In and Around Gastown Vancouver

I had to spend a lot of time in and around Gastown these last few days and got the chance to rediscover the neighbourhood, courtesy of some great local sources.

You can’t escape the fact that Vancouver is failing at resolving the overdose crisis in the downtown east side, and there is evidence of that everywhere in the neighbourhood and beyond. Here is hoping that the increasing visibility of the problem will be a catalyst for action.

In the meantime, businesses are trying to bring locals and tourists back downtown and there are certainly major draws.

One example is juice bar at 54 Alexander Street – a wine and tapas bar, by night counter service. It is charming and cozy and all the wonderful things you’re looking for in a night on the town. The selection and quality of the wine list really stands out.

While juice bar may be an old haunt for some, Tokyo in April is a new kid on the block. Its Japanese, does both traditional and fusion brilliantly and while the omurice feature (omelette rice) does not speak to me (though I’m told you need to order it if it does to you), their luscious sashimi salad and geisha roll (featuring scallop) did.

Last but not least I would note that Gastown is home to two retailers that have landmark locations on Water Street – Fluevog and Oak and Fort. Selection is much preferable to the locations that I normally frequent, and the historic buildings and spaces that house them are experiences unto themselves.