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Canada > The West Coast > British Columbia > Vancouver

STAY, DINE, DO: Find a hotel, restaurant or attraction.

Listings to get the most out of the city: where to dine, what to see, where to shop, and more.

Hot Art: Northwest Coast Cool

"Raven and Light Bentwood Box" by Kevin Cranmer

Be sure to add a visit to a First Nations art gallery to your must-see-in-Vancouver list. At Coastal Peoples Fine Arts Gallery, you’ll find gorgeous examples of fine sculpture and totem poles. You can also preview the spring show Cranmer + Gray: A dual exhibition, which highlights the regional and creative differences between Tsimshian artist Philip Gray and Kwakwaka’wakw carver Kevin Cranmer (“Raven and Light Bentwood Box,” pictured).—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dining: Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival

Wine glass photo copyright MarkSwallow/Istockphoto

Salud! Raise a glass to the wines of Chile, the focus of the 34th annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival (Feb. 27 to Mar. 4). Oenophiles flock to this delicious event, which tempts taste buds with winery dinners, wine seminars and the Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction.—Sheri Radford

Call for prices. Various venues. Tickets 1-877-321-3121. www.playhousewinefest.com

Hot Dining: Seafood Specialists

Artful seafood at world-renowned Tojo's. Photo by KK Law

Vancouver baits foodies from around the world with its oceanside locale and access to the freshest fish. For this seafood savant, top spots to taste saltwater succulents include Tojo’s (pictured), for buttery sashimi; Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House, for oysters by the dozen; and Coast Restaurant, for line-caught fish.—Kristina Urquhart

Hot Dining: The Poutine Scene

Poutine photo copyright LauriPatterson/Istockphoto

Poutine has arrived with a vengeance: West Coasters have fallen hard for Quebec’s favourite comfort food of French fries, cheese curds and gravy. Whether your tastes are traditionally inclined (Fritz or Dunn’s Famous) or you prefer poutine pimped out with truffle oil (La Brasserie) or lobster (Coast), chances are you’ll find some you like—especially if you’re staring down no less than 26 options at La Belle Patate. No frills here, but you can order everything from haché to Mexicana—although the Montreal smoked meat gets our vote.—Tim Pawsey

Vinyl Vaudeville at Performance Works

By Caitlin Dawson

Vinyl Vaudeville at Performance Works. Photo by Justin Eckersall

Roll up, roll up, ladies and gentlemen, and prepare to witness the jaw-dropping performances of Vinyl Vaudeville—a dinner cabaret at Performance Works on Granville Island (to Feb. 18).

If you’re new to the concept, vaudeville was a popular art form in the US and Canada at the end of the 19th century, lasting until the early 1930s. Jugglers, dancers and comedians rubbed shoulders with magicians, acrobats and instrumentalists on one diverse bill, offering an exhilarating display of varied showmanship. (more…)

Hot Entertainment: Funny Folks

Betty White comes to Vancouver in February

If laughter really is the best medicine, then let the Vancouver ComedyFest (Feb. 16 to 26) cure what ails you. The stellar line-up of funny folks guarantees a healthy dose of laughs, chuckles and guffaws. Without a doubt, this year’s highlight is Betty White. Everyone’s favourite grandmother has starred in The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Golden Girls and Hot in Cleveland, and she scooped up an Emmy Award for hosting Saturday Night Live in 2010. Don’t miss her performance Feb. 18 at The Centre, as she shares wit and wisdom gleaned from nine decades on this planet.—Sheri Radford

VANCOUVER COMEDYFEST Performers include David Hasselhoff (Feb 16), Jeremy Hotz (Feb 16-18), Betty White (Feb 18), Doug Benson (Feb 18) and Margaret Cho (Feb 19). The closing night gala featues Bob Odenkirk and David Cross (Feb 25). Various venues. www.comedyfest.com

Hot Shopping: Gaga for NARS Gloss

The spring lip gloss line from NARS

Rosy reds, barely-there nudes and shimmering pinks: there’s a colour for every taste in NARS’ new line of larger-than-life lip glosses (pictured, $28 each). Each colourful shade—nine in total—mixes lip-nourishing ingredients with natural volume enhancers to help create that perfect pout. Available in February at Holt Renfrew and Murale.—Jennifer Patterson

Valentine’s Day Dining in Vancouver

Pan-seared BC sablefish at The Fish House in Stanley Park. Photo by KK Law

By Caitlin Dawson

It is often said that the way to your lover’s heart is through their stomach. This Valentine’s Day, take heed to the old adage and treat your honey to a meal fit for Cupid. Restaurants across the city are offering special menus to celebrate the season of love, so you can ditch the dishes and focus on your sweetheart.

