From Wikitravel

Kitsilano (often referred to simply as Kits) is the northern part of the Vancouver west side. In the 1960s it was a neighbourhood where hippies "tuned in and dropped out" but today it has some of Vancouver's most expensive properties. It is situated right on the beach and very close to downtown.

[edit] Understand

Kitsilano is one of Vancouver's most popular neighbourhoods. The first people living in the area were the Squamish people and the neighbourhood's name is derived from a Squamish chief, August Jack Khatsahlano. Its proximity to the early Vancouver settlement drew settlers and it became one of Vancouver's first suburbs.

It's long been a popular spot with young people and was a counterculture hotbed in the 1960s. Greenpeace opened one of their first offices in Kitsilano and the British Columbia Green Party's original offices were here, as well. The area has become more gentrified In the decades since, but it still has a vibrancy that is missing in the more staid neighbourhoods that surround it.

One thing that hasn't changed is the beach, which continues to be the focal point of the community. On a sunny day, the beach towels come out, the volleyballs fly and the patios fill. And while the neighbourhood beaches certainly cater to the sun worshipers and the see-and-be-seen attitude, they also host music festivals, live theatre and other community events.

Technically speaking, Kitsilano is defined as the area between Burrard St in the east and Alma St in the west, and from the water to 16th Ave in the south. For the purposes of this guide it also includes the neighbourhood of West Point Grey, extending the western boundary to Pacific Spirit Regional Park.

[edit] Get in

Kitsilano is easy to access by car, bike or bus, especially from downtown Vancouver. Parking is somewhat limited and traffic around the beach can back-up on weekend afternoons, so public transit (or walking/biking) will frequently be a better option.

[edit] By bus

Kitsilano is well served by Vancouver's bus system. A few good buses to get around the area are:

• #4 runs from UBC to Powell St downtown, and passes most of the Kits/4th Avenue area, as well as stopping by Granville Island.
• #84 is an express bus that runs from VCC-Clark Skytrain station in East Van to UBC. In the Kits area it follows 4th.
• #99 B-Line is an express bus that runs down Broadway. In the Kits area, it stops at Alma, Macdonald, Arbutus and Granville, and is considerably faster due to its infrequent stops.

Bus fare travelling in and around Kits would be $2.50, whether travelling one stop or from end to end.

[edit] By car

Burrard St, via the Burrard Street Bridge, links Kitsilano with downtown. 4th Ave and Broadway are the main east-west streets that connect the neighbourhood with UBC and South Granville. Cornwall Ave is the main street along Kits Beach.

[edit] By aquabus

It is also possible to take little aquabuses from a number of locations on the downtown side of False Creek to the dock at the Maritime Museum on Kits Point.

[edit][add listing] See

There are a trio of museums in Vanier Park on Kits Point, the peninsula forming the mouth of False Creek just west of the Burrard Street bridge. There is some free parking in front of the Space Centre, and it's an easy walk from Translink bus #2 and #22 at Cornwall and Cypress streets. You can also walk down from the 4th avenue buses (such as #4), or over from Granville Island about 1000m away.

• H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and Planetarium, 1100 Chestnut St, ☎ +1-604-738-7827 (info@spacecentre.ca, fax: +1-604-736-5665), [1]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM. The Space Centre is not unlike Science World, with most activities fascinating primarily to pre-teens. The planetarium, however, is a more interesting excursion, and will not be so fascinating to children. It is a small planetarium staffed by volunteers whose knowledge of all things space will stun and amaze you. $15+GST, senior or student $10.75+GST.  edit

• Museum of Vancouver (formerly the Vancouver Museum), 1100 Chestnut St (shares a building with the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre), ☎ +1 604-736-4431 (fax: +1 604-736-5417), [2]. Tu-Su 10AM-5PM (Th until 8PM); Mon 10AM-5PM in summer only. The largest civic museum in Canada, with over 1 million items from Vancouver's history, only a fraction of which fit in the exhibit halls. Tucked away to the left off the Orientation Gallery is a series of rooms telling Vancouver's story from the 19th century to the 1970s. The museum makes an effort to tell many stories of Vancouver: English Canadian, First Nations, various immigrant groups, etc. Kid-friendly exhibits. $12, senior or student $10, youth $8.  edit

