20 things to do in Vancouver's West End this summer

Jul 21 2017, 5:28 am

Coming soon to the West End, Mirabel by Marcon presents an exciting—and rare—opportunity to own a home in this vibrant community.


Vancouver’s first upscale neighbourhood, the West End has streets lined with mature and stunning heritage homes. Traffic-calmed streets, bike lanes, the Aquabus, and easy access to public transit make this a future-ready community. Stanley Park, gorgeous beaches, and Vancouver’s Seawall make this area the complete package: a combination of history, natural amenities and urban pleasures not easily matched.

This list of things to do, see, and eat just scratches the surface of all there is to do in Vancouver’s West End.

Experience nature in Stanley Park

downtown vancouver stanley park

Downtown Vancouver/Shutterstock

Explore this natural West Coast rainforest on 27 kilometres of trails, taking in breathtaking views of water, mountains, sky, and majestic trees along the way.

Walk, run, rollerblade, or bike the Vancouver Seawall

InSapphoWeTrust/Flickr

The Seawall is the longest uninterrupted waterfront path in the world—28 kilometers of paradise for runners, cyclists and rollerbladers—and a large section of it runs through the West End.

Relax at one of the beaches

vancouver English bay

English Bay/Shutterstock

Choose from Sunset Beach, English Bay Beach, Third Beach, or Second Beach, whose pool’s concession stand offers frosty drinks.

Get up close and personal at the Vancouver Aquarium

South African penguins at the Vancouver Aquarium (Gabriel Lam / Meimento)

Home to thousands of ocean species and aquatic life, get up close and personal with dolphins, penguins, sea otters, and more.

Get a dose of caffeine at Greenhorn Espresso Bar


Delicious coffee and amazing eats for breakfast, lunch, and brunch. Exhibits by local artists and the owner’s vinyl collection make this a neighbourhood standout.

Eat local at Forage

Brunch at Forage (Jess Fleming/Daily Hive)

Aiming to produce zero waste and consume minimal energy, the farm-fresh fare at Forage is locally sourced, and oh-so good.

Slurp down at Marutama Ramen


The traditionally prepared ramen broth here takes five hours to prepare, and it’s time well spent.

Indulge at Nero Belgian Waffle Bar


Serving Liège- and Brussels-style waffles with a variety of variety of sweet and savoury toppings.

Taste the best the ocean has to offer at The Daily Catch Seafood


The Daily Catch Seafood is Vancouver’s first fishmonger to devote itself entirely (and tirelessly) to selling sustainable fish and seafood.

Get quality at Robson Gourmet Butcher

steak

Steak/Shutterstock

A carnivore’s delight, this butcher offers farm-fresh, local, and free-range meat.

Pack the perfect picnic at Whole Foods Market


Whole Foods carries organic produce and other natural foods that take the guesswork out of special diets.

Grab a bottle at Marquis Wine Cellar

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Picking up a bottle for dinner? Ask the Marquis. The experts here can tailor their recommendations to fit any budget.

Get outfitted with the perfect summer look at Blubird Clothing

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Blubird carries a unique selection of luxury fashion, accessories, and beauty supplies.

Pick up the essential cooking supplies

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Every imaginable kitchen product…and more: from artisan soaps, to greeting cards, to quirky gifts, Chocolate Mousse Kitchenware has everything.

Shop your way down Robson Street

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Most major North American fashion brands have stores along this strip. For dry shopping on a rainy day, try the Pacific Centre, which has a Nordstrom at its entrance.

Watch the sky light up at Celebration of Light

Every year, for three nights in the middle of summer, an international fireworks competition lights up the sky over English Bay.

Join the community at Pride Parade & Festival

A week of events celebrating the LGBTQ+ community culminates in a parade and festival.

Shop local at the West End Farmer’s Market


Every Saturday until mid-October, vendors here sell local produce, artisanal bread, prepared foods, craft beer, wine, ethically raised meat, sustainable seafood, handmade crafts, and more.

Experience Theatre Under The Stars


During the summer, TUTS puts on professional open-air musical theatre productions in at Stanley Park’s Malkin Bowl.

Soak up the sun on the Joe Fortes patio

Photo courtesy Joe Fortes

The hidden rooftop patio at this eatery is one of the best places in the city to soak up the sun, not to mention a top spot to devour some tide-to-table fare and craft cocktails.


To learn more about Mirabel by Marcon, register now.

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