Joe and Sheila’s Guidebook to Vancouver

Joe
Joe and Sheila’s Guidebook to Vancouver

Our favourite restaurants

Places we regularly visit with friends.
Great spot. West coast food and good menu. Their happy hour can’t be beat but go early! Our absolute favourite are the brussel sprouts (yes brussel sprouts) The truffle mac-and-cheese will make you question what you have been eating up until this point ;)
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The Flying Pig Gastown
102 Water Street
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Great spot. West coast food and good menu. Their happy hour can’t be beat but go early! Our absolute favourite are the brussel sprouts (yes brussel sprouts) The truffle mac-and-cheese will make you question what you have been eating up until this point ;)
Amazing food. Two dinning areas. One is fancy and a good spot to sit down and take in the atmosphere and the other is more of a takeout area with a small seats for a quick bite.
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Tacofino Taco Bar
15 W Cordova St
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Amazing food. Two dinning areas. One is fancy and a good spot to sit down and take in the atmosphere and the other is more of a takeout area with a small seats for a quick bite.
A great BBQ spot that has a cool atmosphere and menu. Good selection of Whiskey too. Lots of seating and off the beaten path make this a good spot when you are looking for something close to the arenas but not as busy
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Devil's Elbow Ale and Smoke House
562 Beatty St
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A great BBQ spot that has a cool atmosphere and menu. Good selection of Whiskey too. Lots of seating and off the beaten path make this a good spot when you are looking for something close to the arenas but not as busy
A cool brewhouse and restaurant in an old cannery. A huge variety of beer on tap; will satisfy any beer connoisseur. Our favourite is the "20 Napkin Burger" A great item to share and you will love the garnish on this burger...its another smaller burger. A very short walk from our front door (15 mins). And lots of opportunities to take photos of false creek as you walk.
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CRAFT Beer Market False Creek
85 West 1st Avenue
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A cool brewhouse and restaurant in an old cannery. A huge variety of beer on tap; will satisfy any beer connoisseur. Our favourite is the "20 Napkin Burger" A great item to share and you will love the garnish on this burger...its another smaller burger. A very short walk from our front door (15 mins). And lots of opportunities to take photos of false creek as you walk.
Amazing Sushi at an affordable price. This is one of our "go to" sushi spots for a great yet economical meal. Lunch times can be very busy here but the line moves fast and its never that long of a wait. Our favourite is the tuna and salmon sashimi.
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Sushi Den
609 Abbott St
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Amazing Sushi at an affordable price. This is one of our "go to" sushi spots for a great yet economical meal. Lunch times can be very busy here but the line moves fast and its never that long of a wait. Our favourite is the tuna and salmon sashimi.

Favourite areas to hang out

Spots we like to take in the scenery and relax
Awesome spot to bring a “beverage” and take in the city scenery. Enjoy sitting by the water in a park like setting while taking in the views of the city. Feel free to ask us to borrow a backpack and a thermos bottle if you like.
Habitat Island
Awesome spot to bring a “beverage” and take in the city scenery. Enjoy sitting by the water in a park like setting while taking in the views of the city. Feel free to ask us to borrow a backpack and a thermos bottle if you like.
Our favourite spot to sit in the wooden chairs and watch the sunset. Be there for the 9 o’clock gun that fires across the harbour. A real Vancouver gem
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Olympischer Kessel @ Jack Poole Plaza
1055 Canada Pl
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Our favourite spot to sit in the wooden chairs and watch the sunset. Be there for the 9 o’clock gun that fires across the harbour. A real Vancouver gem
A great way to see the city! One of my personal favourite things to do when family is in town. Consider getting a day pass and ride these little boats and hop on and off as you choose. A great way to get around and see the skyline of Vancouver. The Aquabus is a perfect way to get to Granville Island
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Aquabus Ferries - Hornby Street Ferry Dock
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A great way to see the city! One of my personal favourite things to do when family is in town. Consider getting a day pass and ride these little boats and hop on and off as you choose. A great way to get around and see the skyline of Vancouver. The Aquabus is a perfect way to get to Granville Island
Where you will most likely find us if it's a nice day. Most tourists skip this beach as they are rushing to get back to the city by the time you reach 3rd beach via the seawall. Plan to watch the sunset from this beach and be ready for some great photos. Bring a backpack with some 'beverages' and set up camp like a local. Enjoy people watching and sightseeing as the cruise ships go by and float planes pass overhead. Our absolute favourite spot in the park
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Dritte Strand
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Where you will most likely find us if it's a nice day. Most tourists skip this beach as they are rushing to get back to the city by the time you reach 3rd beach via the seawall. Plan to watch the sunset from this beach and be ready for some great photos. Bring a backpack with some 'beverages' and set up camp like a local. Enjoy people watching and sightseeing as the cruise ships go by and float planes pass overhead. Our absolute favourite spot in the park
A nice close park that is new and has areas to sit and relax to take in the scenery. Volleyball courts and areas for street hockey make this park a fun spot to people watch. Pick your spot in the grass and watch the citylife go by.
Concord Community Park
50 Pacific Blvd
A nice close park that is new and has areas to sit and relax to take in the scenery. Volleyball courts and areas for street hockey make this park a fun spot to people watch. Pick your spot in the grass and watch the citylife go by.
A neat spot to check out There are 2 parks here, one free and one that is paid admission, all rocks and vegetation imported from China. A cool spot that is close by and a quick 15 min visit will usually do.
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Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
578 Carrall St
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A neat spot to check out There are 2 parks here, one free and one that is paid admission, all rocks and vegetation imported from China. A cool spot that is close by and a quick 15 min visit will usually do.

