Where To Go In Vancouver
A locals guide for out-of-town Swifties coming to this fair city
The end of an era, the start of an age.
The Eras Tour concludes its nearly two year run next weekend (December 6-8). The numbers associated with the success of this tour are as staggering as the scenic mountains that ring my hometown of Vancouver, Canada - the same city that will play host to the swan song of this monumental production.
On its one year anniversary this past March, TIME and Forbes had clocked the Eras Tour revenue at north of $1 billion from over 6 million tickets sold to each of its sold out dates. But that was 63 dates and two legs ago. Since then, The Toronto Star has reported that that number has swelled to approximately 10 million tickets with revenue projections aimed at doubling the first billion dollars driven in 2023.
While traveling on my book tour for Taylor Swift Style I received so many recommendations from TSSers in the cities I was making stops in. I thought now would be a great time to return that favour.
📧 Email: This is going to get cut off in your inbox! This particular newsletter is best to view in app or in browser.
📕 Black Friday Deals: Speaking of Taylor Swift Style, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the deals for it right now are incredible. If you’ve considered grabbing a copy now is a great time to do so. Particularly ahead of the holidays, I think that this would make for a stunning gift for any Swiftie in your life - even if it’s you! (Barnes & Noble, Refinery 29, Popsugar, and The Strategist also agree!)
I was born and raised in Vancouver and have lived here all my life. This place is so special to me and I hope that the tens of thousands of Swifties who are about to descend on this city - and who will subsequently inject $40 million into our local economy every day - get to experience everything I love about this place. The ocean. The mountains. The persistent mist and rain, yes. But the beauty in the gloom!
For context on the below recommendations, I am the type of person who will format an entire vacation / trip around the foods that I eat :). What can I say, I have priorities.
Also note that while I’m sure there are a lot of Swiftie-themed activities happening in the city (dance parties, friendship bracelet making stations, etc) that my recommendations are from the POV of someone who live laugh loves here year-round and would love for you to take in the the things that make Vancouver what it is beyond just honoured host to this final round of dates on the Eras Tour.
Taylor Swift Style Vancouver Signing: Naturally, I have to start with a bit of shameless self-promotion. Apologies! But if you happen to be coming into Vancouver for December 6, I am signing copies of Taylor Swift Style at the Indigo downtown on Robson Street at 3pm. I would so love to see you there! Tickets are HERE.
Capilano Suspension Bridge: In my opinion this is the non-negotiable thing to do in Vancouver. This park features a swinging suspension bridge that you take into a beautifully wooded park area set up with trails to walk through and an additional Treetops Adventure path comprised of seven more suspension bridges platformed into the trees. The panoramic Cliffwalk they recently installed is also surreal. You can certainly go to the park during the day but Swifties have the added seasonal benefit of coming to Vancouver when our annual Canyon Lights attraction is on. Every year the park strings Christmas lights up on the bridge and in the trees for a stunning holiday display and for December 5-9, they are doing Canyon Lights (Taylor’s Version) and turning the suspension bridge into a gigantic friendship bracelet in addition to incorporating Swiftie-themed photo ops throughout the park. I highly recommend buying tickets online for a timed spot to enjoy the park which you can do so HERE.
Pro Tip: If you don’t like crowds and if you’re pressed for time / budget and want a portion of the suspension bridge experience, meander over to Lynn Canyon Park where there is a similar and FREE suspension bridge nestled in the Pacific Northwest woods. It doesn’t have the grandeur of Capilano but there are some lovely hiking trails in the area and it’s bound to be far less crowded.
Seawall: An uninterrupted waterfront pathway comprising 28 km of paved road. The Seawall rings not only our stunning downtown waterfront and several of our beaches (my favourites are Second and Jericho) but namely the crown jewel of the city: Stanley Park. You can certainly walk portions of the Seawall but in my opinion it’s best taken in by bike (there are tons of rental bike stores near Stanley Park including Spokes) so you can really zoom through the entire pathway and get acquainted with the nature of Vancouver. And if you get peckish, stop at the Stanley Park Teahouse for a dainty meal.
