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The Usual Vancouver Suspects
My go-to spots around town.
- 1809
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17 Places
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Robin’s 5-star review: I'm amending my previous 4 star rating. The coffee is THAT good. Perfect Americano. -
Robin’s 4-star review: It's no secret to those in the know that I am a bit of nerd for the written word. For me, paper products and paraphernalia aren't only tools, but works of art; a well-stocked bookshelf is a portal of happiness; and libraries give me hope for mankind. This is why The Regional Assembly of Text exists -- for, and created by, people like me. Perhaps it's the lure of the lowercase reading room, or maybe the proximity to the Main Street Legion, but this little shop that takes letter-writing so very seriously has somehow metamorphosed the simplicity of a keystroke on a pastel blue typewriter into a space that may as well come from another era. Call it old-school, call it mid-century modern, call it secretary-chic, but there is no doubt they've brought a sense of nostalgia and quiet comfort to their tiny shop. Vintage lockers, filing cabinets, and catalog drawers are filled with more than just your average stationary/gift store miscellany. Every single item, from the buttons to the calendars, the quilted letter blocks to the iron on patches, to the ever-adorable tiny handmade books, feels as though it was made with as much time and care as if it were the only thing in the entire store. Also, if I happen to be in the mood for something that has yet to be created, I can just sit myself down at one of the typewriter and stationary equipped stations and make it myself. I think they may even prefer it that way. -
Robin’s 4-star review: Six Acres, the best place to people-watch in all of Gastown -- that is, if you're one of the lucky few to get a seat on the patio. Not only a great spot to keep an eye on the world as it goes by, but also a place with an amazingly cool vibe. With its eclectic, vintage feel, it has plenty of character to speak of -- a cozy loft, exposed brick, old book bound covers for menus, and super sweet candle light to set a very laid back mood. Also, a note on the bathrooms: old audio recordings while you do your thing may seem strange, but it is *actually* quite possibly the best (if not most unique) bathroom-experience in all of Vancouver. The food is decent and the drink selection is impressive, but most importantly, in a city where character and ambiance can sometimes be left behind, Six Acres has managed to keep it real. -
Robin’s 5-star review: What's not to love? Resting unassumingly at the edge of Chinatown is one of my absolute favourite bars in Vancouver. Deep dark wood lining each of the walls; brilliant lighting designed by the masterminds at Urban Visuals; a moody yet entirely easy atmosphere created with (Free) love; tinctures and herbs infused into some of the best cocktails to be found in Vancouver -- really, I ask, what is not to love about Keefer? A dim room with even dimmer corners; perfect conversationalists who also happen to be the witty staff; a burlesque night featuring some of Vancouver's finest. Debauchery at its best. I lubs this place. Long time. also: cute boys! (most of the time) -
Robin’s 4-star review: A go-to place to meet up with friends, the Whip has a something to offer pretty much everyone I'm with on any particular occasion. The atmosphere has plenty of energy but is still super chill, and despite the multiple changes in ownership over the last few of years, the quality of food and service has remained consistently good. I've been to countless birthday gatherings and going-away parties here, and the staff always seem so accommodating to our group's size. There's never any pressure to give up our tables, and so long as we book ahead, there's always plenty of room for everyone -- no knocking elbows! It can get pretty loud on the weekend, so it's best to go with your game voice on. But as a relatively hip, super relaxed, non-offensive, mixed-bag kind of place to grab a drink and a bite to eat with some friends, the Whip is as good as it gets. Also: yam fries, nachos. -
Robin’s 5-star review: They may not have the biggest wine selection in the city, but those they do carry are by far some of my favourites. And if they don't happen to have my favourite chenin blanc, the staff will suggest something just as good. They know their wine, they love their wine, and they truly *get* what I love about wine. Super sweet and smart staff gets them an extra star. -