Great Spots for Cheap Food and Drinks

Here are our recommends if you are looking for our favourite spots when you value the unique and affordable. Some of these spots are can be off the beaten path, but sometimes that's just what you need.
Hidden down an alley and appealing to the adventurous. A Mexican locale with super cheap eats and no-name beer. No sign advertising this spot, only for those who know where to find it! My favourite is the pork burrito!
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Gringo
27 Blood Alley Square
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Hidden down an alley and appealing to the adventurous. A Mexican locale with super cheap eats and no-name beer. No sign advertising this spot, only for those who know where to find it! My favourite is the pork burrito!
A funky spot for good food and drinks. All menu items are $5.99! Lots of snowboarding movies playing on the tv and a Skateboard and Snowboard influenced decor. Gets busy on Friday and Saturday nights. Our recommended food items are the wings and the penne bowl.
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Warehouse - Hastings
156 W Hastings St
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A funky spot for good food and drinks. All menu items are $5.99! Lots of snowboarding movies playing on the tv and a Skateboard and Snowboard influenced decor. Gets busy on Friday and Saturday nights. Our recommended food items are the wings and the penne bowl.
Doesn't get any more basic than this spot. Under a hostel and attracts lots of travellers. A good patio with cheap eats. A great spot to people watch and see some of the colourful people who call Vancouver home. We like this spot for Brunch after a late night out. So far this is the cheapest place we have found to get pictures of beer in town! A good spot to hit before a concert or a game. Don't expect great service but the atmosphere more than makes up for it.
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The Charles Bar
136 W Cordova St
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Doesn't get any more basic than this spot. Under a hostel and attracts lots of travellers. A good patio with cheap eats. A great spot to people watch and see some of the colourful people who call Vancouver home. We like this spot for Brunch after a late night out. So far this is the cheapest place we have found to get pictures of beer in town! A good spot to hit before a concert or a game. Don't expect great service but the atmosphere more than makes up for it.
Yes Costco Their cheap hotdogs can't be beat and sometimes just what you might need as your night in the city is getting started. This locale has their hotdog and pizza stand on the outside of the store so there is no need for a Costco membership!
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Costco Wholesale
605 Expo Blvd
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Yes Costco Their cheap hotdogs can't be beat and sometimes just what you might need as your night in the city is getting started. This locale has their hotdog and pizza stand on the outside of the store so there is no need for a Costco membership!
A sports bar that can't be beat. The happy hour here will get you a free pound of wings with every pint purchased! Our favourite wings are the parmesan herb wings. We recommend to sit at the bar if you can as service seems to be faster. This pub is great but can get really crowded on nights when there are sporting events on and on weekends.
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The Pint Public House
455 Abbott St
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A sports bar that can't be beat. The happy hour here will get you a free pound of wings with every pint purchased! Our favourite wings are the parmesan herb wings. We recommend to sit at the bar if you can as service seems to be faster. This pub is great but can get really crowded on nights when there are sporting events on and on weekends.
One our favourite spots for a quick bite in the afternoon. Try the caveman burrito with chicken. Add all the fixings and roasted garlic. A steal in the city for $8 A good spot for paleo or vegan food too. Eat in, or take it to go as you explore the city. Free wifi too
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Caveman Café
508 Abbott St
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One our favourite spots for a quick bite in the afternoon. Try the caveman burrito with chicken. Add all the fixings and roasted garlic. A steal in the city for $8 A good spot for paleo or vegan food too. Eat in, or take it to go as you explore the city. Free wifi too

