The City of Vancouver has been named everything from Best Destination in Canada (Travel Weekly) to second best city in the world (Telegraph Travel Awards) to World’s Healthiest Place to Live (Time Magazine) and a lot of that has to do with its residents, businesses, restaurants, services and attractions.
And while international accolades are certainly noteworthy and appreciated, it’s the insiders, such as Vancouver Courier readers, who can truly offer great advice on the best of the best this city has to offer.
That’s just one of the reasons the Courier’s Stars of Vancouver Readers’ Choice Awards continue to be so anticipated year after year.
This annual best-of compilation highlights not only long-established businesses, attractions and services, but also recognizes the new kids on the block, including the hottest new restaurants and food trucks, festivals, art galleries, décor shops dedicated to style and design, and clothing and accessory stores offering the latest fashion trends.
So whether you’re a long-time resident or new arrival, let Stars of Vancouver 2015 act as your guide to some of this city’s deep-rooted favourites, best-kept secrets and hidden gems.
ARTS + CULTURE
Art Gallery/Studio
1. Vancouver Art Gallery
2. Ayden Gallery
3. Morris and Helen Belkin Art Gallery
Classical Music Ensemble
1. Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
2. Musica Intima
3. UBC Symphony Orchestra
Dance Company
1. Arts Umbrella
2. Ballet BC
3. Goh Ballet
Opera/Choral Group
1. Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir
2. Vancouver Opera
3. UBC Opera
Theatre Company
1. Arts Club
2. Carousel Theatre for Young People
3. Bard on the Beach
Live Music Venue
1. Commodore Ballroom
2. The Belmont Bar (previously The Cellar)
3. Orpheum Theatre
Event Venue
1. Rogers Arena
2. Commodore Ballroom
3. BC Place
Local Blogger
1. Jessica Luxe
2. Miss604
3. Follow Me Foodie
Community Centre
1. Kerrisdale Community Centre
2. Kitsilano Community Centre
3. Trout Lake Community Centre
Place to Take the Kids
1. Stanley Park
2. Science World
3. Granville Island
Street Festival
1. Car Free Day
2. Kerrisdale Days
3. Khatsahlano
Tourist Attraction
1. Stanley Park
2. Granville Island
3. PNE
Neighbourhood
1. Kitsilano
2. Kerrisdale Village
3. Mount Pleasant
Date Night Spot
1. Granville Island
2. Cheescake etc.
3. Gastown
Nightclub
1. The Roxy
2. Venue
3. Celebrities Nightclub
FOOD + DRINK
Bakery/Patisserie
1. Moore’s Bakery & Delicatessen
2. Beaucoup Bakery
3. Faubourg
Bar/Pub
1. Shark Club
2. Luke’s Corner Bar & Kitchen
3. Celebrities Nightclub
Breakfast/Brunch Spot
1. White Spot
2. Medina Cafe
3. Catch 122 Cafe Bistro
Burger Spot
1. White Spot
2. Romer’s Burger Bar
3. Vera’s Burger Shack
Butcher
1. Windsor Meat Co.
2. Jackson’s Meat & Deli
3. The Butcher
Cafe/Coffee Shop
1. Legato Tea & Coffee
2. Starbucks
3. JJ Bean
Cheese & Charcuterie/Deli Store
1. Benton Brothers Fine Cheese
2. Oyama Sausage Co.
3. les amis du FROMAGE
Ethnic Food Store
1. West Valley Market
2. T&T Supermarket
3. Parthenon Supermarket
Farmers Market
1. Kerrisdale Village Farmers Market
2. Trout Lake Farmers Market
3. Kitsilano Farmers Market
Food Cart
1. JAPADOG
2. Tacofino
3. Re-Up BBQ
Dessert
1. Faubourg
2. Cheescake etc.
3. Thierry Chocolaterie Patisserie Cafe
Ice Cream/Gelato Shop
1. Bella Gelateria
2. Earnest Ice Cream
3. Mario’s Gelati
Microbrewery
1. Brassneck Brewery
2. 33 Acres Brewing Co.
