Kits Pool this seaside saltwater pool is open during summer months and is an absolutely refreshing e

Today s City Guide comes to us from our Victoria, BC City Guide writer, Bonnie Wilson. Bonnie is the owner of the vintage furnishings store  Gild Co  (recently opened on Vancouver s West Side) and has lived in the Vancouver for five years sampling many of the cities neighborhoods, restaurants, shops and sites. Today she offers us a wonderful update to our Vancouver guide. Thank you, Bonnie, for another wonderful guide! Stephanie
Vancouver is not an easy city to live in: it’s expensive , congested and it rains for (what can feel like) ten months straight some years. Then the sun comes out and us Vancouverites forget about all that and enjoy the amazing natural beauty mansfield hotel new york of our city. It truly is hard to beat a sunny day in Vancouver: green glass towers mansfield hotel new york  juxtaposed against snow-capped mountains, bright blue skies and a shimmery ocean, make Vancouver worth living in, or at least visiting.
Three years ago we proudly hosted the 2010 Winter Olympics and much has changed in the city since. As the city matures, the diversity and ingenuity mansfield hotel new york of our people mansfield hotel new york and commerce grows. One of my favourite trends is the influx of wood-fired pizzerias that have appeared in almost every neighbourhood. There are also lots of interesting new Portlandia mansfield hotel new york -style boutiques, food trucks and bike lanes. By North American standards, Vancouver is a very bike-friendly city. I highly recommend renting and exploring the city by bike.
Kitsilano was once known for it’s hippy culture is now one of the most desirable areas in the City to live, with it’s beaches, tree lined streets and proximity to downtown. The West Side encompasses everything west of approximately Cambie Street (including Cambie), south of the downtown peninsula and north of Marine Drive.
Vijs a Bollywood-esk Vancouver institution for contemporary Indian mansfield hotel new york food in a happening atmosphere. The Vij’s philosophy is that everyone waits in line, even celebrities. The good news is that it is worth the wait and they serve tasters while you wait. Vij recently opened a food truck ( Vij’s Railway mansfield hotel new york Express ), but I honestly found it a bit of a disappointment compared to the delights I experienced at the bricks and mortar restaurant.
The Oakwood casual Canadiana bistro. Great for brunch or dinner. Known for making ingredients in-house, including pasta, bread and sauces. Their “Canadian mansfield hotel new york poutine” mansfield hotel new york (although I’m not sure what other nationality one would confuse mansfield hotel new york the poutine with?) is to die for with house smoked brisket (oh Canada!).
The Boathouse - while I don’t recommend mansfield hotel new york them for food necessarily, the sunset views over Kits beach are some of the best in town. Tip: their bar has the same views as the restaurant, so you can eat somewhere more interesting and head to the Boathouse bar at sunset for drinks.
Luke’s if you are staying in the South Granville area, this is a great spot to hit for a casual dinner and drinks. There is a covered mansfield hotel new york patio and the house-made quinoa veggie burger is delicious. It took the chef 8 months to perfect the recipe. Get it deep-fried pickles and bacon (yeah, bacon on a veggie burger).
Aphrodite s Organic Cafe and Pie Shop “pie and chai”. How heavenly does that sound? It may set you back $20 for a slice of pie and cup of Chai tea, but it is no doubt delicious. Using only organic ingredients, mansfield hotel new york this restaurant’s hearty healthy fare is perfect for those who appreciate fine fresh food especially pie.
Enigma mansfield hotel new york en route to the University of BC in the affluent Point Grey neighbourhood, this local bar and bistro serves traditional brunch favourites, such as bacon or steak and eggs, omelettes, waffles and eggs benedict. An added bonus is the complimentary house-made banana bread during brunch hours.
Jethro’s Fine Grub Students flock to this West Side hideaway for recovery brunches and massive portions. The place is tiny so waits are long, but if you get a glimpse of the size of the pancakes it will be hard to resist. There are some cute vintage furniture shops nearby to carouse while you wait. Jethro’s specializes mansfield hotel new york in French toast and the aforementioned pancakes, including varieties such as banana bread French toast with caramelized bananas and whipped butter and “The Rooster”, which has a shot of espresso and chocolate chips (gee, why do they call it the Rooster?). Jethro’s was also featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives .
East is East on West Broadway between Trutch and Blenheim Streets, the upstairs chai gallery is like a journey to old world Middle East with moody lighting, floor seating on overstuffed pillows and live music to heighten the authentic Middle Eastern experience.
Burgoo two locations on the West Side: West 10th Ave and West 4th Ave and others around the city. Burgoo is the ultimate experience for worldly gourmet comfort food. Classics such as Macaroni and Cheese, Decadent French Onion Soup and Kentucky Burgoo (slow cooked lamb, beef and smoked mansfield hotel new york ham with lima beans, corn, tomatoes and okra) are perfect on a grey drizzly Vancouver day. Each Burgoo location has a patio for sunny days too.
