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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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.

Heads Up / Downtown

Superbaba Food Truck’s ‘Falafel Pop-Up’ Set for Vancouver’s Financial District

The Superbaba food truck is still on the horizon but you can get a taste of it early at this falafel pop-up on May 26.

TBT / Downtown

Six Years Ago Today, When Minami Was Getting Its Masterful Hideki Kimura Paintjob

There were several walls being painted simultaneously. The exacting task was monumental, and it was a cool thing to witness.

You Should Know

Hunting Vancouver’s Forgotten Sidewalk Prisms

17 Places

These historic gems were common a 100 years ago. Now they're disappearing fast. Let this map/essay lead you to those that remain.

Opening Soon / Downtown

Vancouver to Score Middle Eastern ‘Superbaba’ Food Truck in June

Victoria's Middle Eastern restaurant concept is expanding into Vancouver, starting with a new food truck at Burrard and Dunsmuir.

Heads Up / Downtown

Chambar, Strange Fellows to Collaborate With ‘Keep it Strange’ Beer Dinner

Get in touch with your inner culinary weirdo by securing some seats to this Craft Beer & Belgian Fare feast at Chambar.

Branding Vancouver / Downtown

Sniffing Out the Story of The Paper Hound Bookshop’s Elegant Canine Mascot

Co-owner Kim Koch fills us in on the regal, literary and personal inspirations that were bred into the shop's poised pup icon.