A Day in Vancouver

[craigwd]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

Any cool place to get something to eat? Preferably something inexpensive as it's at the end of our vacation.

The restaurants around Jack Poole Plaza (by the Olympic cauldron and Convention Centre) are really good, especially after a jaunt around Stanley Park.

I like the Tap and Barrel.

[Galakanokis]

Tap and Barrel is a great place. I also like Mahony and Son which is right there as well.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Lots of good eats on Denman St which is close to Stanley park. Tons of variety and every price range you can choose.

Some other cheep eat downtown you may like:
-Hubbub: Pretty awesome sandwiches. http://www.hubbubsandwiches.com
-Chipoltle: Haven't had it myself, but gets a lot of hype and I don't think Calgary has one yet?
-Whole Foods or Urban Fair: High end grocery stores similar to Sunterra Markets in Calgary. Their cafes have a nice variety of fresh food and a laid back place to grab lunch.

[Tinordi]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Lots of good eats on Denman St which is close to Stanley park. Tons of variety and every price range you can choose.

Some other cheep eat downtown you may like:
-Hubbub: Pretty awesome sandwiches. http://www.hubbubsandwiches.com
-Chipoltle: Haven't had it myself, but gets a lot of hype and I don't think Calgary has one yet?
-Whole Foods or Urban Fair: High end grocery stores similar to Sunterra Markets in Calgary. Their cafes have a nice variety of fresh food and a laid back place to grab lunch.

You recommend that he goes to some chain restaurants and bourgeois grocers?

If you're on Denman go to Kintaro Ramen.

Done.

If you're in Gastown go to the Alibi room, sit down, shut up and drink beer.

[darklord700]

Seek out Japadog. I had it once and craved to go back to Van again just for that.

[squiggs96]

Some thoughts on the above posts:

-Japadog - It's a hot dog. Sure it's good, but it's still a hot dog. If you take are in town for one day and you spend one of your meals eating a hot dog, when there is world class food here, you're doing it wrong. The restaurant is right by my office and the carts are all within a 10 minute walk, but I go there maybe once a year. It is inexpensive, so it fits that part.

Mahony and Son - Crappy pub food served by girls not "talented" enough to work at Joey's or Cactus Club. I've been there twice, and I'd rather eat a microwave dinner than go back.

Joe Forte's and Blue Water are indeed pricey. They are delicious and have excellent service, but they are expensive.

Check out Bella Gelataria. The guy makes amazing gelato. He's completely arrogant, but he backs it up with his product. It's on the pricey side, but if you are only doing it once, it's not bad. He's opened up a second location in Yaletown now as well.

Go Fish - Neat little fish shack on the water near Granville Island. Pro tip: call ahead and pick up your food. The line ups can get over an hour depending on the weather. The shack is pretty small, so it's tough for them to pump out the volume. We've even called while in the line, as it gets your order in the queue.

Tuc - Great restaurant in Gastown. Reasonable prices at lunch and phenomenal food.

Peaceful Restaurant - Was featured on DDD. People here love it.

Tableau Restaurant - Excellent restaurant in the Loden Hotel. Not cheap, but the lunch is reasonably priced.

Sciue - Cheap, delicious, pizza and Italian food made by actual Italian. Highly recommended over Japadog for about the same price point.

Seasons in the Park - One of my favourite restaurants. Amazing view and great food. It's not cheap and it's tough to access if you don't have a car. Pro tip: Valet your car as it's cheaper than paying for parking on the street and you don't have to walk to your car after your meal.

[darklord700]

Originally Posted by squiggs96

Joe Forte's and Blue Water are indeed pricey. They are delicious and have excellent service, but they are expensive.

Joe Forte has excellent oyster bar. I went for lunch and got out costing only $100 damage.

[afc wimbledon]

If your on a one day layover I probably wouldn't try to squeeze to much in, Granville island followed by a sea taxi cruise around false creek is always nice, the sandbar or bishops is good for lunch there as well.

I'd probably stay downtown, given you'll have to be at the airport by 5ish for a 7 o'clock flight, I'd go for a walk around Robson and Gucci gulch on Burrard, or maybe down to Yaletown then catch the water taxi to Granville island. If the weather was great Stanley park or grouse mountain but most likely it makes sense to stay around buildings, cafes and pavement.

You don't want to get to far away from your hotel and the route back out to the airport, bridges to the north shore can be a pain as can the trip out to the airport in the late afternoon.

[Hack&Lube]

For Vancouver, I found they have a great selection of AirBnB places that are far better than hotels in price/features and located in great areas.

[fatso]

I'm shocked anyone would recommend a cash grab like Joe Forte's. Mediocre food at exorbitant rates with poor service all because people keep repeating that it is a Vancouver institution. On the flip side, I'll defend Mahoney&Sons in the Convention Centre. There is nothing great about it per se, but it has a beautiful view of the water and North Van, which is quite enjoyable on a clear day/evening, and the food is fine.

