Where To Stay In Vancouver – Neighborhood Guide

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Vancouver is not a huge city when you compare it to a lot of other cities. The downtown core is very walkable and it doesn’t take too long to get anywhere. The city receives a lot of visitors every year and most will only concentrate on the very middle of downtown. The busy, touristy area. But Vancouver is so much more than this. It’s made up of so many incredible neighborhoods that you should consider visiting, or even staying in, on your trip. Having lived in this city for over 10 years I know my way around, and I know some of the best and hidden spots in the city. So if you’re wondering where to stay in Vancouver, here are some of the neighborhoods you don’t want to miss. And some accommodation ideas for each part of town.

Getting around Vancouver

Vancouver downtown is basically an island. It is surrounded on nearly all sides by water and because of its condensed nature, it’s really easy to get around. I find that when I’m downtown I walk almost everywhere. I lived downtown for 4 years and never really needed to take public transit anywhere unless I was really tired or the weather was bad. Consider renting a bike, or getting a Mobi bike pass for your stay here.

Vancouver’s bus system is pretty good, even outside of downtown. You can easily make sense of the buses and there’s also a really good train system. The Skytrain, as it’s known, is a mostly overground urban rail system that uses driverless train cars. The Canada line is the newest rail line that goes all the way to YVR Airport. But the Expo Line and Millennium Line will also get you to some of Vancouver’s most sought after neighborhoods which makes figuring out where to stay in Vancouver much easier.

Vancouver’s Best Neighborhoods

Whatever you like Vancouver has a neighborhood for you. That’s the beauty of deciding where to stay in Vancouver, the city is so diverse. From different cultures, to different lifestyles, you’ll have your favorite parts of the city for whatever mood you’re in. I find that the food often dictates where I want to go on any given day, and Vancouver has some amazing restaurants. Here are some of the top Vancouver neighborhoods.

Entertainment District

Right in the heart of downtown is Vancouver’s Entertainment District. This is where you’ll find the majority of the big name brand shops and department stores along Granville Street and Robson Street. This area comes top of the list of where to stay in Vancouver for first time visitors and is where you’ll find the majority of the city’s hotels. On a Friday and Saturday night Granville Street is an area to avoid for those over the age of 25. It’s loud and usually filled with people going in and out of the many bars and clubs, and the road closes to traffic. Granville Street though is also where you’ll find some of the theaters like the Vogue, the Commodore Ballroom (great music venue) and the historic Orpheum Theatre. And just over on adjacent Howe Street is the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Where to stay in the Entertainment District: Granville Street can get noisy, especially on weekends so I would recommend at least a block off the main strip. I love the classic Rosewood Hotel Georgia which even has its own secret prohibition bar. My other favorite is the historic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Even if you don’t stay here you need to check out their afternoon tea.

Yaletown

Yaletown is an interesting neighborhood. One of the most affluent areas of downtown there are boutique stores, fine dining restaurants and brick style old warehouse buildings. Prepare to spend a little bit more if you stay in Yaletown as the formerly heritage area is now a lot more modern. It has some of the best restaurants of downtown though. Try Brix and Mortar or the Rodney’s Oyster House for some Canadian cuisine, or Yaletown Brewing Company or the Red Racer Taphouse for some craft beer and elevated casual pub food. You can catch the False Creek ferries boat to Granville Island from Yaletown and visit the small museum housing Canadian Pacific Railway’s historic Engine 374.

Where to stay in Yaletown: One of the coolest hotels in Yaletown has to be the Opus Hotel with its vibrant furnishings and proximity to all the fantastic restaurants of Yaletown. Ready to spend big? Check out the ultra modern Parq Vancouver complete with casino.

The West End

I might be biased about how awesome the West End of Vancouver is, but that’s where I lived until quite recently when I bought a place just outside of Vancouver. I love this older area of Vancouver’s downtown which has so much charm and a real local vibe. The tree-lined streets make it feel far from the inner city neighborhood it is. If you want to know where to stay in Vancouver, then consider looking at one of the local B&Bs in the West End.

The West End is also home to the Davie Village, Vancouver’s LGBT neighborhood. Rainbows and pink paint make this a vibrant area to visit, and in my opinion there are some of the best little independent restaurants. Try Thida Thai restaurant, Gurkha Himalayan Kitchen or a little further down to Denman Street you’ll find the incredibly accurately named Legendary Noodle where you can watch them hand pull traditional Chinese noodles.

The West End is also the gateway to some of Vancouver’s best beaches like English Bay and Sunset Beach. Rent a bike here and ride around the seawall or wander through Vancouver’s Stanley Park.

Where to stay in the West End: If you’re staying in town more than a few days and want a place with a kitchen, book a one bedroom suite at the reasonably priced Sandman Suites on Davie; the historic ivy covered Sylvia Hotel has incredible views of the beach and English bay.

