VANCOUVER, "HOLLYWOOD NORTH"

BY CLAY LARROY

Traveling can be an important part of your life, whether for business or for pleasure. Take time each day to alleviate stress while traveling or vacationing and you will thank yourself for it when you get back home. With all the chaos, jet-lag, partying and other excitement of travel comes a whole lot of stress on your mind and body. By the time most vacations are over, another one is needed to recover so taking a few minutes each day to rejuvenate will make it easier for you to resume your normal life when it's all over. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!

Shopping in Vancouver

Vancouverites are environmentally aware, and there's been a boom in independent stores stocking locally made and designed wares. You'll find all the major brands and chains, but the real gems are the unique shops selling BC produce.

Key Areas

Chic Robson Street offers fashion boutiques and specialty shops. Pick up stylish menswear at Vancouver-founded Boys' Co (number 1044) or Japanese groceries at Konbiniya Japan Centre (number 1238).

Yaletown is the shopping ground of Vancouver's young and aspirational, with designer fashions, art galleries and trendy home décor shops. In Gastown, an eruption of new apartment blocks has brought seriously expensive furniture shops and high-end clothing spots. Concept store Secret Location, 1 Water Street, melds upmarket fashion with a see-and-be-seen restaurant. Be sure to try on a pair of boots at John Fluevog Shoes, 65 Water Street.

Beyond Downtown, South Main and Commercial Drive are indie store heaven. Smoking Lily, 3634 Main Street, sells exquisite dresses, sewn and silk-screened in BC. At Devil May Wear, 3957 Main Street, eco-friendly clothing is made locally using fabrics such as bamboo, soy and organic cotton. Mintage, 1714 Commercial Drive, carries carefully chosen vintage pieces.

Markets

Granville Island Public Market is chockfull of fresh produce. Chinatown Night Market on Keefer Street is crammed with craft stalls and mouthwatering Chinese food. Its rival, the vast Richmond Night Market, is located near Bridgeport SkyTrain Station.

Shopping Centers

Indoor shopping Downtown includes the Pacific Centre and Royal Centre, while Metropolis at Metrotown is a large suburban mall (with 400 shops) connected to the SkyTrain station of the same name. Aberdeen Centre, 4151 Hazelbridge Way, is a massive Asian mall in Richmond.

Shopping Times

Opening hours Shops are generally open Monday to Saturday 0930/1000-1800 (until 2100 Thursday and Friday) and Sunday 1200-1700.

Souvenirs

Among the most original gifts are Pacific Northwest and Inuit arts and crafts. Or look out for a Vancouver brand, such as Herschel, which makes timeless canvas bags.

Tax Information

The non-refundable Provincial Sales Tax (PST) of 7% and 5% Goods & Services Tax (GST) are added at the till.

Dining in Vancouver

Vancouver's dining scene is exciting and continually evolving, with new Pacific Northwest-style and multi-ethnic restaurants opening at an astonishing pace. Eating out can be affordable and is rarely stuffy, with a laid-back and casual feel to even the high-end eateries. Street food is also a big hit and there are now over 100 high-quality food carts dotted around the city.

The Vancouver restaurants below have been hand-picked by our guide author and are grouped into three pricing categories: 
Expensive (over C$60)
Moderate (C$30 to C$60)
Cheap (Up to C$30)
These are based on the average price of a three-course meal, not including drinks, taxes or tips.

Restaurant charges are subject to the 5% Goods and Services Tax (GST) and an additional liquor tax (10%), which are usually added to the bill at the end. Restaurant bills do not always include a service charge, so a tip is expected. The standard is 15%, with 20% given for good to exceptional service.

The Rumpus Room
Cheap

You'll feel like you're in a 1970s North American teenager's basement when you step into this Main Street restaurant and bar with its funky décor and old-school sofas. Hot dogs, peanut butter burgers, mac and cheese, deep-fried cheesecake and root beer floats are the order of the day. Digest your food over cocktails and a cracking selection of classic board games from Yahtzee to Boggle to Operation. Just remember to call your parents and tell them you'll be home late.

·        Telephone:  604 839 5780.

·        Website:  http://www.rumpusroom.ca

·        Address:

2689 Main Street
Vancouver
Canada

Save on Meats
Cheap

You can't miss the glowing pig on the outside wall of this retro diner; the sign is one of the few survivors of Vancouver's anti-neon sign laws which came into force from the 1970s. Inside, you can choose from a stool at the bar if you're eating alone, or cram into a booth and tuck into Reuben sandwiches, chicken and waffles and poutine. The adjacent butcher shop (under renovation in 2013) runs butchery and canning classes, including 'Beginner Bacon and Sausage 101'.

