A Guide to Vancouver’s 10 Coolest Neighborhoods to Visit

Well-connected to other regions of Vancouver by all forms of public transportation, Coal Harbour’s waterfront location in the heart of downtown makes this one of Vancouver’s most desirable neighborhoods. With its upscale waterside restaurants and cafes and high-end hotels featuring scenic views, Coal Harbour is a popular place to stay for ritzy travelers looking to get a taste of waterfront living.

Home to a mix of gleaming commercial and residential skyscrapers and the iconic five white sails of Canada Place, part of the city’s convention center, Coal Harbour boasts a surprisingly laidback atmosphere despite its busy foot traffic. Take a leisurely stroll along the waterfront while admiring the public art that lines it, snap a photo in front of the Olympic flame from the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games at Jack Poole Plaza, and follow the paved seawall against a dramatic backdrop of mountain views on foot or by bike to the forested paths of Stanley Park.

Bordered by Stanley Park and English Bay, the West End is nestled against the city’s core. Its lamp posts, homes, and businesses are proudly adorned in rainbow flags, and the LGBTQ+ community has found a welcoming home in this district. The LGBTQ+ bars, pubs, and nightclubs centered around Davie Village, the stretch of Davie Street bounded by Jervis and Burrard Streets, are the neighborhood’s core entertainment venues.

Though the West End’s star attractions are its sandy beach and urban green spaces, architecture lovers will also appreciate this district. A stroll through the area reveals a collection of well-preserved heritage mansions and apartments in the Queen Ann and Georgian Revival styles.

Once rife with sawmills and shingle mills, Yaletown was a warehouse district that served as the Western terminus of the Canadian Pacific Railway in Vancouver’s early history. Bounded by Homer Street to the west, Robson Street to the northeast, and False Creek to the south, this fashion-forward shopping district has since earned a reputation as one of Vancouver’s uber-trendy neighborhoods. It’s where you’ll find many of the glittering skyscrapers that dominate the city’s skyline.

Housed in old-school brick buildings, Yaletown’s upscale restaurants, designer boutiques offering haute couture for your furry friends, and swanky bars that spill out onto the pavement invite you to splurge. For low-cost experiences, spend an afternoon at the leafy parks of David Lam and George Wainborn and bike, stroll, or rollerblade along the seawall while enjoying spectacular views of False Creek.

Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood on the south side of Burrard Inlet in downtown Vancouver owes its existence to John “Gassy Jack” Deighton, a riverboat captain who was believed to be one of the area’s earliest settlers. The opening of his saloon in 1867 attracted a slew of other businesses, forming Vancouver’s first downtown. Though Gastown was demolished in a city-wide fire in 1886, its structures were quickly restored.

Brimming with historic charm, a stroll along the gently lit cobblestone streets reveals Indigenous galleries, hipster cafes, indie boutiques, and tacky souvenir shops, all housed inside late-19th century Victorian Italianate style and early-20th century Victorian Romanesque Revival style heritage buildings. Stroll down Water Street and snap a photo at the Gastown Steam Clock, the area’s most recognized landmark.

By night, this fashion-forward retail and commercial district serves as the city’s party hub, and its bar-crammed streets entice those looking for innovative craft cocktails or a rowdy night out.

Canada’s largest Chinatown was first established in 1886 when roughly 90 Chinese residents occupied the area. Centered on Pender Street, this neighborhood just south of Gastown is bordered by Taylor Street to the west and Gore Avenue to the east. Uncover the vibrant history of Chinatown through artifacts, photos, and voice recordings that date back to the 1880s at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre, which also pays homage to the Chinese population that originally settled here to help build the most challenging section of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Bask in zen as you stroll along the covered walkways of the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, the first Ming-dynasty style garden outside of China. Browse the display of ginseng, herbal teas, and dried reishi mushrooms that fill the shelves of old-school apothecaries, sample pineapple buns and egg tarts at traditional Chinese bakeries, and indulge in a dim sum lunch. Despite being rooted in tradition, Chinatown’s newer additions, like hip cocktails and dumpling bars also make this neighborhood a hotspot for modern fusion cuisine.

