Stretching from the south end of Vancouver’s Granville Street Bridge to 16th Avenue, South Granville—a sluicing strip of trees and bright awnings—boasts some of the best experiences for shopping, dining and culture in the city. Start exploring, and this inviting urban village offers one lovely discovery after another, with elegant retailers and awesome food lining the sidewalks straight down to the bridge.
sense of style. Fashion-wise, South Granville has, for years, been the destination of choice for fashionistas, thanks to boutiques like Bacci’s (stocked with Dries Van Noten shoes and Chloé coats) and Boboli (think Stella McCartney, Missoni and elegant Italian cashmere by Loro Piani). Max Mara’s flagship (with the line’s only local bridal department) is a neutral-toned beacon of good taste and lush fabrics, while minimalists love James Perse and Eileen Fisher for their effortless separates. The street is also home to sporty TNA (the very first such standalone in the world), boho-chic Free People and the newly opened Grail (for the most-stylish sneakers). Locally owned, Hill’s Dry Goods’ got pretty dresses (and shoes, and accessories) for days, while Lord’s Shoes has long been a local favourite for footwear. Not sure what to wear under all that finery? Diane’s Lingerie, a South Granville staple, has, for decades, provided Vancouver women with the perfect fit.
home sweet home. Boasting the largest concentration of home décor stores in the city, South Granville is home to B.C.’s only West Elm outpost, offering stylish, on-point furnishings and accessories. Also unique to the street? Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, EQ3 and Industrial Revolution (all the only such stores in B.C., and the latter two being Canadian owned, to boot). Williams Sonoma provides high-quality cookware (and classes to suit every home chef), while Atkinson’s is incredible for its curate of unique tableware, bed linens, objets d’art and gifts. Even Chapters bookstore, situated where Broadway intersects Granville, boasts a décor section that could easily constitute a one-stop shop for spatial sprucing up this summer.
culture crawl. When it comes to the arts, there’s really no district in the city like South Granville. Mosy over to Ian Tan Gallery for contemporary Canadian art not found elsewhere, then pop into Bau-Xi Gallery to feast (your eyes) upon gorgeous works by emerging and established visual artists across a variety of media and genres. For an authentically West Coast experience, don’t miss Douglas Reynolds Gallery, with a magnificent collection of historic and contemporary Northwest Coast native art. Looking for a sizzling stage experience? Snag tickets to a show at the Stanley Theatre—maybe Mamma Mia! this summer—or head over to New Orleans-style restaurant Ouisi Bistro for weekly live jazz music.
foodie heaven. A food-and-drink refuel is needed after all that retail and art therapy. Visit Heirloom Juice Co. (little sister to the vegetarian restaurant of the same name, where a house grilled cheese with mustard is highly recommended) for a kale blend that looks green but tastes like a creamsicle. For a really gorgeous meal, West Restaurant and Vij’s Rangoli provide some of the city’s best dining, or grab a Cobb salad and a beer at Caffe Barney. For more good eats, grab a far-from-standard burger at the hip new Bin 4 Burger Lounge, and swing by Meinhardt Fine Foods for all unique, signature offerings (the deli section is to die for). Coffee-wise, Bean Around The World sources and roasts its own Fair Trade java.
down time. Talk about a beautiul destination! For more relaxation than even the strongest brew can bring, go for a traditional Turkish steam bath at Miraj Hammam Spa; you’ll leave languid, with your skin smelling like orange and your breath smelling like mint tea and honey cake. Suki’s can give a cutting-edge hairstyle (with stand-out colour, to boot) while Project Skin MD offers a range of treatments, including quickie facials and spa services for the fellows.
For more on what’s on (and what’s new) in this incredible neighbourhood, visit southgranville.org and follow the South Granville BIA on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the know! —Adrienne Matei and Noa Nichol
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