Vancouver, CA

A Kitsilano restaurant consistently ranked among Canada's best, serving a playful, refined West Coast tasting menu in an austere-but-irreverent room. The whimsically named dishes and the precise cooking make it the city's destination dinner.

A Mount Pleasant restaurant built on hyper-local, seasonal Pacific Northwest cooking and a celebrated wine program. The ever-changing menu and the warm room have made it one of the country's most lauded tables.

A small Main Street restaurant pioneering organic, foraged, and fermentation-driven West Coast cooking. The intimate room and the natural-wine list make it a quietly serious dinner.

An elegant Coal Harbour restaurant pairing refined West Coast cuisine with a botanical-themed cocktail program. The polished room and the seafood-forward menu make it a special-occasion standby.

A Railtown restaurant styled like a Quebecois bistro, serving rich French-Canadian classics that have earned national acclaim. The duck, the tourtiere, and the hearty platters are a singular taste in the city.

A long-running downtown French restaurant, now under celebrated new stewardship, serving classic Alsatian-influenced cuisine in a refined room. It's the city's grand old French dining institution, continuing to earn its place at the top.

A polished downtown seafood restaurant and raw bar with an ambitious West Coast menu. The oyster selection and the elegant room make it a reliable upscale seafood dinner.

A Yaletown seafood landmark in a converted warehouse, famous for its raw bar, sustainable fish, and a separate sushi counter. It's the city's classic special-occasion seafood room.

A casual downtown oyster bar run by a Vancouver Island shellfish farm, serving its own oysters at their freshest. It's the most direct, best-value bivalve fix in the city.

A waterfront downtown restaurant that popularized flame-seared aburi sushi in the city, with a view over Burrard Inlet. The aburi salmon oshi sushi is a only-in-Vancouver signature.

A legendary Cambie Street sushi restaurant run by the chef often credited with inventing the California roll. The omakase at the bar with the master present is a Vancouver rite of passage.

An intimate Fraser Street sushi counter offering a serious, traditional omakase from a meticulous chef. It's one of the city's finest and most focused sushi experiences.

A stylish Chinatown brasserie reinventing Chinese classics with modern flair and a great cocktail list. The shao bing, the mantou, and the dumplings are the city's coolest take on Chinese food.

A beloved Chinatown institution serving Cambodian and Vietnamese dishes, famous for its butter beef and deep-fried chicken wings. The lines are long and entirely justified.

A warm, design-forward Main Street restaurant serving refined Vietnamese cooking from a family with deep roots in the city. The fresh, vibrant dishes and the lovely room make it a local favorite.

A Kitsilano Thai restaurant serving sophisticated, balanced dishes well beyond standard takeout fare. The kitchen's depth of flavor and the tasting menu have made it a critical favorite.

A buzzy Fraserhood osteria built around a wood grill and house-made pasta in a handsome, lively room. The grilled meats and the pastas have made it one of the city's favorite Italian tables.

A tiny Railtown trattoria turning out fresh pasta in a charming, perpetually full little house. The handmade pasta and the relaxed vibe make it a beloved neighborhood spot.

A minimalist pizzeria making thin, blistered pies from quality ingredients with a short, focused menu. It's a quick, excellent pizza stop with locations on Main and in Gastown.

A homegrown taqueria serving authentic Mexican tacos on house tortillas with a rotating set of fillings. It's the city's reliable, affordable taco answer with several central locations.

A no-frills east-side spot beloved for genuine Mexican home cooking, from tacos to huge burritos and pozole. It's a casual, authentic local favorite that draws steady lines.

A trailblazing Cambie Street restaurant that redefined Indian cuisine in Canada with inventive, market-driven dishes. The lamb popsicles and the spice-forward curries are the stuff of local legend.

A modern Yaletown Indian restaurant serving vibrant, spice-forward dishes in a polished setting. It's a contemporary take on Indian cooking that locals rate highly.

A lively Commercial Drive restaurant serving fresh, modern Lebanese mezze and platters with a fun, casual energy. The dips, the falafel, and the grilled dishes make it a great shared meal.

A flat, paved waterfront path circling the entire 10-kilometer perimeter of Stanley Park, with constant views of the harbor, mountains, and sea. It's the city's signature walk and bike, suitable for everyone.

A long, flat, accessible waterfront path along the western beaches, with wide tidal flats and sweeping views back to downtown and the North Shore. It's the easiest scenic walk or roll in the city.

A popular moderate North Shore hike through forest to a rocky outcrop with a sweeping view over Deep Cove and Indian Arm. It's a manageable payoff hike that ends in a cute seaside village.

A free North Shore park with a swaying suspension bridge over a dramatic gorge, waterfalls, and forest trails through towering trees. It's a thrilling, no-cost alternative to the bigger paid bridge nearby.

A West Vancouver park of old-growth Douglas firs and rocky shoreline trails leading to a historic lighthouse on the point. The granite bluffs offer some of the best views across the water to the city.

A famously grueling North Shore trail climbing nearly 850 meters up the face of Grouse Mountain over less than three kilometers. Locals treat it as the city's ultimate stair-climbing workout.

A vast forested park wrapping the UBC peninsula, with miles of quiet, mostly flat trails through second-growth rainforest. It's the easiest place to lose yourself in deep woods within the city.

A North Shore alpine area with trails ranging from the gentle Dog Mountain walk to the demanding Pump Peak climb, all with big views. The accessible alpine scenery makes it a local favorite year-round.

A North Shore park along the Lynn Creek valley with trails from the easy Rice Lake loop to the lung-busting Lynn Peak. It's a versatile spot offering both family strolls and hard climbs.

A serene reservoir lake in Anmore, east of the city, ringed by a forested loop trail with a beach and mountain backdrop. It's a popular swimming and easy-hiking spot for a half-day escape.