Our top restaurant picks are sure to induce swoons of gastronomic delight:

Bistrot Bistro Three-course menu (includes sparkling wine). $55 per person. 604-732-0004.

Bridges Four-course menu. $70 per person. 604-687-4400.

Cache Bistro and Lounge Four-course menu. $40 per person. 604-558-1269. (more…)

Hot Entertainment: Homegrown Talent

Jann Arden

With three books under her belt, a job judging the reality competition Canada Sings, an advice columnist gig with Elle Canada and her own CBC Radio show, it’s amazing Canadian songstress Jann Arden finds the time to do what first made her famous: singing. The Juno Award–winner is on the road again to promote Uncover Me 2, her latest album filled with covers of classic songs. Catch her at the Orpheum Theatre (Feb. 21).—Kristina Urquhart

8 pm. $59.50-$99.50. Orpheum Theatre, Seymour St. at Smithe. Tickets 1-855-985-5000.

Hot Shopping: Say It With Silver

Links of London bracelet

On the lookout for a perfect gift for that special someone? Look no further than a piece from Links of London, a UK-based company that took off in 1990 after producing, of all things, a pair of fish cufflinks. Now find gift-worthy watches, jewellery and charms, including Aquarius and Pisces zodiac charms for February babies. For Valentine’s Day: every sweetie bracelet purchased on Feb. 14 comes with a complimentary heart charm (pictured), available at Holt Renfrew.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Dining: Heritage Flavours at The Flying Pig

Yaletown's The Flying Pig restaurant. Photo by KK Law

Once the town’s transportation hub and warehouse district, Yaletown has been transformed into a hotbed of great eats, often in funky surroundings. Go early to get a seat at newly landed The Flying Pig (pictured); try the skirt steak and don’t miss the homemade waffle cone. Nibble on sweet and succulent ebi mayo (tempura wild prawns) at Hapa Izakaya. Check in for the cheese and meat board at the Opus Hotel’s edgy pop-up Cento Notti. Or pop by down-east-style Rodney’s Oyster House for a dozen freshly shucked BC bivalves and a healthy serving of no-nonsense hospitality.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Shopping: Luxurious Labels at Leone

Leone photo by KK Law

If the mention of Alexander McQueen and Prada sends your heart palpitating, make your way to Leone—celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Peruse the multi-level 2,320-sq-m (25,000-sq-ft) space on your own or book a personal shopping appointment. Upstairs, splurge on high-end fashions for the whole family, then head downstairs to the edgier L2 Leone for items from uber-popular Vince and Y-3 by Yohji Yamamoto.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Dates: Disney’s Beauty and the Beast

February 8 to 12

Beauty and the Beast photo by Joan Marcus

The beloved Broadway musical rolls into town this winter, filling the Queen Elizabeth Theatre with tunes such as the toe-tapping “Be Our Guest,” the heart-wrenching “If I Can’t Love Her” and the unforgettable title song. Catch Mrs. Potts, Chip, Lumiere, Cogsworth and all your other favourite characters in this tale as old as time.—Sheri Radford

W-F 7:30 pm; Sa 11 am, 3:30 and 8 pm; Su 2 and 7:30 pm. $25+. Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Hamilton St. at Dunsmuir. Tickets 1-855-985-5000. www.broadwayacrosscanada.ca

Hot Dates: Valentine’s Day

February 14

OMEGA's Seamaster Planet Ocean Chrono watch for men

Cupid takes flight—heart-shaped bow and arrow in tow—to celebrate all things lovey-dovey this February. Woo your sweetie with chocolate treats and fragrant blooms, or head to the newly renovated OMEGA boutique and give the gift of time. For her: the Planet Ocean steel watch encrusted with diamonds; for him: the Planet Ocean Chrono (pictured) with a clear sapphire back case. Both of these timepieces are water-resistant to 600 m (2,000 ft) and come from the new Seamaster range, a classic line dedicated to producing watches for divers.—Jennifer Patterson

OMEGA Boutique, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 W. Georgia St. 604-681-8266. www.omegawatches.com

Science World in the Spotlight

The lights of Science World often change colours for special occasions, so be on the lookout for pink lights come Valentine’s Day. What happens when the lights burn out? A mountain climber must change them. Photo by KK Law

Every savvy media star knows when it’s time for a facelift, and Science World at Telus World of Science is no exception. The iconic geodesic dome has been an integral part of Vancouver’s skyline since 1986, when it housed Expo Centre for the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, and over the years it has appeared in TV series such as The X-Files and MacGyver. But the building’s age was starting to show, so two years ago a $35 million renovation project began.

