A no messing around guide to the coolest things to eat, drink and do in Vancouver and beyond. Community. Not clickbait.

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  • Kits Beach
  • Always take the Scenic Drive
  • Kits houses along Cornwall
  • Kits
  • Kits Farmers Market © Scout Magazine 2011_9664
  • Zulu records
  • Kits beach

Kitsilano, so named after Squamish First Nation chief August Jack Khatsahlano (1867-1971), is a vibrant residential neighbourhood of some 40,000 people. It starts from the shore of the south side of English Bay and extends south to Broadway (some would argue all the way to 16th Ave) and runs from Burrard St. west to McDonald St. (some argue Alma St., but most people consider that to be Point Grey).

“Kits” started out as something of a quiet, halcyon suburb of the emerging city of Vancouver, born out of swamp and thick forest, and only coming of age in the interwar period as a magnet to blue collar workers looking to put down picket fence roots (the completion of the Burrard Street Bridge in 1932 accelerated this). The 1960’s gave the area the laid back, politically aware and environmentally conscious vibe, as evidenced by its mid-wifing of both Greenpeace and the Green Party of Canada.

The neighbourhood became regionally notorious as one of two local bases of counter-culture operations during the Hippicene (the more base being Gastown), with an weedy identity hangover that lasted through the 1980’s and 1990’s. It was during this period that Kitsilano’s idyllic nature attracted the notice of the real estate market, which had no taste for sentiment or patchouli. Consequently, it has become a expensive place to live. Its main attractions are its bustling, iconic, eponymous stretch of beach, the people-watching patios of Yew Street, and the diverse multitude of shops and restaurants along West 4th Avenue and West Broadway.

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Left to right: brown beach glass softened by the ocean (from spent and shattered beer bottles); the top layer of above-the-tide-line Kits Beach sand; open and broken mussel shell tri-colour; the brand colour of Whole Foods, which dominates the West 4th Ave. strip; the vinyl backed booths at Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe, the street front facade of Zulu Records, perfect summer day blue sky, Lululemon corporate identity, Culprit Coffee exterior, rain-soaked cherry blossom, August afternoon at Kits Pool.

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THE FANTASTIC COLLECTION OF VINYL AT ZULU
A NATURAL AMPHITHEATRE FOR THE ENJOYMENT OF AMAZING SUNSETS
THE NEW-FANGLED MACHINES AT THE PLANETARIUM
THE INCREASINGLY INTERESTING MUSEUM OF VANCOUVER
THE SMELL OF HIGH QUALITY MARIJUANA
PEOPLE IN VARIOUS STATES OF UNDRESS AT KITS BEACH
A SHRINE TO EVERY SHOE YOU’VE EVER DREAMED OF
A CARTOGRAPHY NERD’S PARADISE
ONE OF VANCOUVER’S FINEST GENTLEMEN

what-to-eat-and-drink

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GIGANTIC LUMBERJACK BREAKFASTS AT SOPHIE'S 2095 West 4th Ave. MAP
NAJIB'S SPECIAL CAULIFLOWER AT NUBA 3116 West Broadway MAP
FULL OMAKASE AT KINOME JAPANESE KITCHEN 2511 West Broadway MAP
LATE NIGHT MARGARITAS & FRIED CHICKEN TACOS AT LUCKY TACO 1685 Yew St. MAP
EVERYTHING (ESPECIALLY SPARKLE COOKIES) AT THOMAS HAAS 2539 West Broadway MAP
TOP DRAWER TEA AT O5 2208 West 4th Ave. MAP
PIZZA AND PASTA AT NOOK 1525 Yew St. MAP
THE BEST THAI FOOD IN CANADA AT MAENAM 1938 W. 4th Ave. MAP
EXCELLENT COFFEE AT 49TH PARALLEL 2198 West 4th Ave. MAP
BANH MI & PHO AT MR. RED CAFE 2680 West Broadway MAP
SEVEN COURSE CHEF'S TASTING MENU AT MAK N MING (Closed) 1629 Yew St. MAP
CINNAMON BUNS & HOT PASTRAMI ON RYE AT SOLLY'S BAGELS 2873 West Broadway MAP
FRIES WITH MISO GRAVY AT THE NAAM 2724 West 4th Ave. MAP
RAW OYSTERS & CAESAR COCKTAILS AT CHEWIE'S 2201 West 1st Ave. MAP
PATIO BEERS AT THE GALLEY (JERICHO) 1300 Discovery St. MAP
CUBANO SANDWICH AT PETE'S MEATS 2817 Arbutus St. MAP
CEVICHE & AREPAS AT CACAO (+COCKTAILS UPSTAIRS) (Closed) 1898 W 1st Ave. MAP
PEA, MINT & POTATO SALAD AT TRACTOR FOODS 1903 West 4th Avenue MAP
SZECHUAN GINGER BEEF AT CONNIE'S COOKHOUSE 2135 West 4th Ave MAP
SEAFOOD PASTAS AT ODDFISH 1889 West 1st Ave. MAP
GNOCCHI & TOMATO SOUP WITH LITTLE GRILLED CHEESE AT FABLE 1944 West 4th Ave. MAP
DUCK CONFIT AND CROQUE MADAME AT AU COMPTOIR 2278 W 4th Ave MAP
TRULY ANYTHING AT BISHOP'S 2183 West 4th Ave. MAP
ICE CREAM TACOS AT RAIN OR SHINE 102-1926 West 4th Ave. MAP
BANANA BREAD FRENCH TOAST AT THE OAKWOOD (Closed) 2741 West 4th Ave. MAP
AMATRICIANA PIZZA AT CORDUROY PIE CO. 758 W. 16th Ave. MAP
MUSSELS, FRIED CHICKEN AND COCTAILS AT ANNALENA 1809 West 1st Ave. MAP
SALTED CARAMEL DOUGHNUTS AT LUCKY'S 2198 West 4th Ave. MAP
"TEISHOKU" STYLE JAPANESE CUISINE AT RAISU 2340 West 4th Ave. MAP

