eat & drink
Aphrodities
Fresh, Local, Organic food. Known for their amazing pies! Grab Brunch or Lunch here. A HUGE Kitsilano local favourite spot! (Exclusive Pie shop on the other side of the street)
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photo credit: tripadvisor
The Cove
Pub food with a West Coast Feel, our neighbourhood pub. Save this for a casual evening or a quick bite after a long day on the beach!
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photo credit: thecovepub.ca
Brekka
Amazing fresh bakery located right in our neighbourhood! The great part about this bakery, is it is open 24/7!
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photo credit: zomato
Grounds for Coffee
We had to put this on the list as the cinnamon buns here are
to DIE for!
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photo credit: loneroosetraveller.wordpress.com
Sophies Cosmic Cafe
Another local favourite diner! You’ll notice Sophie’s has a large line up on the weekend mornings. Great local vibe with a cute patio and friendly staff.
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photo credit: chowtimes.com
The Local
Lots of local, craft beer to taste here! Right across the street from
Kits Beach! Great patio (and sangria).
Fable
Farm to table restaurant gathering ingredients from local places to make delicious and unique Canadian dishes.
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photo credit: shermansfoodadventures.com
Maenam
Authentic Thai Cuisine with great cocktails
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photo credit: travels.nytimes.com
Nook
Pasta, Pizza and great wine!
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photo credit: followmefoodie.com
The Naam
One of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in the city. Local
artists play live music Sunday-Thursday from 7-10 PM
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photo credit: tryhiddengems.com
Sushi Bella
Very yummy sushi in Vancouver along West 4 th ! Try the shitake
mushroom roll (trust us)
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photo credit: dinehere.ca
Salam Bombay
Great Indian food along Alberni street in the heart of the city.
Make sure to order the garlic naan and Alu Chaat appetizer.
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photo credit: shermansfoodadventures.com
Brooklyn Pizza on Robson Street
Farm to table restaurant gathering ingredients from local places to make delicious and unique Canadian dishes.
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photo credit: shermansfoodadventures.com
Nicli
Gastown restaurant that has some great thin crust pizza
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photo credit: followmefoodie.com
Minami
Great Yaletown Sushi along Mainland Street
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photo credit: tangoo.ca
Miku
Great sushi in a great location, right by Canada Place – one of the best in the city!
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photo credit: chowtimes.com
Acorn
Award winning veggie forward eatery and bar focusing on imaginative, seasonal plates and cocktails!
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photo credit: theacornrestaurant.ca
Fish Counter
Great seafood restaurant using sustainable sources!
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photo credit: vancouverisawesome.com
Splitz
Great burger joint (lots of options for everyone- even the non meat
lovers)
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photo credit: main411.ca
Le Marché St.George
is a general store, a café, an occasional event space, and a home! Lovely café with a major Vancouver neighbourhood feel! Check
it out for sure.
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photo credit: meltingbutter.com
Chickpea
Plant based Israeli food made by a couple of friends joined by the
love of food with a mixture of travel. Look out for the Chickpea food truck as well on the weekends.
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photo credit: trpadvisor
East is East
Indian and South Asian infused flavours. Great atmosphere and
décor. Our tip: get a bunch of different dishes to share with your group
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photo credit: dinehere.ca
Chickpea
Plant based Israeli food made by a couple of friends joined by the
love of food with a mixture of travel. Look out for the Chickpea food truck as well on the weekends.
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photo credit: trpadvisor
East is East
Indian and South Asian infused flavours. Great atmosphere and
décor. Our tip: get a bunch of different dishes to share with your group
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photo credit: dinehere.ca
The Reef
infused flavours of the Caribbean. If you’re into flavourful West
Indian curries, this is a spot to go!
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photo credit: shermansfoodadventures.com
Portland Craft
The best Beverages the Pacific North West has to offer
(inspired by the food scene in Portand)
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photo credit: tripadvisor.com
Arbor
Local, real food made vegetarian, vegan and plant based. Everything
(including Ketchup and Mustard) is made in house!
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photo credit: vanmag.com
El Camino
Great Latin American brunch spot and awesome happy hour
specials!
