By Pamela Cyr
NALP Bulletin+
March 2023

The Conference Planning Work Group is excited to welcome NALP members to the Vancouver Convention Centre for the Annual Education Conference April 25-28. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast, foodie, or looking to hit the shops and take advantage of the lower Canadian dollar, Vancouver has you covered! The city is very walkable and has accessible public transit (www.translink.ca) as well as taxis, ride-share (Uber and Lyft), and bike-share. Remember to pack your walking shoes, layers and a rain coat! Your hotel should have an umbrella you can borrow for any April showers. The following is an insider’s view for the top three activities from 1 hour to half a day, some ideas that will take a full day. Some of the best restaurants, bars, and shopping are listed for any NALP members who plan to stay longer — something I highly recommend!

Top 3 Activities, 1-4 Hours

Activity 1: Bike Around Stanley Park (1 min walk from Vancouver Convention Centre)

• If you do one thing in Vancouver, go for a walk, run or cycle along Vancouver’s 28-km seawall, the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path. The convention center is right on the seawall, on the north side of downtown (“North” in Vancouver is where the mountains are).
• The seawall leads you to and wraps around Stanley Park. You can walk around the entire park via the sea wall in about four hours, or just turn around when you are ready.
• Renting a bike and riding like a Vancouverite is a great way to get around the sea wall or travel outside of the downtown core.
• There are a ton of bike rental companies downtown in and around the convention center, including Cycle City Tours on Hornby Street, just south of the convention center. They rent bikes (conventional and e-bikes) and also do great guided tours.

Activity 2: Walk on Robson Street (10 min walk from Vancouver Convention Centre)

Take a stroll down Robson Street (start at Hornby St. and walk to Jervis St.) as a great intro to Vancouver’s history, fashion, food, and culture (www.robsonstreet.ca). Suggested stops include:

• Vancouver Art Gallery: www.vanartgallery.bc.ca (Robson @ Hornby) – make sure to see the historic Art Gallery (once Vancouver’s courthouse) from its front (facing Georgia Street). The two lions that guard the front of the gallery are very insta-worthy!
• Vancouver Courthouse – the Great Hall: take a slight detour south up Hornby Street to see Lady Justice and admire the work of world famous Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson (www.aefoundation.ca).
• Lululemon: visit the Flagship store of this global active-wear brand started in Vancity in 1998 (970 Robson St.).
• Roots: premium outdoor lifestyle brand & former outfitter of the Canadian Olympic team (1001 Robson St.).
• Club Monaco: Canadian-based international “affordable luxury” brand (1040 Robson St.).
• Blue Ruby: Beautiful, hand-selected jewelry from designers around the word, local Canadian designers and in-house collections (1089 Robson St.).
• Artizia: Visit Aritzia’s Flagship store to browse comfortable everyday luxury. This women’s fashion brand that was founded in Vancouver in 1984 now has stores throughout Canada and the US (1100 Robson St.).
• Art Gallery Food Truck Map: www.streetfoodapp.com/vag/map
• Earl’s (1185 Robson St.): www.earls.ca
• Joe Forte’s (777 Thurlow Street @ Robson): www.joefortes.ca

Activity 3: Go to the Beach

A top stop on any trip to Vancouver is one of our many beaches. A few local favorites include:

• English Bay (end of Seawall/Stanley Park): 30 min walk; 10 min bike; 10 min Uber: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/english-bay-beach.aspx
• Kits: 50 min walk; 20 min bike; 12 min Uber: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/kitsilano-beach.aspx
• Jericho: 1 hour 25 min walk; 30 min bike; 25 min Uber: https://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/jericho-beach.aspx(Best off-leash dog beach in Vancouver if you are missing your furry friend…)

Other Top Sites/Neighborhoods

The cobbled streets of Gastown, Yaletown, Commercial Drive (Vancouver’s “Little Italy”), and the Granville Island Public Market are popular and quick excursions. For more info and to browse what might appeal to you see:

• www.dailyhive.com/mapped/neighbourhood-guide-vancouver
• www.timeout.com/vancouver
• www.destinationvancouver.com/vancouver/neighbourhoods

If You Have a Full Day (or More)