Gastown

History has survived in Gastown where it has been mostly lost in Yaletown. Gastown is the original Vancouver. It’s where Vancouver became an official city in 1886. Some of the oldest buildings in the city from the Victorian era still stand in Gastown, and it’s a popular place for tourists and locals who enjoy the turn of the century look. Twentieth Century that is. Gastown is named after “Gassy” Jack Deighton who opened up the first saloon, with his name referring to his love of talking rather than any other notion you might have had.

Gastown is my favorite place for a summer evening patio drink in one of the bars along the cobbled streets. Try Six Acres next to the Gassy Jack statue, or enter one of the city’s oldest brick warehouses at my favorite, The Alibi Room. Want to know more about Gastown? I highly recommend The Lost Souls of Gastown walking tour by Forbidden Vancouver Walking Tours. I’ve taken this tour a couple of times as well as others by the company and they are both fun and informative.

Where to stay in Gastown: Not many hotels in Gastown other than the cheap and (sometimes) cheerful Cambie Hostel. Or just outside of Gastown there’s the Delta Hotels by Marriott Vancouver Downtown Suites.

Chinatown

Further along from Gastown is Vancouver’s Chinatown. Nearby Victoria, on Vancouver Island, has Canada’s oldest Chinatown but Vancouver has the biggest in the country. I’m not going to lie, the area became a little run down in the last few years. Chinatown is right on the edge of the less desirable Downtown Eastside neighborhood. However if you look past this, there are lots of amazing hidden gems in Chinatown like the Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese garden which is a beautiful tranquil garden in the city.

You’ll also find Roger’s Arena, the big stadium where the Vancouver Canucks hockey team play. Along Pender Street are a number of traditional Chinese shops and eateries which are well worth checking out. The area has been going through a regeneration phase with newer developments popping up alongside the more traditional buildings.

Where to stay in Chinatown: There aren’t any hotels in Chinatown, but there are some great little Airbnb rentals like this entire apartment with a pretty nice view.

Railtown District and the Downtown East Side

Main Street and East Hastings Street is where the biggest concentration of homeless people are in Vancouver. It’s where a number of shelters are and to anyone visiting this can seem like a sketchy neighborhood. I have never had any issues here but I also recommend avoiding this particular intersection at night if you can. It’s probably not top of the list of where to stay in Vancouver, but parts of it are worth checking out.

On the North side of East Hastings Street though is a growing area called the Railtown District which is popular for craft beer mixed in with historical warehouse type buildings and old factories. You’ll find a number of the city’s best breweries here like Andina Brewery, Strathcona Beer Company and my top pick Postmark Brewing. This is also where you will find the Vancouver Police Museum which is set in the old city morgue and has more than a couple of interesting tales. For a really creepy night out check out their Movies in the Morgue events.

Where to stay in the Railtown District: Honestly I would advise not to. Visit the area, but better to stay closer to the main part of downtown. There are a few hotels around here which you might be tempted by their decent rates, but they’re cheap for a reason.

Olympic Village

From the super old neighborhoods to the super new. Olympic Village is a neighborhood along False Creek that was developed for, you’ve guessed it, the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. It’s a lot of modern high rise apartments but has a nice little central village area with some fantastic views of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains.

Olympic Village is home to Science World, a science museum aimed at kids but often just as fun for adults. This area is also known for it’s amazing ice cream shops like Earnest Ice Cream (try the salted caramel) and the Amato Gelato Cafe which has 72 flavors to choose from. If it’s a nice day out, start out here and walk along the False Creek pathway all the way to Granville Island.

Where to stay in Olympic Village: There aren’t really any hotels around this area. It’s a great area to visit easily if you’re staying downtown, or look at some Airbnb rentals here.

Mount Pleasant

The Mount Pleasant neighborhood is located around Main Street. This trendy neighborhood has lots of cute cafes, eclectic stores and so much fantastic street art. I can spend hours just walking up and down the side streets and alleyways that connect Olympic Village with Mount Pleasant. Also just relaxing in the sidewalk cafes watching the world go by.

This area of Vancouver has some amazing beer, hopping on the bandwagon of Vancouver craft breweries. My favorite is Brassneck Brewing on Main Street. Around Mount Pleasant are a number of antique shops and used book stores for those who prefer to shop sustainably. Although out of the downtown area it is really accessible by bus (the #3 goes all the way up Main Street) or Skytrain (Main Street-Science World stop).

Where to stay in Mount Pleasant: For a reasonably priced stay in a great neighborhood try the Best Western Plus Uptown Hotel.

Commercial Drive

After the West End, Commercial Drive has to be my favorite neighbourhood. Playing into Vancouver’s hippie/hipster vibe is this incredibly culturally diverse neighbourhood that centers around the Commercial-Broadway Skytrain station. Heading south, check out the Croatian Cultural Center which hosts an incredible monthly antique fair.

