MAP 2: 23 E. Pender St., 604/683-7268, www.mingwo.com; 9am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
Örling & Wu
The carefully curated collection of hip housewares draws you into this window-lined storefront in a rehabbed Gastown building, where it’s fun to browse for things you didn’t know you needed. Örling & Wu carries cards and paper goods, coffee- and tea-making supplies, tableware, soaps and bath products, and even stylish dog collars.
MAP 2: 28 Water St., 604/568-6718, www.orlingandwu.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
Yaletown and False Creek Map 3
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
S Fine Finds Boutique
You’ll likely unearth some fine finds at Fine Finds Boutique, a Yaletown shop stocked with casually stylish women’s clothing, hats, jewelry, and handbags, mixing local labels and global brands. They carry a large selection of vegan leather wallets, purses, and packs from Canadian maker Matt & Nat, plus cards and gift items, too, all attractively displayed in this window-lined storefront.
MAP 3: 1014 Mainland St., 604/669-8325, http://finefindsboutique.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Tues., 10am-7pm Wed.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
Global Atomic Designs
Hidden down a narrow corridor in a restored brick building, this surprisingly spacious boutique outfits millennial men and women in everything from funky T-shirts, hoodies, and denim to spangled club wear from Canadian and international designers, like Naked & Famous, Religion, and John Varvatos. In the center of this shop, which was one of the first boutiques to open in Yaletown back in 1998, is a coffee bar where you can pull up a stool and consider your purchases over an espresso and a cookie.
MAP 3: 1144 Mainland St., 604/806-6223, www.globalatomic.com; 11am-7pm daily
Moulé
The staff at family-owned Moulé can help you select from garments that are smart enough to dress up while still doubling as comfy casual wear. Among their women’s and men’s clothing lines, they carry several of their own in-house brands, including Rachel Mara, Colter, and Ten62. They also stock jewelry and a small assortment of housewares, and there’s even a corner with toys and clothing for the kids. Their roomy Yaletown shop, set in a heritage building with black wood floors and white wood walls, has plenty of space for browsing.
MAP 3: 1062 Homer St., 604/685-1062, http://moulestores.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.
Woo To See You
Inside Woo To See You, a teeny white-walled Yaletown boutique that gets its distinctive name from owner Hans Woo, you’ll find jeans, blouses, jackets, and other fashionably casual women’s clothing, primarily mid-priced garments from smaller or independent labels. Prepare for winter with handmade hats by Vancouver’s Hendrik.Lou, and check out the cases along the wall displaying original jewelry, including Vancouver designer Carli Marie Sita’s “famous fingers” series, necklaces inspired by American Sign Language (and other hand gestures). There’s another location on Main Street.
MAP 3: 1062 Mainland St., 604/559-1062, https://wootoseeyou.com; 10am-8pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.
VINTAGE AND SECONDHAND
My Sister’s Closet
Shopping at this Yaletown “eco-thrift” boutique supports a good cause. At My Sister’s Closet, which the local Battered Women’s Support Services organization operates, proceeds from the store’s sales help fund violence prevention and intervention services. Allow some time to browse; this corner store is crammed with racks of women’s secondhand clothing, from pants to coats to formal wear, along with some jewelry, shoes, bags, and a small selection of men’s garments.
MAP 3: 1092 Seymour St., 604/687-0770, www.bwss.org; 10am-6pm Mon.-Thurs., 10am-7pm Fri., 11am-7pm Sat., noon-6pm Sun.
SPECIALTY FOOD AND DRINK
Legacy Liquor Store
British Columbia’s largest privately owned liquor store, Legacy Liquor Store, in the Olympic Village, has an excellent selection of B.C. wines from more than 80 wineries around the province. The knowledgeable staff can help you choose, whether you’re looking for a gift or for a bottle to sip with your bread-and-cheese picnic. In this 8,600-square-foot (800-square-meter) store, they stock plenty of B.C. craft spirits, and their selection of 1,000-plus beers includes many local microbrews. They hold periodic wine-tastings and other special events; check the website or phone for a schedule.
