A year-round gathering point , Robson Square affords breathing space between downtown towers and the low-rise Vancouver Art Gallery and Law Courts . Winter brings skaters to its roofed , open-air rink
Noodle houses , sushi bars and fine-dining destinations along the strip satisfy every appetite , while BC Place stadium delivers adrenalinefuelled football and soccer games under an iconic LED-lit roof . On Whitecaps game nights , a boisterous local fan group known as the Southsiders fills the sidewalks with exuberant chants and cheers .
West End
Nestled between downtown Vancouver and the welcoming woods of Stanley Park , the West End offers natural beauty and a lively nightlife . Heritage buildings and modern high-rises gaze out over the joggers and cyclists on the west edge of the seawall , a 28-km ( 17-mi ) waterfront path encircling the city core . After refuelling at one of the cozy eateries that line Denman Street , visitors gather at Yue Minjun ’ s “ A-mazeing Laughter ” statues , a beloved legacy of the 2011 Vancouver Biennale , for fun photo-ops . Stunning sunsets light up waterfront restaurant patios at English Bay , while pink bus stops and rainbow crosswalks a few blocks away mark the heart of Davie Village , a vibrant LGBTQ + community that hosts the largest pride parade in Western Canada . In the summer , crowds flock to the beach for free outdoor movie screenings and the spectacular Honda Celebration of Light fireworks competition .
Chinatown
Canada ’ s largest Chinatown is as old as Vancouver itself . The ornate Millennium
Gate near Shanghai Alley bears the words “ Remember the past and look forward to the future ,” an epigraph that sums up the everchanging face of this historic neighbourhood . Lavish dim-sum restaurants , souvenir shops and traditional Chinese herbalists thrive alongside modern bistros , art galleries and a growing nightlife scene amid red lampposts guarded by golden dragons . The Dr . Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden , an awardwinning oasis of serenity , sits just two blocks away from a Cineplex , while a monument to Chinese-Canadian railway workers and World War II veterans stands within strolling distance of an artisanal coffee roaster . Check out the famed Sam Kee building , skinniest office building in the world , then overload your senses at the Chinese New Year parade or summer night market .
Gastown
A hot spot for the impossibly cool , Gastown and its cobblestones and antique-style street lamps set the scene for upscale boutiques , studios , culinary destinations , galleries of First Nations art and trendy nightlife venues . High-end local designers rub shoulders with international labels in renovated heritage buildings , their elegant window displays lining the sidewalks like stylish murals . At the corner of Water and Cambie , the Gastown Steam Clock charms crowds with its hourly sounding of Westminster Chimes . In nearby alleys and underground venues , fine cuisine and tast-
68 EssE ntial VancouV er 2017 / 18