Now the rejuvenated building is ready to enter the limelight again, showing off its 2,790-sq-m (30,000-sq-ft) expansion, new lobby and new green roof with a deck overlooking False Creek. Its improved ecological footprint includes solar-thermal installations to heat the hot-water supply, solar-thermal rejection technology to reduce the need for air conditioning, and solar panels to provide shade and electricity.
Ready for a close-up? Absolutely.—Sheri Radford

Hot Dining: 4 Tasty Taphouses

Dockside tempts with pan-fried chilli squid (front) and sauteed tiger prawns (back). Photo by KK Law

The burgeoning beer scene here yields no shortage of hop-friendly dining.
1 Dockside (pictured) Discover Granville Island’s “other” brewery and dine in vista-kissed surroundings.
2 Howe Sound Brewing Take a 45-minute trip to Squamish to sample Howe Sound Lager with seafood chowder or ale-braised pork sliders.
3 Steamworks Enjoy freshly brewed quaffs, such as Lions Gate Lager, in a brass-trimmed, wood-panelled Gastown pub overlooking the harbour.
4 Yaletown Brewing Grab a glass of Downtown Brown along with a steaming bowl of sliced beef tenderloin tip stroganoff in this red-bricked Yaletown haunt.—Tim Pawsey

Hot Entertainment: The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver

This coffee-table tome by renowned historian Chuck Davis is nearly 600 pages

“Fun, Fat & Full of Facts.” That’s how author Chuck Davis described The Chuck Davis History of Metropolitan Vancouver (Harbour Publishing, $49.95), which the beloved journalist and broadcaster spent more than two decades writing, right up until his death in 2010. Other writers, historians and friends then came together to finish the mammoth, almost-600-page volume, which is bursting with 125 years of history and countless archival photos. Arranged chronologically, the book covers everything from the great fire of 1886—which wiped out almost the entire city—to the Vancouver Canucks’ ill-fated Stanley Cup run of 2011. Find this one-of-a-kind souvenir at local bookstores.—Sheri Radford

Hot Shopping: Hot Heritage at The Bay

Heritage-inspired silk scarves at The Bay

The Bay continues to delight both fashion fiends and collectors with the reimagined Hudson’s Bay Company Collection. An item sure to tempt history buffs is the historic-looking charter scarf (pictured, $125 each). Every one of these silk kerchiefs features an intricate sketch of Canadian history on an archive scroll—textbooks be damned—and comes in warm yellow, blue and red.—Jennifer Patterson

Hot Entertainment: PuSh International Performing Arts Festival

Almighty Voice and His Wife photo by Nadya Kwandibens

By Caitlin Dawson

Cure those winter blues with the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival. The 19-day fest mounts more than 100 groundbreaking performances in theatre, dance, music and the visual arts showcasing local and international talent to more than 2,000 theatre-goers.

There is something on the billing to suit most tastes, whether you’re interested in global issues or seeking out the unconventional. The acts are varied, but always genre-busting, stimulating and intent on pushing boundaries. After all, in what other setting could you watch Dostoyevsky’s masterpiece The Idiot one night, and a performance of Craigslist personal ads set to music the next?

Our top picks from the festival include: Looking For A Missing Employee, a provocative performance puzzle by Lebanese artist Rabih Mroué; quirky duo Bill Richardson and Veda Hille’s Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata, featuring ditties such as “Slugs for lease” and “Dead moose, free for the taking;” Almighty Voice and His Wife, exploring a tragic intersection of white and native cultures by First Nations playwright Daniel David Moses; and Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Idiot, by Vancouver’s Neworld Theatre.

The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival runs Jan. 17-Feb. 4. Venues and show times at pushfestival.ca.

Hot Dining: Elegant Dining at Hart House Restaurant

Hart House photo by KK Law

In a welcome contrast to the bustle of downtown, elegant and romantic Hart House is set in manicured gardens on the tranquil shores of Burnaby’s Deer Lake Park. This Tudor-style home welcomes lovers and others to cozy up inside. Regional specialties range from grilled BC salmon to Yarrow Meadows duck breast with roasted beets, before dessert of chocolate terrine or espresso crème brûlée, all offered with well-chosen wines from an extensive cellar.—Tim Pawsey