·        Telephone:  604 569 3568.

·        Website:  http://www.saveonmeats.ca

·        Address:

43 West Hastings Street
Vancouver
Canada

Chambar
Expensive

Chef Nico Schuermans serves up Belgian- and North African-influenced cuisine in a smart, yet relaxed setting with outstanding service. Schuermans creates exquisite dishes using local produce; the moules frites in particular are a must-eat. The bar is all part of the Chambar experience, with an enormous selection of handpicked Belgian beers and imaginative handcrafted cocktails. Expect things to turn a little crazy in here on hockey nights.

·        Telephone:  604 879 7119.

·        Website:  http://www.chambar.com

·        Address:

562 Beatty Street
Vancouver
Canada

Hawksworth Restaurant
Expensive

Located on the ground floor of the meticulously renovated Hotel Georgia, Hawksworth Restaurant has won numerous accolades for its take on modern Canadian cuisine, notably Restaurant of the Year in both 2012 and 2013 at the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards. Drawing inspiration from Canada's multicultural heritage, dishes range from caramelized Alberta striploin to Fraser Valley pork belly to tandoori grilled sturgeon.

·        Telephone:  604 673 7000.

·        Website:  http://www.hawksworthrestaurant.ca

·        Address:

801 West Georgia Street
Vancouver
Canada

West
Expensive

Rated by locals as one of the city's best restaurants, it's no surprise that Vancouver Magazine awarded West an honorable mention in the Best Upscale Restaurant category of 2013. Situated in the stylish South Granville neighborhood, West delivers carefully thought-out and regionally focused food, with an impressive collection of wine to boot. The décor is sleek and contemporary, with soft leather chairs and a massive swirling Werner Foster installation suspended from the ceiling.

·        Telephone:  604 738 8938.

·        Website:  http://www.westrestaurant.com

·        Address:

2881 Granville Street
Vancouver
Canada

Pidgin
Moderate

New in 2013, this restaurant has been the subject of significant controversy, with protestors decrying the gentrification of the neighborhood and claiming Pidgin and similar new eateries are too expensive for local residents to enjoy. Nonetheless, it looks set to succeed with its innovative Asian small plates – think beef tartare with wasabi tobiko and miso cream cheese, or peanut butter parfait with salted caramel and banana purée for dessert.

·        Telephone:  604 620 9400.

·        Website:  http://www.pidginvancouver.com

·        Address:

350 Carrall Street
Vancouver
Canada

The Naam
Cheap

Winner of a great many awards, this 24-hour restaurant in Kitsilano specializes in vegetarian fare at very reasonable prices. Seated within the casual wooden interior, diners can choose from a range of foods that include salads, soups, Mexican dishes, stir fries and vegetarian burgers - ideally accompanied by sesame fries with miso gravy. The atmosphere is casual and relaxed.

·        Telephone:  604 738 7151.

·        Website:  http://www.thenaam.com

·        Address:

2724 West Fourth Avenue
Vancouver
Canada

Hapa Izakaya
Moderate

It can be hard to pick from the huge number of restaurants along Hamilton and Mainland Streets in Yaletown, but if you're looking for snacking, sharing plates and drinks, Hapa Izakaya's Japanese tapas is a good choice. Regularly changing menus might include paper bag prawns, cold duck soba, tako wasabi (seasoned diced octopus sashimi) or tropical sushi rolls (yam tempura, banana, asparagus and mango miso), washed down with chilled sake and Hello Kitty cocktails.

·        Telephone: 604 681 4272.

·        Website: http://www.hapaizakaya.com

·        Address:

1193 Hamilton Street
Vancouver
Canada

Vij's
Moderate

Regarded by many as the best Asian restaurant in Vancouver, Vij's is not the place to go for a standard curry but rather to enjoy experimental Indian dishes using top local produce and home-made yoghurt, cheese and ghee. The no-reservation policy means there may be a wait, but chai and snacks are served in the lounge to whet the appetite.

·        Telephone:  604 736 6664.

·        Website:  http://www.vijsrestaurant.ca

·        Address:

1480 West 11th Avenue
Vancouver
Canada

REFERENCE SITES:

http://www.travelresearchonline.com

I love Canada, always. -Melanie Fiona

Live Well, Laugh Often and Travel Much!