Vancouver has long been a hub for art, culture, and cuisine, attracting people from all around the world. Passport explored some of the city’s best eateries, LGBTQ+ owned and operated businesses, accommodations, and cultural activities to find out which spots you should add to your must-visit list when heading for Vancouver, Canada.
Those who are looking for delectable delights will find plenty at Kouign Café helmed by gay celebrity pastry chef Andrew Han. Here Asian and European pastries fuse for sweet and savory texture-rich creations that you certainly can’t find anywhere else.
A shift from day to night could take you to Laowai, a very discreet Shanghai-inspired speakeasy. For a 1980s vibe, visit The Chickadee Room, where an all-female (and largely queer) bartending staff serve drinks and fare from next door chicken joint, Juke. Feeling fancy? Elevate your evening with natural wines at Bar SuSu.
Restaurant offerings are plentiful and include everything wood-fried steak at Elisa, to Japanese takeaway at Sashimiya. Plan ahead and try to snag a reservation at Michelin-star rated Published on Main or try your luck at Carlino housed inside sleek hotel Shangri-La Vancouver.
There is no shortage of ways to explore the city’s vast foodie scene and history. Take the stress out of planning and join a Vancouver Foodie Tour featuring routes like the three-hour walking tour entitled “Authentic Asian Eats Tour.” And for the LGBTQ+ history buff, Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours “Really Gay History Tour” boasts a solid two-plus hours of LGBTQ+ milestones and landmarks including famous queer bookstore Little Sisters. For visitors who like to ride bikes, Cycle City Vancouver offers bike rentals and tours to shorten your transport time between all the big sights.
Culture vultures and art lovers flock to the city’s galleries like moths to a flame, and luckily Vancouver has no shortage of businesses in the art realm either. The Polygon Gallery displays photography and multimedia work and the new Museum of North Vancouver offers multimedia exhibits and family-friendly artifacts telling the history of the region’s First Nation people.
When planning your visit, you will discover that accommodations in Vancouver range from boutique properties, like the 96-room Opus Hotel, to the trendy Paradox Hotel and more. Book your stay in Vancouver now just in time for the Winter Pride Festival in February.
