Friday night, head down to the newly opened 1789 Restaurant and Lounge located at, you guessed it, 1789 Comox Street in Vancouver’s West End. This cozy restaurant took over the former (much-loved) location of Delilah’s and is serving up plenty worth noting, including fresh shucked oysters at a custom raw bar, great cocktails and tasty, locally-sourced eats. Find out more here.
Next, keep the cocktails flowing and make your way down to Chinatown and stop in at the Keefer Bar for some après fun. We love the chill vibe and creative clientele – not to mention killer drinks. Its proximity to the Chinatown Night Market is just an added bonus.
Order up brunch on Saturday at Sol Sunbelt Cookery in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour neighbourhood. You won’t regret the trek. We recently headed there with friends and were floored by the quality of ingredients, attentive service and ambiance (how can you go wrong with a waterfront patio?). If you go, order their wild mushroom Benny served on toasted brioche and be bad… get the croquettes as well.
Given that you’re just on the outskirts of our next recommendation, Stanley Park’s 125th Celebration, make your way over to explore all that the Vancouver Park Board has organized for a weekend of non-stop action. Free concerts, live entertainment, demonstrations and more await with five different festival zones planned. Entry is free and celebrations go all weekend long.
Have a hankering for a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine? Then be sure to swing by Los Cuervos Taqueria and Cantina on Saturday night for your fix. Having recently opened in the Kingsway hood, the food doesn’t get any more flavourful and true to its roots than this. Start off with an order of lightly battered avocado (Aguacate), followed by their Milanesa, Atun and Choriqueso. Don’t forget to wash it all down with a refreshing cucumber mint margarita to finish.
Post foodie-fix, save room for a bit of PNE fun. That’s right, we think you ought to head over to Playland, having just opened last weekend; it’s a sure sign of summer. Worth checking out (rides aside), we hear they’ve got deep-fried bubble gum, cronuts and plenty more. The Sam Roberts Band is set to take the stage in the evening, and its free with fair admission.
Start your Sunday morning off by paying a visit to one of the many local farmers markets in town and score heaps of freshly picked BC berries (perfect for anyone looking to try their hand at making jam). Next, head over to Kerrisdale’s latest sweet shop, Faubourg Pastry Shop, and indulge in their Croissant Pudding (yup, croissants have gotten even better).
Work of the day’s caloric intake by heading over to the Grouse Grind in the late afternoon and tackle the BCMC trail. We prefer it to the highly-trafficked Grind; it’s a tad more au natural, you’re less apt to run into tourists clad in kitten heels, and much more peaceful. At the top, be sure try your hand at a game of disc golf before you head over to the patio at the Altitudes Bistro. Once settled, you can kick up your heels and take in the city scene while sipping a rewarding pint and reminiscing about your well-spent weekend.
Top photo courtesy Sol Sunbelt Cookery