Over 300 quirky cafes, antique furniture shops, and eclectic restaurants line the 22 blocks that make up Commercial Drive, which runs from roughly halfway between Clark Drive on the west side to Victoria Drive on the east. “The Drive,” as it’s affectionately nicknamed, is one of Vancouver’s most culturally rich neighborhoods. Little Italy occupies eight blocks of The Drive, and its specialty bakeries, delis, and pizzerias pay homage to the large Italian population that made this part of Vancouver their home post-Second World War. Whether you’re on the hunt for a juicy meatball sandwich, a delicately crisp thin-crust pizza, or a delightfully crunchy cannoli, a visit to sample the culinary treasures of Little Italy is a must. These days, the laid-back Drive is also home to authentic nosh from all corners of the world, ranging from El Salvadorian, Mexican, and Caribbean to Filipino and Thai, a representation of the diverse populations that also call this neighborhood home.

Dubbed “SoMa,” this part of Mount Pleasant in East Van encompasses the stretch of Main Street between East 2nd and East 33rd Avenues. Earning its reputation as Vancouver’s hipster haven, SoMa is home to an eclectic collection of craft breweries, innovative vegan and vegetarian restaurants, barber shops, and indie cafes where digital nomads sip locally roasted coffee while perched on their laptops. Work your way through SoMa from north to south, stopping in at the shops that boast all things retro, enticing treasure hunters after anything from vintage fashion to vinyl records. End your trek by enjoying a panoramic view of the city at Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver’s highest point.

Focusing on the design of energy-efficient buildings and emphasizing low-carbon living by offering easy access to public transportation, one of Vancouver’s newest urban communities is also one of the most sustainably developed. Olympic Village sits at the core of Southeast False Creek. Originally built to house athletes for the 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, these condos have since been converted to over 1000 residential units.

Join the locals on the tranquil waters of False Creek by renting a kayak in the summer months, or for a more relaxed experience, enjoy a scenic stroll or bike ride along the 1.8-mile False Creek Olympic Village route that links Olympic Village to the Cambie Street Bridge, passing by BC Place Stadium and Science World along the way. Budget time to unwind with some creative craft brews that push the flavor profile and refreshing summer scoops from the relaxed establishments in the area.

Locally known as “Kits,” this neighborhood was Vancouver’s hippie hangout in the 1960s, and its laidback vibe and beachfront living are now popular with the city’s yuppies and young families. Centered around West 4th Avenue, this eight-block stretch of shops features high-end outdoor gear and buzzing street-side patios and cafes.

Within walking distance from West 4th is Kits Beach, a summertime hotspot for volleyball players, stand-up paddleboarders, kayakers, and sun worshippers who descend on the stretch of sandy shore, making this one of the top beaches in the city. The 449-foot-long outdoor Kitsilano Pool is Vancouver’s only saltwater pool and is an ideal spot to cool off while overlooking the beach.

Kits is also home to a collection of cultural attractions. Learn about the dark skies and our universe with a visit to the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre, uncover how life evolved in Vancouver through the decades from the 1900s to the 1970s at the Museum of Vancouver, and discover the maritime cultures of the Pacific Northwest and the Arctic through its collection of 15,000 artifacts at Vancouver Maritime Museum.

Situated just south of downtown Vancouver and bordered by the waters of False Creek, Fairview is home to one of Vancouver’s most popular attractions—Granville Island. Despite its name, this island beneath the Granville Bridge is a sandspit that was home to sawmills, factories, and wood processing plants in the early 1900s. Anchored by Emily Carr University of Art + Design until 2017, Granville Island is a hub for artist studios and artisan makers markets.

Browse the plentiful stalls that feature fresh produce, handmade pasta, and baked goods at the indoor Public Market; peruse an art gallery show and shop for hand-crafted sterling silver and gemstone jewelry, glass work, and even brooms crafted using traditional Shaker methods at one of the many craft studios. Enjoy laughs with the locals at an improv show or take to the waters on a kayaking or paddleboarding tour.

A host of annual fairs and festivals, like the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, the Vancouver International Fringe Festival, and the TD Canada Trust International Jazz Festival, entice families and art and music lovers, which keep Granville Island abuzz any time of year.