Downtown Archives

Our hood guides provide local perspective and insight into Vancouver's many neighbourhoods with insider details on what to eat, drink, see and do. Explore all Vancouver neighbourhoods.

Visit the Downtown Hood Guide
You Should Know / Downtown

Once Upon a Time, Street Photographers Worked Our Sidewalks Hard

In her latest essay, Christine Hagemoen reminds us of a disappeared facet of daily life in downtown Vancouver.

View From Your Window / Downtown

The View From Your Window #173

We love posting photos like this that reveal the views through the windows of our readers. We hope you'll consider sharing yours!

The Dishes

Chef Edie Steensma Does ‘The Dishes’

9 Places

We pry the cook from the kitchen at the new location of Autostrada and tag along for a delicious day of good food and drink.

Opening Soon / Downtown

New Location of Autostrada Now Open

Chef Lucais Syme and Dustin Dockendorf are launching the casual Italian restaurant tonight at 350 West Pender Street.

You Need To Try This / Downtown

You Need to Try the Dreamily Transportive ‘Mi Luz’ Cocktail at Elisa

Created by Devin McKeigan, this delicious drink is a mix of rum, white vermouth, apple demerara, orange bitters and salted caraway.

The Dishes

Chef Jonathan Chovancek Does ‘The Dishes’

16 Places

We asked the chef from Tableau Bar Bistro and Homer Street Cafe to take us on a tour of his favourite local eating and drinking spots.

The New Breed / Downtown

Talking Dreams, Lessons and Weird Ingredients With Botanist Barman Max Curzon-Price

Our 'New Breed' hospitality interview series continues with a young and dedicated bartender imported from the United Kingdom.

Opening Soon / Downtown

Team From Brassneck, Alibi Room to Open Beer-Focused ‘Magnet’

Opening this Spring at 309 West Pender Street, the new spot will be a casual, 90 seat counter-service operation.

Heads Up / Downtown

What Every Vancouver Food Lover Should Be Doing For Brunch This Sunday

David Hawksworth, Angus An, Melissa Craig, Ned Bell and a dozen other culinary greats want to cook for you this weekend.

Heads Up / Downtown

The Next PechaKucha Night Will Focus on Vancouver Food & Drink

The local speaker series continues Nov. 29 at the Vancouver Playhouse with a line-up tasty stories and delicious ideas.

Heads Up / Downtown

Ballet BC’s New Season Kicks Off With Three Ballets at November’s Start

The ballets include two World Premieres and one first-time Canadian performance, and feature a range of styles and artistic choices.

Scout List

Scout List Vol. 494

11 Places

An agenda of the things we are doing, wishing we could do, or are conspiring to do in Vancouver from Oct. 17 to Oct. 23, 2018.

Vancouverites / Downtown

Talking Movies With One of Vancouver’s Most Esteemed Cinephiles

Shaun Seihachi Inouye, Programming Associate at The Cinematheque, is slated to speak at the next PechaKucha (October 18th).

Restaurant Graveyard / Downtown

Though an Inspiration to Young Cooks, This Tiny Vancouver Eatery Didn’t Last

Open from 2015 to early 2017, Latab was a short-lived gift to local foodies from chef Kris Barnholden and wine pro Eryn Dorman.

Seen In Vancouver / Downtown

A Sneak Peek at VPL’s New Expansion, Which Includes an Awesome Rooftop Patio

The Vancouver Public Library is due to unveil the results of its massive renovation/expansion this Saturday at 10am.

Heads Up / Downtown

This Delicious Documentary on Cuban Food is Screening Soon

Feast your eyes on this new film, Cuban Food Stories, screening September 29th & October 7th as part of VIFF’s IMPACT programming.

Opening Soon / Downtown

Popular Casual Italian Eatery Opening Second Location Downtown This Winter

The owners of Autostrada and Cinara are planning to supplant the acclaimed latter with the popular former early in the New Year.

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If / Downtown

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If Its Sunniest Blind Walls Had Scaffolded Gardens

The GreenBelly Project is a concept that would see boring, windowless urban walls producing all kinds of deliciousness.

Picking Grapes

Mapping the Local Wine Love of Hawksworth Sommelier Jayton Paul

8 Places

The second instalment of our new Q & A series, Picking Grapes, has a young wine pro detailing his love affair with BC grapes.

Heads Up / Downtown

Seven Films at VIFF You Absolutely Need to See

This year's festival includes almost as many films and events as there are days in the year. These are the movies we won't be missing.

Restaurant Porn / Downtown

This Cafe Dedicated Entirely to Tiramisu, Please

Located in what used to be the French Concession in Shanghai, this stunning tiramisu cafe would feel right at home in Vancouver.

Heads Up

Westward Music Festival Gets Ready to Take Over Downtown Vancouver

8 Places

There are over two dozen Canadian and international artists slated to play the city's best indoor venues for their sophomore event.

Lexicon / Downtown

Just a Couple of Really Enthusiastic Dudes in Full-Body Spandex Suits

"Don't you think the Green Men should be paid to be at the games...like as much or even more than the zamboni guy?"

Spaced / Downtown

In a City of Shrinking Balconies, Could We Please Have Some That Bloom?

Architect Manuel Herz's 'Ballet Mécanique' apartments in Central Zurich could teach local developers a thing or two about balconies.

Picking Grapes

How an Award-Winning Lover of BC Wine Fell For Local Grapes

9 Places

Celebrated sommelier Jason Yamasaki of Joey Restaurant Group is the first to answer our new Q & A series, Picking Grapes.

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If / Downtown

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If Its People Could Explore a Gigantic Model of It

This massive architectural model of New York City got us thinking how cool it would be to see Vancouver similarly represented.

Craft Beer Atlas of Vancouver / Downtown

From Gender-Segregation to Gay Protest, This Gorgeous Vancouver Beer Parlour Saw it All

The four-storey, 135-room Castle Hotel featured an elaborately tapestried main floor beer-sipping venue with many stories to tell.

Opening Soon / Downtown

Sneak Peek Inside Yaletown’s New Steakhouse

The highly anticipated 214 seat restaurant from the Toptable Group is finally coming together at 1109 Hamilton Street.