6 October 2023 |
Where to stay, shop, and eat.
On the edge of the rainforest, Canada’s third largest city is known for its natural beauty, but it’s also a major cosmopolitan center with world class hotels, sophisticated shops and a rich culinary scene.
STAY
Location, location, location. The Rosewood Hotel Georgia has is the ideal spot to explore the city sitting just opposite the Vancouver Art Gallery, and across from the iconic department store Holt Renfrew. It’s also just a short walk away from Stanley Park, a 400-acre green oasis in the middle of the town. Perhaps that’s why the handsome, Art Deco-style lobby is always buzzing with both guests and locals.
In 2011 Rosewood took over the historic Georgia Hotel (famous guests included Nat King Cole, Elvis and John Wayne) and updated it with fewer, albeit more spacious rooms, a Sense spa and rooftop restaurant. The 155 rooms are awash in beige and gray palette with spacious bathrooms that feature heated marble floors, oversized tubs and rain showers. For those seeking more amenities, the Rosewood suite offers a private rooftop terrace, a plunge pool and fireplace.
The hotel’s flagship restaurant is Hawksworth, a glamorous, old-school style spot named after its award-winning chef David Hawksworth. Hawksworth, who sharpened his culinary skills at some of Europe’s best restaurants, applies classical techniques to the local, fresh bounty, turning out ambitious dishes like geoduck carpaccio, sablefish (a local favorite) and Pacific Hokkaido scallops. There’s also crowd pleasers like dry rib eye and lobster veloute. The beautiful setting and speakeasy-style cocktails makes this a favorite spot for power lunches or a night out on the town.
For more casual fare there is Reflections Terrace restaurant located in an outdoor courtyard on the hotel’s fourth floor. The fourth floor is where you’ll also find the Sense spa that features a giant heated, saltwater pool— a dip is quite refreshing after a day of sightseeing— as well as treatment rooms offering everything from Vichy showers to deep tissue massages.
SHOP
For clean, loving minimalists, this housewares spot is a one-stop shop. There are Nychair’s elegant, foldable rocking chairs as well as Donabe cooking pots, Noguchi-style paper moon lamps, Hasami porcelain— all from Japan. For customers who lean a little more Scandinavian in their aesthetic, the shop offers pieces from Fritz Hansen as well sleek-looking soda makers from Swedish brand Aarke. You’ll also find stylish items like bill folds, knit beanies and tinned fish from Portugal.
Established in 2011, this menswear store has expanded with a womenswear store and a small home shop in the city’s Gastown neighborhood. The menswear store is perhaps one of t best in the world featuring a hyper curated selection of cult labels including San Francisco-based designer Evan Kinori, New York-based BODE, Japanese brands Auralee and the sportier Needles, as well as MFPEN from Denmark. There’s also more established brands like Engineered Garments and Sunspel.
At the women’s outpost, you’ll find the ultimate in discreet luxury labels like Casey Casey, Cristasteya, Margaret Howell, and Sara Lanzy. The home store, Neighbour Object, offers a selection of Fog Linen trays and textiles, Tekla linens and rare vintage books and magazines.
This is another menswear outlet that punches above its weight. Customers can choose from classic brands like Acne and Our Legacy as well as more colorful pieces from ERL, courtesy of Venice Beach designer Eli Russell Linnetz. There are also fragrances and candles from Byredo and objects from Turin-based brand Gufram.
DINE
Housed in a skyscraper in the Coal Harbor district, this opulent restaurant is one of several around the world (the original one is located in Hong Kong with locations in Las Vegas and Dubai) but this is far from a chain restaurant experience. In fact, this is one of the most elevated dim sum experiences. Reserve one of the tables in the private nooks and order platters of Iberico pork, wild mushroom and black cod dumplings. While the Peking duck, aged for 42 days, smoked with applewood, and hand carved tableside, is a favorite, the wok fried Dungeness crab is not to be missed.
With sweeping views of Vancouver’s harbor bobbing with cruise ships, this sprawling restaurant can feel slightly touristy. But there’s a reason it’s always packed. The food is sublime. In 2008, Seigo Nakamura opened the first Canadian outpost of his family’s restaurant empire which introduced Vancouver to the tradition of Aburi (flame-seared) sushi. For the ultimate in surf and turf, try both the delicious miso sablefish and Wagyu steak.
