Hitha's Vancouver Recommendations
where to stay, eat, shop, and what to do
Stay
Fairmont Pacific Rim - we rented an apartment in the residences tower of this hotel last year, and I was so impressed with the hotel’s amenities we had access to. My kids were in the rooftop pool nearly every day. Almost all of us adults visited the gym daily, and I had the most incredible massage at the spa. I got a lot of my work done at Bacaro, the hotel’s Italian cafe (with an excellent happy hour), and the location makes it easy to get anywhere in Vancouver via public transportation, walking, or a quick Uber.
Sutton Place Hotel - this is another great hotel that our family has stayed in and enjoyed. It’s got many of the same amenities as the Fairmont, minus the water view. It’s more in the heart of downtown (and closer to our kids’ favorite playground).
COAL HARBOR/GASTOWN/DOWNTOWN VANCOUVER
Play/Explore
Eat
Homer Cafe - all day dining (we love their brunch), very close to Rainbow Park
Nightingale - classic North American cuisine, lunch & dinner
Miku - the most incredible sushi, open for lunch & dinner
MeeT Gastown - plant-based restaurant for lunch & dinner
Cactus Club Cafe - very Hillstone-esque, lunch & dinner
Roba da Matti - delicious Italian with house-made pasta, dinner & weekend lunch
Bacaro - Italian cafe serving lunch & dinner in the Fairmont Pacific Rim
Motoretta - gelateria in the Fairmont Pacific Rim. If they have Akbar Mashti on the menu, get a taste (or a whole cup)
Soft Peaks - delicious soft serve in Gastown with really unique flavors
GRANVILLE ISLAND
You don’t need much of an agenda when you go to Granville Island - it’s meant to be explored based on your mood and what catches your eye. This is how we spent our afternoon there:
We started out by grabbing lunch at The Sandbar. Dragonspace caught my and Rho’s eye - it’s such a cool store for anyone who loves fantasy books/games/films, kids and adults alike. Go into Beadworks to make a bracelet or necklace with the help of their skilled team. Do not leave the island without visiting Nooroongji, an immaculately curated bookstore where every single book and item was something I hadn’t seen before. Granville Island Toy Company is a must-visit with your kids, but I recommend setting a timer and a budget before you go in (and make sure everyone is fed and hydrated before visiting).
VANCOUVER ISLAND
We did the day trip to Butchart Gardens and Victoria through a tour, which I highly recommend. The gardens are beautiful, and there are plenty of open spaces to let young kids just run around. While in Victoria, we grabbed a late lunch at Frankie’s Modern Diner and walked around the harbor. We hopped into one of the mini water taxis before we boarded the bus back to the ferry (which has a playroom, and it’s a lifesaver).