No trip to Vancouver is complete without spending some time exploring Gastown on foot. This bustling neighborhood grew from a single tavern founded in 1867 by the steamboat captain ‘Gassy’ Jack Deighton, who the area is named after. Today, Gastown is a National Historic Site and is famous for its trendy food and drink scene, independent galleries and fashion boutiques. It’s a hipster’s haven, where Victorian-era buildings and cobbled streets meet cosmopolitan cool.
Gastown is home to some of the city’s favourite foodie hotspots. From farm-to-table fare to Pan-Asian cuisine, and from fine-dining restaurants to low-key bistros, there’s certainly no shortage of choice. For after-dinner drinks, you’ll find plenty of lively pubs and chic cocktail bars where you can chat to the locals and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.
If you’re looking to pick up a souvenir from your trip to Vancouver, Gastown is the place to go. You’ll find everything from fashion boutiques, to interior design stores, to unique gift shops, not to mention the one-of-a-kind keepsakes on offer at the art galleries. It’s almost impossible to walk past these intriguing shop windows without having a peek inside.
Whether you come for culture, the food or the shopping, you won’t be able to resist falling in love with Gastown. You can easily spend a morning or afternoon soaking up the sights and sounds of the neighbourhood, and you’ll soon understand why it’s one of Vancouver’s most popular hangouts.