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Gastown

Nelson the Seagull

At the centre of the Gastown café revolution is a pack of smart 30-something South Africans with impeccable taste. Jodi Balfour, along with siblings Lee and Jonathan Snelgar, recently opened Nelson the Seagull (named for a ’70s pop tune about Nelson Mandela), an airy brick-and-beam room with an open kitchen, original teal-and-cream mosaic tile floors, and Molo’s kraft paper softwall dividing the space.

Orling & Wu

Orling and Wu could have been just another thoughtfully curated (read: sparsely inventoried) Gastown store. Though this little homewares shop may look and feel gallery-like with its rare finds and elegant pieces, it runs more friendly in vibe. The owners met in England while attending design school, so the fresh mix of contemporary, vintage, and classic pieces for sale reflect a European sensibility: whether it’s the Nosey Parker greeting cards handmade in the U.K.

Old Faithful Shop

Be forewarned: when leaving the Old Faithful Shop, you might start pining for a larder or, at the very least, glass-bottle milk delivery service. This bricks-and-mortar general store harks back to a time when packages were wrapped in twine and most things were crafted by hand—but still manages to evoke an au courant vibe (imagine if Terence Conran lived on Little House on the Prairie). From jam jars (starting at $8) to iPad attachés (by Makr, $240), all goods look like they belong in an old trading post.

Oak + Fort

Gastown boutique Oak + Fort opened quietly this past winter amidst the madness of Boxing Day sales. Edmonton-based owner Min Kang made the transition from online retailer in order to bring her personal aesthetic to a Vancouver market; the pared-down space shows off the clean lines and soft, wearable fabrics that characterize the eponymous line (a collaboration between local and Korean designers who oversee production in Korea). Also on display are funky necklaces, earrings, and leather accessories, many designed in house.

Neighbour

Saager DiLawri studied at Parson’s and worked for many years at UNIS (a contemporary men’s label that evokes classic American sportswear) before opening swish Neighbour (125–12 Water St., 604-558-2555. Shopneighbour.com), which stocks labels like Our Legacy from Sweden and Outlier from NYC, as well as an inhouse line of rugby crewneck sweatshirts made by Portland’s Columbiaknit.

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