Vancouver / The city guides

A little local direction.

Vancouver’s good evenings often start with a small detour: coffee in Gastown, an artist-run gallery in Mount Pleasant, then a room with a live band. Follow the independent places, leave time between stops, and see where the city takes the rest of your day.

This weekend.

The weekend editThis WeekendPut a little room in the calendar for a Saturday dance matinee, guitars on Main Street and Sunday-night improv.

Start with a neighbourhood.

Neighbourhood guideA little longer in GastownGive Gastown an afternoon that can stretch into an evening. Start with coffee on Cambie Street, spend some time with useful, considered objects on Cordova, and check what is happening in the neighbourhood’s performance rooms. Leave space between the stops, with opening hours and showtimes setting the pace.Neighbourhood guideAn afternoon in Mount PleasantMain Street is a useful starting point, but leave space for its side streets. Browse skateboards and independent print, give an artist-run gallery your attention, then decide whether the day needs a park, a Main Street dinner or a late show. Start with one stop and let the neighbourhood suggest the next.

Find your kind of plan.

CollectionA Good Rainy DayA few indoor reasons to head out when the forecast is unconvincing: books, contemporary art, coffee and a shop full of useful objects. This is a city-wide shortlist, with time to choose one neighbourhood or make a longer day of it.CollectionDinner Before the ShowBuild an evening around one neighbourhood. Mount Pleasant pairs a Main Street dinner with the Fox; Chinatown puts Kissa Tanto and Fortune in the same district. Reservations and tickets are separate, so choose a sitting that leaves room before the music.CollectionSmall Rooms. Loud Bands.A club-circuit edit for evenings built around a stage: shared bills, independent rooms and musicians worth giving the whole night to. Check the individual event for age rules, doors and showtimes.CollectionUnder $25A lighter-spend edit using published entry prices of C$25 or less, alongside free public space. Ticket fees can increase the checkout total, and prices may change; check the current options before booking.

Something good on the table.

Food & DrinkGood taste. Different corners.A rolling food-and-drink shortlist for the city: coffee worth a detour, a pastry counter to investigate and dinner with a distinct point of view. Pick a neighbourhood, follow an appetite, and give the menu a little attention. There is enough here to turn a quick stop into the day’s main plan.