• Vancouver Maritime Museum, 1905 Ogden Ave, ☎ +1 604-257-8300 (fax: +1-604-737-2621), [3]. Summer (Victoria Day - Labour Day): M-Su 10AM-5PM; Winter: Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-5PM. Canada's premiere western maritime museum. Covers the maritime history of Canada, includes artifacts, models and the St. Roch ship. The museum apparently has far more things than space to show them, so they frequently rotate their exhibitions in fascinating thematic arrangements. Previous exhibitions included such familiar topics as the history of the Vikings, to the less familiar "1500 years of Croatian sailors." Check for $2 discount coupons that you can print from web site. $10+GST, senior or student $7.50+GST.  edit

• Vanier Park, 1000 Chestnut St (at Whyte St, and shoreline of Kits Peninsula), [4]. Surrounds the Kits Peninsula, with trails for joggers and bikers paralleling it, and some green grass and trees.This unique location is famous as an ideal place flying kites and hosts a Kite Flying Festival every summer. Stunning views of English Bay, Stanley Park, and downtown.  edit

An ExplorePass offers admission to the Vancouver Museum, the Vancouver Maritime Museum, and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre for $30 (adults), $24 (students), including tax.

[edit][add listing] Do

• Kits Beach is the beach for the young to hangout and be seen at. Kits beach also features beach volleyball courts and a large public swimming pool. Popular in the summer, the salt water pool is 137.5m in length and runs along the ocean's edge.

• Jericho Beach is a more family oriented beach with a large picnicking area. The beach forms a crescent shape which creates a sheltered swimming area that is relatively shallow. In the summer, the beach is patrolled by life guards who monitor beach near the floating dock. Jericho Beach is also a great location to go windsurfing or dingy sailing.

• Spanish Banks [5] is a set of three sandy beaches further west towards UBC. When the tide is out you can walk way out on the mudflats. This is a popular spot for skimboarders and kite boarders. The area has a large stretch of beach which makes for a popular beach volleyball area as well as a scenic multi-pathway system, connecting Jericho Beach to UBC, making a fine running or cycling course. A large field behind the beach has been designated as an off leash area for dogs and part of the beach as well.

• Vancouver Folk Festival A truly amazing folk festival featuring spectacular views of the harbour and mountains. The Vancouver Folk Festival typically features multiple stages, and a wonderous mix of traditional and contemporary artists. The 2006 folk festival featured Feist, Jane Siberry, Beats without Borders, Vishwa Mohan Bhatt & Salil Bhatt, Dyad and a myriad of other wonderful performers. The current location is Jericho Beach. [6]

• Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival, [7]. May-Sept. Annual summer Shakespeare festival held in tents in Vanier Park. Each year there are two mainstage productions and two productions for the smaller stage. Even if you have tickets, plan to line up at least an hour before the show to get good seats. Many people will bring a picnic lunch/dinner (purchased at nearby Granville Island) to enjoy while they wait to be admitted. $18-$34.  edit

• KitsTreeMap [8] Vancouver, apart from the mountains and the ocean, is famous for its variety of trees, tree-lined streets and cherry blossoms in the spring. No area more so typifies this veritable tree heaven than Kitsilano. Walk down most of the streets in the neighbourhood and you will find yourself beneath one stunning canopy after another. As well as street plantings of the same species of tree, there are hundreds of different individual trees in front gardens, alleyways and public places. One of the most famous tree avenues in Vancouver is the Tulip trees on 10th Ave from Blenheim to Dunbar.

[edit][add listing] Buy

4th Avenue is one of Vancouver's best known neighbourhood shopping areas. It was once the domain of small eclectic shops, but as Kits drifted from its hippie roots, more mainstream retailers have settled in. If you take your time though, you can still find the independent shops mixed amongst the clothing and home decor stores. The street also has a good selection of coffee shops, restaurants and fine dining. Street parking can be challenging along 4th Avenue. There is an underground parking lot in the 2200 block under Capers Market (east of Safeway).

