Vancouver Guest Guide: Kitsilano’s Essential Stops

Kitsilano, or “Kits” for short, is one of Vancouver’s most popular residential neighbourhoods, featuring a trendy mix of residential and commercial areas. With plenty of shops and restaurants along West 4th Avenue and Broadway, Kitsilano is nestled close to downtown Vancouver and Granville Island, with easy access to some of Vancouver’s most beautiful beaches.

Kitsilano’s Attractions & Sights to See

H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
1100 Chestnut Street

The H. R. Macmillan Space Centre is a non-profit community resource located in Vanier park, featuring a museum of space-related exhibits and games, a planetarium, and an observatory. With the popularity boom of space exploration during the 1960s, the Space Centre was opened in 1968 to provide a learning resource for future generations. Over time, the Space Centre has evolved into a space where public lectures, exhibits, and other events are held, while offering visits to their Planetarium Star Theatre. You can visit the H. R. MacMillan from 10am to 5pm, with free admission for children under the age of five.

Vancouver Maritime Museum
1905 Ogden Avenue

The Vancouver Maritime Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting Vancouver and Canadian maritime history. The museum is located in Vanier Park, just a short walk from Kits beach, and features indoor and outdoor exhibits. Along with this, the museum is home to the St. Roch, a National Historic Site of Canada which is fully explorable from the top of the decks to the interior cabins and living quarters. The Vancouver Maritime Museum is open seven days a week, from 10am to 5pm from Mondays to Sundays, 10am to 8pm on Thursdays, and offers free entry for children under the age of five.

Kitsilano Pool 
Kitsilano Beach Park

Kitsilano pool is an outdoor swimming pool located right by Kits beach, and is Vancouver’s only saltwater swimming pool. An impressive 137 metres long, the Kitsilano swimming pool is heated, features water slides, and is wheelchair accessible and equipped with aquatic wheelchairs. Along with these amenities, the pool also features a sauna, a whirlpool, and a cafe if you’re looking to relax after swimming a few laps. Open only from May to mid-September, if you’re visiting Vancouver during the summer months the Kitsilano pool is a great place to enjoy some fun in the sun.

Kitsilano’s Best Restaurants

Raisu
2340 West 4th Avenue

With a truly unique and welcoming atmosphere, Raisu specialises in the Japanese cuisine style of “Teishoku”, which features a pre-set meal that always comes with miso soup and a bowl of rice. Along with their Teishoku menu, Raisu serves various other rice bowls, Udon noodles, and a variety of sashimi. With a welcoming bar with seating at the center of the restaurant along with a gorgeous patio that overlooks Kitsilano’s West 4th Avenue, Raisu is one of the neighbourhoods best spots for authentic Japanese cuisine. 

Fable Kitchen
1944 West 4th Avenue

Fable is a farm-to-table restaurant, with a small but lively space with an open kitchen. Each day, Fable’s food is prepared from scratch for that evening’s dinner service using local ingredients that are directly delivered to the restaurant. Fable’s dishes are best enjoyed when sharing with others, and menu items can change depending on seasonal changes and the ingredients that are currently available locally. With a lunch menu available Monday to Friday, and brunch featured on Saturdays and Sundays, Fable is worth stopping by to get a fresh taste of some of Kitsilano’s tastiest dishes.

Late Night Snacks in Kitsilano

Rain or Shine Ice Cream
1926 West 4th Avenue

Since opening in 2013, Rain or Shine Ice Cream has become one of Kitsilano’s favourite ice cream parlors and a staple of the neighbourhood, providing some of the city’s best ice cream made with fresh ingredients. Part of why Kits locals love this spot so much are its accommodating hours (open 12-10pm) and its cosy outdoor patio and seating area, making it a great place to grab an ice cream and chat with some friends outside. With rotating seasonal flavours all made from locally sourced sustainable ingredients, you’ll need to stop by Rain or Shine for an ice cream no matter the weather!

The Naam Restaurant
2724 West 4th Avenue

The Naam restaurant has been a staple of the Kitsilano neighbourhood for over 50 years, serving vegetarian and vegan cuisine sourced from locally-made fresh ingredients. Open 24/7, the Naam is a great place to stop by no matter the hour of day or night which is only closed on Christmas day. With a welcoming atmosphere that features live music (Sundays to Thursdays from 7-10pm) and local art, the Naam also features an enchanting patio where you can enjoy their wide selection of dishes. 

Kitsilano Best Cafes and Baked Goods

The Only Cafe
2678 West 4th Avenue

The Only Cafe is considered by many Kitsilano locals to have not just the best lattes in the Kits neighbourhood, but across the entire city of Vancouver! The Only Cafe has a wide selection of teas, coffees, and various other hot brews and beverages along with smoothies, cold brews and iced teas. You’ll also find ice cream shakes, sandwiches, and various baked goods, with their double baked almond croissants a customer favourite.

If all the brews and baked goods weren’t enough, The Only Cafe also features over the ear DJ headphones available for public use, so even if you forget your headphones this charming cafe is undoubtedly worth a visit! You can find The Only Cafe on the south side of West 4th Avenue, in between Stephens and Trafalgar street. 

Panne Rizo Gluten Free Bakery & Cafe
1939 Cornwall Avenue

Opened in 1998, Panne Rizo has been serving the neighbourhood of Kitsilano with freshly baked goods made with timeless traditional recipes. Using long-established baking methods and the freshest ingredients, this bakery and coffee shop continues to innovate with new recipes and offerings like their new line of gourmet cupcakes. The cafe is also very accommodating to dietary needs, serving a variety of gluten-free products, sugar-free cakes, and low sugar alternatives to their cookies and other baked goods. Whether you just need to pick up a fresh loaf of bread or want to stop by for a coffee and a treat, Panne Rizo is worth stopping by.