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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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.

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.