Although Kits is hyped as the Venice Beach of Vancouver, we locals know that our identity is deeper than a “sexy” beach. It’s tourist season so we’ve put together a three-day Kitsilano guide for visitors to shine a light on some of our other facets.
Without further ado, here’s “Day 2: Cool Kits.” We cover what the youngish, edgy urbanites in our hood get up to for a good time.
All the cool kids eat donuts
Yeah, donuts. Overpriced but-worth-it, artisan donuts. Eating artisan-ally prepared unhealthy treats is a mild form of rebellion in health-conscious Kits. Conveniently, the hipster donut shop Lucky’s is a business venture of 49th Parallel, our neighbourhood’s most talented roaster, so you can get a superiority complex and a caffeine fix going at the same time.
Lucky’s Donuts, 2198 West 4th Avenue , Luckysdoughnuts.com
Stand-up paddle boarding adventurcize
After you’re feeling kinda guilty and really awake, head to the beach. Jogging is tedious but stand-up paddle boarding is challenging and requires so much gear it’s cool. Trust us. First off, start referring to it as SUP or shut the heck up. Second, book a two-hour lesson at Ecomarine Paddlesport–Kits has two convenient locations near Granville Island and farther west at Jericho Beach.
Ecomarine Paddlesport, Ecomarine.com
Waterfront fish shack lunch
Tucked away on the seawall a stone’s throw from Ecomarine between Granville Island and Kitsilano, you’ll find a tiny fish shack with a long line. Halibut and cod in crispy batter. Fish tacos with slaw. Scallop sandwiches. The fish and chips and tacos are always on offer. The sandwich specials vary depending on the catch of the day. Eat there or take it with you to Kitsilano Beachfor a better view.
1505 W 1st Avenue, 11:30am-6:30pm Tue-Sun , No website
Shop hop on West 4th
West 4th Avenue is best known for the first Lululemon store, but if yummy-mummy, see-through stretch pants aren’t your thing, check out the more interesting independent retailers such as Zulu Records, (historic local record shop – think Empire Records – which selects the bands for Vancouver’s largest free music festival and who’s staff has forgotten more music trivia that any of us combined will ever know), or Gravity Pope, a diverse and well-curated shoe selection for men and women (Acne, Repetto, Common Projects, Grenson) and arguably the best shoe store in all of Canada.
Zulu Records, 1972 W 4th Ave, Zulurecords.com
Craft beer sampling at Darby’s Pub
Darby’s knew about Vancouver’s burgeoning craft beer scene before you. That’s why they’ve had the best local stuff on over 40 rotating taps forever, and they have rare cask beer night once a week. They also have the ONLY roof-top patio in Kits. Cheers to that.
Darby’s Pub, 2001 Macdonald St, Darbyspub.ca
Dinner at the new it-restaurant AnnaLena
When the young, artistic and outspoken chef from Oakwood, Kitsilano’s favourite Canadian Bistro, struck out on his own this spring, we didn’t know what to think. We liked Oakwood. Was he disloyal? Why did he name this modern lego-themed resto after his two grannies?
Once we got over the moniker, we couldn’t help but let the food speak for itself. Even Vancouver’s most jaded resto critic falls all over himself to praise the bison tartar, the lobster confit with bisque, the lamb neck with gnocchi, the tamari pork belly with beets… #DROOL. Need we go on?
AnnaLena Restaurant, 1809 West 1st Avenue, Annalena.ca
Here’s Day #3. And just in case you missed it, Day #1.
Last modified: June 3, 2017