But the majority of the good stuff is north of Grandview Highway. You’ll find lots of vegan friendly dining, independent coffee shops, and world cuisine. My top restaurants: Rinconcito Salvadorean restaurant (try the pupusas), Harambe Ethiopian restaurant where you eat all the amazing dishes with Injera bread and your hands instead of utensils, and Cafe Deux Soleils for some cheap and quality veggie friendly food. Commercial Drive is also home to Vancouver’s Little Italy neighborhood. Try a foodie tour along here to really learn about Vancouver food.

Where to stay around Commercial Drive: There aren’t any hotels in this neighborhood but there are plenty of great little rentals through Airbnb.

South Vancouver and Fairview

Just over the Granville bridge heading out of downtown there is a bustling commercial neighborhood all the way up to 16th Avenue. It’s filled with higher end stores, fine food shops and a theater for local plays and musicals. I love window shopping at the stores I know I’ll have to save up to buy something from, and always get lost for hours in the giant Chapter’s book store on Broadway. This is where to stay in Vancouver if you want to leave the busy downtown behind but still be close by. Take Broadway to Oak Street to see more of this Vancouver neighborhood as the fabulous restaurants continue, intermixed with independent and national brand stores. The Fairview neighbourhood is also where you’ll find Vancouver General Hospital.

Where to stay in South Vancouver: If you want a great place to stay I highly recommend the Granville Island Hotel. You’ll have waterside accommodation next to False Creek and easy access to the amazing market.

Kitsilano

Kitsilano is known for its clean living, yoga loving, beach going lifestyle. Anything West of the Burrard Street bridge out of downtown is Kitsilano, known as Kits to locals. At Vanier Park you’ll find some awesome Vancouver museums (my favorite is the Museum of Vancouver) and in the summer there will be big top tents for the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare festival. It’s always worth seeing a play with the backdrop of English Bay.

Health food shops and yoga studios line 4th Avenue and Broadway and high quality local restaurants serving any type of food you might want are in between. Try The Naam, a famous local vegetarian restaurant, or the unique Dark Table restaurant for a meal in the dark. And when you’re done eating and yoga-ing, relax on the beautiful Kitsilano beach just off Cornwall Avenue. This where to stay in Vancouver if you want to be close to the beaches in the summer.

Where to stay in Kitsilano: Kitsilano doesn’t really have any hotels but there are a number of apartment rentals you can find on Booking.com which is perfect because then you can really feel like you’re living the Kits lifestyle.

West Point Grey to UBC

If you keep going past Kitsilano you’ll go through West Point Grey on the way to the University of British Columbia (UBC). West Point Grey also has its own beaches, Jericho and Spanish Banks which are a little less crowded than Kitsilano. The delicious food continues along 4th Avenue and Broadway and eventually 10th Avenue as you get closer to UBC. Try out one of my local favorites, Burgoo which has the most amazingly yummy and hearty comfort food.

UBC itself is home to tens of thousands of students and is a city within the city. It has everything a student needs without leaving campus including shops and restaurants. But I love going to UBC for the museums, like the Museum of Anthropology, as well as the botanical garden.

Where to stay in West Point Grey/UBC: The HI Jericho Hostel is a cheaper accommodation if you don’t mind some shared facilities. You can’t get a more beach ready place to stay in Vancouver! There are also some on campus apartment rentals at UBC.

Shaughnessy and the Arbutus Corridor

Shaughnessy and the Arbutus areas are predominantly residential, although it’s a fun activity to drive around the neighborhood and play “guess the price of this house”. You’ll end up in awe of the McMansions with incredible views of downtown the further you get up the hill.

Take Arbutus Street up from Kitsilano past West King Edward Avenue and there are a lot of nice little parks. In Shaughnessy you’ll find one of my favorite places to relax in Vancouver: VanDusen Botanical Garden. In the middle of the city you can find a place where the noise of the traffic is completely gone and you’re surrounded by all kinds of plants and trees from local to tropical. There’s even a maze.

Where to stay in Shaugnessy: As I mentioned this is mostly residential so your only accommodation options here are apartment rentals or Airbnb listings.

Which Vancouver neighbourhood is right for you?

One of my favorite things about Vancouver is that there is something for everyone. Each neighbourhood is ideal for someone, no matter what your style. If you want to be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the city, the Entertainment District has you covered. But if you prefer the quieter laid back beach adjacent neighborhood you can head on over to Kits. Plan your stay in Vancouver around what interests you in the city. For some ideas check out my guide to the best free things to do in Vancouver (or almost free) and work from there. Wherever you stay in Vancouver, the city is incredibly accessible, easy to walk around or take public transport.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media posts below. What is your favorite Vancouver neighborhood? How will you decide where to stay in Vancouver on your next visit?