MAP 3: 1633 Manitoba St., 604/331-7900, http://legacyliquorstore.com; 10am-11pm daily
Granville Island Map 4
SHOPPING MALLS
Net Loft
Opposite the Public Market is the Net Loft, an indoor minimall in a former warehouse building. Explore its hallways, a warren of tiny shops and art galleries, for gifts and unique souvenirs, from jewelry to kitchenware to hats to aboriginal art.
MAP 4: 1666 Johnston St., no phone; 10am-7pm daily
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
Funk Shui Atelier
In this light and open Railspur Alley studio, the textile artists at Funk Shui Atelier craft handmade hats, scarves, and other wearable or decorative fabric items. You can often watch the artists as they work.
MAP 4: 1375 Railspur Alley, 604/684-5327, www.funkshuifelt.com; 10am-5pm daily
Granville Island Hat Shop
At the Granville Island Hat Shop, inside the Net Loft building, you can find almost anything to wear on your head, for both men and women. Stacks and stacks of hats line the shelves, and the staff can help you find your best style. They craft custom hats and do hat repair and restoration as well.
MAP 4: Net Loft, 1666 Johnston St., 604/683-4280, www.thehatshop.ca; 10am-6pm daily
Little Dream
Little Dream carries an eclectic assortment of locally made fashions, jewelry, and accessories for women in its compact Net Loft shop. Crafted by Vancouver designers, their distinctive clothing, which ranges from casual to more dressy, isn’t on the racks at your standard suburban mall.
MAP 4: Net Loft, 1666 Johnston St., 604/683-6930, www.dreamvancouver.com; 10am-7pm daily
Silk Weaving Studio
It’s worth hunting for Silk Weaving Studio, hidden in a corrugated metal-clad bungalow near the waterfront, between the Public Market and Ocean Concrete. You can frequently watch the weavers at work, creating handwoven scarves, shawls, and other garments and textile pieces on their sizable looms.
Silk Weaving Studio
MAP 4: 1531 Johnston St., 604/687-7455, www.silkweavingstudio.com; 10am-5pm daily
DESIGN AND GIFTS
S The Umbrella Shop
Even if you’re visiting in the sunny summertime, you may want as a souvenir the constant companion of Vancouverites: an umbrella. The Umbrella Shop sells good-quality rain protectors in a broad range of colors and styles, and the helpful staff can explain the benefits of different designs. Besides this branch under the bridge on Granville Island, look for their location on West Pender Street, handy if you get caught in the rain downtown.
MAP 4: 1550 Anderson St., 604/697-0919, www.theumbrellashop.com; 10am-6pm daily
Ainsworth Custom Design
Part metalworking studio (specializing in furniture) and part gift shop, Ainsworth Custom Design carries whimsical one-of-a-kind items from magnets and cards to prints and T-shirts.
MAP 4: 1243 Cartwright St., 604/682-8838, www.ainsworthcustomdesign.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Fri., noon-6pm Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
Circle Craft Co-Operative
In the Net Loft, spacious Circle Craft Co-Operative is a good place to browse for handmade jewelry, leatherwork, ceramics, and other work by more than 150 B.C. craftspeople, with items attractively displayed on wooden tables and shelves.
MAP 4: Net Loft, 1666 Johnston St., 604/669-8021, www.circlecraft.net; 10am-7pm daily Apr.-Dec., 10am-6pm daily Jan.-Mar.
Granville Island Broom Co.
Harry Potter and his Quidditch team would covet the handmade sweepers from the Granville Island Broom Co. Sisters Mary and Sarah Schwieger, who own the shop, craft brooms using traditional Shaker methods. Check out the “marriage brooms” with their e
ntwined brushes, or the only-in-Canada versions with handles made of hockey sticks.
MAP 4: 1406 Old Bridge St., 604/629-1141, www.broomcompany.com; 10am-6pm daily
Sterling Glassworks
Watch the glassblowers at work at Sterling Glassworks, a glassblowing studio and shop that sells colorful glass pieces of various sizes. If you’re interested in learning about glassblowing yourself, ask about their 30- to 60-minute workshops, offered by appointment only, for adults and teens (ages 14 and up).
