What to do + eat in Vancouver- low energy vegetarian edition
June 29, 2024 10:03 AM Subscribe
My partner and I are spending a few days in Vancouver (Canada) next week. We are staying downtown. Looking for restaurant recommendations (we are vegetarians but otherwise flexible). Also looking for activities/sights that are not too physically strenuous due to health issues.
More details:
-We're staying on Robson St near the West End and won't have a car; willing to use public transit and/or rideshare apps.
-I'm recovering from long COVID and also a sprained ankle so can't do hikes. Are any gardens or parks good if we can only walk for 20-30 min at a time? (Especially wondering about the Sun Yat-Sen garden.) Any other recs for easy walks?
-Museum recs?
-Cool neighborhoods outside downtown that would be fun to explore?
-My partner will be working part of the time so I might like to check out some coffee shops near the hotel during those time. Any close by to where we're staying that are especially nice?
Thank you!
More details:
-We're staying on Robson St near the West End and won't have a car; willing to use public transit and/or rideshare apps.
-I'm recovering from long COVID and also a sprained ankle so can't do hikes. Are any gardens or parks good if we can only walk for 20-30 min at a time? (Especially wondering about the Sun Yat-Sen garden.) Any other recs for easy walks?
-Museum recs?
-Cool neighborhoods outside downtown that would be fun to explore?
-My partner will be working part of the time so I might like to check out some coffee shops near the hotel during those time. Any close by to where we're staying that are especially nice?
Thank you!
Coffee shop rec: if you’ll be in the West End I really like Greenhorn, tucked in a little ways away from the bustle of the main Robson/Denman drags. Pretty busy for brunch on the weekends but weekdays are calmer.
posted by btfreek at 10:44 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
posted by btfreek at 10:44 AM on June 29 [1 favorite]
Nero (1703 Robson) for waffles and Footo (858 Hamilton) for croissants.
posted by Rash at 1:51 PM on June 29
posted by Rash at 1:51 PM on June 29
If you do go to the Museum of Anthropology (which you should, it really is incredible) then I would also recommend going to Nitobe Garden which is just a 5 minute walk away and is an easy stroll. Both of these are far from the West End though so it’ll be a bit of a pricy ride to and from (still worth it).
There’s a nice farmer’s market in the West End right next to Nelson Park on Saturdays from 9am-2pm.
You’re close to Stanley Park and the seawall - very accessible walking for both. It is downhill from where you are though so probably a bus or rideshare to/back is a good idea.
+1 for Greenhorn and Ramen Danbo (best vegan broth out there).
posted by thebots at 8:04 PM on June 29
There’s a nice farmer’s market in the West End right next to Nelson Park on Saturdays from 9am-2pm.
You’re close to Stanley Park and the seawall - very accessible walking for both. It is downhill from where you are though so probably a bus or rideshare to/back is a good idea.
+1 for Greenhorn and Ramen Danbo (best vegan broth out there).
posted by thebots at 8:04 PM on June 29
I’ve taken a horse-drawn tour of Stanley Park. It was very pleasant.
posted by FencingGal at 8:17 PM on June 29
posted by FencingGal at 8:17 PM on June 29
The Acorn restaurant on Main is amazing if you’re after a fancy vegetarian meal!
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:45 PM on June 29
posted by Jon Mitchell at 9:45 PM on June 29
Queen Elizabeth Park might not be a good option for you because the park is a very steep hill. If you’re driving though, there’s nice lookout at the top and a lovely tropical conservatory with parrots you can visit.
I wouldn’t pay to go to Van Dusen for 20 minutes, but it is nice if you can walk and rest.
But walking part of the Stanley Park seawall is way more unique, beautiful, and dramatic.
I love the West End because it’s as dense as Manhattan but also pretty quiet and very green with lots of little pocket parks and is i think a model of what a city can be. Good little restaurants as well especially on Denman.
I also loved spending time on the drive (commercial drive neighborhood).
posted by congen at 6:12 AM on June 30
I wouldn’t pay to go to Van Dusen for 20 minutes, but it is nice if you can walk and rest.
But walking part of the Stanley Park seawall is way more unique, beautiful, and dramatic.
I love the West End because it’s as dense as Manhattan but also pretty quiet and very green with lots of little pocket parks and is i think a model of what a city can be. Good little restaurants as well especially on Denman.
I also loved spending time on the drive (commercial drive neighborhood).
posted by congen at 6:12 AM on June 30
I always recommend people ride the tiny ferries around False Creek. There's two companies, https://theaquabus.com/ and https://granvilleislandferries.bc.ca/. Mostly they stop at the same places and it's easiest to pay cash.
You can take the ferries to Granville Island, and there's a Chao Veggie (https://www.chowatchau.ca/) in the public market.
I also like the Aquarium - probably best to take a rideshare, although the number 19 bus does go there.
If you're not familiar with the Vancouver transit system, be aware that all busses and train stations now accept any tap-enabled credit card. But you can get cheaper fares if you buy a Compass Card.
If you're in the West End, the number 6 & 5 buses may be useful to you also.
Don't try and do the Stanley Park seawall if you're not up for walking, but do at least go over to English Bay and hang out in a park there. The views are beautiful!
One of my favourite restaurants is https://theburrowrestaurant.com/ (vegetarian mexican). It's in East Vancouver, but it's right across from the Commercial-Broadway Skytrain station. This is at the south end of the Commercial Drive - if you feel like a walk, head north to explore the neighborhood.
Also note that most local sushi restaurants have a delicious veggie section :)
Other things you could do:
Take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay / The Shipyards District.
Check out Deep Cove or Steveston (fun little towns, but harder to get to).
Take the gondola up Grouse Mountain (expensive, but they have some shows to watch at the top, and beautiful views).
There's whale watching trips that leave from Granville Island.
posted by elizabot at 12:52 PM on June 30
You can take the ferries to Granville Island, and there's a Chao Veggie (https://www.chowatchau.ca/) in the public market.
I also like the Aquarium - probably best to take a rideshare, although the number 19 bus does go there.
If you're not familiar with the Vancouver transit system, be aware that all busses and train stations now accept any tap-enabled credit card. But you can get cheaper fares if you buy a Compass Card.
If you're in the West End, the number 6 & 5 buses may be useful to you also.
Don't try and do the Stanley Park seawall if you're not up for walking, but do at least go over to English Bay and hang out in a park there. The views are beautiful!
One of my favourite restaurants is https://theburrowrestaurant.com/ (vegetarian mexican). It's in East Vancouver, but it's right across from the Commercial-Broadway Skytrain station. This is at the south end of the Commercial Drive - if you feel like a walk, head north to explore the neighborhood.
Also note that most local sushi restaurants have a delicious veggie section :)
Other things you could do:
Take the Seabus to Lonsdale Quay / The Shipyards District.
Check out Deep Cove or Steveston (fun little towns, but harder to get to).
Take the gondola up Grouse Mountain (expensive, but they have some shows to watch at the top, and beautiful views).
There's whale watching trips that leave from Granville Island.
posted by elizabot at 12:52 PM on June 30
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I do not recommend Sun Yat-Sen garden due to the neighbourhood. For pleasant garden walks, go to Van Dusen gardens or Queen Elizabeth Park.
Museum of Anthropology is open and the best Vancouver has to offer.
Dunno what you like for exploring, one option for Kitsilano is Banyan Books and sound and then to Jericho Park/beach. There’s a restaurant at the sailing club. Otherwise, you’ll want Commercial Drive or Mount Pleasant.
posted by shock muppet at 10:37 AM on June 29