• Sitka Surfboards, 1864 West 4th Ave, ☎ +1 604-568-9935, [9]. Outlet store for this very West-coasty surf and skateboard company.  edit

• Zulu Records, 1972 West 4th Ave (between Maple and Cypress Streets), ☎ +1 604-738-3232, [10]. A long-time mainstay of Vancouver's music scene, and focuses particulary on alternative and indie rock. Has a vinyl section and an outlet for event tickets, and frequent in-store performances.  edit

The junction of Burrard Street and 4th Avenue has a good cluster of ski, snowboard, and skateboard shops, including:

• Comor, 1980 West 4th Ave, ☎ +1-604-731-6449, [11]. Primarily skis, and mainly freestyle stuff, but does snowboards too.  edit

• Pacific Boarder, 1793 West 4th Avenue, ☎ +1 604-734-7245 or 1-888-BOARDER, [12]. M-F 10AM-6PM, Th-F 10AM–8PM, Sa 10AM–6PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Large snowboard and skateboard shop with a wide range of clothing and other apparel as well.  edit

• Showcase Snowboard Surf and Skate, 1766 West 4th Ave, ☎ +1-604-731-6449. Mostly snowboard and surfing focused.  edit

• The Boardroom, 1745 West 4th Ave, ☎ +1 604-734-7669, [13]. M-W 10AM-6PM, Th-F 10AM-8PM, Sa 10AM–6PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Snowboarding, skateboarding, wakeboarding, surfing. Has adjacent clearance stores where some good deals can be had.  edit

• Westbeach, 1758 West 4th Ave, ☎ +1 604-734-7252, [14]. The outlet store for a snowboarding-oriented clothing brand.  edit

Broadway makes for nice walking and shopping and has mature trees that line the street. It's here that you will find the heart of the Greek community, featuring the last remaining Greek bakery, pool hall and some restaurants.

Dunbar is a local shopping area along Dunbar Street south of 16th Avenue. There is also a cluster of shops at along Alma Street between 10th Avenue and Broadway, and another cluster at Alma Street and 4th Avenue. The Point Grey shopping district stretches along 10th Avenue from Alma up the hill to Blanca, on the border with UBC.

• Cheapskates - 1, 3644 West 16th Ave (at Alma Street, 1 block west of Dunbar), ☎ +1-604-222-1125. Mon–Fri 11AM - 6PM; Sat 10AM – 6PM; Sun & Hol 11AM – 5PM. A consignment store for sporting goods, with reasonably good equipment at cheap and falling prices. Each item has a tag with a price schedule that drops 10% each week. If an item hasn't been snapped up, you could get it for a very low price. The "1" branch carries baseball bats, helmets, and shoes from Mar 1–May 1; junior baseball gloves, inline skates, and scooters from Mar 1st–Aug 1st; and adult baseball gloves, hockey gear, ice skates, soccer gear, tricycles, and lifting weights all year.  edit

• Cheapskates - 19, 3496 Dunbar Street (near 19th Avenue), ☎ +1-604-734-1160. Mon–Fri 11AM - 6PM; Sat 10AM – 6PM; Sun & Hol 11AM – 5PM. A consignment store for sporting goods, with reasonably good equipment at cheap and falling prices. Each item has a tag with a price schedule that drops 10% each week. If an item hasn't been snapped up, you could get it for a very low price. For example, buying skis or snowboard gear at Cheapskates is a comparable cost to three days' rental. The "19" branch carries bicycles, coolers, golf, and water sports gear from Mar 1–Sep 15; winter clothing, downhills skis, cross-country skis, snowboards, boots, and poles from Oct 15–Feb 15; and large backpacks, rain wear, badminton, squash, and tennis gear all year.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

The Kitsilano area has one of the highest densities of restaurants you will find anywhere. There are a huge number of restaurants of virtually every ethnic food you could imagine. Most of them are along 4th Avenue, Yew Street, Broadway or Cornwall Ave.

[edit] Budget

• Capers Community Market, 2285 West 4th Avenue, +1 604-739-6676 High end organic grocery store featuring a veggie buffet take away or eat in. Also has a Robson Street location downtown.

• The Diner, 4556 West 10th Avenue (near Tolmie St, opposite Safeway), ☎ +1 (604) 224-1912. Fish and chips and other British food while surrounded by an astounding array of royal family memorabilia. $10-15.  edit

• East is East, 3243 W. Broadway, +1 604-734-5881. A interesting concept that sometimes works with low shared tables and wailing Asian music in a carpeted room. Decent chai to go with Indian/Tibetan/Paki/Iranian food. Some say service is lacking and portions are small.

• The Naam, 2724 West 4th Avenue, +1 604-738-7151 [15]. 24 hour vegetarian restaurant with organic options. Food taken from numerous cooking styles. Some love the Naam, some are disappointed by food, service and cleanliness. $6 - $13. A strong selection of vegan food. Wine and beer available.

