Mentioned by Lonely Planet Top Choices
Top things to do in Vancouver, Canada
"Surrounded by unassuming low white walls in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden can be easy to miss. But trust us — you won’t want to. Described as an “urban oasis of tranquility and reflection,” it was named the best city garden in the world by National Geographic in 2011, and that’s an accolade that’s hard to argue."
"I just love the look of the Ming Dynasty-inspired architecture paired with lush green gardens. Entrance to Sun Yat-Sen Park is free, but tickets are required to enter the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. There’s a lot to see at Sun-Yat Sen Park in Vancouver, with tons of cute Instagrammable photo opps!"
"Vancouver’s Chinatown is quite small compared to many I’ve seen worldwide, but it’s home to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is well worth a visit, time permitting. READ NEXT:The Ultimate Puerto Rico Road Trip"
"Built in on a former quarry 500 feet above sea level, the 130-acre Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest vantage point in Vancouver, with extraordinary views that extend to the North Shore Mountains and beyond. But there’s more to Queen E, as locals call it, than just the vistas. With manicured lawns and impeccably groomed flowering plant beds, the gardens are the main draw."
"Home to the Bloedel Conservatory and Seasons in the Park, Queen Elizabeth Park in the Shaughnessy/Cambie area is a major Vancouver tourist attraction. And for that reason, isn’t my favourite place to photograph. It tends to be very busy through spring, fall and summer, especially on weekends and evenings."
"Queen Elizabeth Park and Gardens: A gorgeous place for a leisurely stroll, particularly during springtime. Cherry blossom hunting: Come to Vancouver in the springtime to catch beautiful blooms all over the city. There’s even a handy map."
"Facing English Bay, Kits Beach is one of Vancouver's favorite summertime hangouts. The wide, sandy expanse attracts Frisbee tossers and volleyball players, and those who just like to preen while catching the rays. The ocean is fine for a dip, though serious swimmers should consider the heated Kitsilano Pool, one of the world's largest outdoor saltwater pools."
"Known to locals as Kits or Kits Beach, Kitsilano Beach is where you will find a lot of residents in the summertime. There’s ample park space around the beach for picnics, plus volleyball nets and Kitsilano Pool. The 137m (450ft) outdoor pool is Vancouver’s only saltwater swimming pool, open from mid-May to mid-September."
"Kitsilano Beach is one of Vancouver's favorite summertime hangouts. The wide, sandy expanse attracts buff Frisbee tossers, giggling volleyball players and those who just like to preen while catching the rays. The ocean is fine for a dip."
"Managed by the Wild Bird Trust of BC, the delightful Maplewood Flats Conservation Area is surprisingly accessible from Vancouver yet it feels like a million miles from the city. Its tangle of trees, winding paths and protected wetland beach lure swallows, ospreys and bald eagles. There are free guided nature walks the second Saturday of every month at 10am."
"Maplewood Flats is a surprisingly quiet nature reserve on Dollartan Highway in North Vancouver. It has lots of lush geenery with packed gravel trails. Maplewood Flats is for you if… you’re looking for a more private location with lots of greenery, different from the more typical forested areas of the North Shore."
"Managed by the Wild Bird Trust of BC, this delightful nature escape is surprisingly accessible from Vancouver yet it feels like a million miles from the city. Its tangle of trees, winding paths and protected..."
"Featuring homemade ice cream using fresh local ingredients, Rooster’s Ice Cream Bar wants its guests to feel right at home, putting heart and soul into the ice cream and focusing on the small batch, artisan process. With a wide variety of light to rich ice cream flavors, a great price to portion ratio with generous scoops compared to other local shops, friendly staff, and locally sourced waffles, this recently opened locally owned shop has quickly become a favorite among Vancouver residents and visitors alike. Patrons love the unpretentious atmosphere, the more experimental ice cream flavors like Organic Roasted Choco Banana and Avocado & Honey with Vodka, and the huge samples."
"▪️Rooster’s Ice Cream Bar▪️ flew the coop and headed to Roosters!. We were intrigued by their unique flavours like the avocado honey vodka (left) and lime & lavender. I ended up ordering the cookie cream (right) though."
"Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing. This is a boutique-style ice cream bar. This shop was opened for the love of ice cream."
"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. What if you want to enjoy not only delicious bubble teas but also some tasty Asian dishes?. Milk & Sugar Cafe is the place you are looking for."
"Award-winning, old-world style gelato that may rock your ice cream world. Bella Gelateria excels at handcrafted, small batch gelato-making that results in a smoothly delicious gelato that comes in myriad flavors. Favorites include chocolate-amarena cherry, tahitian vanilla, and exotics like akbar mashti and black sesame."
"A post shared by Bella Gelateria (@bellagelateria) on Mar 8, 2019 at 3:12pm PST. Bella Gelateria is serving up flavours like Earl Grey Tea, London Fog, and Old-Fashioned Chocolate. All scoops here have a signature “Bella” swirl, perfect for Instagram pics."
"Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user dronepicr used under CC BY 2.0. Bella Gelateria makes world-renowned gelato from whole milk. Due to this, the gelato has less air in it and a stronger flavour, which means more bang for your buck."