3. Granville Island Brewing
Patio
1. Joe Fortes
2. Tap & Barrel
3. Bridges Restaurant
Pizza Place
1. Panago Pizza
2. Don’t Argue!
3. Nicli Antica Pizzeria
Sandwich
1. Meat & Bread
2. Bean Brothers Cafe
3. Legato Tea & Coffee
Sushi
1. Ajisai Sushi Bar
2. Shiro Japanese Restaurant
3. Miku
Child Friendly Restaurant
1. White Spot
2. Milestones
3. Denny’s
Chinese Restaurant
1. Kirin Restaurant
2. Café Gloucester
3. Dynasty Seafood
Dim Sum
1. Kirin Restaurant
2. Dynasty Seafood Restaurant
3. Fraser Court Seafood
Fine Dining Restaurant
1. Bishop’s
2. Blue Water Cafe & Raw Bar
3. Black + Blue
Gluten Free Friendly
1. The Naam
2. The Wallflower Modern Diner
3. Lemonade Bakery
Greek Restaurant
1. Stepho’s Souvlaki Greek Taverna
2. Kalamata Greek Taverna
3. Kerkis Taverna
Indian/South Asian Restaurant
1. Vij’s
2. Rangoli
3. Chutney Villa
Italian Restaurant
1. Ask for Luigi
2. Italian Kitchen
3. The Bibo
Japanese Restaurant
1. Miku
2. Kingyo Izakaya
3. Shiro Japanese Restaurant
Late Night Dining
1. Cactus Club Cafe
2. Congee Noodle House
3. Guu Izakaya
Latin American Restaurant
1. La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop
2. La Mezcaleria
3. Chicha
Middle Eastern Restaurant
1. Nuba
2. Afghan Horseman
3. East is East
New Restaurant
1. Ask for Luigi
2. Gyoza Bar & Ramen
3. Sushi Bar Maumi
Seafood Restaurant
1. The Boathouse
2. Coast
3. Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
Tapas Restaurant
1. España
2. The Sardine Can
3. Tapas 23
Thai Restaurant
1. The Thai House
2. SalaThai
3. Bob Likes Thai Food
Vegetarian/Vegan Restaurant
1. The Acorn
2. The Naam
3. Graze
Working Lunch
1. Congee Noodle House
2. Banana Leaf
3. Meat & Bread
Gay Bar
1. Celebrities Nightclub
2. Oasis
3. The Pumpjack Pub
STYLE + HOME
Baby Store
1. Local: Hip Baby
Chain: Gap
2. Wee Ones Reruns
3. Lusso Baby
Bridal Store
1. Bisou Bridal
2. Blush Bridal
3. Bello Wedding World
Eyewear Store
1. The Optical Boutique
2. Skylight Optical
3. Hakim Optical
Florist
1. Scentrepiece Florist
2. The Flower Factory
3. Garden Party Flowers
Gift Shop
1. Front & Company
2. The Cross Decor & Design
3. Fine Finds Boutique
Hardware Store
1. The Kerrisdale Lumber Co. Ltd
2. Home Depot
3. Blight’s Home Hardware
Home Appliance Store
1. Trail Appliances Store
2. Home Depot
3. Future Shop
Home Decor Store
1. The Cross Decor & Design
2. Chintz & Company
3. HomeSense
Kitchenware Store
1. Ming Wo Cookware
2. Cookworks
3. Gourmet Warehouse
Pet Store
1. Bosley’s by Pet Valu
2. PetSmart
3. Tisol Pet Nutrition & Supply Stores
Shoe Store
1. Browns Shoes
2. Aldo
3. Town Shoes (previously Freedmans)
Shopping Centre
1. Pacific Centre
2. Oakridge Centre
3. Kingsgate Mall
Jewellery Store
1. Tiffany & Co.
2. Blue Ruby
3. Maison Birks
Men’s Clothing Store
1. Harry Rosen
2. Moores Clothing For Men
3. Roden Gray
Women’s Clothing Store
1. Aritzia
2. JQ Clothing
3. Holt Renfrew
Fashion Accessory Store
1. Blue Ruby
2. Forever 21
3. Front & Company
Vintage/Consignment Store
1. Salvation Army
2. Turnabout Luxury Resale
3. Front & Company
Sporting Apparel Store
1. Mountain Equipment Co-op
2. Sport Chek
3. Lululemon Athletica