• Planet Veg, 1941 Cornwall Avenue, +1 604-734-1001. Passable Indian inspired vegetarian food. Small number of tables, including a few outside. Just a few blocks from Kits Beach, so great for take-out picnics. Most meals in the $4 - $8 range.

• Thai Spicy, 4530 West 10th Avenue. This rather misleadingly-named restaurant actually serves Vietnamese food, including a very good pho (beef with rice noodles). $8-12.  edit

• Thai Terrace, 2872 West Broadway, +1 604-738-2824. Excellent Thai food in a small casual setting that gets a lot of take-out business. Lunch specials run around $8-9 with dinner entrees in the $10-12 range.

• The Taco Shack (Kits Beach), 1937 Cornwall Street (1/2 block West of Cypress), ☎ +1 604-736-8226 (fax: +1-604.739.8226), [16]. Sun - Thu 11AM - 9:30PM; Fri, Sat 11AM-10PM. Serving so called So-cal style burritos, tacos and quesadillas, recipes taken directly from a taco truck in South LA. $7-10.  edit
• Sejuiced, 1958 4th Avenue West (between Cypress & Maple), ☎ +1 604-730-9906. Small and casual vegan restaurant serving healthy fare and delicious smoothies and juices.Service is non existent and Staff are unresponsive. $10-$15.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

• Aphrodite's Cafe and Pie Shop, 3598 W 4th Ave (On 4th Ave, at Dunbar), ☎ +1 604-738-5879 (info@organiccafe.ca), [17]. A friendly cafe that uses locally-grown and organic ingredients with a first-class menu that's long on vegetarian and vegan dishes. The brunch on Saturday and Sunday is delicious or try the pie and chai combination. Service is sometimes slow, so expect a wait, particularly when crowded. Lunch and dinner on weekdays; no reservations. Pies to go can be purchased at the pie shop next door.  edit

• Banana Leaf, 3005 W Broadway (on West Broadway near Carnavon Street, between MacDonald and Balaclava), ☎ +1 604-734-3005 (info@bananaleaf-vancouver.com), [18]. Mon-Thu 11:30AM - 2:45PM, 5-10:30PM; Fri 11:30AM - 2:45PM, 5-11PM; Sat 11:30AM - 11PM; Sun 11:30AM - 10PM. Malaysian food is a vibrant mingling of Chinese, Indian, Thai, Indonesian, and Malay, and it springs to life at Banana Leaf with rich flavours beautifully presented, yet in an efficient, low-key atmosphere. Many dishes can be prepared vegetarian. Other locations are on West Broadway and Denman. $20/dinner.  edit

• Hapa Izakaya, 1516 Yew St, ☎ +1 604-738-4272. Street level not in any way a Sushi Bar-Izakaya means bar food with small plates no Sushi- very trendy-looking, lots of black - the prices are unexpectedly low but portions are tiny.  edit

• Moxies Bar and Grill, 1759 West Broadway, ☎ +1 604-678-9973. Gives great tasting food from a variety of cuisines with a focus on grilled food such as steak. Great tasting food for a good price when compared to other restaurants in Vancouver. Try the broccoli and cheese soup.  edit

• Rocky Mountain Flatbread Co., 1876 W 1st Ave (just east of Cypress St.), ☎ +1 604-730-0321 (kits@rockymountainflatbread.ca), [19]. Mon-Fri 8.15am onwards, Sat-Sun 9:00am onwards, Holidays closed. Interesting, flavourful soups, sandwiches, and "flatbread" pizzas featuring organic and local ingredients and attentive service. The bright, colourful interior is welcoming and kid-friendly. Lots of options for vegetarians. A hybrid of pancake eatery, pizza joint, coffeehouse, and bar. Try the "Farmer's Market" pizza, with seasonal veggies like beets (on a pizza?!). Single-person pizzas, sandwiches $9.95, salads $8.25-12.25, beers $6-10, glass wine $7.50, bottle $26.  edit

• Some Kinda Pasta, 4409 West 10th Avenue, ☎ +1 (604) 222-0220, [20]. M-F 10:30AM-11PM, Sa-Sun 4:30PM-10PM. Italian pasta and wine bar with a warm and relaxing ambiance. $15-$25.  edit

