Vancouver Guest Guide: Yaletown’s Essential Stops

Yaletown is the waterside hub of Vancouver’s downtown area, filled with some of the city’s most popular shops, restaurants and cafes. This guide will help you discover some of Yaletown’s best cafes and restaurants, along with the essential attractions when visiting this Vancouver neighbourhood. 

Yaletown Sights to See

The Seawall

Part of Vancouver’s 22km seawall which surrounds the city and Stanley Park, Yaletown’s seawall section borders on the False Creek inlet that separates downtown from the rest of the city. Connecting Yaletown’s George Wainburn Park, David Lam Park, and Coopers’ Park, the seawall provides a scenic biking or walking path with plenty of greenery and spaces to explore. You’ll also find a variety of waterside restaurants and cafes along with trendy cocktail bars and luxurious lounges, making the seawall a great place to get some food and enjoy some drinks. 

374 Engine Pavilion
374 Davie Street

The 374 Engine Pavilion shows off an important piece of Yaletown and Vancouver’s history, containing Engine 374 which carried the first transcontinental passenger train into Vancovuer in 1887. With free admission and open daily all year round, it’s highly recommended to go inside the pavilion itself and read up on the engine’s history,  Connected and part of the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, the 374 Engine Pavilion has volunteer guides who can guide you through Vancouver’s history and inform you of any of Engine 374’s particularities.

Yaletown Restaurants

Blue Water Cafe
1095 Hamilton Street

The Blue Water Cafe is known as one of Vancouver’s finest dining locations, specialising in seafood and Japanese cuisine. With an entirely separate menu for the Raw Bar,  If you’re a fan of raw oysters you’ll need to try Blue Water Cafe’s, as the dish is one of their specialities. The restaurant also has an impressive bar, with a diverse cocktail list, and a collection of over 200 whiskeys. With top quality food, a luxurious heated patio, and private dining rooms, it’s no wonder that the Blue Water Cafe is a popular destination for many celebrities and movie stars in Vancouver. 

Loving Hut Express (Vegetarian & Vegan)
1200 Pacific Blvd

Not exactly your traditional restaurant, this solar-powered food truck can be found on Pacific Boulevard between 11:30am and 4:00 pm, cooking up some of the best vegan and plant-based burgers to be found in Vancouver. Using only the highest quality meat alternatives from Gardein, Loving Hut Express’ friendly service and great burgers have defined them as one of Yaletown’s best vegan-friendly places to eat. 

Minami 
1118 Mainland Street

Minami is one of the finest restaurants in Vancouver for sushi and Japanese cuisine, specialising in Aburi sushi, rich beef, poultry and seafood entrées alongside fresh seasonal vegetables. Most importantly, Minami operates with the service idea of “Ningenmi”, which means “Find joy in yourself by bringing pleasure to guests”. With excellent service and some of the best dishes in the city, this award winning restaurant is an essential visit for any sushi-lovers in Yaletown. 

Yaletown Grocery Stores

Urban Fare
177 Davie Street

Urban Fare is one of Yaletown’s top grocery stores that can be found just off the bank of the seawall across from the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. This grocery store specialises in gourmet products along with catering and gift baskets, and has a lovely restaurant inside if you’re looking for a bite of freshly made food. With an emphasis on stocking local products, Urban Fare has a variety of BC and Alberta products on their shelves, providing some local flavour to the surrounding Yaletown neighbourhood.

Ash Market
780 Nelson Street

Operating for almost 20 years in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood, ASH Market is the neighbourhood’s convenience and grocery store, offering fresh food and essential household and travel products. Known for their friendly service and responsiveness to suggestions for new items, Ash Market carries hard to find products in Canada like vanilla and cherry coke, and has a traditional ATM and two-way bitcoin ATM. With hot coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice, and custom sandwiches, Ash Market provides fresh food with excellent service to the surrounding Yaletown community.

Where to get Coffee and Baked Goods in Yaletown

Small Victory Bakery
1088 Homer Street

An artisanal bakery which also runs as a small restaurant and coffee shop, Small Victory Bakery offers a sweet and savoury pastries, artisanal bread, and various cakes and pies, all freshly baked. With sandwiches made in-house with bread of their own production, Small Victory Bakery are especially known for their almond and butter croissants that are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Serving both breakfast and lunch, the only problem you might have to contend with are the crowds of other customers trying to grab the last baguette!

Tartine Bread & Pies
770 Beach Avenue

Tartine Bread & Pies has been Yaletown’s neighbourhood bakery since 2002, baking and serving all kinds of sweet and savoury baked goods along with breakfast sandwiches using their own baked bread. With outdoor seating available to enjoy a coffee and a slice of pie, Tartine Bread & Pies also offers online orders if you’re looking to purchase and pick up one of their tasty pies for the future. If you’re planning on sampling some of the more popular quiches, breakfast sandwiches, and pastries, make sure to get there early as they quickly run out. 

Late-Night Snacks in Yaletown

Megabite Pizza
1005 Granville Street

Craving a late-night bite of pizza? Megabite Pizza on Granville Street can be found serving freshly-made piping hot pizza until four in the morning. One of the best places to stop by for a snack after a night out with friends, Megabite has a large choice of meat, chicken, and vegetarian pizzas, along with various side dishes. With delivery and pick-up options available across Yaletown, you can pick up an entire pizza or just purchase a slice for the night.

7-Eleven
1093 Homer Street

Open 24/7 every day of the week, Yaletown’s 7-Eleven on 1093 Homer Street serves all kinds of snacks, hot bites, and refreshing beverages. No matter what time of day or night you’re craving a snack, 7-Eleven has a wide selection of food items along with hot dogs, wings, and pizza made in-store. Visitors can also find a Scotiabank ATM along with warm customer service at a great location.