We’re next to Yaletown, with its buzzing restaurants, boutiques, and bars, and close to all the major concert and sports venues. Offering mainly one-bedroom suites, you’ll have plenty of space to relax. Take in views of iconic Robson Street from our year-round rooftop heated pool and enjoy steam rooms, saunas and fitness center.
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The Perfect Getaway: A long weekend in Vancouver for music fans
The largest metropolitan locale in Western Canada, Vancouver offers a healthy to-do list of outdoor activities and vibrant music diversions, all fueled with every type of menu imaginable.
By Chris Kucway | December 5, 2024
Chris Kucway
Having lived in Toronto, Hong Kong and Bangkok over the years, travel writer and editor Chris Kucway says it was an easy decision to call Vancouver home. He has worked for publications around the world, including The Wall Street Journal and Travel + Leisure, but his love of Vancouver has led him to continually chase after what’s new and exciting in the city and around the region.
Perched along the water of a beautiful inlet that sits in the shadows of often snow-capped mountain ranges, Vancouver manages to include all the cultural magnets and culinary tastes of any major city while keeping a small-town vibe. While its unique Indigenous heritage and outdoorsy nature are some of the leading reasons to visit, the music scene has witnessed a recent rebirth, both in small, historical venues and on the big stage. No matter what genre you prefer, here’s a music-lover's itinerary to make the most of a weekend in Vancouver.
Friday
Morning
Arrive in town and head to the city center, checking in at Hilton Vancouver Downtown. The hotel is a short walk to the area’s best shopping, museums and restaurants. Vancouver is an easy locale to navigate on foot, so stroll around the downtown core to get your bearings. Keep your energy levels up for a day of exploring with a stop at Kafka’s Coffee Roasting, a funky spot with delicious espresso and coffee offerings, plus a variety of pastries and sandwiches.
Afternoon
When you’re ready for lunch, head to Commercial Drive, an avenue lined with cafes and restaurants and home to Vancouver’s Little Italy. La Grotta del Formaggio is the go-to spot for unbeatable focaccia sandwiches, while nearby Rosemary Rocksalt is another institution, famed for its Montreal smoked meat bagels. Just remember that the regular size is enormous; the large indescribable. To learn about the neighborhood’s history while sampling its best culinary offerings, consider joining a walking food tour of the area.
Image Credit: Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout
Evening
Vancouver is a gold mine of craft breweries, particularly around the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, where stops at 33 Acres and the Brassneck Brewery only scratch the surface. For a quick and casual dinner in the area, try Sal y Limon Mexican Cuisine. Afterwards, check out some of the city’s smaller theaters for live music, stand-up comedy and one-off film screenings. Several venues are within walking distance of the hotel, including Vogue Theatre and The Orpheum, an elegant facility that dates to 1927 and hosts every genre of music.
Saturday
Morning
Pop over to the bustling West 4th Avenue for breakfast at Jam Cafe Kitsilano, a favorite for its variety of benedicts, or at Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe, a fun retro diner. Need some caffeine? 49th Parallel Café & Lucky Doughnuts will put a pep in your step with a side of delectable pastries. Fueled for some retail therapy? Stroll along the shop-filled street, stopping by gravitypope for funky footwear or Shop Makers Kitsilano for an array of Vancouver keepsakes made by local artists.
Afternoon
Next, head to Granville Island, an industrial neighborhood that has given way to the arts. Galleries, art studios and local craft shops with unique gifts are available at every turn like the Granville Island Broom Company and the Craft Council of BC shop.e With a blacksmith, a woodblock-print shop and more, Granville Island is a wonderful place to simply wander and browse. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, the Granville Island Public Market has over 50 food vendors for you to discover.
Image Credit: Destination Vancouver/Hubert Kang
Evening
Saturday night is the best time to enjoy the local music scene. Over in Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood, Guilt & Company is a cellar-style haunt with live music every night of the week, while Clough Bar draws a crowd with great cocktails and live music every weekend from a variety of eclectic performers. The area is also a foodie hotspot so let your taste buds run wild. Standout options include Ukrainian cuisine at Kozak, Korean delights at Zoomak and vegan comfort food at Meet.
Sunday
Morning
Sunday is the perfect day for brunch so walk over to Café Medina, a Michelin-recommended restaurant known for its egg dishes. Then venture out to the tranquil Nitobe Memorial Garden, a slice of Japan that is one of the city’s most serene spots. A short walk away is another gem, the Museum of Anthropology, which houses an outstanding collection of First Nations artifacts. Be sure to see Bill Reid’s sculpture “The Raven and the First Men,” depicting the Haida tale of the birth of man.
Image Credit: Destination Vancouver/Kindred & Scout
Afternoon
Take in a different view of the city with a trip up Grouse Mountain, known as the Peak of Vancouver. Beyond the breathtaking vistas, you’ll find tons of outdoor activities from hiking and ziplining in summer to snowshoeing in winter. If you want to get your steps in, challenge yourself to the Grouse Grind, a 1.8-mile trail with 2,830 stairs to climb. For a more tranquil trip up the mountain, hop on the Skyride gondola. Before heading down, enjoy lunch at any of the mountaintop restaurants.
Image Credit: Destination Vancouver/Devin Manky
Evening
If you’re looking for your own vinyl to spin, check out Red Cat Records and Neptoon Records, both on Main Street, for current releases and classics of every kind. Then head back to your hotel and settle in for dinner and drinks at Hendricks Resto-Lounge, the hotel’s on-site eatery and old-school cocktail lounge overlooking Library Square. Try some of the most memorable cocktails, like the Mezcal Negroni, and sample a variety of shareable dishes and hearty entrees to complete the evening.
Monday
Morning
Start your final day with a filling buffet breakfast at Hendricks or choose from the hotel restaurant’s robust a la carte menu. Then join the outdoorsy crowd to explore the Seaside Greenway, the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront path. You can walk or bike all 17 miles (28km) of the path or stick to the most popular section: the Stanley Park Seawall. As Vancouver’s green lung, Stanley Park is the best place to enjoy some fresh air and great city views.
Afternoon
If last-minute gifts for adults are on your list, then check out Olympic Village where you’ll find the Legacy Liquor Store. In addition to the hundreds of local craft beers and ciders, there’s a great selection of British Columbia wines and several shelves of craft gins, vodkas and whiskies from around the province, including labels that even most Vancouverites don’t know about. For lunch, Bao Down OV is an excellent choice with Asian-street-food-inspired sandwiches other flavorful dishes.
Image Credit: BC Ale Trail
Until next time!
Yes, we know, leaving is hard to do, but the best way to beat the end-of-vacation blues is to start dreaming (and planning!) a return trip. That’s especially true in a city like Vancouver that has so much to offer. With every return, you’re guaranteed to discover something new and make incredible memories.
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