat packing district.
Gastown
Day Two
SOUTH GRANVILLE
Only five minutes from downtown by bus, the South Granville area of Vancouver is best experienced on foot. With blocks of small art galleries like Pacific Arts Market and street shopping ranging from local clothing stops to major home furnishing stores there’s no end to what you can explore.
Granville Island is only a ten minute walk from South Granville’s shopping district.
You can enjoy a lunch with a seaside view at The Sandbar, and from there stroll through the many streets of boutique shops and artist galleries in Railspur Alley. At the Granville Island Public Market, you can discover local delicacies and exciting new ingredients at stalls like South China Seas, or sign up for a Vancouver Foodie Tour for a fun guided experience and taste a little of everything. For an elevated end to your day, immerse yourself in the seafood-based cuisine of the West Coast by dining at The Vancouver Fish Company.
Enjoying Lee’s Donuts at Granville Island Public Market
Day Three
SOUTH MAIN STREET
Between 7th and 30th, Main Street (also known as Mount Pleasant) is a vibrant neighbourhood celebrated for its wealth of wonderful cafes and avante-garde restaurants as well as its proximity to local breweries. Stroll up the street and look in local shops and galleries. The Heritage Hall often has weekend craft fairs and other events. Sit outside on the street level patio and enjoy the latin street food-focused menu at El Camino’s, where you can sip on a classic margarita with your tacos and people watch.
Located close to many small breweries, if beer and bites are your thing you’ll need to make your way to Main Street Brewing to kick off your brewery tour and make a day of walking from brewery to brewery. For a locally-focused avante garde meal, make sure to add Burdock & Co. to the end of your day. A farm-to-table restaurant celebrating Northwest Coast cuisine, their inventive menu is guaranteed to delight and surprise your palate.
Photo Credit: COURTESY OF MAIN STREET BREWING
INSIDER TIPS
- You can hop aboard the either the False Creek Ferries or the Aquabus from Downtown to reach Granville Island
- If you like picnics, order your food to-go and hit Dude Chilling Park right off of Main Street at 7th and Brunswick Street to relax like a local. This favourite local neighbourhood park was renamed by residents after the sculpture (it looks just like a dude chilling!)
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