SHOPPING DESTINATIONS

TopTen

1. Metrotown

prac_info 4700 Kingsway, Burnaby • 604 438 4715

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Metropolis at Metrotown is BC’s largest mall. The atmosphere is lively with many shoppers visiting daily. The Hudson’s Bay department store and the grocery giant Superstore anchor the mall, with chains and independents represented by nearly 400 stores. There are movie screens and arcade games for non-shoppers.

TopTen

Interior of the huge Metropolis mall at Metrotown

2. Robson Street

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The trendy Robson Street’s shopping epicenter is situated at the corner of Burrard and Robson, where the stylish brands Lululemon and Roots Canada make their homes. Shop for clothing at Canadian-owned Aritzia, pick up some indulgent bath products in Lush, or browse the several internationally known shoe, clothing, accessory, and home furnishing stores. You can catch a breather at any of the numerous restaurants en route.

3. South Granville

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In South Granville, shopping extends along Granville Street from 2nd to 16th avenues. Nearly a dozen art galleries can be found here. The elegant strip is home to brand-name and high-end European clothing purveyors such as Bacci’s, Boboli, and also Max Mara. Excellent tea and coffee shops, home decor showrooms, and some toy stores are peppered along this strip as well.

4. Commercial Drive

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The Drive, as it’s known locally, is the epitome of a hip area. Once Vancouver’s Little Italy, it is now a multiethnic fusion of clothing shops, book and magazine stores, vintage boutiques, and second-hand outlets. To make the most of your visit here, start off at East Broadway and Commercial Drive and walk northward to Venables Street, admiring the magnificent Coast Mountains that appear in the distance along the way.

5. Sinclair Centre

prac_info 757 W Hastings • 604 488 1685

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Four heritage buildings are grouped to create an upscale shopping mall. The three levels include two floors of exclusive shops offering luxury clothing, and accessories from the likes of Versace, Armani, Prada, and Alexander McQueen. The center’s lower level has a food fair.

6. Granville Island

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There’s more to shopping on the Island than just fresh foods at the Public Market: look for silver jewelry and hats among the stalls (see Granville Island). The Net Loft – once used for fishing net repairs – sells crafts and handmade paper. The Kids Market offers a host of mini-shops and activities for the little ones.

TopTen

Stall at Granville Island Public Market

7. Broadway

Google Map

Shopping hotspots on Broadway are located between Main and Alma streets. Mountain Equipment Co-op, at the eastern end, requires a small membership fee, but the sportswear is superb. Going west, the street is dotted with clothing stores and health food stores, particularly at Granville, Arbutus, and Macdonald streets (the latter is home to the city’s Greektown).

8. Pacific Centre

prac_info 701 W Georgia St • 604 688 7235

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More than 100 stores stretch beneath Granville Street in the heart of downtown Vancouver, including department stores, boutiques, and specialty stores selling clothing, jewelry, sportswear, gadgets, and more.

9. Chinatown

Google Map

Vancouver’s oldest and largest ethnic shopping area (see Chinatown) has struggled at times to survive with competition from Richmond’s Asian supermalls. Yet Chinatown hangs on, its crowded streets filled with bargain hunters. Shops selling herbs and potions, exotic delicacies, fresh seafood and vegetables, leather goods, and Asian souvenirs fill the streets.

TopTen

Shopping street in Chinatown

10. Gastown

Google Map

The century-old buildings of Gastown have morphed into unique boutiques, First Nations art galleries, and specialty shops selling everything from buttons to cowboy boots. Gastown has long been known for its souvenirs, and many retailers line Water Street, selling classic as well as kitsch Canadiana.

TopTen

Cowboy boots in a shop in Gastown

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