Another nice satellite neighborhood in Vancouver - Kerrisdale oh Kerrisdale!…read more I like this little neighborhood south of downtown Vancouver. It would be a nice area to live in. It has a small walkable business area with loads of shops and restaurants. Well, not loads per-say, but enough. All locals here. You won't find many tourists because there is not a lot touristy stuff to see. You can connect to Arbutus trail (used to be train tacks) here and bicycle all the way to downtown. Also, it's a good place to travel on easily public transport to University of British Columbia (UBC) on West 41st Avenue. Good community vibe.

Hidden Gem of at least 2 - 3 blocks of a variety of mom and pop stores and some, very few major…read morechains like Starbucks & McDonalds. You can finish the block if you were to go into each and every store in about 1 - 2 hours (I have done this in a span of around 3 visits. It runs from W. Boulevard to Larch street along W. 41st. I visit the area at least 2 times a month on the way to see my best friend in the Dunbar area. 98% of the shops here have a very friendly vibe to them with the exception with the tea house (see review of that). Rain or shine I love walking in this hood.

Granville Island is an amalgamation of a public market, restaurants, a marina, a hotel, numerous…read moreartists' studios and workshops, and more located in one location. No wonder it's a popular tourist destination! You can watch artisans weaving at looms or creating brooms or blowing glass. Interestingly enough Ocean Concrete is also located here and you can gawk at their silos when walking around. If you're visiting during the weekends or holidays, parking can be a bit of a hassle. The sidewalks aren't clearly marked either, so pedestrians also spill over into the streets. It's better to take a ferry or water taxi to avoid the headaches.

Granville Island is touristy, sure, but not in a bad way. It's vibrant, full of energy, and still…read morefeels authentic. A mix of locals and tourists alike. The only downside is the prices, not horrible, but seem to be at a premium than right over the bridge. Traffic was also horrible trying to go and leave - sounds like others parked across the bridge and walked or took a ferry. We went on a Saturday mid afternoon and parking was ok because some people were leaving. A good selection of shops, including the public market and various shops. It was crowded, but service was good and friendly. We had a big meal beforehand, but it seems like a nice place to brunch by the waters and enjoy the views or have a snack - long line for the donut shop! There's a small playground for kids and toy stores. There's also a nice pond area to sit and enjoy a snack or just relax on a nice day.

Super cool market and I think my 14 month olds favorite activity on our Vancouver trip (besides…read morelooking at birds). There are tons of little shops in here. Great place to go if you're looking for souvenirs for a child or just to check out toys! Tourist trap so prices are a little higher as expected. Cool games and stuff on the second level plus some food options! Do wish they had a larger bathroom, and the changing table was like super high up. But otherwise good experience and glad we came!

The Kids Market was a fun and easy activity for kids. We arrived by uber, but noticed a good…read moreamount of street parking and public lots around the area. This is basically an indoor kids focused shopping, activities, arcade, food vendor venue. There's a good mix of different shops ranging from clothing, toys, magic store and some food vendors. There area few random ride-on things around the hallways for younger kids to ride. If you're in Vancouver with kids and want to spend some time doing something kid focused, check it out. Keep in mind this place isn't a huge mall, you could probably spend an hour there if you're not playing in the arcade or climbing areas.

I have been a fan of this high end consignment store for many years even though I don't live in…read moreDunbar. Last week I scored again. A Tommy Bahama 100% linen blouse for $59.00. It was brand new, the tags still on @ $169. Then a very nice young clerk patiently burrowed through a huge box of bras to find me a strapless. Love the staff, love the prices.

Dragon & Phoenix is a very special place. I have been a customer and account-holder for years…read more When I moved, I (very briefly) considered trying to find a new consignment store closer to me. However, after considerable research, including encountering, for example, exorbitant "cleaning fees" and other unfriendly contract terms at other stores, my search confirmed what I had really known all along: Dragon & Phoenix is a warm and friendly place full of warm and friendly people - people who want your side of the consignment relationship to be as rewarding as theirs. This store is a class act and a Kerrisdale gem.

I always enjoy stopping by Muji when I travel, since there isn't a store in my city. This location…read morein downtown Vancouver is conveniently central, with a spacious layout and well-stocked shelves. A highlight of my visit was watching Jarvis, the robot barista, prepare lattes for customers--it added a fun, modern touch to the experience. On this trip, I picked up a portable eyelash curler (adorable travel size) and a portable stainless steel cutlery set. I really appreciate Muji's wide assortment of merchandise and their affordable price points. Overall, I was very pleased with my visit and would happily return.

Great store in a great location, I love the Muji in Vancouver. It's spacious, well-stocked,…read morewell-staffed, and they offer a number of personalization services like embroidering clothing, bags, etc. Muji is a complete lifestyle store, with an extensive selection of stationary supplies, clothing, food, tableware, and even furniture. The instant food section is quite interesting, while my family swears by their pajamas. Prices are reasonable, but can add up if you are shopping for many things.

