Located at the top of the Harbour Centre near historic Gastown, the Vancouver Lookout is a tourist attraction that offers 360-degree views of the city.
This article contains the following information about the Vancouver Lookout:
Where is the Lookout? | Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant | Urban Grind Event in March | Tips and Advice | Other Information
The Vancouver Lookout at Harbour Centre
At about 550 feet (or 168 metres) high, Vancouver Lookout offers visitors a truly spectacular bird’s-eye view of the surrounding area.
From the venue you can see Canada Place and the whole of Vancouver’s downtown core, as well as Stanley Park, the North Shore Mountains, Burrard Inlet, and as far away as Surrey and beyond (assuming good weather).
The journey to the top of the Vancouver Lookout is part of the experience on its own. The entire front of the elevator is glass, and most of the way up is on the outside of the building. This gives a unique view of downtown Vancouver and beyond as you ride up to the observation deck.
The deck is circular and wraps around the building. There are multiple places with tables and chairs that you can enjoy the view from. There are also information plaques all around the deck, providing insight into much of what you can see.
Where is the Lookout?
The attraction’s address is 555 West Hastings Street. It’s located in the heart of downtown Vancouver about a block from Waterfront Station in one direction and a block from the entrance to Gastown in the other.
Not far from the Vancouver Lookout are Canada Place, Granville Street, the Vancouver Convention Centre and Coal Harbour. One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions – FlyOver Canada – is also close by. FlyOver Canada is a multidimensional theatre experience where you can fly across the country. It’s located just a short walk away at Canada Place.
Top of Vancouver Revolving Restaurant
Situated at the edge of Gastown in the Harbour Centre building, visitors can have a memorable meal at the Top of Vancouver revolving restaurant. It’s a good restaurant with Happy Hour specials. It also offers the same views as you’ll find at the Vancouver Lookout. And yes, the place really does spin around, but thankfully only very slowly.
Note: The Lookout and the Top of Vancouver restaurant are two separate businesses. To visit both places you have to pay for each separately.
Urban Grind Event in March
The Urban Grind is an event that used to take place on Tuesday afternoons in March. During the Urban Grind event, for around $5 and at set times, the public was welcome to get exercise by climbing up the 633 steps of the Harbour Centre Building to the Vancouver Lookout.
Included with the $5 admission in past years was a complimentary beer at the top and a $5 food voucher for use in the downstairs food court. The event took place between 4:30 pm and 6:30 pm every Tuesday in March. During those hours guests were allowed to climb up and down as many times as they liked!
In addition to being great exercise, the Urban Grind was a fundraising event. There was a coat check at the bottom near the entrance where, for a donation, jackets and other items could be left. In 2020 all donations collected went to the Kettle Society which is a charity that helps people with mental health illnesses, poverty, substance use and homelessness.
In 2020 the Urban Grind celebrated its sixth year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the event in the second half of the month that year was cancelled. As of the last time we checked, it’s unclear whether this event will ever take place again. Hopefully it will!
Tips & Advice
Below are some tips to help you make the most of your visit to the Vancouver Lookout.
Suggestions on When to Go
TIP #1: We recommend visiting the Vancouver Lookout on a sunny day. Vancouver is especially beautiful then. Also, on overcast days, clouds can hide the spectacular North Shore Mountains. On the clearest days you can see as far as Mt. Baker in Washington State.
TIP #2: If you are visiting from out of town, unless the weather forecast is better earlier in your stay than later, we recommend you visit the Vancouver Lookout at the end of your holiday. This is because it’ll be more interesting when you can recognize places you’ve visited in the distance.
Other Tips & Information
TIP #3: Self-guided audio tours are included with admission. You can listen to them on your own device. The tours are a great way to learn about the landmarks you’re seeing.
TIP #4: The venue can be rented for private events. If you’re looking for a place with impressive views, the Vancouver Lookout is a great option. Weddings, corporate events and private parties take place here from time to time.
Other Things to Do
TIP #5: While in the area, be sure to also check out Gastown. Located just down the street from the Vancouver Lookout, it’s a historic part of town that’s full of interesting shops, restaurants and heritage buildings. Especially if you are from out of town or new to Canada, we also recommend checking out the film at FlyOver Canada at Canada Place.
TIP #6: If you’re looking for a really unique experience, in addition to the multidimensional experience at FlyOver Canada, you might also want to check out Vancouver Mysteries and Forbidden Vancouver. The first is an outdoor game company that offers adventures in the streets of the city. The second is a tour company that offers guided walking tours around Gastown and other neighbourhoods in downtown Vancouver.
Other Information
Check out the official Vancouver Lookout website for more information about this great attraction and its amazing views.
For a list of other great attractions, see our article about Metro Vancouver’s Top 100 Places.
Other articles that might be of interest include the following:
- Vancouver’s Historic Gastown
- Vancouver Restaurants
- Downtown Vancouver Hotels
- Vancouver’s Festivals & Events Calendar