Secrets of the City: 40+ Hacks, Tips and Tricks for Making the Most of Life in Vancouver

Some locals seem to always be in the know about where to find the best of the best—the hottest deals, the coolest parties, the tastiest treats, the essential events and the sneakiest speakeasies. But here’s our inside scoop: and it’s not luck, it’s intel.

Fortunately for you, we hate gatekeeping, and here in our Secrets of the City guide we’re happily spilling the tricks, unspoken shortcuts and little loopholes to help you make the most of the good life in Vancouver.

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Secret #1: Sing for Your Supper

Grabbing a table at any of the locations of Crab Hot Lau is a great group activity, but here’s a tip hotter than chef Cherry Pham’s signature crab broth: the South Granville location has private karaoke rooms you can book out for parties of up to 60 (!) people. Name a better pairing than ho tay shrimp cake and your best rendition of “My Heart Will Go On.” We’ll wait. 2993 Granville St., crabhotlau.ca

Secret #2: Save on Your Pizza Dough

Downtown hot spot Nightingale will sell you balls of leftover pizza dough for just $2 each, so you can make your own pies at home. 1017 W Hastings St., hawknightingale.com

Secret #3: Answer the Call of This Slick Downtown Speakeasy

At first glance, Lions Pub is just your classic Irish-ish pub—meat pies, football on the telly, you know the drill. But step into the red phone booth in the back and you’ll discover a sexy speakeasy with a very different vibe. Call Me Back is velvet-draped and moody, a true cocktail lounge serving up well executed classics (the martini is tops), but it’s playful, too: the menu is designed to look like the pages of an old telephone book, and a statement wall mounted with vintage rotary and pay phones begs for interaction (as seen on the cover!). Ring-a-ding, indeed. 888 W Cordova St., @callmebacklounge

Secret #4: May We Recommend Starting Your Day by Going Crabbing off the Jericho Pier?

The pier at Jericho Beach is finally back open for business after years awaiting repairs, and we highly recommend taking advantage of the sweeping views of the skyline, ocean and mountains with an early morning crabbing sesh. Toss in your trap (after getting your licence, of course) and soak in the sunrise while you wait for your daily catch. (Grab a carafe of coffee and snacks from Beyond Bread on West 4th before heading down to really start the day right.) Jericho Beach Park, vancouver.ca

Secret #5: Dare to Dine with a Mystery Chef

The private Eluvian Instagram account claims to be a furniture store, but in-the-know foodies follow and DM an enigmatic chef for reservations to his dinners held at Strangefellows Brewing. There’s no menu, no dietary restrictions allowed, kids are charged double and the parade of plates that comes to your table could include anything from fresh milk buns with condensed milk and lime leaf to a whole deboned eel biting into a salted egg yolk. Adventure awaits! From $60 for five share plates. @eluvian_furniture

Secret #6: The Best Museum Gift Shop in Town

Though a ticket to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre is money well spent, you don’t need to hit the museum to access the very good gift shop. Locals know Foo Hung Curios as the spot for great gifts: Year of the Horse socks, dim sum candles, Hype Chocolate collabs (snag the White Rabbit bar!) and lucky cat bucket hats await. 168 E Pender St., foohungcurios.com

Secret #7: Host Your Own Film Fest

Instead of squishing all your friends onto the sofa for your annual holiday screening of Die Hard, consider renting out the Dunbar Theatre. Pricing starts from $250 per day and, yes, the popcorn is included (good thing, because Guillermo del Toro himself has proclaimed the ’corn here to be the best he’s ever had). 4555 Dunbar St., @the_dunbar_theatre

Secret #8: Where to Find Fresh Blooms on a Budget

Magnolia Flow­er Market inside Kits Market has a quiet reputation for being one of the best places to snag pretty blooms. Regulars swear by the shop’s great prices, helpful staff and knack for creating beautiful arrangements without blowing the budget. 1575 Yew St.

Secret #9: Experience the Cutest Pop-up Art Installation in Town

This fall, artist Anita Cheung and experiential designer Ryleah Resler (our cover stars!) will return with the third installation of their extremely whimsical, deeply delightful pop-up kids’ art gallery. For two magical weeks each year, the pair transforms a new venue into Tombolo, where the space is broken down into an interactive scene from a story, inviting visitors big and small to play with the narrative. Kids’ artwork is proudly displayed (along with artist statements, of course) in a gallery setting. And in addition to exploring the space, kids are invited to participate in workshops throughout the week—printmaking, creative building, monoprints and dance classes. Pop-up kids consignment shopping, cafés and craft stations will be on the schedule, too. Follow Tombolo on social for 2026 opening hours… and for the chance to submit your little artist’s work. tombolo.gallery

Secret #10: Where to Park Downtown for $13.25 (Seriously)

If you’re driving downtown in the evenings or on the weekend, Harbour Centre in Gastown is a good budget bet. Their $13.25 rate runs until 6 a.m., making it one of the cheapest ways to park in the core. (The Law Courts are another great budget parking option—only $17 for weekdays ’til 7 p.m., or $11 for all-day parking on weekends—usually with plenty of stalls available.) Harbour Centre, 555 W Hastings St.; Impark Lot 952, 840 Howe St.

