Vancouver

AMS Student Nest

The Nest is UBC's student union building. Within the Nest, there are a number restaurants and fast food outlets.

Afghan Horsemen

The exotic decor and rich flavours justify this restaurant's pride in Afghan culture and cuisine. Try one of the platters for two people ($54-76). Numerous vegetarian options, and some vegan dishes too. Try to stay for the mesmerizing belly-dancer's performance.

Tue-Thu 5–10PM, Sun 4-10PM·Mains $23-38

Al Porto

Nice Mediterranean-themed decor with a variety of pizza, pasta, seafood and meat dishes.

Mon-Fri 11:30AM-10:30PM, Sat Sun 4:30PM-10:30PM·Appetizers $6-$16, Pizzas $13-16, Mains $18-$40

All India Sweets

Excellent vegetarian all you can eat Indian food buffet for $9.95.

Aphrodite's Cafe and Pie Shop

A friendly cafe that uses locally-grown and organic ingredients with a first-class menu that's long on vegetarian and vegan dishes. The brunch on Saturday and Sunday is delicious or try the pie and chai combination. Service is sometimes slow, so expect a wait, particularly when crowded. Lunch and dinner on weekdays; no reservations. Pies to go can be purchased at the pie shop next door.

BC Place

The home of the BC Lions CFL football team and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer. It also hosts the Canada Sevens, a major international event in the sevens variant of men's rugby union. The building is also home to many conventions, tradeshows and concerts. It has had two roofs in its history, both claimed as the largest of their types in the world. The original roof was air-supported, but it has since been replaced by a cable-supported retractable roof. The BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum is located within BC Place. The museum includes permanent galleries devoted to Terry Fox and Rick Hansen as well as displays of BC sports history from the early 1800s to present.

Ba Le

A Vietnamese sandwich shop that is rather out of the way for most tourists but it regularly wins local awards for sandwiches and has delicious Vietnamese subs (including a vegetarian one) for less than $8.

9AM-6PM daily

Backstage Lounge

Drinks and pub eats with live music most nights. Has a good selection of domestic and imported beers on tap, with nightly drink specials.

$8-16

Banana Leaf

Malaysian food is a vibrant mingling of Chinese, Indian, Thai, Indonesian, and Malay, and it springs to life at Banana Leaf with rich flavours beautifully presented, yet in an efficient, low-key atmosphere. Many dishes can be prepared vegetarian. Other locations are on West Broadway (Mt Pleasant), Davie, Robson, and Denman.

Mon-Thu 11:30AM-10:30PM, Fri Sat 11:30AM-11PM, Sun 11:30AM-10PM·Mains $20-45

Banana Leaf (Davie)

Malaysian food is a vibrant mingling of Chinese, Indian, Thai, Indonesian, and Malay, and it springs to life at Banana Leaf with rich flavours beautifully presented, yet in an efficient, low-key atmosphere. Many dishes can be prepared vegetarian. Other locations are on West Broadway (Mt Pleasant and Kits), Robson, and Denman. In location which used to be "Kam's Place", which also served southeast Asian food.

Daily 11:30AM-10PM·dinner $9-15/person; lunch specials from $5.75

Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival

Annual summer Shakespeare festival held in tents. Each year there are two mainstage productions and two productions for the smaller stage. Even if you have tickets, plan to line up at least an hour before the show to get good seats. Many people will bring a picnic lunch/dinner (purchased at nearby Granville Island) to enjoy while they wait to be admitted.

Jun-Sep·From $60

Beaty Biodiversity Museum

Home to Canada's largest blue whale skeleton, a herbarium, and a wide array of animal specimens including fish, insects, arthropods, tetrapods, marine invertebrates and fossils.

Wed-Sun 11AM-5PM·$12 adults, $10 seniors/youths/non-UBC students

Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art

The Gallery showcases the permanent collection of acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid (1920–1998) and changing exhibitions of contemporary Northwest Coast Art. Gallery highlights include over 40 pieces of Bill Reid’s gold and silver jewelry, Reid’s bronze masterpiece Mythic Messengers, several of Reid’s works that were featured on the Canadian $20 bill and a full-scale totem pole, carved by James Hart of Haida Gwaii.

Wed-Sun 11AM-5PM·$5-$10

Blue Water Cafe

Arguably Vancouver's premier upscale destination for seafood, Blue Water offers fine dining, drinking, and a raw bar. The seafood preparations are direct, emphasizing fresh, flavorful ingredients over showy virtuoso techniques, and many are Japanese-influenced. The wine and cocktail lists are also exceptional. A few non-seafood items (including a couple of vegetarian friendly options) make it possible to bring a group that includes some who may not love what the ocean has to offer.

5PM-11PM (dinner); 4:30PM-1AM (bar)

Bomber Brewing

Microbrewery that offers flights, snacks and sells canned 6-packs of some of their beers. Offers small tours too.

Noon-11PM daily

Bon's Off Broadway

Bon's has a great atmosphere and excellent prices including $3 breakfast all day: 2 eggs, toast, bacon or sausage, and hashbrowns.

