Guidebook for Vancouver
Food Scene
Best Ramen in town! Reserve your spot online before you go so you don't have to wait 45 minutes in line.
22 locals recommend
Ramen Danbo日本拉麫
1833 W 4th AveBest Ramen in town! Reserve your spot online before you go so you don't have to wait 45 minutes in line.
Beaucoup Bakery
2150 Fir StCHOCOLATE ALMOND CROISSANTS! (Yes, I yelled that)
Really really really great omelettes. No frills, fast service, get there early to avoid the line.
25 locals recommend
Paul's Omelettery Restaurant
2211 Granville StreetReally really really great omelettes. No frills, fast service, get there early to avoid the line.
SushiVan
2566 Granville StDecent sushi in the area!
Very good seafood platters at a reasonable price. No frills kinda place in Granville Island.
Tony's Fish & Oyster Cafe
1511 Anderson StVery good seafood platters at a reasonable price. No frills kinda place in Granville Island.
Afghan food platters that are huge and beautiful and tasty! Super reasonable prices for the quality of food. Highly recommend the lamb. You can either sit at a table, or in the Afghan room, on the floor with cushions and low tables.
14 locals recommend
Afghan Horsemen Restaurant
1833 Anderson StAfghan food platters that are huge and beautiful and tasty! Super reasonable prices for the quality of food. Highly recommend the lamb. You can either sit at a table, or in the Afghan room, on the floor with cushions and low tables.
A little pricey but fantastic local cuisine. Great for date night. And then head next door to Grapes and Soda for a night cap afterwards.
45 locals recommend
Farmer's Apprentice Restaurant
1535 W 6th AveA little pricey but fantastic local cuisine. Great for date night. And then head next door to Grapes and Soda for a night cap afterwards.
Shiro Japanese
3096 Cambie StTies 1st place for best sushi in town! (That is still affordable)
Want xiao-long-bao soup dumplings? Head to this Taiwanese restaurant. It is always bustling and every dish on the menu is delicious! Great prices too!
35 locals recommend
Dinesty Dumpling House
1719 Robson StWant xiao-long-bao soup dumplings? Head to this Taiwanese restaurant. It is always bustling and every dish on the menu is delicious! Great prices too!
Because Hainanese chicken and Lahksa that's why. Ohhh yum! Fantastic Malaysian food. Slow-ish service because they are understaffed, but it's a tiny casual joint that serves up great food.
11 locals recommend
Mamalee
3144 W BroadwayBecause Hainanese chicken and Lahksa that's why. Ohhh yum! Fantastic Malaysian food. Slow-ish service because they are understaffed, but it's a tiny casual joint that serves up great food.
Malaysian food too - more fancy than Mamalee and better for a night out!
37 locals recommend
Banana Leaf On Broadway
820 W BroadwayMalaysian food too - more fancy than Mamalee and better for a night out!
If you like Mediterranean food and lots of garlic, this is the place for you. I eat here when I want a taste of home.
Jamjar South Granville
1488 W 11th AveIf you like Mediterranean food and lots of garlic, this is the place for you. I eat here when I want a taste of home.
There are a few other dosa joints in the neighbourhood, but none are as good as this one. I recommend the palak lamb dosa, or the okra lamb. The idly are a great starter, and a salty lassi to drink!
11 locals recommend
Dosa Factory
1345 KingswayThere are a few other dosa joints in the neighbourhood, but none are as good as this one. I recommend the palak lamb dosa, or the okra lamb. The idly are a great starter, and a salty lassi to drink!
BiBo Pizzeria con Cucina
1835 W 4th AveYummy thin crust brick oven pizza. Very tasty!
Nishi Sushi
2953 W 4th AveReally delicious sushi takout around the corner.
Persia Foods
2827 W BroadwayGreat place to buy fruits and veggies at a lower than average price.
The fancy place to get expensive yet choice groceries and natural products.
726 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
510 W 8th AveThe fancy place to get expensive yet choice groceries and natural products.
My favourite butcher in Kits. Great meats, friendly staff and fun music. Always a vibe.
