Attractions In Vancouver

The "Concierge" section of our website assumes that you have decided to stay at Granville House B&B, and is designed to help you make the most of your time with us. Bookmarking this section will provide you with a quick history of Vancouver as well as a reference to some of our most common guest referrals over the past decade. We hope you will see why Tourism Vancouver's slogan is "the best place on earth" & "you gotta be here":

Granville House B&B is near Granville Street & West 35th Avenue. Granville Street south of W35th Ave terminates at the YVR Airport 8.4 kilometers (5.2 miles) away. Granville Street north of Granville House B&B terminates 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) away at the Sea Bus Terminal which connects the downtown core to North Vancouver. Wikipedia describes Shaughnessy as “Vancouver’s wealthiest neighbourhood” and the site of many historical homes. Granville Street north of 41st Avenue to 16th Avenue is the main road to this upscale residential area. The South Granville Rise has hundreds of upscale shops and many restaurants (including 4 time Restaurant of the Year “West”) between West 16th Avenue and the Granville Street Bridge/West 5th Avenue. The Granville Street Bridge spans over Granville Island and connects to downtown Vancouver through a pedestrian friendly area known as the Granville Mall, or more formally, as the Granville Entertainment District. Here, numerous shops, restaurants, and the city’s top dance clubs, bars and entertainment venues such as the Orpheum and the Commodore Ballroom are located for live music, live theater & first-run movies. Vancouver’s best shopping malls can be found on or near Granville Street at the Pacific Centre (below ground), Robson Street, Sinclair Centre and Oakridge Centre.

VanDusen Botanical Garden can be entered near Oak Street & West 37th Avenue. This spectacular 22-hectare (55-acre) garden in the heart of Vancouver has matured into a botanical garden of international stature since opening to the public in 1975. The mild Vancouver climate allows the cultivation of an outstanding plant collection, which is a delight any time of year. VanDusen boasts over 255,000 plants representing more than 7,300 taxa from around the world. Their plant collections represent ecosystems that range from tropical South African, to Himalayas, to the Canadian Arctic, as well as plant native to our own Northwest.

The South Granville Rise is an upscale retail area south of Vancouver's downtown core and bordered by the neighbourhoods of Kitsilano, Fairview & Shaughnessy. Separated from downtown by False Creek, the area runs along Granville Street from the south side of the Granville Street Bridge/West 5th Avenue up to West 16th Avenue. This fast growing neighbourhood of shops and restaurants is also home of the historic Stanley Theater and (Art) Gallery Row. Our favorite restaurants and shops are within these 11 blocks, and it is no coincidence that both our properties are close by. Here is an excellent South Granville Brochure with map.

Granville Island is Vancouver’s number one tourist destination is also our favorite location for fresh food shopping, casual restaurants, romantic walks or family activities. Rent a boat or kayak, or take a water taxi to False Creek or Bowen Island. Free parking available, or about a $15 taxi ride. By car, drive north on Granville Street, turn right on 16th Avenue, and turn left immediately on Hemlock Street. Stay in the left hand lane and follow the signs under the Granville Street Bridge to Granville Island.

Sea Wall is a 25-kilometer (15 mile) paved boardwalk that is unofficially the second most popular tourist destination in Vancouver (as this has no official entry/exit point) and is free to all. Most of our active guests rent bikes after breakfast (@$25/day) and spend at least one day exploring Kits Beach, Granville Island, False Creek, 1st & 2nd Beach and Stanley Park. A VISA card is all you need to break for lunch, coffee or water between photo opportunities. Reckless Bike Rentals (604-731-2420) is at 1810 Fir Street (& West 2nd Avenue) near Granville Island.

Stanley Park is recognized around the globe as one of the greatest parks of the world! Vancouver’s first park and one of the city’s main tourist attractions, Stanley Park is an evergreen oasis of 400 hectares (1,000 acres) close to the downtown core. Stanley Park was named after Lord Stanley of the Stanley Cup fame. Here is a great map of Stanley Park.

Events / Concerts / Theater

Restaurants

Pam & Randy's quick restaurant ideas for Granville House B&B guests:

Fine Dining:
West 2881 Granville Street (& 13th Ave) 604-738-8938
French fusion, with four consecutive wins of Restaurant of the Year by the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, a prestigious four star rating by Mobil Travel Guide, and recognized as one of the “ten of the best, worldwide” by UK’s Sunday Independent. Randy’s restaurant of choice for special occasions, & Pam's bar of choice waiting for a table at Vij's or curtain call at the Stanley. Reservations recommended for lunch and dinner.

Bishop's 1823 West 4th Avenue (between Arbutus & Yew St) 604-738-2025
John "...has placed his brand of understated West Coast cuisine firmly on the map." NW Palate Magazine.