Vancouver Aquarium: There are otters. And penguins. And chubby seals. I don’t know what more I need to say in order to sell this to you. A delight for all who enjoy aquatic creatures. And who doesn’t enjoy aquatic creatures?! As someone who has hosted a lot of people over the years and taken every single one to the Aquarium, not even I have gotten bored of it. Also a natural stop to take any kids if your Swift trip to Vancouver includes them.
Science World: If you’re coming to town with kiddos, this is a great family-friendly (indoor) activity that’s also conveniently located within a stone’s throw of BC Place. An immersive, interactive science center that’s a lot of fun for kids.
Vancouver Art Gallery: Our best known art museum that’s beautiful to walk through.
Kitsilano / Granville Island: To head across the bridge south to the Kits area is to enter yoga country (aka where famed athletic brand lululemon is headquartered and many of its employees live in its vicinity). It’s just a hop southwest from the downtown core. Walk up and down West 4th for shopping (a lot of my favourite retailers line this street including Mejuri, Melanie Auld, lululemon, Knix, Poppy Barley, and beyond) or go onto Granville Island itself for a meander through their farmers market and local vendor offerings (Siegel’s Bagels, Hobbs Pickles, Go Fish, Popina) is a fun way to walk about.
Lonsdale Quay: Similar in energy to Granville Island, it’s the North Shore’s answer to a farmers market / independent vendor situation. You can certainly drive or transit to the Shore but I recommend taking a SeaBus from Waterfront Station. For the whimsy and a new perspective on this city that is surrounded on three sides by water.
Van Dusen Botanical Garden: A very large sprawling garden that will also host holiday lights this time of year if you find yourself free in the evening. Beautiful for a meandering walk if you’d like to get lost in more “curated” nature than a hiking trail.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden: Super peaceful little spot tucked away in Vancouver’s Chinatown. Also some amusing chaotic otter history in case you’re curious. (tl;dr A stray otter somehow found its way inside and ate its way through many highly prized and very old koi who have lived in the garden’s ponds for decades. The otter evaded capture for days. Eventually, garden staff needed to shift focus from capturing the errant otter to evacuating the remaining precious koi to safety.) ((When you think otters as you traipse through this tranquil little spot in Vancouver, I hope you think of me.))
Granville Street: Tons of music venues along this strip as well as big retail stores including the large shopping mall Pacific Centre and Holt Renfrew.
Commercial Drive: Bustling area with tons of restaurants and breweries. If you also enjoy absently going through quaint neighbourhoods, wander just off “The Drive” (as we call it) and take in some of Vancouver’s older single resident family homes that are fun to look at (and are quietly worth millions).
Main Street / Mount Pleasant: One of Vancouver’s older neighbourhoods. Walk down Main Street for cute boutiques and shops plus great food.
Gastown / Steam Clock: A charming neighbourhood in the downtown core that is the original part of Vancouver’s settlement. It’s a national historic site and comes with the old school charm of cobblestoned streets and iron wrought lamp posts. The biggest draw is the Steam Clock. It’s one of only a handful of operating steam clocks in existence and was the first one ever created by maker Raymond Saunders whose other steam clocks can be found in Otaru, Japan and Indianapolis, IN.
COFFEE
Mr TSS is quite the coffee snob so I’ll allow him to provide guest commentary annotations for this section based on the quality of the coffee and ambiance. Meanwhile I, as a croissant connoisseur, will weigh in on the pastries / food.
Nemesis: Good coffee - better than a commercial coffee shop, but not the best in the city. Wonderful pastries. Good food/brunch. Nice decor. A solid all arounder. There are multiple locations for a reason - they’re a popular and well-liked local coffee purveyor. My recommendation is the location on the North Shore because of its proximity to Lonsdale Quay and the pier which offers a great view of the downtown Vancouver core from a different perspective across the water. While also being a convenient 10-15 minutes from the aforementioned Capilano Suspension Bridge. Mr TSS prefers the Great Northern Way location for its unique store aesthetic / shape (you’ll understand when you go - it looks like a giant onion from the exterior, as seen above).