This is an older mall. Its been here for like over 20 years. There is a No Frills on the ground…read morefloor and No Frills is the reason why I come here. I have decided to walk around the mall today. Most of the store are small businesses and closes quite early. They mostly closes around 6pm. The parking lot is huge here. One thing to note is that the elevator doesn't seem to work well here. Most of the time I just take the stairs.

This is the kind of ugly mall that has next to nothing going for it. Its saving grace is the…read moreunderground No Frills, which we call either The Cave or Cheap Thrills. Really great prices on basic foods. Amazingly cheaper than IGA two blocks down the street. A BC govt. liquor store can be found beside No Frills if you like that sort of thing. Apparently many do. This mall has two or three Chinese beauty shops, TWO doggy daycares/spas (I think there used to be three!), a keycutting/shoe repair place, a mediocre Chinese restaurant, a cheese merchant, a weird pharmacy (you have to ring a bell for them to let you in to buy their odd selection of high-priced goods), an educational bookstore where PhD-obsessed parents can buy workbooks to use to make sure their kids study non-stop and never have any play time, two yoga studios side-by-side and, now, an A&W. On the far west side is a two-level coffee shop that keeps changing hands and names. It's currently a 24-hour Breka. This is a prime location in Kitsilano at 4th and Alma, so one would think/hope there would be some quality shops in here, but it's a dreary place and not one anyone would choose to hang about in unless they had to. Nothing attractive or charming about it at all. Such a shame that such a crummy little mall sits in such a choice spot. Loads of parking on two levels.

12 months later and my love affair with this little shop stands…read more Last week, I was walking the Make It Festival when the infamous Karen jumped into the aisle in front of me. Not only did she remember me (i've bumped into her a few times at the shop, but not more then a handful) but she was still the incredibly energetic, totally genuine ball of sunshine that made me RUN home to pen that first review back in January. And so, as a tip of the hat to my top service ninja of the year, I thought it be best to share some new findings at Two of Hearts: 1. Karen has a jewellery line that she sells at the shop! Go buy it and support local crafters and an all around rad person! ...I don't remember the name, because I took a business card and had her write down the specifics on a few pieces. Such organization obviously means I will lose said card within 24 hours. I do however have a note that says: "Sounds like the muppets song Mahna Mahna." Because i'm an adult. So I will take that to the Twitterverse for further investigation. Stay tuned. 2. Hats!! If you are looking for the most fabulous fall hat, go check out the Andre felt hats from Montreal. I debated over mine last January and it is singlehandedly my second favourite purchase of the year (it's tough to compete with the Fiat...) They are an excellent price (under $100), made in Canada and just classic, beautiful pieces. But if you buy the red one in the window before, I will get mad at you. Bonus points: you can't even find this line online for a better price. Tip of the hat 2ofH. 3. Bags! I have beat the s%&t out of my bag over the year - every day, dual laptop wielding and it has survived. Definitely looking a bit worse for wear, but it's held up far better then I expected, considering the price point is so reasonable. Right now, they have super awesome colours like hot pink mailbags & bright red clutches. It's a rainbow money suck! 4. Still with the awesome people. Karen isn't an anomaly here. Honest to gosh, i've had nothing but the most fabulous service every time i've gone in. Everyone who works here is all sugar & spice. ...I still have yet to find any actual clothing that fits me properly here... but I don't care. Great accessories & fab people will keep this place as a go to. *** Meiku Designs!!! ... not even close.

I can appreciate that their items are made from sustainable fabrics, but the prices are a little on…read morethe high side. Maybe if I loved the styles more, I can justify it and perhaps if they had a sale. Then again, everyone has different styles since my friend just loved this store. The sales person never once greeted me as well, but they seemed nice and could have been really busy. She worked with a smile on her face, I like that.

I've been going to Arbutus Jewellers for at least 5 years because of Andy the owner gives top notch…read moreservice at a fair price. I would definitely refer my friends and family to Andy. Thanks so much Andy for all the years you have provided such quality and friendly services.

I took in a ring to be sized that was gold plated. I thought that the sizing would leave a dark…read moremark as he ring was plated. Andy was fabulous at sizing the ring! No mark! He did a fantastic job sizing the ring! I am so impressed! Andy is so wonderful, so knowledgeable and so kind! His pricing is fantastic as well! He is the best in Vancouver!!! I highly recommend Arbutus Jewellers for everything!!! Thank you so much Andy!!!

Still the best! I…read morecame up from Seattle to buy ten shirts and three pairs of pants because - Finn's has the best selection of stylish clothing in Vancouver, especially for people who might want XL or XXL sizes in great lines like Haupt, Altemflower, Robert Graham, A Fish Named Fred, and 7 Downie St!

Although I don't care much for what they sell these days (mostly overly busy stuff, a fine…read moreselection of Trudeau's favourite clown socks, and very little of classic menswear), one has to give credit for the effort of trying to sell civilized men's clothing in the worst dressed city in North America.