North Shore: Only about a half-hour Uber from downtown Vancouver, step into the rain forest at Lynn Headwaters, where you can stroll along the Varley trail (named after a famous “Group of Seven” Canadian artist) and finish at the Lynn Canyon suspension bridge.
Insider’s tip: The Lynn Canyon suspension bridge is much less busy than the more touristy Capilano Suspension bridge. Uber is the fastest way to get there, but another option is to take the 12-min sea bus downtown from Waterfront Station (about a 5-min walk from the convention center) and grab an Uber on bus on the other side: www.translink.ca/schedules-and-maps/seabus. Lower Lonsdale (where the sea bus docks in North Vancouver) is a great place to have lunch and admire amazing views of downtown: www.theshipyardsdistrict.ca

• www.metrovancouver.org/services/parks/parks-greenways-reserves/lynn-headwaters-regional-park
• https://lynnvalleylife.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Varley-Trail-PDF.pdf
• www.lynncanyon.ca

Whistler: Home of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, and only about an hour and 45-minute drive from downtown Vancouver, Whistler is known for its skiing and snowboarding in the winter and mountain biking and hiking in the summer: www.whistler.com

Victoria: The quaint capital of the province of British Columbia located on Vancouver Island, Victoria is one of the most British-influenced cities in North America, with an abundance of tearooms, antique shops and galleries: www.tourismvictoria.com

Travel to Victoria from downtown Vancouver in about a half-hour by float plane or heli-jet or take the longer, more scenic ferry (about 4 hours total travel time, including 1 hour 35 minute crossing time):

• www.harbourair.com/flights
• www.helijet.com
• www.bcferries.com/current-conditions/TSA-SWB

Other Day Trip Ideas:www.destinationvancouver.com/plan-your-trip/day-trips

Restaurants

A list of some of the Local Host’s favorite (top picks highlighted) restaurants and bars frequented by the Vancouver legal community are below by neighborhood.

Some other great resources include:

• www.guide.michelin.com/ca/en/british-columbia/ca-vancouver/restaurants
• www.theinfatuation.com/vancouver Download the app to find a recommendation based on your location and preferences.
• www.scoutmagazine.ca/food-drink

Downtown

Upscale

• Hy’s: www.hyssteakhouse.com
• Miku: www.mikurestaurant.com (Sushi + amazing views.)
• Nightingale: www.hawknightingale.com Local host’s favorite lunch spot
• Autostrada: www.autostradahospitality.ca (Dinner only.)
• Tableau: www.tableaubarbistro.com

Casual

• Food trucks: try Mom’s Grilled Cheese 2 min from Vancouver Art Gallery (700 Howe @ Robson)
• Japadog: www.japadog.com (Waterfront Station or 530 Robson St.)
• Rue 909 Sushi: www.rue909sushi.com (909 Dunsmuir) – seating available

Healthy

• Tractor: www.tractorfoods.com (335 Burrard St.)
• Field & Social: www.fieldandsocial.com
• Body Energy: www.bodyenergyclub.com (1198 West Pender)
• Vitasave: (551 Robson Street)

Casual Sit-down

• Kokoro Tokyo: http://menyakokoro.com (Ramen)
• Medina: www.medinacafe.com (Brunch)
• White Spot (Great Western BC family option): www.whitespot.ca
• Tonkotsu RamenTsukiya: https://ryugetsuservices.wixsite.com/tsukiya (very long lines)

Basic mid-range Canadian chains popular with lawyers and also great for a drink + snack

• Cactus Club: www.cactusclubcafe.com (Coal Harbour or Bentall 5)
• Earl’s:www.earls.ca (Robson St, Test Kitchen/Courthouse on Hornby St, Yaletown)
• Joey’s: www.joeyrestaurants.com (Burrard or Bentall 1)

Stanley Park

• Lift: www.liftbarandgrill.com
• Carderos: www.vancouverdine.com
• Teahouse in Stanley Park: www.vancouverdine.com/teahouse

Yaletown

• Blue Water Cafe: www.bluewatercafe.net
• Cioppino: www.cioppinosyaletown.com
• Elisa: elisasteak.com
• Nightshade: www.nightshadeyvr.com (Vegan)
• Minami: www.minamirestaurant.com

Gastown/Chinatown

Local host’s favourite area for restaurants. Generally safe to Uber there and back, however note downtown eastside has people experiencing homelessness, as well as substance use and mental health issues.

