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I visited this place both in summer and winter and it was pleasant both times. Walking gastown area is very nice; with lots of souvenir shops and restaurants to go to. You also have a nice view of the mountains and ocean. Scenic and historic at the same time.
Spend a few touristy hours walking the bustling streets, drink local beer chilling at the vigorous bars. Burn off the brew walking the historic cobblestone streets, watch for some sea lions, pause to listen to the steam clock and check the time to head back home.
Gastown was one of the neighborhoods to visit on my trip to Vancouver. There were a lot of interesting stores, and many coffee shops and bars. This area is kinda hippyish, touristy, and modern yet the buildings and architecture both have a very historical and classical look. The sidewalks are all stone blocks that adds to the feel. The neighborhood isn't very big, perhaps about several blocks from the train station, and walking farther leads you into the ultra sketchy Chinatown. We walked around for an hour just taking in the scenery and window shopping. Gastown's notable landmark is the Steam Clock, which was fell short of my expectations. Overall, this is a nice neighborhood to walk around in. You really feel like you're in a different city. The only downfall is the exceedingly expensive parking at $4 per 30 minutes.
A cool area, which I believe was once a less desirable part of town (decades ago) has now become one of the most trendy, sought-after locales in the city center. Full of restaurants and cafes, boutique shops and specialty stores, Gastown has truly emerged from its early artist roots and moved into a place for hipsters and tourists to flock to. It's still relatively cool, despite the constant wafting of smoked marijuana clouds in the air, and worth a visit or walk through, maybe a coffee or a meal shared among friends.
Didn't spend too much time here except to see the clock and walk around a bit. I was too afraid of falling into the wrong neighbourhood to explore further, but if I was with friends I would've loved to see more! A nice collection of shops on cobblestone streets and flowers all around.
One of my favorite places to visit in Vancouver & a place where you can get little gifts for the low. Parking can be funny & don't leave nothing just put in the open in your vehicle, but you shouldn't do that anywhere you go.
One of the most historic places in Vancouver. Visit the area not only for the clock but the restaurants, shops and other attractions.
I am all for the community, but what is a community without people? In this day and age of Covid-19 and social distancing it's something that has been redefined in the past few months here in Canada and around the world. Gastown has always been a place for tourism, history, culture and various sights, sounds and smells that permeate this community. From tourist shops, talent agencies, The Old Spaghetti Factory and other wonderful restaurants diners and clubs that lined this strip. The SteamClock which still whistles every hour regardless of who's watching and more recently who's not watching. Today there is but a few people walking the streets. It's quiet, it's challenged. This being the oldest part of Vancouver nestled with next to the DTES, Chinatown, Downtown Offices and the gateway (via the Seabus) to the North Shore. The coffee shops I used to go to are either closed or open only for takeout. Fluevog shoes, closed and many businesses are boarded up. Like the Europe Hotel which has always fascinated me but I never went inside. The stores next to it are boarded up with fresh painted murals of Canada's newfound heroes. The Women that are now our public figures for conveying the important messages everyday. The front line workers that put their best efforts to do what they can to help and keep those affected as safe as they can. While we wait for a cure, this is how our city has become. It's not negative, it's just a new look at how we have to live or lives. I for one am hoping for a bright future and remain positive that there will be that light at the end of this seemingly unending tunnel. Stay safe everyone.
Gastown seems to be Vancouver's nightlife hub. Also nice to walk around in the day. You can easily find good lunch deals, happy hours, dinner and drinks here. I walked by a good amount of coffee shops too. The cobble stone sidewalks and the twinkling holiday lights was a romantic backdrop on some parts of my walk exploring this area. Gassy Jack's statue is here and the Gastown Steam Clock can be found on a corner. I look forward to my return and spending more time here. I met cool people here. Mel M Yelp 18:17
Gasy Jack! That's all you need to know about Gastown. Just kidding there is much more than the Gasy Jack statue but he's a good focal point. The steam clock is a major tourist attraction. It is a beautiful clock that will let out steam and a whistle every hour I believe. The face of the clock has delicate details and their national flower is laid all around it. We didn't get to see it spout steam on the hour but it was still great to see it. I really enjoyed this historical part of the city. The buildings were my favorite part. I don't know what about the old brick architecture that intrigues me so much but it's beautiful. It's rare to see this in San Diego, so being able to enjoy it in Vancouver was a nice change of pace. The block is lined with restaurants, bars and shops. The hop on hop off bus has a stop here if you decide to use it. We took public transit all around the city with no issues. Plenty of metro stations around and the sky train is quick. Overall this is a good spot to visit as well, I would recommend eating her for dinner or lunch.