A West Vancouver alpine area with trails like the short Bowen Lookout walk offering huge views over Howe Sound and the city. The high elevation means cooler air and big scenery for modest effort.

A massive granite monolith about an hour north in Squamish, with steep trails climbing to three summit peaks overlooking Howe Sound. It's the region's classic challenging day-hike with a spectacular reward.

A landmark museum on the UBC campus housing the world's premier collection of Northwest Coast Indigenous art, totem poles, and carvings in a soaring glass hall. The Great Hall and the works of Bill Reid are unforgettable.

The city's main art museum in a former downtown courthouse, strong in the work of Emily Carr and rotating contemporary exhibitions. The grand building and the diverse shows make it a central cultural stop.

A geodesic-dome science center on False Creek packed with hands-on exhibits, an OMNIMAX theater, and live demonstrations. The glowing silver dome is a city landmark and the interior is a family favorite.

A space and astronomy center in Kitsilano's Vanier Park with a planetarium, exhibits, and shows. It's a fun, compact stop for families, paired with the maritime museum next door.

A small downtown gallery dedicated to the work of celebrated Haida artist Bill Reid and contemporary Indigenous artists. The intimate scale and the masterful carvings and jewelry make it a focused gem.

A large aquarium in Stanley Park focused on Pacific marine life, with sea otters, jellies, and a tropical zone. It's the city's reliable family attraction, set within the crown-jewel park.

A lavishly restored 1927 movie palace downtown, now the home of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The gilded, chandeliered interior is a destination in itself for any performance.

A large downtown performing-arts theater hosting Vancouver Opera, Ballet BC, and major touring productions. It's the city's main stage for opera, dance, and Broadway-style shows.

The city's leading theater company, with its intimate Granville Island stage staging contemporary plays and musicals. A show here pairs well with a wander around the island's market and galleries.

A legendary 1929 downtown music venue with a famous sprung dance floor that has hosted countless touring acts. The bouncing floor and the art-deco room make it the city's favorite place to see a band.

A restored art-deco theater on the Granville entertainment strip hosting concerts, comedy, and film events. The neon marquee is a downtown icon and the room is an intimate mid-size venue.

A beloved performing-arts hub near Commercial Drive in a converted heritage church, staging adventurous theater, dance, and music. It's the east side's cultural anchor for boundary-pushing work.

A gritty, beloved live-music venue in a former kung-fu cinema on the edge of Chinatown, central to the city's punk and indie scene. The raw room and the strong sightlines make it a favorite for loud, sweaty shows.

A flight-simulation ride at Canada Place that lifts you in front of a giant wraparound screen for a soaring virtual tour across the country, complete with wind and mist. It's a fun, family-friendly thrill on the waterfront.

The downtown arena home to the Vancouver Canucks and a major concert venue. Catching an NHL game here is a quintessential Vancouver night for sports fans.

A Kitsilano museum in Vanier Park telling the story of the Pacific and Arctic seas, anchored by the historic schooner St. Roch. The Arctic exploration exhibits and the waterfront setting make it a worthwhile stop.

A 1,000-acre temperate rainforest park jutting into the harbor beside downtown, ringed by the famous seawall and dotted with totem poles, beaches, and giant cedars. It's the city's crown jewel and reason enough to visit.

A bustling waterfront market under the Granville Bridge packed with food stalls, produce, artisans, and buskers. It's the city's favorite grazing spot and a gateway to the island's galleries and breweries.

The city's oldest neighborhood, a National Historic Site of cobblestone streets, brick warehouses, and the famous steam-powered clock. It's a walkable mix of design shops, galleries, and restaurants.

A North Shore attraction where a swaying bridge stretches across a deep rainforest canyon, plus cliff walks and treetop platforms. The heights and the old-growth setting make it a thrilling, scenic outing.

A North Shore mountain reached by gondola, with alpine views over the city and sea, wildlife refuge, and seasonal activities. The Skyride and the summit panorama are the easy way to get high above the city.

A serene, authentic Japanese garden on the UBC campus with koi ponds, arched bridges, and a traditional tea house. It's a tranquil, little-known retreat near the Museum of Anthropology.

A 55-acre botanical garden in the city's center with themed plantings, a stone Elizabethan hedge maze, and lakeside paths. It's a peaceful green escape that rewards an unhurried wander.

The city's highest park, a former quarry transformed into gardens with a domed tropical conservatory full of free-flying birds. The summit gardens offer a skyline-and-mountains panorama.

An authentic Ming Dynasty-style scholar's garden in Chinatown, the first of its kind built outside China. The covered walkways, jade water, and limestone rockeries make it a serene pocket in the city.

A wide, sandy beach on the south shore of English Bay with a huge saltwater pool, mountain-and-skyline views, and a laid-back vibe. It's the city's classic summer beach hangout.

A downtown beach at the edge of the West End, famous for its sunsets, the inukshuk sculpture, and a buzzy seaside scene. It's the most central place to watch the sun drop behind the islands.

An eclectic east-side strip that's part Little Italy, part counterculture haven, lined with cafes, indie shops, and global restaurants. It's the place to feel the city's bohemian, multicultural pulse.

A historic fishing village in Richmond, south of the city, with a working harbor where you can buy salmon straight off the boats and explore a heritage cannery. The waterfront boardwalk and fresh seafood make it a charming day-trip.

A North Shore waterfront market and revitalized shipyards district reached by a scenic SeaBus ride across the harbor. The market, the breweries, and the skyline view back across the water make it a fun half-day.

One of the largest historic Chinatowns in North America, with ornate gates, century-old shops, and the Millennium Gate spanning Pender Street. It's a layered, atmospheric neighborhood to wander between bakeries, herbalists, and the classical garden.