"Built in on a former quarry 500 feet above sea level, the 130-acre Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest vantage point in Vancouver, with extraordinary views that extend to the North Shore Mountains and beyond. But there’s more to Queen E, as locals call it, than just the vistas. With manicured lawns and impeccably groomed flowering plant beds, the gardens are the main draw."
"Home to the Bloedel Conservatory and Seasons in the Park, Queen Elizabeth Park in the Shaughnessy/Cambie area is a major Vancouver tourist attraction. And for that reason, isn’t my favourite place to photograph. It tends to be very busy through spring, fall and summer, especially on weekends and evenings."
"Queen Elizabeth Park and Gardens: A gorgeous place for a leisurely stroll, particularly during springtime. Cherry blossom hunting: Come to Vancouver in the springtime to catch beautiful blooms all over the city. There’s even a handy map."
"George Wainborn Park in Yaletown brings together Vancouver’s beautiful nature and it’s urban architecture in close proximity, delivering space to lounge around and bring a picnic, juxtaposed against the hustle and bustle of the city. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Won Kang (@urbansketcherwest)"
"Located just south of Vancouver, Iona Beach Regional Park is the home of one of the most romantic walks in Vancouver. Iona Jetty is a 4-kilometre long jetty that juts out into the Straight of Georgia, right into the Pacific Ocean. The walk is flat and you can often see wildlife and interesting sea creatures."
"Kafka’s is one of the longest-standing coffee brands in Vancouver and is the oldest surviving shop that started serving pour-over coffee. This year saw them switch exclusively to a brand new pour-over device (the Espro Bloom) as well as open their third location. The new venue is a masterpiece of interior design, blending 1950’s art deco with Gastown roughness."
"A post shared by Kafka’s (@kafkascoffeetea) on Sep 20, 2020 at 7:05pm PDT. Known for its dedication to quality beverages using brew methods like pour-over and syphon, Kafka’s also has a great pastry and food selection worth checking out if you haven’t already. Address: 151 West Hastings Street, VancouverPhone: 604-829-2220"
"As the longest-running fancy pants coffee shop in Vancouver, Kafka’s have proven time and time again that they seriously know their decaf game. They roast on the darker end of the spectrum, so you’re in for a warm and rich caramel flavour that pairs perfectly with milk. Address:Multiple Locations"
"Farmer’s Apprentice is known for offering patrons a one-of-a-kind farm to table dinner service. The menu does rotate every week or so, but you can bet there will always be drool-worthy dishes up for order when you stop in. Address: 1535 W 6 Avenue, Vancouver Phone: 604-620-2070"
"Book ahead to nab one of the 30 or so seats in this cozy bistro, where chef-owner David Gunawan and his team in the open kitchen craft wildly...Read More"
"A flavourful choice, offering tons of tasty options for your palette!. From lemon and herb to extra hot & spicy, you can flavour-up your chicken the way you like it. In addition, choose from a delectable array of sides and salads ranging from spiced rice to Nando's signature coleslaw."
"Marinated in PERi-PERi sauce for 24 hours, and flame-grilled to perfection we know you wouldn't share a Nando's whole chicken with just anyone. We recommend: 1/2 Chicken with 1 Side Chicken Sandwich with 1 Side Chicken Wrap with 1 Side"
"Fifteen years after restauranteur and BC Restaurant Hall of Fame inductee John Blakeley opened Bistro Pastis in Kitsilano. The cosy, upscale restaurant is still a favourite for classic bistro fare, like bouillabaisse and sole meunière, and its wonderful wine list is heavy on regions throughout France. Location: 2153 West 4th Ave."
"A favorite among Vancouverites for sublime cuisine, fine wines and impeccable service, Les Faux Bourgeois is a popular restaurant with couples looking for an intimate, romantic spot for dinner. The French-inspired menu features signature starters of escargots de Bourgogne, country-style pork paté with homemade bread, and a variety of sweetbreads, along with entrées of mussels in white wine, canard confit, and coq au vin. The cuisine is accompanied by a range of fine wines from around the world, craft beers and local microbrews, high-end spirits, and classic cocktails."
"Les Faux Bourgeois is one of the best restaurants in the city for a number of reasons: The food is excellent, the atmosphere is warm, and the price is right. You don't have to spend a bundle to enjoy classic French cuisine in Vancouver, making this spot a perfect place to take a date. Most main course dishes are under $25 and the portion sizes are generous."
"At The French Table, you'll find traditional French food prepared by master chef Hervé Martin, the former chef and owner at The Hermitage on Robson St, which had a run of 24-years-strong. The restaurant’s “uncomplicated but innovative French cuisine” features items like the marinated salmon with baby dill, creme fraiche and crostini, and sweet breads grenobloise with capers, parsley, lemon butter and celeriac remoulade. Location: 3916 Main St."
"Here’s a restaurant whose charm is held intact by the fact that the founder and owner of the restaurant comes from a tradition of excellence in French cuisine. Chef Herve Martin is mighty proud to share with Vancouver (and the rest of the world) all of his creations, through The French Table. What that means, then, is a food experience that is not just charming, but also delicious."