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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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.

Restaurant Graveyard / Downtown

The Short-Lived ‘Modern Canadian’ Restaurant That Should Have Succeeded But Totally Flopped

Brian Fowke and Tim Keller's sprawling, 150-seat Metro restaurant boasted a great design and a tourist-magnet location, but barely lasted a year.

Lexicon / Downtown

True Story: 'Mr. Peanut' Once Won Thousands of Votes Running for Mayor of Vancouver

“Considering the number of candidates running for Mayor in this election, I wouldn’t be surprised if Mr. Peanut threw his hat into the ring too.”

Best Seat in the House / Downtown

The Best Seat in the House at Nuba

Each location of Lebanese eatery Nuba has great seating options, but Table #10 at their Yaletown address is unquestionably superior.

Heads Up / Downtown

Aprons for Gloves Announces Finalized Fight Lineup for July 26 Restaurant Rumble

This is the 7th anniversary of the charity-boxing tournament that raises funds for the Eastside Boxing Club’s at-risk youth programs.

Never Heard Of It / Downtown

The Reincarnated Pizzeria of Legend Every Vancouverite Should Try Once

Did's Pizza was once upon a time the late night cheap food of choice for many in this city. Then life intervened, both for him and for us.

Vancouverites / Downtown

Talking Iconic Canadian Logos and Brand Campaigns With the Master, Greg Durrell

Durrell's debut doc is screening at The Cinematheque from July 5 - 11th. Don't miss this fascinating entry into Canada's film canon!

Opening Soon / Downtown

A Sneak Peek Inside the New Matchstick Cafe

The fourth location of Matchstick Coffee is on track to open at 1328 Richards St. (at Drake) before the end of July

Restaurant Graveyard / Downtown

Remembering Kozmas, Vancouver’s Game-Changing Mediterranean Restaurant of the 1970s

In this addition of the Restaurant Graveyard, we inter one of the most impactful Mediterranean eateries in Vancouver's history.

Lexicon / Downtown

The Town Fool Who Wanted to Contribute to Vancouver's "Imagination Explosion"

"In a town so full of fools it's odd that there has only ever been one 'official' Town Fool, and that was Joachim Foikus..."

You Should Know / Downtown

Vancouver’s First Public Art Superstar

Carlos Marega made a huge impact on the look and feel of early Vancouver, and many of his works remained treasured civic icons.

The Dishes

Rus Yessenov Does The Dishes

9 Places

The talented barman from Yew Seafood in the Four Seasons takes us on a food and drink crawl to his favourite Vancouver haunts.

Opening Soon / Downtown

New Spanish Food Shop ‘Lola & Miguel’ Opening Soon on Pender Street

Kelly and Shawn Pisio are nearly finished turning what used to be Pender Grocery into a mecca for all things deliciously Spanish.

Restaurant Porn / Downtown

Stealing This Sexy Seafood Spot in Kiev for the Edge of Yaletown

In the latest edition of Restaurant Porn, we hit Kiev and take a look inside Catch, a restaurant that wouldn't look out of place in our midst.