8 locals recommend
Market Meats Kitsilano
2326 W 4th AveMy favourite butcher in Kits. Great meats, friendly staff and fun music. Always a vibe.
Your neighbour (on the other half of the duplex, Maria) owns this joint. Opened in the pandemic she makes real, homemade, pasta. Grab some to-go with sauce. You won't regret it. And while you're walking have some of her famous gelato.
Casereccio Foods Coffee/Pasta Bar
2480 Vine StreetYour neighbour (on the other half of the duplex, Maria) owns this joint. Opened in the pandemic she makes real, homemade, pasta. Grab some to-go with sauce. You won't regret it. And while you're walking have some of her famous gelato.
If you want a bowl of seriously yummy Poke, don't miss this spot. Small and unassuming and the best poke in town.
22 locals recommend
Pacific Poke
625 Main StIf you want a bowl of seriously yummy Poke, don't miss this spot. Small and unassuming and the best poke in town.
Who says you can't have ice cream on a rainy day. often with a line out the door, this place has a bunch of flavours you've probably never heard of, and man are they good!
130 locals recommend
Rain or Shine Ice Cream
1926 W 4th AveWho says you can't have ice cream on a rainy day. often with a line out the door, this place has a bunch of flavours you've probably never heard of, and man are they good!
If you go in here for a coffee, you'll come out with a box of pastries both savoury and sweet because you weren't able to decide which one you wanted and then ended up buying them all. Just saying. Be careful - this place is a glorious trap!
88 locals recommend
Purebread
159 W Hastings StIf you go in here for a coffee, you'll come out with a box of pastries both savoury and sweet because you weren't able to decide which one you wanted and then ended up buying them all. Just saying. Be careful - this place is a glorious trap!
Drinks & Nightlife
Great local menu where the chef explains what you're eating. Wonderful creative drinks and cozy atmosphere.
18 locals recommend
Grapes & Soda
1541 W 6th AveGreat local menu where the chef explains what you're eating. Wonderful creative drinks and cozy atmosphere.
Parks & Nature
In the summer there are lots of people in their birthday suits. The rest of the year it's a beautiful place to go down (many stairs) and gaze out across the Pacific ocean.
55 locals recommend
Wreck Beach
Southwest Marine DriveIn the summer there are lots of people in their birthday suits. The rest of the year it's a beautiful place to go down (many stairs) and gaze out across the Pacific ocean.
More chill than kits beach if you want the space to run around. Perfect place for picnics and watching the old dudes crabbing on the pier.
44 locals recommend
Locarno Beach
More chill than kits beach if you want the space to run around. Perfect place for picnics and watching the old dudes crabbing on the pier.
Beautiful and peaceful Japanese garden on the UBC campus. Worth a visit.
27 locals recommend
Nitobe Memorial Garden
1895 Lower MallBeautiful and peaceful Japanese garden on the UBC campus. Worth a visit.
Essentials
Alfie's No Frills
1688 W 4th AveDebit or Mastercard only
Greens Organic and Natural Market
1978 W BroadwayExpensive - but high quality.
Pete's Meat Inc
2817 Arbutus StButcher shop with great cuts of meat.
Arts & Culture
Totem poles - expansive history of west coast First Nations people, in a building designed by local and renowned architect Arthur Erickson, atop a cliff that faces the great Pacific ocean. Magical place. Head down to wreck beach after if you feel like descending and then climbing thousands of stairs in the forest. Careful though as it's a nude beach!
502 locals recommend
Museum of Anthropology
6393 NW Marine DrTotem poles - expansive history of west coast First Nations people, in a building designed by local and renowned architect Arthur Erickson, atop a cliff that faces the great Pacific ocean. Magical place. Head down to wreck beach after if you feel like descending and then climbing thousands of stairs in the forest. Careful though as it's a nude beach!
If you like biology and ecology... or just critters this is the place for you and the fam. Nerd out for hours!
22 locals recommend
Beaty Biodiversity Museum
2212 Main MallIf you like biology and ecology... or just critters this is the place for you and the fam. Nerd out for hours!
Traveler advice
What to pack
Bring a rain proof jacket and waterproof shoes
It rains...a lot. :)