Robin’s 5-star review: Revolver's flirting with me. They're caressing my coffee-loving tendencies with familiarities like the Chemex and Kone combination I have at home - though their sexy line-up of the handled version positioned 'just so' along the brew bar weakens the knees like my variant never could. They've wooed me with suspended bench seating, polished wood, brick walls, honeycomb tiles - my lips tremble at the thought of their brew options in this seductively minimalist space. Aeropress, siphon, Chemex, espresso - I can have their rotating daily blend brewed any way I want it. My heart flutters at the thought. Revolver knows just the way I like it: they're focused, pure, done to order, done to perfection and size really doesn't matter - their brew is strong and clean. A girl like me doesn't need much more than that. Watch out Vancouver coffee, I may have taken in a new lover. -
Robin’s 5-star review: TWELVE dollars for a half-liter of wine?! Now *this* is why Zakkushi is authentic: izakayas are for big drinking, small bites, and good friends. I love this place for *not* doting on me, for *not* waiting on me hand and foot, for feeding me tiny tasty morsels of grilled goodness, for offering cheap drinks, and for accommodating my big laughs. Charcoal all the time! -
Robin’s 5-star review: ALSO: men in combat boots and leggings in the fitness centre are not necessarily allowed, but are tolerated. I love my neighbourhood for many, many reasons, but seeing this particular sight in my local community centre over the past few years warms the cockles of my twee 'eart. The West End: home to Robin, the gays and the greys. -
Robin’s 5-star review: In a city full of amazing sushi joints, these guys win. Full stop. Since opening in 2009, Sushi Mart has been my go-to place for a quick and tasty meal. It's everything I want in a restaurant - fresh, delicious, clean, cheap, and literally right around the corner. Also, HUGE bonus points for being authentically Japanese. That last point is, I think, extremely important here. Not only is it obvious that there's a certain level of pride that goes into their food, but they've also put a lot of thought into creating just the right atmosphere. With the addition of some (super rad) old wooden pallets that line the entirety of one wall, the minimal space is warm, modern, and totally relaxed. Also: I love me a restaurant with a massive communal table! What it comes down to I suppose, is that at a certain point in a restaurant-patron relationship, the staff awkwardly know who you are and what your "usual" is, and you subsequently find yourself in that slightly uncomfortable position of wondering whether you should place your order as you normally would or if it's better to wait until they do it for you... Sushi Mart and I are waaay past that. It's that good. Also, awesome miso soup. Period. -
Robin’s 4-star review: Dear Oscar's, I know I visit you often, but it's only fair that I let you know just how much you mean to me. Because of your vast and reasonably priced Moleskine selection, my time and ideas remain organized. Your tables, filled with countless beautiful books on art, design, architecture, fashion and photography are discounted to prices sooo low that I'm able to afford almost everything I could ever want. Your shelves, with their almost endless gift inspiration, are perfectly stocked with the most desirable books for my collection. You are a special shop, Oscar's, and I'm so happy you are here. -
Robin’s 5-star review: Reason number one hundred and eighty four why I live in the West End: English Bay in wee hours of the morning. Summer or fall, winter or spring, the lulling calm of English Bay in those magic early hours of the day never cease to refresh, energize, and prepare me for a hectic day. A stroll down Denman in the fresh hours of the morning is like having the whole city to myself. Buses may pass, binners may roll by, but as I walk down Denman towards the endless sea, it feels like it's just me and the bay. Warm coffee in hand, I find a log to perch on and watch the early-risers and go-getters jog by. My shoes inevitably slip off, leaving my toes bare and in search of a perfect Lilliputian massage from the smooth sand below. Even as the morning sun heats the air, the sand underneath remains comfortingly cool. Tourists, photographers, dog-walkers, runners, neighbours and friends inevitably make their way to the beach, but for that one golden hour between my "too-early" and their "just-right", English Bay is the most extraordinary spot in the city. -
