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How to spend 48 hours in Lower Lonsdale, Vancouver

The up-and-coming hub of Vancouver that most travellers overlook.

Tourists in Vancouver huddle around the hubs of Gastown and Downtown, venturing into Stanley Park and Granville Island. But just a skip across the water to North Vancouver is a cool neighbourhood that flies under the radar. Here’s how to spend 48 hours in Lonsdale.

Day one

7am

Freshen up in one of the shared en suites at the historic Victorian Hotel, a hidden gem of Vancouver’s hotel scene.

a look inside the room at The Victorian, Vancouver
Inside the restored Victorian hotel.

Built in 1898 during Canada’s Klondike Gold Rush, The Victorian has been restored to offer travellers a unique stay similar to what you’d find in The Rocks, Sydney/Warrane.

the hotel exterior of TheVictorian, Vancouver
The Victorian was built in 1898. (Image: Francis Lai Photography)

8am

For a quick bite to eat, walk to Nemesis Coffee in Gastown and order the tiramisu croissant or a pistachio-crumbed pastry snail, with a coffee or matcha latte.

9am

Make your way to Waterfront Station and buy a SeaBus ticket for Lonsdale Quay, North Vancouver. Ferries run every 15 minutes and the ride is brief.

9:30am

Once in Lower Lonsdale, a neighbourhood off the typical tourist trail, follow the boardwalk to The Polygon Gallery, with its striking geometric facade.

the exterior of Polygon Gallery
Polygon Gallery has an unmissable facade. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

A drawcard for Vancouverites, the ground floor is a store selling a ridiculously good selection of children’s toys, books and homewares.

the gift shop at Polygon Gallery
Visit the gift shop on the ground floor. (Image: Destination BC/VancityWild)

Upstairs is the exhibition space where you will find art that pushes boundaries, such as the recent Anti-Icon: Apokalypsis – a remarkable look at identity and gender.

the art exhibitions at Polygon Gallery
Explore the gallery’s art exhibitions. (Image: Destination BC/VancityWild)

11am

If you’re craving a healthy lunch, at Buddha-full the menu overflows with rainbow salads, acai bowls and oat-milk smoothies. If you’re not hungry, order a ‘warm tonic’ – my choice is the 5 Moons Chai with ginger.

12:30pm

Follow the nearby colourful laneway to Wild Honey, one of a handful of vintage shops that gives Lower Lonsdale its character. Glowing with amber light, this tidy den is lined with racks of ’90s tees, jeans and leather jackets. A stroll away is Hunter & Hare, a hybrid store stocking a mix of vintage and consignment pieces, as well as small-batch homewares and jewellery from local artists. Since opening in 2019, co-founder Jo Bousaleh says she’s enjoyed watching the neighbourhood grow while still maintaining its close-knit feel. “People come here not just for the views or restaurants, but because it feels real and lived-in," Jo says. “It’s a place where you get to know the shop owners, the artists, and the community, and that’s something that makes it stand out." If you’re more into basketball caps and ice hockey jerseys, track down Secret Attic Vintage.

a hand holding stacked goods from Hunter & Hare, Vancouver
Goods from Hunter & Hare.

3:15pm

Catch a SeaBus back to the city, with a warming London ‘fog’ (earl grey latte) from Nemesis Coffee, Polygon, in hand.

London ‘fog’ and cookie at Nemesis Coffee
A London ‘fog’ and cookie at Nemesis Coffee. (Image: Jennifer Ennion)

3:30pm

Also making its mark on this authentic neighbourhood is Cream Pony, a doughnut shop owned by a mother-daughter team. Laced with the sweet smell of icing sugar, co-owner Ali Finn says the doughnuts are handcrafted every day, with classic flavours evoking childhood memories.

the Cream Pony exterior
Pop by the Cream Pony doughnut shop.

“Consistency is key for us," Ali says. “We aim to keep our menu simple and ensure that each bite is perfect." It’s a tie for the most popular flavour: the Jelly Bomb, with a real raspberry jam filling and a sugar coating, is requested as often as the Apple Fritty, a doughnut with fresh apples and cinnamon.

handcrafted sweet treats on display at the Cream Pony
Indulge in handcrafted sweet treats.

6pm

After freshening up, walk to Gastown’s Pourhouse, a stylish gastropub with British vibes.

a chef prepping meals at Gastown’s Pourhouse
A chef preparing meals at Pourhouse. (Image: Christopher Giannakos)

The 115-year-old former boot company building gets busy, so book a table and dine on Scotch eggs and beef tartare, washing it down with a gin cocktail.

cocktails at Gastown’s Pourhouse
The stylish gastropub has British vibes. (Image: Christopher Giannakos)

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Day two

9am

Gastown may be tourist central but look closer and you’ll discover a postcode with quirky, unexpected offerings. One such place is Cafe Kitsune, a casual coffee bar and clothing store. The franchised cafe (of which there are multiple around the world) has streamlined Japanese vibes, despite starting as a music and fashion label in Paris.

10:30am

Enjoy a spot of shopping at Out & About boutique, a high-end Japanese fashion and homewares store – the ceramics are to die for. For a more affordable souvenir, visit The Paper Hound Bookshop, a well-ordered second-hand bookstore. On the same street (W Pender), there is also Macleod’s Books, a packed emporium that will transport ’80s kids into The Never Ending Story.

