Community Thrift & Vintage Frock Shoppe
Gastown & Chinatown
A nonprofit social enterprise selling a cornucopia of vintage women's clothing, from 1970s print dresses to elegant silk tops to printed T-shirts of old…
Must-see shopping in British Columbia
Vancouver
If you insist on eating something other than chocolate or ice cream, hit this legendary time-capsule deli and sandwich shop, a family-run holdover from…
North Shore
A SeaBus hop from downtown Vancouver, this is the region's second most popular public market (after Granville Island). Look for BC wines and fresh fish…
Vancouver
If you're missing your regular dose of Hulkverines or you just want to blow your vacation budget on a highly detailed life-sized model of Conan the…
Fairview & South Granville
Like a sweet beacon to the weary, this purple-painted chocolate purveyor stands at the corner of Granville and W 11th Ave calling your name. It's a…
Vancouver
Like walking into a Tokyo convenience store, the shelves here are crammed with brightly packaged Japanese goodies from Calbee potato chips to Pocky…
North Shore
It's the region's oldest mall but Park Royal does a good job of keeping up with the competition. With 280+ stores (including all the usual suspects), its…
Vancouver
Basically a maple-leaf-emblazoned version of the Gap, Roots designs athletic, plaid-accented streetwear that's unmistakably Canadian. Its retro-style…
Vancouver
It's hard not to blow your holiday budget at this store, which showcases a huge array of quirky, often nerdy gifts and creations, from Sasquatch-themed…
Fairview & South Granville
Now in its third South Granville location in the space of a few years, this popular stop on the city's one-time gallery row focuses its chin-scratching…
Vancouver
Vancouver's oldest independent record store is still a major lure for music fans, with its High Fidelity ambience and time-capsule feel. But it's not…
Vancouver
Like an explosion at a garage sale, this rambling used and vintage store invites serious perusing. The front room is packed with racks of mostly women's…
Vancouver
This arts, crafts and fashion market runs four times a year – one for each season – in the heritage Roundhouse building. Expect to find an eclectic blend…
Vancouver
From Dolphin Boy to The Wonky Donkey, this huge, highly inviting store – reputedly Canada's biggest children's bookshop – has thousands of novels, picture…
Vancouver
The smallest of Pulpfiction's miniempire of three Vancouver bookstores, this spartan-looking shop has little decoration but lots of well-stocked wooden…
Lower Mainland
One of the River Market's coolest stores, you'll find a natty array of stationery (yes, those are fountain pens) fronted by a large communal table. That's…
Vancouver
If your to-buy list includes taxidermy, vintage cameras and old hotel matchbooks, this cleverly curated, highly browsable shop is the place for you. Among…
Vancouver
One of Vancouver's oldest and most respected indigenous galleries has moved to this huge new storefront, whose two floors are crammed with often…
Vancouver
A Drive fixture for 70-plus years and a loud echo of the area's counterculture heyday, this is the store to find the latest copy of Proletarian magazine…
Vancouver
Along with the shelves of used boots and shoes near the entrance of this outdoor gear and sports equipment consignment store, you'll find racks of end-of…
Gastown & Chinatown
Crammed with locally made bright-hued T-shirts, backpacks and ball caps, Blim's main business is the roster of workshops on everything from patch-making…
Vancouver
This unisex footwear temple is a dangerous place to come if you have a shoe fetish; best not to bring more than one credit card. Quality and designer élan…
Vancouver
The 'Signature' in the name means this well-located shop – just off Robson St at Bute – is one of the larger-format BC government liquor stores. You'll…
Vancouver
From its creaky floorboards to its scuzzy carpets and ever-teetering piles of books, this legendary locals' fave is a great place to peruse a cornucopia…
Vancouver
This German-style Christmas market lures thousands of Yuletide-loving locals to its alfresco waterfront location every festive season. They come for…
Vancouver
Vancouver's best urban alfresco farmers market is in the heart of the West End, alongside Nelson Park. It runs during the warmest months of the year and…
Vancouver
Downtown's biggest vintage store houses multiple racks of used clothing that invite a serious browse-a-thon. Alongside the well-priced yesteryear T-shirts…
North Shore
Smaller than its Vancouver parent, this MEC branch has a friendlier, more neighborly feel. Almost everyone here – staff and customers – seems to know each…
Vancouver
Vancouver's largest hipster clothing store, with Herschel daypacks and ironic cropped T-shirts, offers a cornucopia of men's and women's fashions as well…
Vancouver
Divided between Vancouver's best selection of guidebooks and travel literature (plus maps) on one side and a huge array of luggage, backpacks and travel…
Main Street Station Farmers Market
Vancouver
Transforming the south side of the park that fronts Pacific Central Station, this convivial farmers market is also handily located across from a SkyTrain…
Fairview & South Granville
Combining designer women's clothing on one side with a room full of perfectly curated trinkets piled high on antique wooden tables on the other, Bacci's…
Vancouver
On UBC's very own farm grounds, this popular alfresco market includes dozens of stands selling the farm's own produce plus additional artisan treats and…
Vancouver
At this bright and friendly nonprofit gallery run by the Craft Council of British Columbia (CCBC), the shelves hold everything from glass goblets and…
Vancouver
Specializing in BC artisans, there's an eminently browsable and surprisingly diverse array of tasteful handmade goodies at this ever-friendly store. Your…
Vancouver
Don't be put off by the unassuming windowless exterior of this local favorite; instead nip inside for a cornucopia of esoteric storybooks, graphic novels,…
Vancouver
With its cool array of retro reproduction sportswear and framed historic sports photography, this is the perfect pit stop for sports nuts. It's a great…
Vancouver
The bottled-beer selection at this private liquor store (ie not run by the government, like many in the city) is among Vancouver's best. Alongside…
Vancouver
The small tables at this independent chocolatier are often filled with sweet-tooth visitors sipping coffee and nibbling decadent pastries. But there's…
Vancouver
Proving that Yaletown men are just as aesthetically focused as women, this hip menswear boutique is the perfect spot to upgrade your style from that snow…
