Vancouver's Hottest Neighbourhoods in a Nutshell — Page 2

SOUTH GRANVILLE

This neighbourhood, c’est très chic. Boutique furniture and fashion shopping (with spendy shops such as MaxMara, Boboli and DKNY) and sophisticated art galleries set a tony tone for this district. Connecting the upper-crust Shaughnessy residential neighbourhood to the Granville Street bridge leading into downtown, South Granville is where new money intersects with old. The venerable Stanley Theatre stands alongside fashionista hotspots like Cattiva (2665 Granville St., 604-608-1141) and modern home décor mecca 18 Karat (3039 Granville St., 604-742-1880).

Eat: Mother-in-law’s pork curry for lunch at Rangoli (1488 W. 11th Ave., 604-736-5711); dinner is next door at Vij’s (1480 W. 11th Ave., 604-736-6664). Both restaurants are owned by Vikram Vij, a Vancouverite as famous for his award-winning Indian fusion cuisine as he is for his reservation policy—he won’t take them.

Drink: A pot of pear oolong tea, blended in-house and served with fresh scones and clotted cream at T (1568 W. Broadway, 604-730-8390).

Browse: The hottest imports from New York and L.A. (such as 3.1 Phillip Lim and Vanessa Bruno) at Misch (2960 Granville St., 604-731-1017).

WEST END

Beautiful old homes are nestled among high-rises in the West End, one of the most densely populated communities in North America. The neighbourhood is a gem: situated to the west of downtown’s central business district between Burrard Street and Stanley Park, the West End acts as an all-access gateway to the waterfront and the park, with its shaded walkways and endless trails for biking, running and in-line skating. The population of this area, also the heart of the city’s gay community, is on average younger than the rest of the city: 50 percent of residents are between 20 and 40. Playing host to a number of Vancouver’s civic celebrations in the summer months (Pride Parade and the Celebration of Light, to name two), this neighbourhood is also popular with locals for its culturally diverse and (even better) affordable eateries.

Eat: The daily sandwich special from the to-go counter at Raincity Grill. Open from late spring until early fall, it’s just a short walk to English Bay (1193 Denman St., 604-685-7337).

Drink: The Loco Limonata (made with gold tequila, mango liqueur, mango lemonade, muddled fresh mango and chili peppers) at Lolita’s South of the Border Cantina (1326 Davie St., 604-696-9996).

Browse: The renaissance of the West End’s original shopping strip, including Open Sundaes with its dessert-inspired bath bombs (982 Denman St., 604-694-1644) and the tasteful fashions at Graham Ling’s You & Whose Army (922 Denman St., 604-633-2769).

YALETOWN

Designer purse: check. Tricked-out SUV: check. Purse-size dog: check. Yep, you’ve arrived in Yaletown, where ostentatiousness finds a home in our laid-back, west coast city. This warehouse-district-cum-trendville (à la New York’s Meatpacking District) has smoothed out its formerly rough edges and welcomed into its handsome arms fashion-forward clothing and accessories stores such as Global Atomic Design (1006 Mainland St., 604-806-6223) and Posh (1059 Mainland St., 604-669-6167) and see-and-be-seen dining rooms like Glowbal (1079 Mainland St., 604-602-0835) and Elixir (322 Davie St., 604-642-0557). High-end grocery store Urban Fare (177 Davie St., 604-975-7550) is where locals shop for imported olive oils, cheeses from boutique farms and other yummy, if pricey, treats.

Eat: The to-die-for stamina sushi roll (fresh crab, barbecued eel and smoked salmon) at Blue Water Café—it’s among the best seafood restaurants in the city and a favourite of both Dame Judy Dench and Pierce Brosnan. Start with a Grey Goose martini. Shaken, not stirred, naturally (1095 Hamilton St., 604-688-8078).

Drink: The chocoholic equivalent of pure heroin, the Champurrado (dark hot chocolate and corn) or Moctezuma Mix (liquid white chocolate, orange and mandarin) at Chocoatl (1127 Mainland St., 604-676-9977).

Browse: The endless shelves of trendy and tried-and-true beauty products at Beautymark (1120 Hamilton St., 604-642-2294).

KITSILANO

Kitsilano is Vancouver’s Jessica Simpson: blonde, beautiful and fit, with an airy world-is-my-oyster attitude. And why shouldn’t she feel this way? Tons of green space, plenty of restored craftsman-style houses on leafy streets, great shopping for sportswear, fashion and organic produce on Fourth Avenue and close proximity to the beach make “Kits” one of Vancouver’s most desirable neighbourhoods. The area came into its own in the ’60s as a hub for university students and flower-power children, and today it’s still very popular with the 20-and-30-something set, even if Starbucks lattes have replaced herbal teas.

Eat: Traditional Italian cuisine on one of the city’s most romantic patios at Quattro. Try the Scottadito Fico, roasted rack of lamb in a fig and Dijon demi-glaze (2611 W. Fourth Ave., 604-734-4444).

Drink: Whatever is being poured at the Relais & Châteaux-affiliated Lumière’s Tasting Bar. Order a few small plates and let the sommelier pair them with the perfect B.C. wine (2551 W. Broadway, 604-739-8185).

Browse: The quirky selection of ladies designer duds, Alessi Italian housewares, and limited-edition clocks at Moulé. Manager Kathy Wells’s taste has netted her quite the celebrity following (1994 W. Fourth Ave., 604-732-4066).

FALSE CREEK

This waterfront community is best seen by way of a seaside pathway that stretches from Cambie Street to Granville Island, the epicentre of False Creek. Once a sooty industrial zone that churned out ships for the merchant fleet, Granville Island (actually a peninsula, if you want to get picky) is now lauded by organizations like New York’s Project for Public Spaces as one of the most successful revitalizations of industrial space in North America. Locals and chefs love the Public Market for its unparalleled supply of fresh produce and gourmet foodstuffs; visitors will enjoy an ever-changing showcase of locally designed art and handicrafts.

Eat: The atmosphere is either perfect or over-the-top depending on your tastes, but the food is always right on the money at Nu. Sit in a Jetsons-inspired chair and marvel at the retro ’70s cruise ship interior. The crispy fried oyster with Granville Island Lager infusion is as delicious as it is strange-looking (1661 Granville St., 604-646-4668).

Drink: A lychee martini on the patio at Monk McQueens Fresh Seafood and Oyster Bar (601 Stamps Landing, 604-877-1351).

Browse: A rainbow-coloured world of fresh pastas at Duso’s and a wealth of local crafts in the Granville Island Public Market (1689 Johnston St., 604-666-6477).

BACK / CONTINUE