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.

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TBT / Downtown

Five Years Ago This Week, Inside the Second Coming of Chambar

For this week's edition of Throwback Thursday we return to the early days of the Belgian-Moroccan restaurant's major move on Beatty St.

Restaurant Graveyard / Downtown

Remembering the Elegant Weirdness of Yaletown’s Long-Shuttered Elixir Bistro

The first (and very likely last) Vancouver restaurant to ever screen a live feed of its dining room above its washroom urinals.

Vancouver Would Be Cooler If / Downtown

What If Vancouver Followed Berlin’s Lead and Froze Rents for Five Years?

The rent-freeze starts in January and is retroactive to June, so landlords can't jack up the rent in one last frenzied orgy of greed.

Lexicon / Downtown

The Old Clock at Granville & Hastings Has a Short Name and a Long Story

"Long ago when Vancouver revolved around the intersection of Georgia and Granville, the Birks Clock was like its spindle."

Heads Up / Downtown

Vancouverites Invited to ‘Space Out’ All July

The Cinematheque will be taking viewers to the moon and back with a tribute of sci-fi classics, future-classics and documentaries.

The Dishes

Mike Shum Does ‘The Dishes’

8 Places

We asked a bartender at the Fairmont Pacific Rim's Lobby Lounge to take us to some of his favourite spots across Vancouver.

You Should Know / Downtown

How Bikes Liberated Vancouver

In her latest "You Should Know" story, Christine Hagemoen reminds us of how the bicycle first took our city by storm.

Lexicon / Downtown

The Local Paper Named After the Thing Around Which Everything Revolves

"Sometimes I read The Sun and want to burn it in anger, but then I imagine Vancouver without a daily paper and get even angrier..."

Lexicon / Downtown

The Nickname of Vancouver's Most Respected Canucks Beat Reporter

"If I ever have the opportunity to drink from Stanley Cup after the Canucks finally win it, I'll take a sip for Botch."

Heads Up

A Treasure Map to ‘Top Drop’ Deliciousness

7 Places

Now in its sixth year, the primarily wine-focused festival returns to please Vancouver's keener palates, May 23-24

Opening Soon / Downtown

Beer-Focused ‘Magnet’ Now Open

The highly anticipated new restaurant and beer parlour from the folks behind Brassneck and the Alibi Room is finally here.

Restaurant Porn / Downtown

This Art Deco Railway-Themed Ice Cream Shop Would Suit Vancouver’s Oldest Stations

Either within a few steps of the Pacific Central Station or inside the voluminous 1914 Waterfront Station would be appropriate...

View From Your Window / Downtown

The View From Your Window #183

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

Heads Up / Downtown

Elisa to Host ‘Dandelion Initiative’ Safer Bar & Spaces Training Session on April 16

The Dandelion Initiative works to create safer spaces and build policies that empower and support survivors.

TBT / Downtown

Ten Years Later, ‘Market by Jean-Georges’ Still As Good As It Was on Day One

A recent meal serves as a reminder of a milestone and why Market deserves its place among Vancouver's most reliable restaurants.

View From Your Window / Downtown

The View From Your Window #182

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

View From Your Window / Downtown

The View From Your Window #180

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

Drinker / Downtown

‘Monday Bar School’ Returns With Afternoon Bourbon Class at Cafe Medina

Industry veteran Julia Comu has resurrected the informal bartending "school" for those in the trade who want to hone their craft.

TBT / Downtown

20 Years Ago, Inside the Gotham’s 1999 Halloween Masquerade Ball

The steakhouse is celebrating its 20th year, so for this edition of Throwback Thursday we asked them to dig deep for shots of its start.

Lexicon / Downtown

The Vancouver Building That Defied Development in the Name of Art and Affordability

"Kudos to the family that owns the Del Mar Inn. This city could use more building owners who put people before profits..."

Opening Soon / Downtown

88 Seat ‘Open Outcry’ Launching This Summer

Veteran restaurateur Sean Heather is opening the new project on the floor of Vancouver's old stock exchange.

Lexicon / Downtown

One of These Vancouver Alleys Is Not Like the Others

"The idea of a Potemkin Alley is entirely in keeping with our civic tradition of trying to hide our problems instead of fixing them."

How To Cook Vancouver / Downtown

We Tried Our Damndest to Make Homer Street Cafe & Bar’s Amazing Rotisserie Chicken at Home

For her latest "How To Cook Vancouver" challenge, Maciel Pereda took it upon herself to learn how to make a Vancouver favourite.

Seen In Vancouver / Downtown

Local Artist Perrin Grauer’s Work-In-Progress at Upcoming ‘Magnet’

His installation sees hundreds of triangles angled in line to climb up the western wall of the beer-focused restaurant's entrance.

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.