Less than $10

Breka Bakery & Café

Open 24/7 at all 7 locations, with 4 located downtown. Very large, very fresh selection of baked goods. All made locally, and then baked on site. Add-ons like oat, almond, soy milk and flavour shots are free. Limited selection of gluten-free and vegan options. All downtown locations are lively: limited seating during peak hours. Fanciest interior is at the newest location on Hastings St.

Open now · open 24 hours·$5–15

Britannia Sushi

This might be the best deal on sushi in the city. $4.95 for an 18 piece combo (including yam rolls) with miso soup, or teriyaki box. Decent quality and decor.

Sun-Thu 11:30AM-9:30PM, Fri-Sat 11:30AM-10PM

Brockton Point

At the north-east tip of Stanley Park, Brockton Point affords stunning views of the Lions Gate Bridge, the North Shore, and Burrard Inlet.

Caffè Artigiano

Excellent coffee shop featuring "latte art," but it's still great. IntelligentsiA coffee available. Great espresso. This small chain has a total of four locations in this district, plus other locations in the Lower Mainland and Calgary.

Mon-Fri 6AM–6PM, Sat Sun 6:30AM–5PM

Canada Place

Built for Expo 86 as Canada's exhibit, today the building serves as a cruise ship terminal and the eastern building of Vancouver Convention Centre. It is also the site of an IMAX theatre and the luxurious Pan Pacific Hotel. Walk around the unique sailed structure and take in views of the building itself, Coal Harbour, and the North Shore. It uses white colour with a roof of funky "sails" or "waves", which is a curved triangular shape, that has made it a modern gem.

Cannabis Culture

The BCMP "Bookstore" is a centre of the marijuana subculture of Vancouver. It is the party headquarters for the provincial marijuana party as well as a store and lounge. Proceeds from the BCMP go towards the party and the legal battle against the extradition of the party leader who faces life in prison in the USA. The front half of the store is taken up by display shelves of bongs, pipes, rolling papers and pretty much anything you could imagine. The lounge costs $5 to go into but it has a very relaxing atmosphere and you're able to use the Volcano Vaporizers.

usually to 9PM·$5 per hour (lounge only)

Cartems Donuterie

They modestly claim the title of "best donuts in Vancouver". They certainly have some of the most interesting flavours. Try the "whiskey bacon" donut. Also coffee and tea, served with a friendly smile in a hip setting.

Mon-Thu 8AM-8PM, Fri 8AM-10PM, Sat 10AM-10PM, Sun 10AM-6PM·$3 each, $30/dozen

Cedar Cottage Neighbourhood Pub

Upstairs is a funky little coffee house with lots of comfy seating, downstairs is a friendly pub, popular with a lot of local sports teams. There is a patio adjoining, with heat lamps for those cooler evenings. Friday nights are almost always packed.

Sun-Thu 11AM-midnight, Fri-Sat 11AM-1AM·$10-16 mains

Celebrities Nightclub

One of Vancouver's largest clubs with varied music (DJs, house, 80s) depending on the night. Stereotype Fridays are very popular and sometimes feature international DJs. Generally a gay bar, but the crowd tends to be more mixed on Tu and F Sa.

Tue-Sat 9PM-3AM, Sun 9PM-midnight·Cover - up to $20 (F). Drink prices vary considerably (cheaper on Tuesdays, most expensive on weekends)

Chambar

Belgian restaurant with mussels and a variety of meat dishes on the menu. A small but delicious selection of vegetarian options. The beer list includes over 25 beers from Belgium. Wide selection of wines. Save room for the fascinating desserts. Don't be surprised if the general manager is the one who takes your empty plates; they are that involved. Exquisite food plus excellent service equals one of the best dining experiences in the city.

Mon–Fri 8AM–3PM, 5PM-late; Sat Sun 8AM–3PM, 5PM-late·Starters $5-24, mains $21-39

Chan Centre for the Performing Arts

A concert hall and events centre; often the location of convocation ceremonies.

Cheapskates - 1

A consignment store for sporting goods, with reasonably good equipment at cheap and falling prices. Each item has a tag with a price schedule that drops 10% each week. If an item hasn't been snapped up, you could get it for a very low price. The "1" branch carries baseball bats, helmets, and shoes from Mar 1–May 1; junior baseball gloves, inline skates, and scooters from Mar 1–Aug 1; and adult baseball gloves, hockey gear, ice skates, soccer gear, tricycles, and lifting weights all year.

Mon–Fri 11AM - 6PM; Sat 10AM – 6PM; Sun & holidays 11AM – 5PM

Cheesecake, etc.

Vancouver's first late-night dessert cafe. Opened in 1979, it is an authentic Vancouver cultural experience. Featuring the original "Vancouver-style", it is a light cheesecake with various toppings added.

Daily 7PM-1AM·Cheesecake slices $6-7

Chinatown

A great place for shopping for groceries and some Asian products. Located primarily between Columbia St to the west, East Pender St to the north, Gore Ave to the east, and East Georgia St to the south.