Robin’s 5-star review: After a chilly summer night (wait, this *is* summer, right?) in the park, a big group of friends and I were seeking some kind - any kind - of warmth. Enter Cascade, home to many candles, cocktails and killer servers. Attentive without overbearing, sophisticated without being too-cool, unpretentious is the name of the game here. The menu is small yet varied enough to please just about everyone, and the drinks are always tasty and filled to the rim. Word to the wise on the bathroom situation though: once you head past the back room, it's like entering a labyrinth. Might be a good idea to take some bread crumbs to help you find your way back your table. -
Robin’s 4-star review: I've got mad love for Guilt & Co. Is it the brick walls? The burlesque? Rumour has it that some of their dangerously delicious drinks have aphrodisiac qualities. Coincidence? Could this be the source of my love? Maybe. But it doesn't matter, because this place has it going ON. From their secret-society undergroundish vibe to their rad board game schtick to their unisex bathrooms, this vintagey Gastown bar feels like one massive communal table. The point of it all is to make friends - to be social. Whether I'm playing a game of Clue with strangers, or am the centre of attention as I show off some mad Jenga skills in the infamous back room (don't hate), a night at Guilt will almost always be about collaborating, socializing and having a wicked-good time. In a city that is at times a bit... how can I say... reserved, Guilt is an intensely refreshing change of pace. Live music, board games, killer drinks, rad people. Favourite Gastown spot. Vancouver needed this. -
Robin’s 5-star review: Everything within a context, nothing can be outside. Hence: 5 stars, Biltmore. Vancouver is town in need. A town in desperate and dire need of a bars with a vibe. Any vibe -- just a vibe, fergadsakes! Gimme cowboys, gimme dive bars, gimme gutter-trash, gimme real hipsters, gimme anything that has a pulse and hasn't succumbed to the top-down homogenization forced upon us by the ghettoization and absurd laws of this otherwise lovely city. / end rant So we've got the Biltmore, a perfectly open venue that has enough diversity going on during any given week to allow a for a motley crew of fun folks to turn here when a requisite decent time is in order. It's one thing for a venue to offer great shows, but to attract people who actually want to stand up and talk to strangers who are also enjoying the exact same show? That's a real feat in Vancouver. Biltmore has it going on. Cheap drinks, positive atmosphere, fun people, rad staff -- one of the best Vancouver has to offer. I like it here. A lot, like. -
Robin’s 5-star review: For a city that sometimes lacks in... fun, Kitty Nights is pretty much *the* perfect way to spend a few hours on *any* given night (let alone a sleepy Sunday). Is it Sunday as you're reading this? Are you being lame and watching Two and Half Men or something equally as grim and mind-numbing? Stop. Now go to the Biltmore and be entertained by some of the most magical women in Vancouver proper. BUT: douchebags and creepers need not apply. You will be called out, and the not-so charming men outside the Biltmore will -- uhm -- take care of you. ALSO: be loud, dammit. Burlesque is meant to be interactive -- the more we egg on the performers, the campier they'll be, meaning the louder we'll get, making the whole night about a shared experience. And isn't that what it's all about anyway? Plus, way cheap cover means more for semi-cheap drinks. You're welcome. -
Robin’s 5-star review: It was easy to fall in love with Community Thrift and Viintage. Gastown, exposed brick walls, affordable quality garments, natural fibres, not-for-profit *and* run by some incredibly sweet and genuinely rad people? Done. Turns out I'm not their only lover. Turns out, pretty great ventures earn many a fan. Turns out the over-gentrification of my beloved Gastown neighbourhood really is only for real-estate agents. Turns out Community Thrift needed a second home. While the original shop on Cordova will dominate dudes duds, this new pretty little location is like hopping off a train into a handpicked heaven filled with the most perfectly paradisaical curated collection of lovely lady vintage. One part social enterprise, one part thrift store, all parts awesome, this pretty little vintage venture is retail-with-a-conscious to the highest order. Easily the best vintage shop in Vancouver. Easily a beacon for what I hope is a change in the Vancouver retail landscape.
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