I recently spent a weekend in Vancouver with some girlfriends and had just the most amazing time! Sharing here our itinerary so that you can adventure on with minimal planning.
Friday Evening
Dinner at Raisu
This is an absolute must. The restaurant specializes in Teishoku, which is a pre-set meal based on what is in season and what the chef fancies. Limited to 15 servings per lunch and dinner, guests are required to reserve these at least 24 hours in advance. It was a hot day when we visited and ordered the plum sake sangria to go with our Sho-Ka-Do set courses and it did not disappoint. The food arrived looking like artwork and tasted just phenomenal.
Drinks at The Lobby Lounge & Raw Bar
The Fairmont Pacific located in Coal Harbour, right on the waterfront is an absolutely gorgeous venue to have cocktails/drinks at in the evening. The Lobby Lounge and Raw Bar has amazing creative cocktails and Thursday through to Sunday thee is live music. Sip, see, and be seen!
Saturday
Early Morning Breakfast to go from Banh Mi Saigon
Vancouver is blessed with phenomenal Asian food and for any early morning takeout I would whole-heartedly recommend Banh Mi Saigon. Served on a freshly baked baguette with homemade mayo, soy sauce, pickled veggies, and cilantro, guests can choose from various Vietnamese cold cuts and grilled meat options. To pair with your Vietnamese baguette don't miss the chance to enjoy an iced condensed coffee. The dark rich flavor of the beans is enhanced perfectly by the creamy sweetness of the milk.
Hiking The Chief
The location of this city right on the Atlantic Coast and nestled by the Rocky Mountain range provides avide hikers with endless options. During this particular trip we opted to hike The Chief which is approximately 1 hour north of Vancouver. This hike consists of three peaks and if doing all three will take a full day. Alternatively, if you want to do just one then Peak #2 offers perhaps the best view. This is a moderately difficult hike so do go prepared with proper hiking shoes and plenty of water. It is not particularly long or high. However, it is quite steep and the trail starts off almost straight up vertical and continues that way for most of the time. Certain parts do consist of ladders and chains to assist hikers.
Once at the top the views are absolutely incredible so I would definitely recommend this hike.
Dinner at Cactus Club
After a strenuous day of hiking treat yourself to dinner at Cactus Club. With a varied and wonderful menu the location overlooking the water will provide dinner guests with some spectacular views of the sun setting behind the mountains. The tuna poke bowl and frose were absolutely delightful. The fish was fresh and the cocktail was summer in a glass.
Sunday
Breakfast at Breka Cafe
This 24 hour chain has absolutely incredible baked goods and drinks. For breakfast I had the spinach and artichoke pocket and a horchata latte. The pastry with flaky and the filing was perfectly seasoned. The horchata latte reminded me of the one I had in Mexico so was pretty authentic tasting! As stuffed as I was I couldn't leave without a sweet. My pick was the pistachio donut which did not disappoint.
Stroll through Stanley Park
Explore the 400-hectare natural West Coast rainforest and enjoy scenic views of water, mountains, sky, and majestic trees along Stanley Park's famous Seawall. Discover kilometres of trails, beautiful beaches, local wildlife, great eats, natural, cultural and historical landmarks, along with many other adventures. The park offers a wide range of unforgettable experiences for all ages and interests, including Canada’s largest aquarium.
Head over to Granville Island for lunch
As Vancouver’s premier artistic and cultural hub, located in an urban, waterfront location and steeped in a rich industrial and maritime heritage, this unique destination attracts millions of visitors each year from Vancouver and around the world. The charm of Granville Island lies in its unexpected mix of uses. The famous Public Market, open daily from 9 am to 7 pm, is home to more than 50 independent food purveyors and contributes to the Island’s appeal as a renowned culinary destination. Granville Island is home to many cultural venues and hosts numerous performing arts and cultural festivals year-round.
End your weekend with dinner at Sushi Mugen
Featuring stunning presentations with fun additions and an abundance of rich, tasty flavors in our two-level clean, natural modern style restaurant lovers of creative dining will not be disappointed. The presentation of the food is absolutely gorgeous and the taste does not disappoint. Reasonably priced and just perfect for those who love fresh seafood.
And there you have it. My weekend itinerary for a lovely weekend in Vancouver. Enjoy!
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