Vij’s 1480 West 11th Avenue (& Granville St.) 604-736-6664
Indian fusion cuisine in the South Granville district. NY Times reviewed “Easily among the finest Indian restaurants in the world.” Dinner served from 5:30pm with no reservations, so we recommend you go early to avoid the typical lineups (sometimes 2.5 hours long). A BBVancouver.com favorite. Vikram Vij also runs the Rangoli cafe next door.

C Restaurant 1600 Howe Street (on the downtown Sea Wall, under the Granville St. Bridge)
Globe & Mail reviewed “...the most original & exciting fish & seafood restaurant this country has ever seen.” Facing west to Granville Island & sunset. Amazing awards;
10 consecutive years as Vancouver Magazine Critics Choice “Best seafood”
6 consecutive Distinguished Restaurant of North America Award (DiRoNA)
6 consecutive Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence”

Tojo’s 1133 West Broadway (near Oak St.) 604-872-8051
Mr. Tojo is a master sushi chef that critic’s say is reason enough to visit Vancouver. Let Tojo prepare your dinner in small portions on artful plates, as he is typically the one who spent the morning selecting fish and crustaceans for your pleasure.

Sun Sui Wah 3888 Main Street (& 22nd Avenue) 604-872-8822 Voted Best Chinese & Seafood by Vancouver Magazine Readers Choice and is renowned for its squab and live tanks of fish, Alaskan king crab, Atlantic lobsters and geoduck clams. The weekend dim sum is just as sophisticated as its dinner fare. This restaurant is excellent for large group celebrations and we trust the staff suggestions implicitly.

Steaks:
Gotham’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar 615 Seymour Street (& Dunsmuir) 604-605-8282. Voted best steaks 2010
Hy’s Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar 637 Hornby Street (& 604-683-7671. A local old-school tradition
The Keg Steakhouse & Bar 1011 Mainland Street (Yaletown) 604-633-2534. Canadian chophouse chain w various locations

The Sequoia Company of (4) Restaurants. Popular local mid-market chain with our guests:
1) Seasons in the Park in Queen Elizabeth Park (above 33rd & Cambie) 2010 Zagat's #1 decor. 604-874-8008
2) The Sandbar Seafood restaurant on Granville Island (1535 Johnston Street) 604-669-9030.
3) Cardero’s in Coal Harbour (1583 Coal Harbour Quay) 604-669-7666. "We are fish, chops & a wok."
4) The Tea House in Stanley Park (at Ferguson Point) 604-669-3281. Great view of English Bay & sunsets, on the Sea Wall

Casual South Granville Restaurants for food &/or drinks:
Red Door 2996 Granville Street (& 14th Ave) 604-733-5699 Best Pan-Asian Readers Choice 2008
Rangoli 1488 West 11th Avenue (& Granville) 604-736-5711 Viji's Cafe without the "eternal wait". Pam’s lunch favorite
Joey’s 1424 West Broadway (& Granville) 604-732-5639 Local sports bar with roof deck
Cactus Club 1530 West Broadway (& Granville) 604-733-0434 Late night kitchen with various locations
Moxie’s 1759 West Broadway (& Burrard St) 604-678-9973 Sports bar

Family Friendly:
Denny's 1296 West Broadway (& Birch) 604-731-9033. Kids eat free every Tue & Sat 4-10pm
Boston Pizza 1333 West Broadway (& Birch) Free parking, take out & delivery. Across from Denny's
Rocky Mountain Flat Bread 1876 West 1st Avenue (& Burrard). Organic & licensed, with a play area
White Spot 2518 West Broadway (& Larch). Popular Vancouver family restaurant chain. Various locations

Cheap &/or Quick Local Eats:
Cafe Crepe 2861 Granville Street (& 13th) 604-488-1326 European style crepe cafe. Eat in or take out
E-Bei Sushi 5701 Granville Street (& 41st) 604-263-2326 Good value All You Can Eat or take out
Go Fish 1505 West 1st Ave (& Fir) 604-730-5040 Seafood right off the fish-boats near Granville Island
Granville Island Public Market The food fair has something for everyone. Free parking available
Max’s Deli 3105 Oak Street (&15th Ave) 604-733-4838 Voted Vancouver’s best deli
Meinhardt Fine Foods 3002 Granville Street (&14th Ave) 604-732-4405 Quality deli and coffee
Memphis Blues BBQ 1465 W Broadway (& Granville) 604-738-6806 Elvis would be proud. Dine in/take out
Vera's Burger Shack 1455 West Broadway. "You can't beat Vera's meat". Various locations