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photo credit: quiet.ly
Anh and Chi
Traditional, authentic Vietnamese cuisine (Award winning
restaurant)
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photo credit: http://westernliving.ca
Nomad
Chic Restaurant with pacific North west Cuisine!
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photo credit: scoutmagazine.ca
Shameful Tiki
Burgoo
Southern Comfort Food with a homestyle vibe
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photo credit: vancitynoms.com
Savio Volpe
An Amazing Italian restaurants Everything is prepared in the simplest, most flavourful way; pasta is handmade fresh every day
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photo credit: dezeen.com
Zipang Sushi
High end sushi! Some of the best in the city (and Vancouver is
known for it’s sushi!)
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photo credit: Sherman's Food Adventures
Don’t Argue Pizza
Great Pizza!
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photo credit: vancouversun
Budgies Buritos
Great casual Mexican joint with something on the menu for everyone!
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photo credit: onthegrid.city
49th Parallel
One of the most famous coffee roasters in Vancouver. Incredible doughnuts! Try the “epic espresso” in an Americano with a sourdough doughnut! To die for.​​
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photo credit: 49thcoffee.com
Kafkas
Freshly brewed coffee and tasty pastries. Kafkas is serious about
coffee, with 3 different brew methods (pour, espresso, and syphon)
photo credit: sandypell.com
Gene Cafe
Dogs are welcome inside this hipster café
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photo credit: dezeen.com
Cafe Trafiq
(Main and 26 th ) known for it’s impressive sandwiches, selection of quiches and daily soups! Try a hot chocolate made with using a variety of imported chocolates
photo credit: sandypell.com
Luckys Doughnuts
Dogs are welcome inside this hipster café
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photo credit: dezeen.com
things to do
Stanley Park
Stanley Park is Vancouver’s and arguably North America’s largest park! You can walk or bike along the sea wall and around the entire park . Bike rental shops are located along Denman Street. Spokes bike rentals and Stanely Park Rentals are both great places to rent a bike from. Make sure to go to the look out at the viewpoint spot at Prospect Point. There are souvenir shops and a local pub as well up top. Watch out for racoons, they are a bit aggressive! Soak up the beaches, view points and amazing scenery. Highly recommend.
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photo credit: gayvan.com
Granville Island
Granville Island is an artist’s paradise. There is a local, public market with great fresh food to purchase and also an amazing food court! We recommend having a falafel wrap from Sprig Contemporary Greek Kitchen. Many boutiques and local art and fashion are found here. Music playing in the streets by talented buskers or musicians will be prevalent! Try a Granville island brewery beer and check out the improv shows at Theater Sports.
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photo credit: vancourier.com
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Originally built in 1889, Capilano Suspension Bridge stretches 450 feet (137m) across and 230 feet (70m) above Capilano River. Since 11 then much has been added to the twenty-seven acre park. CLIFFWALK is the park’s
newest attraction – a cantilevered walkway clinging to the granite cliff high above
Capilano Canyon. Treetops Adventure, seven suspension bridges through the evergreens taking you up to 100 feet (30m) above the forest floor, offers a unique squirrel’s eye perspective of the forest. Conquer your fear of heights and visit the
bridge!
photo credit: familyfuncanada.com
Grouse Mountain
Grouse Mountain is a local favourite mountain. From the base of the mountain, you can hike up (in Summer) or take the gondola ride up. Up top, the views of Vancouver are absolutely amazing! Hiking up is a huge accomplishment..... it’s about an hour- an hour and a half straight up depending on
your fitness level. Just remember to bring water and some good running
shoes/hiking shoes.
photo credit: grousemountain.com
Hop on, Hop Off Bus Tours
One of the best ways to see the city. You can use this
bus and hop on and off as you please along the route. There are a few different
companies running this sort of tour. Make sure to check them out at Canada Place or
outside the Vancouver Public Library on Robson Street (small kiosk in the summer).
photo credit: hop-on-hop-off-bus.com
Canada Place- Fly over Canada
Walk to Canada Place (an iconic National landmark) and check out Fly Over Canada (a 4D experience “flying over Canada” which will give you a great glimpse into the landscapes of Canada from East to West! Rides are $25 and occur every 15 minutes.
