Is 10 days enough for Vancouver and Victoria?
Mar 1st, 2012, 01:08 PM
#62
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GiuliaPiraino - There are a lot of similarities between San Francisco and Vancouver, especially if you meander around Kitsilano and Commercial Drive in addition to the downtown core.
I was going to mention about organic groceries and Safeway - the West End (especially around Denman Street and Davie) is more about the Mom & Pop grocers and the really non-fancy style of dining, so you're not going to find a huge selection of organic groceries (other than at Caper's and Urban Fare). I'd say Choices Grocery Store on Davie/Richards in Yaletown will give you the best selection of organic food downtown.
Kin's Market (on Davie by Thurlow) was my go-to place for veggies in the West End. There's also a little green grocer on Bute Street which is good value. Speaking of value, there's a grocery store on Davie called SuperValu which is like going back in time. It's a weird grocery store (in a good way) - carries President's Choice products, which is a Canadian brand of reliably good products. Better than Safeway, in any case.
Finally, you can ignore all the talk about Canadian Tire. There are Canadian Tire stores in Vancouver. It's a national chain of discount hardware store/car repair shop hybrid. It's more of a phenomenon elsewhere in Canada, especially in small towns where the only shopping to be had is at Canadian Tire. None of them sell groceries here.
I was going to mention about organic groceries and Safeway - the West End (especially around Denman Street and Davie) is more about the Mom & Pop grocers and the really non-fancy style of dining, so you're not going to find a huge selection of organic groceries (other than at Caper's and Urban Fare). I'd say Choices Grocery Store on Davie/Richards in Yaletown will give you the best selection of organic food downtown.
Kin's Market (on Davie by Thurlow) was my go-to place for veggies in the West End. There's also a little green grocer on Bute Street which is good value. Speaking of value, there's a grocery store on Davie called SuperValu which is like going back in time. It's a weird grocery store (in a good way) - carries President's Choice products, which is a Canadian brand of reliably good products. Better than Safeway, in any case.
Finally, you can ignore all the talk about Canadian Tire. There are Canadian Tire stores in Vancouver. It's a national chain of discount hardware store/car repair shop hybrid. It's more of a phenomenon elsewhere in Canada, especially in small towns where the only shopping to be had is at Canadian Tire. None of them sell groceries here.
Mar 1st, 2012, 01:12 PM
#63
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And again, if you're looking for good value of veggies, organic food, etc. head to Commercial Drive. Donald's Market, Santa Barbara, Norman's Fruit & Veggies, Triple A Dollar Grocer offer great value. I know - I shop at them. 
It has the bohemian atmosphere of San Francisco's Polk Street/long-lost Haight Ashbury - hippy shops and all.
It has the bohemian atmosphere of San Francisco's Polk Street/long-lost Haight Ashbury - hippy shops and all.
Mar 4th, 2012, 09:51 AM
#65
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,919
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GiulaPiraino, I think you'll be happy in the Sylvia. Family stayed there recently and enjoyed it.The location is fantastic.
If you like Indian food you have to go to Vij's Restaurant on South Granville. Address is: 1480 West 11th Ave. It opens at 5:30 and they don't take reservations so get there early, they have seating outside where you wait for it to open. The food is so yummy and Vij is usually there making the rounds to greet the guests.
It would be a short taxi ride from the Sylvia.
If you like Indian food you have to go to Vij's Restaurant on South Granville. Address is: 1480 West 11th Ave. It opens at 5:30 and they don't take reservations so get there early, they have seating outside where you wait for it to open. The food is so yummy and Vij is usually there making the rounds to greet the guests.
It would be a short taxi ride from the Sylvia.
Apr 3rd, 2012, 11:24 AM
#68
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We took an apartment near the water downtown, looks nice and the price was right, about 1.5 blocks from Pike's Market. I'll post how it was when we return! http://www.picturepropertiesvacation...103/photos.htm
Apr 9th, 2012, 08:05 AM
#69
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 7,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
May is a wonderful month to visit the northwest. It's prime time for gardens; make time to visit one or two. And private yards are very well landscaped. I, living in Seattle, take detours through different neighborhoods to see what's blooming there.