• Thai House Kitsilano, 1766 W 7th Ave, ☎ +1 604-737-0088, [21]. 11:00AM to 10:30PM. Open 7 days a week from 11AM to 10:30PM nightly. Established since 1986, enjoy authentic Thai cuisine with a wide array of mild to spicy dishes. Other locations include: Downtown Robson, Richmond, Yaletown and English Bay.  edit

• The Eatery, 3431 West Broadway, ☎ +1 604-738-5298, [22]. A fusion Japanese restaurant. The food is anything Japanese with a North American twist to it. The crowd can best be described as your usual 20-something crowd. Be prepared for kitsch overload. About $20 and up for dinner.  edit

• Tomato fresh food cafe, 2486 Bayswater St (at Broadway, near MacDonald), ☎ +1 604-874-6020 (info@tomatofreshfoodcafe.com, fax: +1 604-874-6881), [23]. daily 9AM-10PM. Recently moved to the western Kits area after 17 years on Cambie, the newly-remodelled dining area provides a bright setting for beautiful dishes made with organic, local, and ocean-friendly ingredients. Unfortunately, choices for vegetarians are scanty. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner served. Dinner entrees $15-30.  edit

• Topanga Cafe, 2904 West 4th Ave (On the south side of 4th, a half block west of MacDonald), ☎ +1 604-733-3713. Monday - Saturday 11:30AM - 10:00PM. Great for lunch or dinner, this classic California-Mexican restaurant has been a fixture in Kitsilano since 1978. The food is still made with the authentic recipes. There are a few good vegetarian options. The margaritas and cold Mexican beers are always a hit. The "homemade" chocolate cake is among the moistest on earth and cannot be missed. Dinner entrees $12-24.  edit

[edit] Splurge

• Bishop's, 2183 West 4th Avenue, ☎ +1 604-738-2025, [24]. Daily 5:30PM-11PM (closes at 10PM Su). Known for its emphasis on fresh and local produce in a quieter ambiance. $50 and up for appetizer + main.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

There are a few nightclubs in Kits, but most of the nightclubs in Vancouver are Downtown.

• Wired Monk Kitsilano, 2610 West Fourth Ave , +1 604 742-1752, [25]. Nestled on the corner of 4th and Trafalgar St. It's a cozy free wireless internet cafe by day and live music lounge by night hosting an open stage for local up and coming musicians! Great atmosphere and very very warm staff. All organic fairtrade coffee and an array of loose leaf tea; fresh and fast baked goods and gourmet paninis and homemade soups and salads. Also it's wheelchair accessible.

• Darby's Pub, 2001 Macdonald Street (at Macdonald and 4th Avenue), +1 604 731-0617, [26]. A local favourite, Darby’s is one of Kitsilano’s oldest neighbourhood pubs and has the best rooftop patio in the neighbourhood. Featuring live entertainment, comedy & karaoke nights, UFC, all broadcast & PPV Canucks games. With a classic pub menu focusing on quality.

• Lola's, 2291 W Broadway (On the North side of Broadway at Vine), ☎ +1 604 733-7989. A decently small club, but with good drink specials and excellent music. Mondays are "Mandatory", and usually the club is packed.  edit
• The Wolf and Hound, 3617 West Broadway, ☎ (604) 738 8909, [27]. Irish-themed pub with a good selection of draft beers and live music.  edit
• The Cellar, 3611 West Broadway (near Alma St), ☎ (604) 738 1959. Opens 6:30pm, closed Mondays. A small jazz bar with a decent claim to being the city's best jazz venue. Not to be confused with the downtown nightclub of the same name.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

There are few lodgings in the Kitsilano area. People tend to stay Downtown.

• HI Vancouver-Jericho Beach, 1515 Discovery St, ☎ +1 604 224-3208, [28]. Open 24hrs May 1 - Sep 30. Located 100m from the beach and between UBC campus and downtown. Beautiful and quiet park setting but the 20-25min bus ride downtown leaves some feeling isolated. $18 - $22+ for a bed in the dorm..  edit
• Casa Mora, 4538 West 12th Avenue, ☎ +1-800-294-9984 (info@casamora.com), [29]. Located on a quiet residential street on the west end of Kitsilano near UBC, and near the 99-B express bus line. There are two B&B rooms, one B&B suite, and a Penthouse Suite that has a full kitchen where you cook your own meals, instead of breakfasts served. $130-250/night, less in off season, week-stay discounts, surcharge for multiple guests per room.  edit

[edit] Contact

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!