MAP 4: 1440 Old Bridge St., 604/681-6730, www.sterling-glassworks.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
Wickaninnish Gallery
The compact Wickaninnish Gallery sells cards, prints, scarves, and other moderately priced items with First Nations designs.
MAP 4: Net Loft, 1666 Johnston St., 604/681-1057, www.wickaninnishgallery.com; 10am-7pm daily
SPECIALTY FOOD AND DRINK
Edible Canada
Looking for a souvenir for a foodie friend or an edible memory from your Vancouver visit? Edible Canada, opposite the Granville Island Public Market and connected to the restaurant of the same name, stocks locally produced salts, jams, vinegars, and more from around British Columbia and across Canada. The shop is decorated with canoes and other Canadiana.
MAP 4: 1596 Johnston St., 604/682-6675, www.ediblecanada.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Fri., 9am-6pm Sat., 9am-5pm Sun.
Liberty Wine Merchants
A good source of wines from B.C. and elsewhere is Liberty Wine Merchants, near the Granville Island Public Market. The staff can introduce you to the region’s wines and advise you about local labels. They have additional locations in the Point Grey neighborhood and on the East Side.
MAP 4: 1660 Johnston St., 604/602-1120, www.libertywinemerchants.com; 9:30am-8pm Mon.-Thurs., 9:30am-9pm Fri., 9am-9pm Sat., 9am-8pm Sun.
Kitsilano Map 5
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
Two of Hearts
For women’s clothing and accessories by emerging Canadian designers, check out Two of Hearts, a friendly boutique in Kitsilano. They carry their own made-in-Vancouver label, Cici, as well as designs from other independent companies, stocking both moderately priced casual clothes and dressier wear. In the center of the shop, look for displays of jewelry.
MAP 5: 1986 W. 4th Ave., 604/428-0998, www.twoofhearts.ca; 11am-6pm Mon. and Wed.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
SHOES
Gravity Pope
Kitsilano’s Gravity Pope sells upscale style-conscious shoes for men and women, including brands like Camper, Cydwoq, Vans, and their own in-house line. Park yourself on one of the curved banquettes while you see what fits. Their next-door boutique, Gravity Pope Tailored Goods (2203 W. 4th Ave., 604/731-7647, 10am-8pm Mon.-Fri., 11am-7pm Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.), carries high-end women’s clothing that ranges from funky to fine, from labels like Comme des Garçons, Naked & Famous, and Alexander Wang.
MAP 5: 2205 W. 4th Ave., 604/731-7673, www.gravitypope.com; 10am-9pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-7pm Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.
BOOKS
S Kidsbooks
Kidsbooks is Vancouver’s best place to find reading matter for toddlers to teens. The Kitsilano shop stocks a large selection of titles by Canadian authors and books with multicultural themes, plus games, crafts, science projects, and audiobooks. This spacious store has nooks for young readers, middle grades, and teenagers to browse. If you’re shopping for a gift or want some suggestions, ask the knowledgeable staff for ideas.
MAP 5: 2557 W. Broadway, 604/738-5335, www.kidsbooks.ca; 9:30am-6pm Mon.-Thurs. and Sat., 9:30am-9pm Fri., 11am-6pm Sun.
Pulp Fiction Books
One of the city’s long-established booksellers, Pulp Fiction Books carries both new and used books on their sturdy pine shelves in their Kitsilano location. They also have two shops on the East Side.
MAP 5: 2754 W. Broadway, 604/873-4311, http://pulpfictionbooksvancouver.com; 11am-7pm daily
SPECIALTY FOOD AND DRINK
S Les Amis du Fromage
The friendly cheese mongers at Les Amis du Fromage will help you pick the perfect wedge, whether you’re looking for locally made brie or a pungent époisses from France. Sampling is encouraged. The Kitsilano storefront, where you can peruse the cheese-filled display cases and coolers, is a short walk from Granville Island; there’s a second location on the East Side.