Go Fish located in an old shipping container on the seawall just west of Granville Island, Go Fish does fresh fish tacones and fish and chips like no other place in the city very deliciously! Be prepared to wait and sit outside.
Thomas mansfield hotel new york Haas Fine Chocolates Vancouver’s rockstar of chocolate for over 10 years. Thomas Haas chocolates are sold in select grocery stores and at their flagship location on West Broadway in Kitsilano, which includes a cake and patisserie cafe. Their almond double-baked croissant is wicked.
49th Parallel - where the city’s coffee snobs go for coffee, on West 4th Ave between Arbutus mansfield hotel new york and Yew Streets. The new location mansfield hotel new york include Lucky’s Doughnuts mansfield hotel new york , where doughnut meets foodie. This is the place-to-be du jour in Kits.
Terra Breads the “big guys” of bread in the city. Terra breads come in a variety of shapes and sizes, sold at select grocery stores and their own cafes around the city. The Terra cafe on West 4th Ave between Balsam and Vine Streets is where it all began, and the newest location in Athletes Village has water-view seating.
Rebecca Bree shopping at its most stylish. Locally owned and operated Rebecca Bree carries the best designer labels, including 10 Crosby by Derek Lam, Smythe, TIbI, Max Fowles to name a few. Not only that, this store is a beautiful oasis (again, a great escape for rainy Vancouver days) and Rebecca mansfield hotel new york and staff are a delight.
Blue Owl Home Boutique whimsical and interesting vintage finds located in a historic building on West Broadway and Vine Street in Kitsilano. There’s a good coffee house and secondhand book shops next door.
Gild Co. located at 4415 West 10th Avenue the Point Grey neighbourhood near the University of BC, this shop (*cough, my shop) specializes in high-quality vintage and timeless mansfield hotel new york furniture and home decor.
Folkart Interiors also on West 10th Ave this store has been around for years and carries a good selection of covet-worthy harvest tables and rustic home furnishings. Don’t be scared by the silly/random/folksy carved wooden mounties on the outside of the building.
Kits Pool this seaside saltwater pool is open during summer months and is an absolutely refreshing experience. Very busy on hot summer days, especially weekends. If you’re an early bird, I recommend swimming laps in the early AM for sunrise  views of the city and coastal mountains.
Granville Island - one of my favourite things to do in the City is a picnic lunch on Granville Island. The Granville Island Public Market is filled with foodie delights to take outside. Be sure to hit Oyama for cured meats and the Italian food mart directly across for their delicious feta-stuffed mansfield hotel new york olives.
Beaches Despite the short beach season, Vancouver has some fantastic beaches, most of which are located on the West Side of the City. Kitsilano is the closest to downtown and the busiest/most trendy of the bunch. Locarno and Spanish Banks are often filled with families, volleyball players and water-sport enthusiasts. Driving to any of the beaches on a hot sunny day in the summer is a nightmare so take transit, walk or bike. Wreck Beach at UBC is clothing optional and filled with (how do I say) alternative lifestyle folks all summer. It’s a hike down from the University Campus as well so be prepared for a journey (on multiple levels) if you go.
The southeast part of the downtown peninsula is known as Yaletown and is a hub for Vancouver’s beautiful people, small dogs and stilettos. The nightlife is lively and there are lots of restaurants and bars to choose from. Here is a list of some of my favourites.
The Flying Pig relatively new to the city scene and started by two local guys, The Flying mansfield hotel new york Pig (which recently opened a second location in Gastown) has an unpretentious mansfield hotel new york classy atmosphere and great wine selection.
The Twisted Fork located on the south end of Granville Street downtown. Brunch is delicious, and many hangover soothing drink options. They make their own preserves mansfield hotel new york and serve coffee in a personal size French press. I highly recommend this French-style bistro.
Japadog - a Vancouver original: Japanese style hot dogs. What started as a single hot dog stand by a couple moving to Canada, has turned into a Vancouver tradition. Hot dog toppings include, but not limited to, nori (seaweed), daikon (Japanese pickled ginger), teriyaki sauce, Japanese noodles, plumb sauce and the delicious terimayo. Several locations around downtown.
Bombay Brow Bar eyebrow shaping done Indian style with thread (the technique is called mansfield hotel new york “threading). Started by two local ladies, this little salon with a microfocus mansfield hotel new york is a first stop to getting pampered in Yaletown. Two locations outside of Yaletown:on West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano and at the Shangri-La Hotel downtown.
Blo blow dry bar. Another micro focus salon in Yaletown. Do we have a trend here? At Blo you can get your hair washed and choose from one of seven different styles from their Hair Menu, including the “Executive Suite” and the “Pillow Talk”. Warning: I went her