The best advice in this thread for your day is probably arc wimbledon's, above. Don't try to get too much in. If you are in and around Stanley Park as you plan, and you get nice weather (fingers crossed), you should be able to walk around and enjoy the views. You'll find lots of cool places to eat/drink on your own. As a recommendation, you might want to try Cardero's in Coal Harbour which you could walk to at day's end. Beautiful view of the water, nice restaurant, and good food, and shouldn't break the bank. It's a good couple place too, if that makes sense.

Have fun! Your plan to hotel near the airport and skytrain down for the day is a good one given your timeline.

[troutman]

Happy to see my old watering hole is still there:

http://www.thefringecafe.com/

What else is still there? Side Door, Graceland, Kits Pub, The Pit, Topanga, Richards on Richards, Biminis?

I saw there is a book out about the history of The Commodore.

http://www.arsenalpulp.com/bookinfo.php?index=404

Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, the Commodore Ballroom is one of the best-loved music venues in Canada, if not the world; it's played host to a who's-who of music greats: The Police, The Clash, Blondie, Talking Heads, Nirvana, New York Dolls, U2, and, in more recent years, Lady Gaga, Tom Waits, and the White Stripes. But the Commodore's history extends back to 1930, when it was built in the splendor of art-deco style. It then became a magnet for Vancouver's decadent society set, who stashed their contraband liquor bottles beneath their tables. Through World War II and into the 1950s, the Commodore was where Vancouverites enjoyed a night out to hear swing orchestras and dance into the night.


Beginning in the 1970s, the Commodore became a full-on music club, a must-stop for breakout bands and other music acts before they became arena headliners. Vancouverites soon filled the place on a nightly basis, not only to hear the latest in punk, new wave, blues, heavy metal, and rock, but also to dance on its legendary bouncy sprung floor. It is now regarded as a music landmark, "the nightclub for all seasons" that continues to attract the hottest acts on tour, defying and outlasting other cultural venues that have gone the way of gentrification.

[fatso]

Ha, Fringe Cafe is a great little place. I haven't been there in forever, but it was one of my first haunts when I moved out here.

As for the others I frequented which you mention, I believe Side Door is closed (I might be wrong), not sure about Kits Pub. Bimini's is still going strong. The Pit is still running, though there is a proper pub on campus now (it's like malls at the campus ends of W. 10th and W. 16th).

Sadly, Dick's on Dicks closed a few years back. That is a real tragedy. It was a great place and I saw so many fantastic shows there over the years. There are some other venues that have opened so those kinds of shows are still being booked in Van, but it's not the same (to me, anyway).

[Galakanokis]

Dick's has been closed for at least 3 years. My old office was a block down from that on Homer (above Blue Water Cafe). It's all condos now. If you mean Topanga cafe on west 4th it is still there as far as I know. Haven't been down that way in awhile but pretty sure it is still there.

There's a lot to see, do, eat downtown which is why I suggested just going for a stroll, see something you find interesting and pop in. Grab one of those cheesey tourist maps and away you go....

As for Joe's, I think it started to go down hill when it was bought by the Keg group. Basically all the steak houses in Vancouver are owned by them now.

[blankall]

I don't mind Joe forte's. They have a reasonably priced lunch menu. If you're there you may want to look into Italian Kitchen, Cin Cin, Black and Blue, etc.. All very close with similar experiences and lunch menu pricing.

[flylock shox]

In addition to some other recommendations, Sakana in Yaletown is great for sushi, and Chambar is great for atmosphere and Belgian beer. For the local beer experience try Alibi Room in Gastown or Augustines on Commercial Drive. Granville Island plus downtown by seabus is a great idea as you can see a lot of Vancouver's best in a short time.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

You recommend that he goes to some chain restaurants and bourgeois grocers?

If you're on Denman go to Kintaro Ramen.

Done.

If you're in Gastown go to the Alibi room, sit down, shut up and drink beer.

He said he wanted something cheap since they are on the end of a trip anyway, so I offered some easy options that are downtown and accessible around Stanley Park.
Certainly not the finest of dining, but decent if he wants cheap and cheerful and can avoid the whole dine it, order drinks, pay tips sort of experience.

[Zach]

Was just at the Alibi Room last night. Great place.

I recommend la taqueria on cambie street.

[afc wimbledon]

Originally Posted by Zach

Was just at the Alibi Room last night. Great place.

I recommend la taqueria on cambie street.

There's a great noodle joint just around the corner from there, just half a block on from the book warehouse on Broadway.

[Blaster86]

Every time I get reminded Richards on Richards closed, I get sad. Best concert I ever saw was there.