Les Amis du Fromage
MAP 5: 1752 W. 2nd Ave., 604/732-4218, www.buycheese.com; 9am-6pm Sat.-Wed., 9am-6:30pm Thurs.-Fri.
Silk Road Tea
Based in Victoria, local leaf expert Silk Road Tea runs a spacious store in Kitsilano, where you can browse and sample from their extensive inventory of tea, tea-related products, and cosmetics. They also offer tea classes and workshops; check their website or call for details.
MAP 5: 2066 W. 4th Ave., 778/379 8481, www.silkroadteastore.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm Sun.
OUTDOOR GEAR
Comor Sports
Near West 4th Avenue at Burrard Street in Kitsilano, several shops sell gear for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and cycling. Comor Sports is a well-stocked outdoor gear store with a helpful staff. In their large, warehouse-like location, they carry skis, snowboards, winter accessories, and bicycles, as well as clothing for outdoor sports.
MAP 5: 1766 W. 4th Ave., 604/736-7547, www.comorsports.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Wed. and Sat., 10am-8pm Thurs.-Fri., 11am-5pm Sun.
TRAVEL
S Wanderlust
Wander into Wanderlust, a well-stocked Kitsilano travel store, for a large selection of guidebooks, maps, luggage, and other travel gear. One room is full of books, while the second is stocked with useful gadgets and bags of all shapes and sizes. The staff know their stock, whether it’s what kind of plug adapter you need or which backpacks fit different body shapes, and they’re quick to make recommendations.
MAP 5: 1929 W. 4th Ave., 604/739-2182, www.wanderlustore.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
The Travel Bug
The Travel Bug has a cozy nook filled with travel books, and this compact but well-stocked storefront carries luggage, bags, and travel supplies as well. They also host occasional author talks or presentations about travel destinations.
MAP 5: 2865 W. Broadway, 604/737-1122, www.thetravelbug.ca; 10am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
Cambie Corridor Map 6
CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
S Barefoot Contessa
The motto of this Main Street boutique is “all things lovely,” and with their stock of frilly, flouncy, feminine styles, it’s hard to dispute that claim. At Barefoot Contessa (which has no connection to cooking guru Ina Garten), you can find a perfect dress to wear to a garden party or a flowery frock to brighten a rainy day. Check out their vintage-inspired jewelry and other sparkly baubles. Their second location is on Commercial Drive.
MAP 6: 3715 Main St., 604/879-8175, www.thebarefootcontessa.com; 11am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
S Front and Company
For vintage, designer consignment, and smart new clothing, the fashion-conscious frequent Front and Company. While it can take some hunting to unearth the stylish finds from this jam-packed Main Street shop, the selection of men’s and women’s garments is generally high quality. They also stock jewelry, handbags, shoes, and fun gift items.
MAP 6: 3772 Main St., 604/879-8431, www.frontandcompany.com; 11am-6:30pm daily
Twigg & Hottie
The three Vancouver designers who founded the Main Street boutique Twigg & Hottie carry their own made-in-Canada We3 label along with clothes, shoes, and accessories by other local creators and international brands that meet their sustainable, ethical ethos. Some of their comfortably fashionable pieces, like the Spanish Banks dress and the Kits Beach cover-up, take their names from local landmarks.
MAP 6: 3671 Main St., 604/879-8595, www.we3.ca; 11am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
BOOKS AND STATIONERY
Indigo
Canada’s largest bookstore chain has a two-level location on the corne
r of West Broadway and South Granville. Find all types of books, including fiction, travel, food, and titles for kids and teens, by both Canadian and international authors; there’s plenty of room for browsing. They carry some gift items, stationery, and magazines as well.
MAP 6: 2505 Granville St., 604/731-7822, www.chapters.indigo.ca; 9am-10pm Mon.-Sat., 10am-10pm Sun.
The Regional Assembly of Text
Remember the days when writing meant pen and paper or perhaps a typewriter? Even if you don’t, you can journey back to the pre-digital era at The Regional Assembly of Text, a Main Street stationer that stocks cards, journals, and anything to do with correspondence.
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