Eat, Drink & Explore
Explore Our Unique View on Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful place to visit. Stay at the Victorian Hotel and be close to all the attractions and places our lovely west coast city has to offer. There are bars, restaurants, events, shows, and many activities to choose from.
Gastown
Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood, Gastown grew from a single tavern founded by John ‘Gassy Jack’ Deighton back in 1867. Today, the district retains its historic charm and independent spirit. Victorian architecture houses a thriving fashion scene, impeccably curated décor boutiques, one-of-a-kind galleries and some of the best culinary fare in Vancouver. It’s a gathering place for stylish locals and an ideal neighbourhood to explore on foot. Gastown lies along the north of the downtown Vancouver peninsula, from Richards east to Main Street, and south to Hastings Street.
Gastown is a neighbourhood that seamlessly combines old with new, history with the way forward. An essential part of Vancouver’s history, a visit to Gastown should include a stroll along Water Street, where you’ll find a picture-perfect collection of old buildings, cobblestones, the Steam Clock, and vintage lampposts. Continue to the end of Water Street to visit a statue of the man who started it all, Gassy Jack Deighton. Architecture and history buffs can take organized walking tours of the area to further explore. Get a bird’s eye view of the area from the Vancouver Lookout, which rises 167-metres (548-feet) to give visitors a 360˚ panorama of the city.
Neighbourhoods
If a city is judged by its diversity and culture, we’re proud to say that Vancouver’s neighbourhoods take top honours. No less than a dozen different enclaves invite visitors and locals to stroll colourful sidewalks, savour spectacular settings and soak in a wide range of urban vibes with roots in many different cultures and ways of life. And the bonus for visitors is that many of the neighbourhoods in Vancouver are located close to each other, making it possible to see many sides of the city during your visit.
It would take weeks, if not months, to see all there is to see in each neighbourhood, so you can focus on just a few in great detail or hit the highlights of them all. To help you narrow down the choices, we’ve provided this guide to Vancouver neighborhoods.
Attractions
Vancouver has an endless supply of attractions and things to see and do. It doesn’t matter what time of day or what time of year – whether you want to be indoors or out, active or a spectator, spend a lot of money or none at all – Vancouver has it all!
And don’t forget – Whistler and the mountains are just a two hour drive away!
Eat & Drink
Vancouverites know their city’s culinary scene. They know where to find the best tower of fresh seafood, the finest house-made charcuterie, the most delicious taco truck, and the best list of B.C. wines. Vancouverites are entirely capable of having a stand-up argument about which sushi restaurant is the best, even if both restaurants are exquisite.
And the city’s restaurants, wine bars, tasting rooms, cocktail dens, food trucks, farmer’s markets and bakeries are absolutely deserving of this passion. So go ahead and explore what Vancouver’s restaurants have to offer.