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Your ultimate Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­neighbourhood guide to Gastown

The best cafes, boutiques, art galleries, restaurants and more.
Gastown Steam Clock getty stock image
Your ultimate guide to Gastown, Vancouver, from coffee and shopping to entertainment and best spots to eat.

Follow the cobblestone road into a land of boutiques, artisan flavours, and historic ambience. This land is called Gastown.  

It may be a Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­hot spot for tourists, but this cozy, artsy neighbourhood is just as great of a local getaway for long-time locals. The streets are overlooked by (literal) brick and mortar businesses, with big, popular brands outnumbered by small, upscale boutiques and speckled with tourist shops and small business collectives. Aside from shopping, this part of town is also known for artisan goods, art galleries, and great Instagram photo locations. 

There's plenty to see and do in this part of the city besides take photos of the Gastown Steam Clock, and if you aren't sure where to go, here is your ultimate guide to this unique neighbourhood. 

Of course, a morning in Gastown starts with coffee (like in any other part of Vancouver, but more so here), and there are a number of cafes worth visiting. 

Start the day off strong with coffee and pastries from any of several cafes, like , , or the Japanese-inspired Parisian import . is another worthy spot, with great cafe bites (think avocado toast) as is - also home to some of the best bread in Vancouver. 

Need breakfast? has you covered, though you can find brunch menus at several neighbourhood spots that are also great for lunch, dinner, or cocktails.

Some of those terrific spots include relative newcomer  (a Swiss-inspired restaurant), as well as , a modern Mexican venture that's a sibling to Olympic Village's popular Ophelia. 

Nemesis Coffee Gastown
@coffeecreatingculture/Facebook

Once you're caffeinated and ready for the day, stroll through the cobblestone streets past the many eye-catching window displays of art, clothing and other goods. Start wherever you please, but shopping and perusing Gastown's art galleries are a must. 

Art lovers will delight at this news: Gastown has not one, nor two, but four art galleries with various collections to admire.

For a taste of contemporary art, stop by the non-profit artist-run gallery. A visit to gallery will give a glimpse into the figurative abstract paintings made by local artist Don Choboter and a stop by will reveal a display of handmade art inspired by the Pacific Northwest created by artist couple Lee and Bon Roberts. gallery boasts a collection of fine First Nations and Inuit artwork. 

Muzi Gastown small consignment business
@shopmuzi/Instagram

As for Gastown's shopping, goods range from upscale boutiques and a few streetwear stores to consignment, thrift, and locally-made goods. 

For modern, stylish pieces, hit up some of Gastown's cute boutiques such as , , , , . Oak + Fort also recently revamped their Gastown location, turning the once small shop into 5,000 square feet minimalist trove. If you're shopping for home goods,  is a must if minimalist and modern styles are your things. 

Seekers of unique finds and hand-picked selects should add  to their itinerary, and set aside some time to see all of the 's small consignment stores, such as Y2K-esque , designer heaven , and fashion-apothecary-lifestyle shop . 

For a truly one-of-a-kind shopping experience, seek out custom-made and hand-crafted gems at (shoes you will surely find nowhere else), (hand-crafted Italian hats), and (custom-made printing, embroidery and engraving, from shirts to wallets to wine glasses.)

Hypebeasts of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­won't be disappointed either. 's combined store is a go-to for sneakers like Air Jordan and Yeezy (they sell both new and used shoes as well as streetwear items) while specializes in designer resale for men and women. , a well-known label, is also nestled in Gastown as a brick-and-mortar store. 

You can also explore a handful of small, local businesses at where you can peruse neatly stacked shelves of hand-crafted and locally-made Vancouverite goods.

Nuba Gastown
Nuba is a popular spot in Gastown for Lebanese fare. Photo: @nubatown/Instagram

Gastown is hands down one of the best neighbourhoods in Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­for food and drink. 

Global cuisine shines in Gastown. Eat your way around the world within blocks, enjoying Ukrainian (), Korean (), Italian (), or French (), and Lebanese () to name a few. Tacos and casual Mexican eats are in steady supply thanks to , , and - the latter boasts two off-shoots worth noting: a seasonal shipping container cocktail spot with small plates around back called , and next door's bar. 

Tuck into decadent burgers and stiff drinks at , west coast fare at , and slurp oysters at . Vancouver's OG trendy sandwich shop  calls Gastown home, and it's steps from one of the city's best bakeshops, . 

Go from day to day at Italian cafe/restaurant and indulge your deepest cravings for epic fried chicken sandwiches at . Vegans and vegetarians will meet you at 's Gastown branch, while beer fans will want to see you at the - it's a Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­classic. 

Save room for dessert from or soft serve from . If you're looking to imbibe, is one of Vancouver's top cocktail bars, while wine lovers will want to slip into for some sips. It's hard to beat for drinks and live entertainment, but those imbibing on a budget will love the dive bar vibes of . There's the for more sophisticated sippers, and is where you can drink, eat, and play arcade games

Lastly, Gastown happens to be home to some of the city's best higher-end restaurants, including and the ever-fabulous .

If you're looking to end the night with some partying, the neighbourhood has a fun selection of nightclubs (after all, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­does have the best nightclubs). A night at  or are a great way to dance away into the night (maybe even into the morning).