Toy Store
1. Local: Granville Island Toy Company
Chain: Toys “R” Us
2. Kaboodles Toy Store
3. Dilly Dally
Furniture Store
1. The Cross Decor & Design
2. BoConcept
3. Inspiration Furniture
Garden Store
1. David Hunter Garden Centers
2. Art Knapp Plantland
3. Home Depot
Kids Clothing Store
1. Local: Wee Ones Reruns
Chain: Gap
2. Hip Baby
3. Crocodile Baby
LIFESTYLE + SERVICES
Art & Craft Supplies
1. Local: Opus Framing & Art Supplies
Chain: Michaels
2. 4 Cats Art Studio
3. DeSerres
Beauty Therapy
1. OptaDerm Skin Care
2. Bombay Eyebrow
3. Absolute Spa
Bike Shop
1. Bikes For All
2. Our Community Bikes
3. Denman Bikes
Car Dealership
1. Brian Jessel BMW
2. OpenRoad Audi
3. Dueck on Marine
Car Share/Co-Op
1. Car2Go
2. Zipcar
3. Modo
Caterer
1. The Lazy Gourmet
2. The Dirty Apron
3. Quince
Chiropractor
1. MSK Health and Performance Clinic
2. Jointworks Chiropractic
3. Backs in Action Wellness Centre
Continuing Studies Education
1. University of British Columbia (UBC)
2. Vancouver Community College (VCC)
3. Langara College
Denture Clinic
1. Victoria Drive Denture Clinic
2. Main Street Denture Clinic
3. Downtown Denture Centre
Dry Cleaner
1. Busy Bee Gold Dry Cleaners
2. Kerrisdale Cleaners
3. Save On Dry Cleaning
Environmentally Responsible Business
1. Whole Foods Market
2. Trafalgars Bistro
3. Choices Markets
Grocery Store
1. Choices Markets
2. West Valley Produce
3. Stong’s
Hair Salon
1. Salon Haze
2. Adesso Hair Design
3. On the Fringe Hair Design
Health & Fitness Centre/Gym
1. Steve Nash Fitness World
2. Club 16 Trevor Linden Fitness Centre & Gym
3. Urban Fitness
Health & Wellness Store
1. Reflex Supplements
2. Finlandia Pharmacy & Health Centre
3. Choices Markets
Hotel
1. Fairmont Pacific Rim
2. Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
3. OPUS Vancouver
Liquor Store
1. BC Liquor Stores
2. Legacy Liquor Store
3. Liberty Wine Merchants
Nail Bar
1. Pure Nail Bar
2. Broadway Nail Spa
3. Posy Nail Spa
Naturopath
1. Integrative Naturopathic Medical Centre
2. Vitalia Health Care
3. Sage Clinic
Physiotherapist
1. Physio Room
2. Treloar Physiotherapy Clinic
3. Kitsilano Physiotherapy
Preschool/Daycare
1. Extra Steps Preschool
2. Britannia Preschool
3. Marpole Bilingual Montessori
Private School
1. Crofton House School
2. St. George’s School
3. Talmud Torah
Produce Store
1. West Valley Produce
2. Choices Markets
3. Donald’s Markets
Registered Massage Therapist (RMT)
1. Mai Jackson, Physio Room
2. Evgeny Morozov, Backs in Action Wellness Centre
3. Julia Jacobsen, Physio Room
Seniors Care/ Support Services
1. Driving Miss Daisy
2. Nurse Next Door
3. Kitsilano Neighbourhood House
Seniors Residences
1. Tapestry Retirement Communities
2. Crofton Manor
3. Cavell Gardens
Shoe Repair Store
1. Tony’s Shoe Repair
2. The Right Shoe
3. Gold Star Shoe Rebuilders
Spa
1. Spa Utopia
2. Willow Stream Spa
3. Sun Health Centre
Sporting Equipment Store
1. Mountain Equipment Co-Op
2. Sport Check
3. Fitness Town
Vet
1. West King Edward Animal Clinic
2. Atlas Animal Hospital
3. Granville Island Animal Hospital
Yoga Studio
1. YYoga
2. Moksha Yoga
3. Semperviva