Barrio: Great milk-based coffee drinks. Meh pastries. Tucked away inside a church. A hidden gem not many people know about but if you’re going to Capilano Suspension Bridge (above) it’s a short walk away (but closed on Sundays - for obvious reasons).
Small Victory: Fine coffee but they are more focused on their food offerings. Speaking of, great pastries. They even serve tiny mini croissants if you just want a bite of one (though why would you only want one single bite of a croissant?). Very good cakes (if you felt like buying an entire cake, that is) ((and I wouldn’t judge you if you were)).
Beaucoup: Do not drink the coffee. Excellent pastries - some of my favourite croissants in the city, in fact. There are two locations. The original is in Kitsilano which is cute, if cramped. There’s an adorable mural outside and a cute park / garden area to sit in across the street if the seats fill up. There is a second location inside the St. Regis hotel downtown. The latter is more chic. In both instances, they are within walking distance to far superior coffee (Oidé in Kits, Revolver in Gastown - more on both below).
Oidé Coffee: Incredibly friendly staff. Limited menu, by design. They don’t do anything if they can’t do it superbly. Minimalist / streamlined wabi sabi Japanese aesthetic.
Revolver: A Vancouver mainstay. Constantly rotating selection of some of the best roasters in the world if you’re interested in taking home beans. Typically quite busy. They are better at filter/pour over drinks, milk-based drinks are hit/miss. Underwhelming pastries. Revolver spills over into the extra commercial space next door called The Archive which is a fun place to hang for bumping beats to sip your coffee to.
Yuán: Outstanding coffee. Meh pastries. Minimal decor and not much to speak of inside in terms of decor or aesthetic or the location which is randomly placed in East Vancouver. The staff are very coffee knowledgeable and lovely. This is Mr TSS’ favourite spot in the whole city. Highly recommended for the coffee snobs. You’re best off taking the ‘omikase’ approach and handing control over to the barista for your beverage.
Their There: Meh coffee. Good pastries. Excellent fried chicken sandwich. Yes, really.
COCKTAILS / BARS
The Alibi Room: Great offerings of beer and all around such a cool place in historic Gastown that’s much cooler and less “chain”-like than a lot of spots nearby. Get a Dark & Stormy for me!
Superflux: Fantastically cool brewery located in the very hipster East Vancouver neighbourhood. All the beer is very good and bonus you can go across the street afterwards to Earnest Ice Cream for, well, ice cream. Although I will say that the superior ice cream is Rain or Shine located on West 4th in Kitsilano (get the Honey Lavender!)
The Botanist: Located inside the very chic Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel. Another upscale west coast contemporary joint with a great wine and cocktail list. This is a favourite amongst me and my girl gal friend group for an evening out.
BRUNCH
Anticipate any notable brunch spot in Vancouver to have a line. We take brunch culture seriously and love a ridiculously long line in this city.
Medina: A very special place to Mr TSS and I. We’ve been coming here for years and years since the start of our relationship and even had our pre-wedding brunch here. Everything is always good. I recommend the tagine and a liège waffle (or two) with the raspberry caramel sauce. Oh and if you’re feeling frisky a White Chocolate Pistachio Rosewater Mocha. It’s a mouthful in multiple ways. They are typically quite busy but they take reservations at a cost (donations made to charity for every reso).
Jam Café: This is an off-shoot of the original which is located in our capital city of Victoria. Fantastically funky bowls (my favourite is the one filled with tater tots). Expect a long line unless you show up at opening which I do recommend. There are two locations, one in Kits and one in Gastown.
Fable: This spot also does an exquisite dinner but I’m presenting it here as a nearby alternative option in Kits to the insanely busy Jam Café (above). As the name implies, they excel at the “farm to table” philosophy.
Yolk’s: Other Canadians might be familiar as they have locations in Alberta, Ontario, and Quebec. But the magic words for me? Truffle lemon potatoes. That is all.
