Yaletown from David Lam Park

Yaletown is the area of Vancouver east of Homer between Robson Street and False Creek. It’s a trendy neighbourhood with some of Vancouver’s best restaurants.

Yaletown Neighbourhood

Located just a few blocks southeast of BC Place is Vancouver’s trendy Yaletown neighbourhood. The area features old warehouse buildings that have been transformed into residential loft spaces and corporate offices, trendy restaurants, fashion and jewellery boutiques. There is also free Wi-Fi so that visitors to the area can easily navigate their way to stores and restaurants, as well as a selection of small parks and outdoor seating areas.

Along the False Creek section of Yaletown are dense high rises, marinas and the Seawall, which goes all the way to Stanley Park in one direction and out past Kitsilano Beach in the other. Lots of events happen at the Roundhouse Community Centre. At the same venue there is the C.P.R. Engine 374 Pavilion which is a railway museum with free admission.

Where to Eat in Yaletown

Yaletown is one of Vancouver’s most popular districts for restaurants and eating out.

Two streets in particular have an exceptionally high concentration of great places to eat – they are Mainland and Hamilton Streets at around the 1100 block. They are interesting streets, with on-street parking down below and all the restaurants (or most of them) up a few steps on a raised sidewalk. Unfortunately, this setup makes it challenging for people with mobility issues.

Evenings in the summer are when these two streets really come alive. Some of the most popular restaurants include the following:

Blue Water – at 1095 Hamilton Street.
Brix & Mortar – at 1137 Hamilton Street.
Cioppino’s Mediterranean Grill – at 1133 Hamilton Street.
Earls – at 1095 Mainland Street.
The Keg Steakhouse at 1011 Mainland Street.
Cactus Club Cafe – at 357 Davie Street.
Hapa Izakaya – at 1193 Hamilton Street.
Minami – at 1118 Mainland Street.
Tutto – an exceptional Italian restaurant at 901 Homer Street.

The False Creek Seawall

False Creek borders Yaletown at its southern edge and the seawall here is stunning, both from the north and south sides of the water. Yaletown has one of Vancouver’s most concentrated number of high-rise buildings, which makes the urban scenery especially dynamic.

Being on the north side of False Creek, the seawall along the Yaletown stretch is in the sunshine for most of the day and makes for a great walking and cycling route.

Also along the seawall in the Yaletown area is David Lam Park. One of the biggest parks in downtown Vancouver, David Lam Park features an expansive grassy area, tennis and basketball courts, a soccer field and a playground. The park is also about a block away from the Roundhouse Community Centre and Engine 374 Pavilion Train Museum.

Geese in Yaletown False Creek Water — False Creek near Yaletown

False Creek Events

A number of major events take place in and around the Yaletown part of Vancouver including the following:

Bastille Day – a festival celebrating the French national holiday marking the start of the French Revolution. It normally takes place on or around July 14th at the Roundhouse Community Centre.
Vancouver Dragon Boat Festival – dragon boat races in False Creek (late June). The event is based around Science World at the eastern tip of False Creek but the racing can be seen all along the Yaletown waterfront.
BC Gin Festival – a series of gin-themed events in Vancouver. The festival’s main tasting session happens at the Roundhouse Community Centre in March.
Vancouver Comic Arts Festival – a comic, anime and art trade show at the Roundhouse Community Centre in May.
Engine 374 Celebrations – a community event celebrating the arrival of the first train in Vancouver in 1888.
Vancouver International Jazz Festival – a jazz festival from late June until the beginning of July with major concerts in Yaletown’s David Lam Park on the Canada Day weekend.
Pet-A-Palooza – a street party for dogs and their owners on Mainland Street in August.
Taste of Yaletown – an event where restaurants in Yaletown offer special menu deals in October. It takes place some years, but not every year.
Candytown – a Christmas-themed street market in late November or early December.
Project EveryBody PEBCelebratesLive – a free event at the Roundhouse Community Centre around early December which showcases the talents of artists from Vancouver’s disability community.