Say what you will about Vancouver, but there’s no denying there’s a lot that’s cool about the city, and one street specifically was named one of the coolest in the world.
The designation comes from TimeOut, which put out a list of this year’s coolest streets in the world.
Cambie Street was declared the 20th coolest city, one of only two Canadian spots to make the list. The other was Montreal’s Sherbrooke Street West.
So, why Cambie Street?
“Few streets show off Vancouver’s character quite like Cambie. Split by the Cambie Bridge, this bustling boulevard runs from Gastown’s waterfront steam clock down to the city’s highest point at Queen Elizabeth Park,” writes TimeOut Contributor Olivia Hart.
Hart adds that some of the street’s food establishments have been frequented by royalty, among other celebrities.
“In between lies Cambie Village. Nestled in the cool neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant, this once sleepy stretch has made a name for itself in recent years as a culinary hotspot, with new openings and famed Vij’s (frequented by Prince Harry).”
TimeOut also points to a couple of other notable spots to grab a drink or a bite on Cambie Street, including Osteria Elio Volpe, which Hart calls a “sunny Italian spot with an open-air dining room and a wrap-around bar.”
“By day, it’s all about brunch done right; by night, it switches gears with Italian comfort food.”
Hart also mentions the bar June, “the new kid on the block, pouring everything from mini tinis to a Noisette Manhattan. Slip past the red velvet curtains and enter LaLa, the venue’s downstairs listening bar, where a rotating line-up of DJs spin vinyl.”
Hart notes that Cambie Street has a couple of notable retailers worth checking out.
“Stock up on elegant wardrobe staples and home goods at the two-storey Cadine, then pop by Walrus Design Inc for bespoke gifts spotlighting up-and-coming brands.”
TimeOut also mentions one notable spot on Cambie Street that made headlines earlier this year: Park Theatre.
“The strip has long been a hub for murals, galleries and street parties, plus it keeps things charmingly old-school with Video Cat, an indie video and DVD rental store open since ‘96 and the retro one-screen Park Theatre across the street (which is currently being revamped by the beloved Rio Theatre),” Hart writes.
This year, TimeOut named Rua do Senado in Rio de Janeiro the world’s #1 coolest street. You can see the full list of TimeOut’s coolest streets on its website.
Last year, TimeOut called Commercial Drive one of the world’s coolest streets.
Do you agree that Cambie Street is one of the coolest streets in Vancouver?