Gastown is one of my favorite small walking neighborhoods. Historical area of Vancouver. Lots of brick buildings. From historical buildings, shops, restaurants, bars, breweries, landmarks, and many other things to do. My favorites were the brick sidewalks, Hotel Europe (slim flat building), and the statues (Steam Clock, Gassy Jack & Angel of Victory) Great area to take pictures of the Vancouver Lookout. Meter parking in the area. Very easy to walk. Great place to take a stroll.
Gastown is one of the oldest towns in Vancouver dating back to the 19th century. Per our bus tour guide, the name was coined for a ship captain that had "gas" issues. True story! The most famous landmark is the steam clock which attracts so many tourists. We took a stroll to this area on a rainy Saturday night since it was down the street from our hotel. Most of the shops are closed by 9pm and that's considered being open "late". I was hoping to pick up last minute souvenirs but everything was practically closed. Some restaurants were still open late. I didn't find any that I wanted to try in this part of town. This area is great for sightseeing if there are no tourists swarming in from the cruise ships. I really like the old town architecture with the cobblestone pavement. You can see the Vancouver Lookout from here. I wished I was able to spend more time in Gastown. The area is gorgeous at night with all lights. It's great for capturing some photos or just walk around. Until we meet again.
Gastown is kind of touristy. But every city does needs an area for touristy area. Gastown serves that purpose well. A stroll around the area on a nice day can be quite enjoyable. There are numerous cafes, restaurants and shops to browse and chill. A lot of interesting buildings if you are into taking photos. I always try to be down in the area whenever I visit Vancouver to spend a few hours wandering around a little.
Historical part of Vancouver. Basically the oldest part of the city. Named after "gassy" Jack Deighton, but don't say that too loud in the modern era. Apparently he did some (by modern standards) bad stuff. They toppled his statue in February 2022. Look for the weird mound to the SW corner of Powell/Water and Carrall/Alexander (ie Maple Tree Square). They try to keep this old district as historic looking as possible. Roads are will made of brick, and the pedestrian barriers are old school posts and chains. Some of the buildings are newer, but they keep the old historical facades. Actually has a nice 19th century feel with a bit of imagination. Food is overpriced, and the streets are filled with hordes of tourists during the cruise ship season (summer months). Nice lively feel. Be sure to visit the famous steam clock (spoiler - it is actually electrically powered, but belches steam to keep the tourists happy), and pop by the Lamplighter Pub (officially Vancouver's oldest pub, but I think the Cambie pub nearby is technically older) for a beer. read more
3 years ago
Love this quaint area with plenty of public parking, cobble stone streets, and great shops and restaurants to walk around and try! If you need souvenirs, this is the place to go! I have gotten a shirt here before and this time I found a nice sea green hat. There are many other things I was tempted to buy but had to hold myself back! Kitsune is a great restaurant cafe to stop by! read more
I visited this place both in summer and winter and it was pleasant both times. Walking gastown area is very nice; with lots of souvenir shops and restaurants to go to. You also have a nice view of the mountains and ocean. Scenic and historic at the same time. read more
Spend a few touristy hours walking the bustling streets, drink local beer chilling at the vigorous bars. Burn off the brew walking the historic cobblestone streets, watch for some sea lions, pause to listen to the steam clock and check the time to head back home. read more
Gastown was one of the neighborhoods to visit on my trip to Vancouver. There were a lot of interesting stores, and many coffee shops and bars. This area is kinda hippyish, touristy, and modern yet the buildings and architecture both have a very historical and classical look. The sidewalks are all stone blocks that adds to the feel. The neighborhood isn't very big, perhaps about several blocks from the train station, and walking farther leads you into the ultra sketchy Chinatown. We walked around for an hour just taking in the scenery and window shopping. Gastown's notable landmark is the Steam Clock, which was fell short of my expectations. Overall, this is a nice neighborhood to walk around in. You really feel like you're in a different city. The only downfall is the exceedingly expensive parking at $4 per 30 minutes. read more