photo credit: tripadvisor.com
Vancouver Aquarium
Great kid friendly place! A sanctuary located in the heart of
Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium is home to thousands of incredible ocean
species and aquatic life.
photo credit: watercanada.net
Gastown
Home to the famous steam clock which was built in 1977, this well-known, antique-style clock is powered by steam & whistles to tell the time.
photo credit: creatorsvancouver.com
Kits Pool
Great kid friendly place! Kitsilano Pool is an amazing outdoor pool that operates in the Summer. It is MASSIVE and it overlooks Kits Beach (one of the nicest areas in Vancouver to hang out on a hot, summer day).
photo credit: tripadvisor.com
walking & biking trails
Pacific Spirit Park
Pacific Spirit Park is on the way to UBC (University of British Columbia) this park is located on University endowment land and has over 800 hectares of trees and forest with trails for many to enjoy.
photo credit: vancouvertrails.com
SHAW (MOBI) bike station
Bike Paths and walking paths are clearly marked. You can take these bike and walking paths all the way over to the Burrard street bridge (that connects kits to downtown). Here is a map of the walking/bike trail to downtown. It takes about an hour to walk, but you can also rent a bike from the closest SHAW (MOBI) bike station. This is a bike sharing program that has different stations all over the city. You pay for how long you ride, and take the bike back to a MOBI station. For more info on this, go to https://www.mobibikes.ca/. The closest station is at Kits Beach (about a 25 minute walk from our home)
grocery stores & shopping
IGA
Located on Alma and 4 th . Walk up Alma turn left on 4 th ave, the grocery store will be about 300 m up the street on the left side.
Look for the cross street “Collingwood”
No Frills
Walk along Alma until you see West 4 th and take a Right, store is on the opposite side of the road.
Loblaws
There is also a Loblaws grocery store (more upscale than No Frills) on Arbutus Street. You will have to take a car or bus there. Head west on Point Grey Rd toward Alma St Continue on Alma St. Take W 16th Ave to Yew St Take W 15th Ave to Arbutus St.
West 4th Avenue
There are many shops along West Fourth Avenue, you can start from Burrard and 4 th and walk West. There are so many shops and places to eat along this street! You could walk all day. The original Lulu Lemon shop (an activewear company started in Vancouver now all over the world) is located on West 4 th Avenue.
Robson Street
Walk along Robson Street downtown (start at Robson and
Homer by the Vancouer Public Library and walk North), you’ll find many of the bigger “box stores” here and Roots Canada (which is a big tourist destination to shop)!
beaches
Jericho Beach
This is a local’s fave beach spot. Spot the many logs along the beach and claim
your spot for the day! You can rent kayaks, paddle boards etc from Ecomarine Paddlesport
Center located on Jericho Beach by the sailing club.photo credit : theswimguide.org
Spanish Banks
Beach. Many people also enjoy this beach in
A little further West from Jericho, you’ll find Spanish Bankthe summer-time. There are
concession stands and many locals playing volleyball along the beach. There are
lots of picnic areas as well.
Wreck Beach
Located on the UBC campus, this famous beach is known
being a “nude beach”. It isforhowever, one of the most serene and calming beaches In
Vancouver. You have to walk down a hefty amount of stairs (and on your way back
up it is a steep climb) but it is totally worth it! photo credit: GayMenOnHoliday.com
how to get around
BUS
The closest bus station, which will get you to downtown and UBC, is located on 4th and Alma (right out front of the A and W Burger restaurant). Make sure to read the bus posted times and schedules posted on the bus stop. You will have to purchase a compass card and then load that card with $ at a skytrain . You can use your compass card on the skytrain as well. Single-zone adult fares $2.85. The two-zone fare will go up to $4.10, and the three-zone fare are $5.60. You can buy a compass card here (3515 West 4 th Ave). It is a 7 minute walk from our home.
SKYTRAIN
You can use the skytrain to get around downtown very easily. You will
have to take a bus going downtown from our home to get to a skytrainstation. The skytrain system also takes compass cards and you can buy them and reload them at any skytrain station.
TAXIS
Yellow Cab: (604) 681-1111
Black Top and Checker Cab: (604) 681-3201
Boss Limousine Service: (604) 780-9030