Bike Rentals

Our recommend for a bike rental place close-by. Good customer service and all our guests have had good experiences. This spot does offer 24hr rentals for those who want to keep bikes overnight.
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JV Bike
929 Expo Blvd
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Classy Venues for a Cocktail

When you are looking for a drink after dinner and maybe some live music, these are our favourite venues.
Small but awesome. Live Jazz and 50's era music. Very personable venue. Highly recommend stopping in for a martini when the band is playing. Sit at the bar and watch out for celebrities in the crowd. A hidden gem close to our place
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Revel Room Supper Club & Live Music Restaurant
238 Abbott St
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Small but awesome. Live Jazz and 50's era music. Very personable venue. Highly recommend stopping in for a martini when the band is playing. Sit at the bar and watch out for celebrities in the crowd. A hidden gem close to our place
Step back in time with this prohibition themed establishment. A great spot for a late night cocktail at the bar while listening to life music. Ask the bartenders to make you their favourite and I guarantee it will be something you have never had before. Late night dinner menu is great too. Highly recommended
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Pourhouse Restaurant
162 Water St
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Step back in time with this prohibition themed establishment. A great spot for a late night cocktail at the bar while listening to life music. Ask the bartenders to make you their favourite and I guarantee it will be something you have never had before. Late night dinner menu is great too. Highly recommended

Things to Do

When we have friends come to the city (like you!), here are some of our "go to" activities for a day in Vancouver.
Bike the seawall. Rent a bike and see what is arguably the best park in the world. Give yourself about an hour so for a leisurely ride and take in some of the awesome scenery. This is a must do on a nice day in Vancouver but keep in mind it can get busy on weekends.
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Vancouver Seawall
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Bike the seawall. Rent a bike and see what is arguably the best park in the world. Give yourself about an hour so for a leisurely ride and take in some of the awesome scenery. This is a must do on a nice day in Vancouver but keep in mind it can get busy on weekends.
A vibrant market with a great view. Check out the market and pick up some items for a picnic in stanley park. The market has lots of artisan venders that won't disappoint. You can bike to the market or take the aquabus. Keep in mind on weekends in the summer this market gets very busy but still worth the trip, just consider going early to avoid some of the rush.
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Granville Island Public Market
1689 Johnston St
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A vibrant market with a great view. Check out the market and pick up some items for a picnic in stanley park. The market has lots of artisan venders that won't disappoint. You can bike to the market or take the aquabus. Keep in mind on weekends in the summer this market gets very busy but still worth the trip, just consider going early to avoid some of the rush.
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Capilano Suspension Bridge
3735 Capilano Rd
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Breakfast

Great spot for breakfast. A true locals spot. Walking to this spot will take you through a bit of a rough neighbourhood but we swear it makes the avocado toast and coffee taste better:) Off the beaten path and one of our go to places. Freshly baked bread makes this diner smell amazing and helps you “recover” after a night in the city. Share the avocado toast and get a coffee and watch the city life go by. Free wifi
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Nelson the Seagull
315 Carrall St
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Great spot for breakfast. A true locals spot. Walking to this spot will take you through a bit of a rough neighbourhood but we swear it makes the avocado toast and coffee taste better:) Off the beaten path and one of our go to places. Freshly baked bread makes this diner smell amazing and helps you “recover” after a night in the city. Share the avocado toast and get a coffee and watch the city life go by. Free wifi
Great spot, but count on a line up for brunch on weekends. Good service and their truffle omelette will make you question what the heck you have been eating for breakfast up to this point. Good coffee and other items on the menu but the omelette is our favourite.
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Catch 122 Cafe Bistro
128 W Hastings St
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Great spot, but count on a line up for brunch on weekends. Good service and their truffle omelette will make you question what the heck you have been eating for breakfast up to this point. Good coffee and other items on the menu but the omelette is our favourite.
To be honest we have yet to actually eat here. Judging by the lineup we encounter the food either is amazing or they are giving away free rent with breakfast. This is a highly rated place with great reviews, worth checking out to see what the hype is about. We usually try and go but don't have the patience to wait in the line when the stomach monsters are calling for coffee and food.
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Jam Cafe
556 Beatty St
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To be honest we have yet to actually eat here. Judging by the lineup we encounter the food either is amazing or they are giving away free rent with breakfast. This is a highly rated place with great reviews, worth checking out to see what the hype is about. We usually try and go but don't have the patience to wait in the line when the stomach monsters are calling for coffee and food.