Twisted Fork: The thing I remember most about this place is that it serves the best caesar I’ve ever had. Lip smackingly dilly.
Honey Salt: Located inside the Parq hotel, this is a bougie little brunch spot. Speaking of caesars, if you love a caesar (as I do) the staff also bring around a ridiculous build-your-own caesar bar that is a fun tableside activity.
DINNER
I had many many many recommendations on my list so I’ve tried to conveniently split them up by neighbourhood.
Coal Harbour / Gastown / Railtown
Nuba: Delicious Lebanese food. There are two locations but the Gastown one is the cozier of the two and my personal recommendation. There’s also the added benefit that it’s a short walk down to BC Place. In addition to fantastic food, their fresh juices are delightful. I recommend the Feast Of Dips because who doesn’t love a dip, the brussels sprouts, and the chicken skewer.
Di Beppe: One of the coziest and best Italian spots I know and the bonus is it’s about a 10-15 minute walk to BC Place. Metre long pizzas (that’s approximately 3’ if you’re American)! Delish Italian cocktails! Great pastas! Lovely atmosphere that’s friendly and casual.
Chambar: I usually go to Chambar once a year on my annual solo night out to take in the Nutcracker around Christmas time. I grab a seat at the bar, order moules frites (mussels with fries) + a negroni, and people watch. It’s the loveliest place highlighted most by its unique blown glass light fixtures featured throughout that are an ambiance selling feature on their own. Conveniently located on a Skytrain stop for anyone transiting into the city and a short walk to BC Place for the concert. They also do brunch!
MeeT: This is a vegan/vegetarian place, neither of which I am but I genuinely love going here so much even as a meat eater. I usually get the cauliflower and their spicy burger. There are multiple locations but the one in Gastown is the best aesthetically.
Nightingale: A truly sublime experience. This is the type of place where you feel like being bejeweled, want to put on your best dress, and go out for a fancy night on the town. I’ve had many memories with my closest girl friends chatting the night away at this place.
Belgard Kitchen: Their wine flights are fantastic and I’ve never had anything bad here. In addition to wine they also have a brewery on site so the beer is great, too. The pizzettes are a delight to share.
Ask For Luigi: A very cozy intimate Italian spot that feels like family. So charming and really special.
Chinatown
DD Mau: I used to have more recommendations in this area but many sadly got taken out during the pandemic. DD Mau, however, remains a hidden gem in Chinatown I love recommending to people because it’s so unexpected. Everything is just so fresh and made with love. It’s elevated Vietnamese in a little secret spot. The shrimp papaya salad is unexpectedly delightful.
Fiorino: A tucked away Italian spot unexpectedly in Chinatown. Another gem that not a lot of people know about. More of a drinks, nibbles, and share plates sort of place if you like to mingle and languish over a meal with friends.
Kissa Tanto: A surprising fusion spot in the heart of Chinatown that is Japanese/Italian. Trust me it works. A slightly more upscale place so be prepared for omakase if you’re in a large group.
Commercial Drive
La Mezcaleria: A favourite spot of mine and Mr. TSS’. We go here on our anniversary every year. I’m a huge fan of mezcal (a smoky tequila) so I will always get a mezcal negroni here (my signature bevvy). Also get the Amigos Flight to share and the baja + pastor tacos.
Sing Sing: A unique food menu (think Asian meets classic bar food) but the prize is the decor. Once you step inside you’ll understand. Trust me. I also personally recommend the Commercial Drive location over the one on Main Street. It’s better in every way.
Via Tevere: In a quieter part of Commercial Drive nestled amongst those residential houses I spoke of before. Very family friendly but known to get busy. Get there early!
Livia: Everything here is great but it’s a small space so good luck getting a spot. They also serve brunch and coffee during the day in case you’d like to stop in.
Caffe La Tana: Painfully charming Italian. Great pasta and vibes.
Loula’s: Understated Greek. I like posting up at the bar and splitting appies with friends.
Jamjar: Laidback Lebanese spot. Very cute!