May is also the month for Copper River salmon, mid-May to mid-June. This is a salmon that may change your mind. Because these salmon have to swim up a long Alaskan river, they're especially rich-tasting, a quantum difference from ordinary salmon. (And, of course, we here avoid farm-raised salmon. Line-caught, fresh frozen.) They must have Copper River or some equivalent in Vancouver.
May is also the month for Copper River salmon, mid-May to mid-June. This is a salmon that may change your mind. Because these salmon have to swim up a long Alaskan river, they're especially rich-tasting, a quantum difference from ordinary salmon. (And, of course, we here avoid farm-raised salmon. Line-caught, fresh frozen.) They must have Copper River or some equivalent in Vancouver.
Apr 9th, 2012, 08:59 AM
#70
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Copper River is merely the geographical label for any salmon that originates from that Alaskan river. The actual species of salmon is either Sockeye or Chinook - both available from Vancouver. "Copper River Salmon" is merely a marketing label. You'll find the same fish as Sockeye in Vancouver.
Apr 10th, 2012, 12:35 PM
#73
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,474
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi Giulia,
The sushi in Vancouver is IN-CRED-IBLE and I found quite reasonably priced for such quality. I've been to quite a number of cities (NYC, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Phila., DC/Balto., Miami...) on the east coast and tried quite a number of "popular" sushi restaurants throughout; I found the sushi in Vancouver superior to all I've had elsewhere, even at some relatively low-key places... in a league of its own. Due to freshness/proximity of BC salmon etc..., a larger Asian population proportionally than in most N. American cities, I still I haven't quite figured out what Vancouver's magic recipe is in this regard? Whatever it is, if you're a sushi fan, enjoy!
Daniel
The sushi in Vancouver is IN-CRED-IBLE and I found quite reasonably priced for such quality. I've been to quite a number of cities (NYC, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Phila., DC/Balto., Miami...) on the east coast and tried quite a number of "popular" sushi restaurants throughout; I found the sushi in Vancouver superior to all I've had elsewhere, even at some relatively low-key places... in a league of its own. Due to freshness/proximity of BC salmon etc..., a larger Asian population proportionally than in most N. American cities, I still I haven't quite figured out what Vancouver's magic recipe is in this regard? Whatever it is, if you're a sushi fan, enjoy!
Daniel
Apr 10th, 2012, 03:31 PM
#74
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,350
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sushi in Vancouver is incredible. Try Let's Roll Sushi Roll on Denman & Davie, custom-made sushi, very fresh and very affordable. Another great place is Sushi Mart on Robson close to Whole Foods, cross-section of Bidwell.
Apr 12th, 2012, 03:08 PM
#75
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have never found better sushi anywhere than Vanouver and cheap, too. I thought we'd find good sushi in Victoria, but it did not measure up and there very few sushi places around. Vancouver is sushi paradise! I had sushi withdrawal when we returned to So Cal.!
Apr 15th, 2012, 09:15 PM
#77
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,005
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ALso for any Vancouver locals....are there any thrift stores near the Sylvia (Beach Ave near Stanley Park), where I can buy used toys??? I want to get some for my daughter the week that we are there that we can just donate afterward. That's usually what we do on week long trips to San Francisco, but there are thrift stores everywhere there!
Apr 16th, 2012, 10:44 AM
#78
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I can't think of one place in downtown where you can buy used toys, to be honest. Maybe the thrift store on the corner of Drake and Granville - it's kind of junky but that's the only place I can think of in downtown that *might* have what you're looking for. Most thrift stores in Vancouver are in the more quirky suburbs (Commercial Drive, Main Street in Mount Pleasant, etc.) but they usually just sell clothing. The good thrift shops where you could find toys are typically out in the suburbs. I'd just pop into a dollar store on Davie Street or the Shoppers Drug Mart on Denman Street. You might find some cheap thrills for your daughter - colouring books, games, etc.