cool-things-of-note

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– Kitsilano once boasted the largest saltwater swimming pool in North America: Kits Pool, which opened in 1931.

– Jericho Beach gets its name from local pioneer logger Jeremiah Rogers. The area was originally referred to as “Jerry’s Cove”. In the native Squamish language, it is called iy’a’l’mexw, meaning “good land”.

– Opened in the late 60’s, The Naam on 4th near MacDonald is one of the oldest continually operating restaurants in Vancouver. It is open 24 hours a day, shutting down only on Christmas Day.

– The tiny Arbutus Grocery at the corner of 6th and Arbutus was built in 1907 by Thomas F. Frazer.

– The famous Vancouver Museum and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, opened in 1968, features a roof modeled after a First Nation’s woven basket hat.

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  • Burrard St. Bridge
  • Brunch at The Oakwood
  • Kits Point Sunset View
  • Chef Daniel McGee | Au Comptoir
  • Kits Beach
  • Au Comptoir
  • Prepping for opening at Lucky Taco
  • Fried chicken at AnnaLena
  • Table 31 at Lucky Taco
  • Sunset in Kitsilano
  • Kits Alley
  • Squid at Mak N Ming
  • Buratta and fresh tomatoes at Nook
  • Shit disturbing at Sophie's Cosmic Café
  • Serving tea infused mezcal punch | O5 Rare Tea Bar | Tea & Mezcal Tasting
  • Brunch at The Oakwood
  • Kits Pool in summer
  • Listening pre-purchase at Zulu Records
  • Angus and Kate of Maenam on the night before the restaurant's opening
  • Jennifer Mellander & Renee Brundell - Tasting buddies at  O5 Rare Tea Bar | Tea & Mezcal Tasting
  • Katharine with a sweet find at Zulu
  • Ghorka Black Tea Sample |  O5 Rare Tea Bar | Tea & Mezcal Tasting
  • Chef Jefferson Alvarez flanked by Marcela and Andrea Ramirez at Cacao
  • James Iranzad at Lucky Taco
  • Floppy summer hat
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  • Ice Cream Taco at Rain or Shine
  • Mussels at AnnaLena
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  • Najib's Special at Nuba on Broadway
  • View from Kits Beach
  • Cornwall and Yew
  • A Selection of Lucky's Doughnuts
  • Kits Beach
  • Pad Thai at Maenam
  • John Bishop and Sid Cross
  • Unfurling upon the lawn at Kits Beach
  • Bishop’s | 2183 West 4th Ave. | Kitsilano | 604-738-2025 | www.bishopsonline.com
  • Browsing vinyl at Zulu Records
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  • The view from Vanier Park
  • Chilling at Kits Beach
  • Pizza at Nook
  • The patio at Oddfish
  • Kits Beach
  • Lighting at Nuba
  • Kits Beach
  • Nook
  • Kits Pool not in summer
  • Cubano sandwich at Cacao
  • Yoga on the lawn at Kits Beach
  • Ok and I guess so
  • Chef/Owner Trevor Bird as opening day nears at Fable Kitchen (2012)
  • Sophies Cosmic Cafe
  • Kits Beach
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  • In the kitchen at Maenam
  • Font love on West 4th
  • Nook on Yew
  • Mmm, Maenam
  • Kits beach in winter
  • Mak N Ming, interior
  • Mission Kits
  • Kits Farmers Market
  • Bar detail | Au Comptoir
  • 49 Parallel Coffee
  • Covered path
  • Come and get it at the Kitsilano Farmer's Market
  • Attention to detail at Bishop's
  • Sunset on Kits Beach
  • Kits Beach
  • Kits Beach
  • Teetering Kits
  • Loading up at sunset
  • Youngster bros learning how to shotgun beers
  • Kits Beach
  • Kits Beach sunset
  • Kits Point in winter
  • The view from Kits Point
  • Empty beach in late winter
  • Culprit Coffee Co.
  • Beach hazard

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