Mount Pleasant
Vij’s: I don’t typically frequent this neighbourhood but even I will venture down here for the very well known Indian food at Vij’s. An iconic Vancouver mainstay.
Tacofino Ocho: Not for people interested in an “authentic” Mexican experience but a fun night out nonetheless. They have a lot of locations in Vancouver after finding a lot of success in their original location of Tofino (located on Vancouver Island and known for its surfing / quaint town vibes). The Ocho location (their eighth launch, if you couldn’t guess by the name) is the most chic in terms of decor. Pictured it above!
Yaletown
A note that generally speaking Yaletown is a super bougie area. I don’t typically frequent this neighbourhood but damn if they don’t do ridiculously expensive nights out well if you and a group of your closest pals feel like splurging.
Dovetail: Great atmosphere, as most Yaletown restaurants are going to do due to aforementioned bougie-ness, and food. The ‘bang bang shrimp’, brussels sprouts, and every single pasta is so good.
The Parlour: Incredibly expensive but delicious pizza. You’ve been warned.
North Vancouver
Nicli Antica: Really great pizza if you like it Neapolitan style and fantastic cocktails. If I were building the ideal itinerary on The Shore (as we call it) it would be hitting up Nemesis for brunch, coffee, and pastries then going to Capilano Suspension Bridge for a beautiful meander. In the summer, a pitstop in Deep Cove for a hike up Quarry Rock followed by a reward of a doughnut from Honey (a favourite of Kate Winslet and Prince Harry / Meghan Markle). Finish it off by heading to Nicli for pizza and a negroni. The perfect day.
Farina A Legna: If Nicli doesn’t pan out for you, this is another great Italian spot.
Mr. Sushi: Despite not dropping a lot of sushi spots on this list (a lot of my favourites are sneaky holes in walls out in the suburbs), sushi is one of my favourite foods. My problem is that a lot of the sushi spots in Vancouver proper are (imo) overpriced for what they are (Tom Sushi in Davie Village and Miku in Coal Harbour are two that come to mind). That said, the name of this spot is a little silly but they are fantastic. Their aburi oshi is fantastic. They have locations downtown but I like the one in the Lonsdale neighbourhood of North Van the best.
I feel I shouldn’t have to tell you but I will anyway that I would highly recommend not driving downtown while the concerts are going on. I anticipate traffic will be a nightmare. Best to rely on transit or ride share options of which there are options!
SkyTrain: Our version of an underground subway system except, well, ours is (most often) vaulted into the sky on concrete pillars. As I’m sure you can deduce by the name. Easy to navigate and very reliable (except in inclement weather). The Canada Line will take you directly from the airport to downtown Vancouver in a straight shot. The Millennium and Expo lines criss cross around Vancouver proper and into surrounding suburbs (Burnaby, New Westminster, Surrey) and the Evergreen line will take you further out to surrounding suburbs (Port Moody, Coquitlam) depending on where you’re staying. If you are staying in North Vancouver across the water, your only transit options are the SeaBus or regular bus. BC Place is serviced by its own dedicated SkyTrain station ‘Stadium-Chinatown’.
Uber / Lyft: Available readily should you choose.
Bus: In my opinion, a last resort. My transiting preference is to get as close as possible to my destination via Skytrain and then walk. Canada, while vast physically, is not dense in terms of population. As a result, even our largest and most metropolitan cities can feel very small in comparison to larger American cities. As I experienced myself while on the Taylor Swift Style book tour and was a first-time visitor to places like Chicago. I find neighbourhoods within Vancouver are very walkable.
Phew! That was a lot but I truly hope it’s useful. If you’re coming into Vancouver in the next week (or near future) and would like further recommendations (specific needs for yourself or your group) or have any other questions (getting around, neighbourhood vibes, safety tips, etc) feel free to drop your questions in the comments down below.
While I will not be in Vancouver for the Eras Tour I have wanted to visit for years so I will be keeping these recs in my back pocket for the day I finally make it there!
Thank you for doing this! Hope to use it another time. Looking forward to posts on the concert too.