12:30pm

Return to Lower Lonsdale for lunch at Jam Cafe. Famous for its comfort food, this buzzing location is big on sweet dishes, such as ‘The Fat Elvis Waffle’ with sugar-cured bacon and peanut butter drizzle.

2:30pm

If you opted for a savoury lunch, you can get a sweet fix at Earnest Ice Cream, with flavours including whiskey hazelnut and sweetcorn blueberry swirl.

3:15pm

Poke your head into the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver to admire Canadian Aboriginal sculptures, drawings and jewellery. The gallery is opposite Lonsdale Quay Market, a 1986 food hall that’s recently undergone renovations and trades crêpes, premium tea, gelato and pies.

a look inside the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver
Inside the Inuit Gallery of Vancouver. (Image: Jeff Weddell)

6pm

The SeaBus runs until 1am most days, giving you plenty of time to grab dinner and cocktails from The Shipyards before returning to The Victorian Hotel.

the bustling precinct at The Shipyards
The Shipyards is a busting precinct for foodies and live entertainment. (Image: Destination Vancouver/Vision Event Photography)

A working shipyard between 1906 and 1992, the precinct is now a hub of restaurants, live music and artisan markets. Dine at the night market in summer, or at Tap & Barrel, where you can stay well into the night munching on fried pickles and tuna burgers.

a woman dining pizza at The Shipyards
Al fresco dining at The Shipyards. (Image: Destination BC/VancityWild)

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12 grand journeys throughout North America

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    Discover North America’s epic adventures — from Route 66 and Alaska cruises to Hawai‘i road trips, NYC culture, Mexico trails and more.

    1. Route 66, the Main Street of America

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    Dubbed the Main Street of America, Route 66 radiates serious main character energy, cemented into popular culture through everything from John Steinbeck’s novel The Grapes of Wrath to the Disney Pixar film Cars. Spanning nearly 4000 kilometres from Chicago to Los Angeles, the historic highway celebrates its centenary next year, a timely invitation to take the mother of all road trips along the Mother Road. Allow two to three weeks to tackle the full length, or bite off a smaller chunk at either end, cruising the dramatic deserts of California or the more pastoral landscapes of Illinois, lined with neon-lit diners, retro gas stations and quirky roadside attractions.

    2. Mexico’s Día de los Muertos

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    You might know Oaxaca as the birthplace of mole and mezcal. But the state in southern Mexico is also where the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) began. Time your visit to coincide with the colourful holiday, on 1–2 November, which honours and celebrates loved ones who have passed away. Oaxaca is also Mexico’s Michelin-starred culinary capital, with 18 restaurants and a humble taco stand listed in the 2025 guide.

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    4. The USA’s music scene

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    If you’re a muso, chances are you’ve wanted to make a pilgrimage to the United States, the epicentre of so many beloved genres. Whether you’re head-banging your way around the Grunge Circuit in Seattle, chasing the twang of the pedal steel through Tennessee or bouncing between blues bars in the Mississippi Delta, the USA’s rich music culture has something that’ll strike a chord.

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    Hawai‘i is one of the most diverse US states to road trip around. Of the six major islands to visit, the Island of Hawai‘i packs in everything from the snowy summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa to black-sand beaches and lava fields frozen in the act of flowing forward. Change down a few gears on the island of O‘ahu, too, where you can find your own patch of sand on Waimanalo Beach. Visit poi and pineapple plantations. And hang ten on beginner-friendly waves on the North Shore.

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    Seeing Alaska from the sea allows you to cover a lot of distance quickly. This immersive frontier now beckons more than ever before with Explora Journeys adding the American state to its global destination portfolio. Best of all are the pre-and post-journey immersions that connect the luxury of a cruise onboard Explora III with the rugged grandeur of the Alaskan interior. UnCruise Adventures also weaves in access to remote national parks, legendary wildlife corridors and authentic cultural experiences on its Alaskan itineraries.

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    Download the icebergfinder.com map to better plan your road trip along Canada’s Iceberg Coast. The new highway, which has been nearly 25 years and CAD$1.1 billion in the making, threads through the country’s pleated coastlines around Quebec, Newfoundland, Labrador, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick before looping in the French islands of St Pierre and Miquelon. As well as chasing icebergs along Expedition 51, travellers will have the opportunity to engage with cultures that have thrived in the pristine provinces for thousands of years.

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    World-famous for its lobster, Nova Scotia is a Canadian province best savoured through its culinary clout shaped by sea and terroir. Bite into lobster rolls at historic Lunenburg’s Salt Shaker Deli & Inn and sip maple rum at Ironworks Distillery. Winery-hop around Wolfville’s rising vineyards (don’t miss Lightfoot & Wolfville). Take a maple syrup tour at Sugar Moon Farm near Earltown. And pull up a seat at waterfront Bar Sofia in Halifax, where Nova Scotia oysters aguachile arrive bright with cucumber, lime and pickled onion.

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    How To Spend 48 Hours In Lower Lonsdale, Vancouver