What to do and where to eat in Vancouver
Jul 2nd, 2001, 06:20 AM
#1
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What to do and where to eat in Vancouver
I'm planning on being in town for a few days this August. Vancouver looks like a beautiful city. I love ethnic foods (anything) as I always like to try new things to eat. I know Vancouver is very ethnically diverse so, where is a good place to eat something different and authentic that is moderately priced. Also, what can you recommend for me to do/see that might not be listed in the tour guides? Are there killer whale watching tours from downtown? Thanks in advance.
Jul 2nd, 2001, 02:07 PM
#2
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Well, Chris we look forward to seeing you here. Vancouver is a beautiful city - the most beautiful in the world in my opinion but certainly in the top five according to world travellers. <BR> <BR>Vancouver has the highest density of Asian restaurants per capita in the world. So if you're looking for quality ethnic, especially the many varieties of Chinese, (Cantonese, Mandarin, Schewan, Mongolian, Taiwanese, Shanghainese, etc. etc.), then you're coming to the right place. Vancouver also has very good to excellant Italian, French, Greek and continental restaurants but not notably better than other large cosmopolitan cities. If you're looking for a variety of restaurant that would be very exotic for most North Americans, Vancouver has a terrific selection of East Indian restaurants, (almost as great a variety as Chinese). Fodor's site is good for that as well as a number of Vancouver web sites. As for prices - I am always amazed at how well you can eat in Vancouver - especially at the Asian restaurants - for so little. $25 will buy you an excellant meal in most of them and if you have more than four people you'ld be hard pressed to spend that much a person in most Chinese places. <BR> <BR>As to what would be interesting - what do you like to do. Vancouver has terrific outdoor opportunities. Hiking in the local mountains, swimming at the many beaches, (clothing optional or otherwise), boating, fishing, etc. Most of the really interesting sites are mentioned in the tour guides but if there's some area of interest that fits in with your requirements you don't see listed ask and I or someone else might be able to help you. <BR> <BR>Finally, although pods of killer whales are often spotted close to the city I don't believe there are any whale spotting tour boats that go out of Greater Vancouver. I do know of some that go out of Downtown Victoria and of course the West Coast of Vancouver Island but perhaps someone else can help you there.
Jul 2nd, 2001, 07:11 PM
#3
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I know you're going to get a lot of different advice, mostly because everyone seems to have their favourite restaurant! Instead of listing a million restaurants, I'll give you Vancouver Magazine's website. They go a great job at covering some of Vancouver's best restaurants (and not necessarly the most expensive either!) Just click on the different sections (Japanese, Chinese, African/Middle Eastern, South Asian, Casual, Seafood, Thai, etc). Hope this helps! <BR> <BR>http://www.vanmag.com/diningout/westcoast.html <BR>
Jul 20th, 2001, 08:02 AM
#6
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Chris: <BR> <BR>Try going to Bridges on Granville Island for their fish and chips. They were really good. Sit out on the patio and watch the boats come in and out of the harbour. Better in the late afternoon. I would stay clear of China Town. Our experience was it was not safe (a lot of druggies and homeless) and smelled awful!
Jul 20th, 2001, 09:38 AM
#7
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It is not really Chinatown that has the drug problem, it is the area West of Chinatown. Chinatown itself is safe with many interesting shops and a Hong Kong style night market on weekend evenings which draw thousands of people. <BR> <BR>However, if you are looking for good Chinese food, the best restaurants are no longer in Chinatown but spread throughout the city (as the Asian population is no longer concentrated in the Chinatown area). Everyone has their favorite Chinese restaurants but some of the best IMO are the Szechuan Chongqing on Commercial (there are others with the same name but not as good) and the Sun Sui Wah Seafood restaurant on Main. If you want an excellent but more expensive Chinese meal, try the Imperial Chinese Seafood restaurant in the Marine Building downtown. For really inexpensive but good Cantonese style food, try Hon's. They have many locations, but my favorite is the huge Robson Street location, which has both a regular and separate vegetarian kitchen. Always packed, but the line moves quickly.
Jul 20th, 2001, 10:04 AM
#8
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<BR>Reasonable? <BR>The Roti Bistro (Trinidadian),1900 Block W4th Ave. <BR>Palm Leaf Restaurant (Sri Lankan), on Kingsway. <BR> <BR>Be careful of eating at many of the Sushi Bars, many are not tun by Japanese people and aren't very clean. <BR>The best 'thing to do' is, IMO, to take a Picnic down to Spanish Banks and watch the light change over English Bay and the Coast Mountains as the Sun goes down.