Apr 16th, 2012, 10:56 AM
#79
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 432
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BTW - good cheap sushi is to Vancouver what good cheap Mexican food is to California and (I imagine) Arizona.
My only suggestion - do NOT go to any all you can eat places in Vancouver - it's terrible quality and not good value.
Also, avoid Tanpopo on Denman Street. It's just plain awful and service is atrociously incompetent, but people go there anyway and I don't know why.
My recommendation is to walk to the northern end of Denman where there are some fabulous Japanese options (not necessarily sushi-focused, but still excellent) - places like Zakkushi and Kingyo.
http://www.kingyo-izakaya.ca/
http://www.zakkushi.com/
The excellent Japanese options continue a short walk east of Denman along Robson Street, including many izakayas (small Japanese bistros where you order a variety of small plates of food that you share around the table in a vibrant bustling atmosphere) - Hapa Izakaya, Guu Garlic, Kitanoya Guu, Gyoza King:
http://www.gyokingroup.com/
http://hapaizakaya.com/
http://guu-izakaya.com/robson/
Or if you happen to head over east of Denman along Davie Street a 10 minute walk up the hill from the Sylvia, people seem to like Samurai Sushi. Haven't been there in years, but people still love it.
If you head all the way to the other end of Davie to Yaletown, my favourite go-to spots for sushi is in Yaletown - Sakana Bistro and Kaide. Both are fabulous:
http://vancouverkaidesushi.com/
http://www.bistrosakana.com/
Last piece of advice:
Avoid Mexican in Vancouver. Okay, let me rephrase that: avoid Mexican in Vancouver if you're an American used to good Mexican food. Trying to find good Mexican in Vancouver is like a Vancouverite going to Arizona trying to find good, cheap sushi. You've been warned.
My only suggestion - do NOT go to any all you can eat places in Vancouver - it's terrible quality and not good value.
Also, avoid Tanpopo on Denman Street. It's just plain awful and service is atrociously incompetent, but people go there anyway and I don't know why.
My recommendation is to walk to the northern end of Denman where there are some fabulous Japanese options (not necessarily sushi-focused, but still excellent) - places like Zakkushi and Kingyo.
http://www.kingyo-izakaya.ca/
http://www.zakkushi.com/
The excellent Japanese options continue a short walk east of Denman along Robson Street, including many izakayas (small Japanese bistros where you order a variety of small plates of food that you share around the table in a vibrant bustling atmosphere) - Hapa Izakaya, Guu Garlic, Kitanoya Guu, Gyoza King:
http://www.gyokingroup.com/
http://hapaizakaya.com/
http://guu-izakaya.com/robson/
Or if you happen to head over east of Denman along Davie Street a 10 minute walk up the hill from the Sylvia, people seem to like Samurai Sushi. Haven't been there in years, but people still love it.
If you head all the way to the other end of Davie to Yaletown, my favourite go-to spots for sushi is in Yaletown - Sakana Bistro and Kaide. Both are fabulous:
http://vancouverkaidesushi.com/
http://www.bistrosakana.com/
Last piece of advice:
Avoid Mexican in Vancouver. Okay, let me rephrase that: avoid Mexican in Vancouver if you're an American used to good Mexican food. Trying to find good Mexican in Vancouver is like a Vancouverite going to Arizona trying to find good, cheap sushi. You've been warned.
Apr 16th, 2012, 04:34 PM
#80
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Gp: Robin above gave you some excellent advice re sushi- I'll just add that Van has lots of sushi places that do brown rice sushi and we liked it very much. Also, we had an awful Mexican meal in Van, so take heed and get your fill now and then wait until you come home. Have a wonderful time. We loved the city.