A cool area, which I believe was once a less desirable part of town (decades ago) has now become one of the most trendy, sought-after locales in the city center. Full of restaurants and cafes, boutique shops and specialty stores, Gastown has truly emerged from its early artist roots and moved into a place for hipsters and tourists to flock to. It's still relatively cool, despite the constant wafting of smoked marijuana clouds in the air, and worth a visit or walk through, maybe a coffee or a meal shared among friends. read more
6 years ago
Didn't spend too much time here except to see the clock and walk around a bit. I was too afraid of falling into the wrong neighbourhood to explore further, but if I was with friends I would've loved to see more! A nice collection of shops on cobblestone streets and flowers all around. read more
3 years ago
One of my favorite places to visit in Vancouver & a place where you can get little gifts for the low. Parking can be funny & don't leave nothing just put in the open in your vehicle, but you shouldn't do that anywhere you go. read more
2 years ago
2 years ago
I am all for the community, but what is a community without people? In this day and age of Covid-19 and social distancing it's something that has been redefined in the past few months here in Canada and around the world. Gastown has always been a place for tourism, history, culture and various sights, sounds and smells that permeate this community. From tourist shops, talent agencies, The Old Spaghetti Factory and other wonderful restaurants diners and clubs that lined this strip. The SteamClock which still whistles every hour regardless of who's watching and more recently who's not watching. Today there is but a few people walking the streets. It's quiet, it's challenged. This being the oldest part of Vancouver nestled with next to the DTES, Chinatown, Downtown Offices and the gateway (via the Seabus) to the North Shore. The coffee shops I used to go to are either closed or open only for takeout. Fluevog shoes, closed and many businesses are boarded up. Like the Europe Hotel which has always fascinated me but I never went inside. The stores next to it are boarded up with fresh painted murals of Canada's newfound heroes. The Women that are now our public figures for conveying the important messages everyday. The front line workers that put their best efforts to do what they can to help and keep those affected as safe as they can. While we wait for a cure, this is how our city has become. It's not negative, it's just a new look at how we have to live or lives. I for one am hoping for a bright future and remain positive that there will be that light at the end of this seemingly unending tunnel. Stay safe everyone. read more
5 years ago
Gastown seems to be Vancouver's nightlife hub. Also nice to walk around in the day. You can easily find good lunch deals, happy hours, dinner and drinks here. I walked by a good amount of coffee shops too. The cobble stone sidewalks and the twinkling holiday lights was a romantic backdrop on some parts of my walk exploring this area. Gassy Jack's statue is here and the Gastown Steam Clock can be found on a corner. I look forward to my return and spending more time here. I met cool people here. Mel M Yelp 18:17 read more
Gasy Jack! That's all you need to know about Gastown. Just kidding there is much more than the Gasy Jack statue but he's a good focal point. The steam clock is a major tourist attraction. It is a beautiful clock that will let out steam and a whistle every hour I believe. The face of the clock has delicate details and their national flower is laid all around it. We didn't get to see it spout steam on the hour but it was still great to see it. I really enjoyed this historical part of the city. The buildings were my favorite part. I don't know what about the old brick architecture that intrigues me so much but it's beautiful. It's rare to see this in San Diego, so being able to enjoy it in Vancouver was a nice change of pace. The block is lined with restaurants, bars and shops. The hop on hop off bus has a stop here if you decide to use it. We took public transit all around the city with no issues. Plenty of metro stations around and the sky train is quick. Overall this is a good spot to visit as well, I would recommend eating her for dinner or lunch. read more
Gastown is one of my favorite small walking neighborhoods. Historical area of Vancouver. Lots of brick buildings. From historical buildings, shops, restaurants, bars, breweries, landmarks, and many other things to do. My favorites were the brick sidewalks, Hotel Europe (slim flat building), and the statues (Steam Clock, Gassy Jack & Angel of Victory) Great area to take pictures of the Vancouver Lookout. Meter parking in the area. Very easy to walk. Great place to take a stroll. read more