• Bao Bei: www.bao-bei.ca
• Chambar: www.chambar.com
• Cuchillo: www.cuchillo.ca
• Kissa Tanto: www.kissatanto.com Insider’s Tip: Get a “walk in” spot at thebar by arriving shortly before opening at 5:30 pm – Local host’s favourite dinner spot.
• L’Abbatoir: www.labattoir.ca
• Mackenzie Room: www.themackenzieroom.com
• Nuba: www.nuba.ca Other locations in Kits, Yaletown + Mount Pleasant – great vegetarian option
• St. Lawrence: www.stlawrencerestaurant.com

East Vancouver/Mount Pleasant

• Via Tevere Pizzeria: www.viateverepizzeria.com
• Pizzeria Barbarella: www.pizzeriabarbarella.com
• Vijs: www.vijs.ca
• Savio Volpe:www.saviovolpe.com

Bars

• Alibi Room: www.alibi.ca
• Keefer Bar: wwww.thekeeferbar.com - (Local Host’s favorite bar.)
L’Abbatoir (limited # of seats): www.labattoir.ca
• Laowei: www.laowai.ca (Cocktail and dim sum parlour hidden behind Blnd Tger- Ask for #7 to gain entry.)

Downtown

• Chambar: www.chambar.com Try a Caesar cocktail (like a Bloody Mary but the Canadian twist is the “Clamato” tomato juice.)
• Gotham (Lounge): www.gothamsteakhouse.com Live music weekly – try the fresh jumbo shrimp cocktail and cheese toast.
• Magnet: www.themagnet.ca
• Cactus Club, Earls, and Joeys (see above “Restaurants”) for other downtown options.

Hotel - Downtown

• Boulevard: www.boulevardvancouver.ca (Try the older back bar.)
• Hotel Georgia: www.rosewoodhotels.com/en/hotel-georgia-vancouver/dining
• Reflections: (Try the Hotel Georgia cocktail or a margarita.)
• Hawksworth: (Try the KFC as a snack - Korean fried cauliflower – 1 of 2 original menu items – the other is the burger. There are a limited number of seats.)
• 1927 Lobby Lounge

Pacific Rim

• Lobby Bar: www.fairmont.com/pacific-rim-vancouver/dining/lobby-lounge
• Botanist: www.fairmont.com/pacific-rim-vancouver/dining/botanist (Also a great dinner spot with delicious vegan options.)

Late/Open until 3 a.m.

• GranvilleStreet
• Roxy (live music/dancing): www.roxyvan.com
• The Yale (ride a mechanical bull): www.yalesaloon.com
• Bayside (West End - English Bay - dancing): www.baysidelounge.ca
• Karaoke: Fantacity – 1122 Robson Street (open until 1 am)

For more info: www.vancouverisawesome.com/food-and-drink/canada-best-bars-2022-vancouver-5430955

Shopping

• Holts: www.holtrenfrew.com (Upscale/Designer)
• Nordstrom: www.nordstrom.ca/store-details/canada/bc/vancouver/nordstrom-pacific-centre (Local host’s favorite place to shop) - Upscale to mid-range):
• Pacific Centre Mall: www.cadillacfairview.com/retail/properties/cf-pacific-centre (stretches three blocks from Pender to Robson Street, hosting both Holts and Nordstrom)
• The Bay: www.thebay.com (Mid-range)
• Robson Street: www.robsonstreet.ca (and see “Walk on Robston Street” above)
• Gastown: www.10best.com/destinations/canada/vancouver/shopping/gastowns-best-shopping The Block is a top pick of the Local host: www.theblock.ca
• Alberni Street: https://retail-insider.com/mall-tours/2021/06/retail-profile-alberni-street-luxury-zone-in-downtown-vancouver-summer-2021/
• Kits/West 4th: www.shopwest4th.com/neighbourhood/#shopfashion Insider’s Tip: Be sure to stop by Gravity Pope & Hills Dry Goods
• South Granville: www.southgranville.org Insider’s Tip: For women’s fashion be sure to stop by Misch (2960 Granville): www.misch.ca