Vancouver Life
Hidden gems, beloved landmarks and unique neighbourhood vibes add
up to one spectacular city By Chloë Lai. Artwork by Hilary Morris
Granville Island Public
Market is the preferred
shopping spot for fresh
produce. The once indus-
trial neighbourhood is a
warren of boutiques, eat-
eries, studios and theatres
Opposite: an Inukshuk
watches over the West
End shore of English Bay,
where kayakers and deep-
sea freighters all find safe
harbour
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Downtown
The heart of this young, ever-evolving city is in
the central section of the peninsula, bounded
by Canada Place, Pacific Street, Jervis Street
and Hamilton Street. Bursting with over a
thousand stores, hundreds of restaurants,
landmarks, arenas and theatres, Vancouver’s
downtown core is a one-stop memory-making
shop. Ultra-chic designers like Hermès, Tiffany
& Co. and Louis Vuitton populate the Alberni
Street area, while nearby award-winning eat-
eries serve up Kobe beef, fresh seafood and
delicious French chocolate. Savour a 360-degree
view of the city from Vancouver Lookout, visit
the magnificent clocks at the art-deco Marine
Building (1930) and Sinclair Centre (1911), or
explore the Colosseum-inspired Vancouver
Public Library. Rainy afternoons are best spent
at the Vancouver Art Gallery, while sunny days
are perfect for checking out Jack Poole Plaza,
E ss E n t i a l Va n co u V er 20 1 7/ 1 8
where Douglas Coupland’s “Digital Orca” and
the 2010 Olympic Cauldron make recognizable
backdrops for souvenir photos. On Granville
Street, the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
performs at historic Orpheum Theatre, where
Frank Sinatra once damaged a sink while prac-
tising his golf swing.
Robson Street
Whether it’s first-class shopping, sporting
events or people watching, this street has it
all — and then some. Gloriously oversized flag-
ship stores for designer brands like Sephora,
Victoria’s Secret, Lululemon and L’Occitane stay
open late to offer fashion devotees the best
in retail therapy. Beneath the plaza at Robson
Square, a public ice-skating rink moonlights
as a dance floor and free, open-air cinema in
the summertime, with live music events and
mass pop-up wedding ceremonies in between.