Gastown is one of the oldest towns in Vancouver dating back to the 19th century. Per our bus tour guide, the name was coined for a ship captain that had "gas" issues. True story! The most famous landmark is the steam clock which attracts so many tourists. We took a stroll to this area on a rainy Saturday night since it was down the street from our hotel. Most of the shops are closed by 9pm and that's considered being open "late". I was hoping to pick up last minute souvenirs but everything was practically closed. Some restaurants were still open late. I didn't find any that I wanted to try in this part of town. This area is great for sightseeing if there are no tourists swarming in from the cruise ships. I really like the old town architecture with the cobblestone pavement. You can see the Vancouver Lookout from here. I wished I was able to spend more time in Gastown. The area is gorgeous at night with all lights. It's great for capturing some photos or just walk around. Until we meet again. read more
10 years ago
Gastown is kind of touristy. But every city does needs an area for touristy area. Gastown serves that purpose well. A stroll around the area on a nice day can be quite enjoyable. There are numerous cafes, restaurants and shops to browse and chill. A lot of interesting buildings if you are into taking photos. I always try to be down in the area whenever I visit Vancouver to spend a few hours wandering around a little. read more
You will stand in front of the steaming club waiting for it to charge and watching the ball drop and go back up again. Steam winds blow the whistle every 4 1/2 minutes and on the hour it shines. Parts cost $42,000 and it weighs over 2 tons. read more
If there is ever a neighbourhood that is in every Vancouver guide, it would be Gastown. It's well known for being vibrant, busy, and filled with a lot of interesting nooks to visit and tastes to try. I think it's a great spot to visit a few times but I'm going to warn everyone to try and go without 3 cruise ships of tourists flooding the area. It's a very old neighbourhood that reaches back into the 1800s... you can tell by the cobble stones that pockmark the walk ways and streets. For those who where heels... you've been warned. It's not an easy trek. There's a colourful history to the name... actually it's unfortunate. It's named for a seaboat captain, Capt. 'Gassy' Jack, and his ... scent... more like stench. Unfortunate but true. You can't make this stuff up. So Gastown is the bridge between the more grittier East side of Hasting and Chinatown with the more clean city blocks of West end. It has a lot of character with a lot of older buildings preserved and yet it's completely down the road of gentrification. Here you'll find your usual corporate brands but there's a lot of great little boutiques of luxury items to knick knacks and an incredible amount of places to drink and eat. I would say it's probably one of the biggest spots to find good food and cocktails. The one thing that is a bit nutty and can take away from the experience is the historical roads are just crazy and smaller walk areas when the flood of cruise tourists arrive. I do not recommend driving here during peak times which always seem be after 7 am to 7 pm. Parking is near impossible to find and trying to not run over someone is like a game of Frogger. For those who are new to driving or driving on the left side... probably not the area to go as signage of 'one ways' and street names are often a 'where in the fk is Waldo?' moments. The other mild annoyance is disorganized tours that clog entire massive sections. I get that tourism is fantastic for the city but I almost feel that they've got to take a closer look at how they're run cause too many times you have an elderly tourist not understanding basic rules literally standing in the middle of the road to take a picture. Anyhow, there are a few key notable things here... the steam clock, the gassy Jack statue, and Vancouver lookout. The first two are free and you can claim you've 'been there done that'. They're not quite notable and if anything, the Vancouverites I spoke to kinda held a bit of a disdain for both. BUT they're novelty. As for places to eat... I didnt find any strongly remarkable places here BUT the coffee spots are just so good. Timbertrain was one of my favourite places in all of Vancouver. Revolver is another great stop as is Nemesis. You cannot go wrong with any of those 3. read more
OH MY GOODNESS. Gastown is so far my favorite place in Vancouver. This place was great because there was so many shops, coffee places, restaurants and bars to check out! We were only able to spend 5 hours here, but damn it just wasn't enough! And boy do I wish I could have had a chance to try the other restaurants in the area! read more
12 years ago
Definitely one of the tourist attractions~ Gastown is big, at least a few blocks. Many gift shops and restaurants/bars. Great place to eat/drink & shop!! It was very interesting to check out those historic buildings. They have their own characters. read more
This is a tourist place. Its trendy and definitely nicer than 15 or 20 years ago. There is a famous clock in Gastown which is the icon of this tourist spot. Woodward's used to be here but now its a condo named Woodward's. Its quite lively and gives you that vibe its a higher end hipster place to be in. I personally like a nice walk here. As well, this is a like foodie paradise here. Most of the stores here are restaurants business. read more
5 years ago
Gastown is a spot to check out for new visitors. Has a famous clock that lets out steam every hour. Is one of the only clocks to still run on steam! Pretty cool stuff! read more
9 years ago
Gastown holds a special place in my heart. I love this fun little neighbourhood so much. Why do I love Gastown so much? Well, I'm happy to tell you. + Their restaurants. The restaurants in Gastown are hip, fun, and tasty. A few of my faves: Tacofino, Gringos, The Flying Pig, Salt Tasting Room, The Alibi Room, my list feels endless... + Their nightlife. It's a completely different crowd than the Granville Strip. I find that the Granville Strip attracts the freshly turned 19 year olds and it's a bit of a hot mess, but Gastown attracts more of a mature fun crowd, which I'm definitely more into. From The Alexander, The Lamplighter, The Met, there are so many fun bars in this area to hop around to. My suggestion: try to go a bit earlier to avoid paying cover. Anyone that comes in after 9 to most of these places will charge cover. Or get on one of the many guest lists. + Compared to Yaletown, Gastown is cooler and cheaper. Not saying that I don't love Yaletown (because I do), but I would much prefer to spend my weekend evenings at one of the bars in Gastown. + There is so much history here. It's one of the oldest parts of Vancouver. Between the brick exterior buildings, cobble stone streets, and the heritage buildings, you can just feel the historical vibes when you walk down the street. + This is a bit of a touristy area since it's so close to Downtown and the Waterfront station, so there are plenty of tourist shops, souvenir shops, and fun boutiques around as well. + I'd recommend using public transit in this area. Since it is in a touristy area, parking is a bit more on the expensive side. I paid $22 on a Saturday once for about 6 hours. Yikes. Gastown is a must for anyone coming through to Vancouver. With all the amazing restaurants, fun night life, and beautiful architecture, there is just so much to see and do. read more
My impression of Gastown at 8-9am in the morning on Sunday is a bit blah. It's kinda dirty and grungy in the area, reminds me a bit of NYC in some areas. I guess that's what gives this neighborhood its character. I'm sure when it's noon and beyond, the neighborhood would come alive and become more bustling. The Gastown I experienced was quiet and full of bums (especially down this 1 street). It was interesting to walk by the sites -- steam clock, maple tree plaza, see Woodwards, etc. We were able to visit Nesters and JJ Bean since these places were open, but other than that -- didn't get to see the "Gastown" that everyone talks about in its full spectrum of eccentricity. read more
8 years ago
Cool area to check out in Vancouver! It's really pretty, numerous shops & restaurants, clock tower is nearby, etc. I enjoyed spending my afternoon walking around the area. We stopped at a restaurant and had a beer outside. It's very pretty! Definitely worth checking out. read more
9 years ago
Another interesting and beautiful part of Vancouver. Many stores and restaurants to choose from. Has a nice old world charm vibe to it. Loved the steam clock. read more
This area of town has a ton of places...restaurants, shops, bars and other places to check out. Its minutes (less than half mile) from downtown Vancouver and one of the oldest towns. It's only a few blocks so it's not a huge area. It's kind of cool to walk around with the cobblestone street that's maintained pretty well considering there were a lot homeless on the side of the street which I didn't really expect. It has an interesting historical feel but I also felt it was kind of grungy too. I saw tourists walking around and also some of the poverty stricken as well. They have a steam clock that was kind of neat. I saw it from the distance a couple blocks down. I believe it goes off every 15 minutes. You should definitely wait for it if your nearby. It's definitely a must see since it seemed to have it all...old and new, touristy cheap stuff to overpriced furniture. There were some cute boutique shops and tons of shops selling all the same souvenirs. This area is where most of the good restaurants and bars I bookmarked on yelp were located. I tried one place in the day, Rodney's Oyster House which was really good. I had at least a dozen places I wanted to try but to be honest I was a bit too scared to come back at night to try some of the places I wanted to go to like the Flying Pig and didn't have any other times during the day I could go. I'm sure I missed out on some good places and some good food. Next time, I'll try to go in the day and try a couple other places definitely in the daytime. They say this area has a good nightlife but I didn't feel completely safe in the day let alone walk around here at night. I will definitely say don't venture too far east out of the Gastown area or you'll be in the ghetto. You can definitely tell that you ventured too far by your surroundings. You should definitely check it out and I'm sure if you're not a paranoid scaredy cat like me you will probably enjoy it! read more
8 years ago
Cute historic neighborhood! The steam clock is pretty cool, and there are lots of restaurants and shops in the area. Also close to the water and walking distance to Stanley Park. Definitely check it out if you're visiting Vancouver! read more
7 years ago
Historic portion of downtown Vancouver. Google Gassy Jack and learn the history of the start of Vancouver including the Great Fire. Stroll down Water Street, and check out the steam clock located at Water & Cambie Streets. read more
9 years ago
My boyfriend and I went Vancouver for a night when we visited couple friends in WA state. We both never been to Canada so it was a nice little getaway for us. Before coming to Canada, I got on Yelp to do a research of where to go on a time- limit trip, Gastown was on the list for sure. My first impression of Gastown was actually a surprise, since we both got a little bit tipsy before heading out, we didn't exactly have a set plan, because we arrived to Vancouver later than scheduled so we already missed what we originally planned. So let fate decided for us, we just hopped on a bus and go. When we got off the bus, I thought this area looks like something I saw on pictures and quickly realized it was the famous Gastown clock. The place is definitely touristy and perfect for it. It was night time and somewhat cold, the Chirstmas lights decor and smoke coming out of the clock really set the mood (it was new year eve when we were there). It was a short walk, and we are glad we didn't take a car, because parking seems very troublesome, and we wouldn't want to be driving and being drunk. The next day we came back during day time, better view of the surrounding but not as epic smoking view of the clock like as nice. Overall, I wish I could go back and visit Vancouver again in near future. read more
The cutest neighborhood! I almost missed coming here because I was told to stay away from Hastings street. I only went there on Friday night so not sure how it is during the day but the night life is awesome. The light posts are so unique and the brick streets and decorative lights in the trees created such a cool vibe. It was raining when we went but just lightly so it kinda made the streets shimmer. It almost seemed like a movie set, it was so perfect. All the restaurants, clubs, and bars are so unique. I can't wait to come back! Gastown is a must!!! read more
One of the oldest part of downtown Vancouver, Gastown is also the coolest part that you should check out! Named after a "Gassy" man who opened the salon here that sparked the area's growth, this neighborhood is a quirky, nostalgic view either day or night. This area also has some cool restaurants and shops to check out so that can be also an incentive to go, but no matter what, you should definitely check out the iconic steam clock that is the symbol of Gastown. Maybe if you are lucky or timed right, you will see it tote its steam! Anyway, parking can be a logistic (and pricy) nightmare so consider using public transportation but definitely make your way to check this old-time downtown out! read more
I don't really see how Gastown is that dangerous like people say. We were there are night, on a nice night out, and there were some of your typical unique people, but nothing more than any other city. I would say it has less questionable people than your average city, actually. You'll be just fine, especially if you're observant. There were a lot of other people out too. Do what you normally do in a city and you'll be fine: stay alert, don't look down at your phone, and don't be an obvious tourist. It is a really cute area. The steam clock is beautiful and really cool to see in person. I love the vintage feel of the bricks and the street lights. read more
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