Secret #11: The Best Rooftop Patio Is on Top of the Library

Head up to the ninth floor of the downtown branch of the Vancouver Public Library for access to a surprisingly sunny patio garden, lush with honeysuckle, white roses and lavender—perfect for a summer lunch break (book in hand, of course). If it’s too full of other folks soaking up the sun, the north terrace on level eight is a nice substitute, with sweeping views of the North Shore mountains. 350 W Georgia St., vpl.ca

Secret #12: Reelin’ in the Beers’ Favourite Cheap and Cheerful Spots

Brothers Owen and Jeremy Zsillei moved to Vancouver nearly a decade ago from Cranbrook and have seemingly used every moment since then to attempt to track down hidden gems and great deals: a noble cause that we salute. With camera in hand to capture their experiences for their YouTube show Reelin’ in the Beers, they happily venture into any hole-in-the-wall or parkade-adjacent BBQ joint they come across, hungry for both value and adventure. Here are the spots that have stood out for the fearless foodies. READ MORE →

Secret #13: Your Workday Hack Might Be a Bouldering Cafe

If you’re tired of doing laps around the city hunting for an outlet and an empty chair, the café inside Progression Bouldering is your best bet. With 93 seats, reliable wifi and a fully licensed menu, it’s built for lingering rather than laptop guilt. And don’t worry if you don’t boulder: the café is open to anyone who just needs a place to park themselves for a while. 275 E 10th Ave., progressionbouldering.com

Secret #14: A Zero-Cost Club for Snail Mail Fans

Letter Writing Club is a completely free monthly meetup for anyone who loves putting pen to paper. Held at the Regional Assembly of Text, it’s also a rare chance to tap away on a real typewriter while sipping tea and nibbling cookies. Show up on the first Thursday of the month, grab a seat and start writing. 3934 Main St.,
assemblyoftext.com

Secret #15: Why You Need to Eat at the International Village Food Court (Yes, Really)

If you’re reading this, it means that the headline didn’t scare you away. Congratulations and thank you! Stay with us here, will you? International Village Mall is many things: wonderfully weird, colourfully vintage, confusingly empty. You’ve probably been there recently to see a movie, running as fast as you can up the escalator—but next time, pause on the second floor and take in the scene of the food court and try these seven extremely impressive options selected by writer Sara Harowitz. READ MORE →

Secret #16: Become a Matcha Snob

Vancouver loves its matcha almost as much as it loves a good ritual, and Cultivate Tea’s tastings are a lovely way to learn how to do it properly. Their customizable sessions, from seven-matcha lineups to hōjicha flights, teach you how to whisk and blend with intention. 2280 Main St., cultivatetea.com

Secret #17: Skip the Community Garden Waitlist

Got an itchy green thumb? Food 4 Thought is an urban garden matching program that pairs apartment-dwelling gardeners with homeowners who are happy to share a little slice of their yard. You’ll get the chance to grow your goodies in your neighbour’s backyard, they don’t have to break their back weeding, you all end the season with a solid batch of tomatoes (and maybe some new friends). Win-win. garden4food4thought.com

Secret #18: Get Downtown Drinks on an Eastside Budget

Hawksworth’s bar program is excellent any time, but nothing makes a fancy drink taste better than knowing you got a hot deal on said fancy drink. So hear this: go for happy hour. An extensive menu of expertly executed cocktails—like the signature Hotel Georgia (Tanqueray, orgeat, lemon, orange blossom water, egg white)—are each seven or eight bucks cheaper between 4 and 6 p.m. daily (that Hotel Georgia, for instance, is just $10 instead of $18). You’ll sip like a sophisticate and save your pennies to enjoy another round or two. 801 W Georgia St., hawksworthrestaurant.com

→ Other sneaky-good happy hours: Drinks at Chickadee (182 Keefer St.) in Chinatown come with two juicy pieces of fried chicken from Juke next door between 4 and 6 p.m.; if you can sneak out of work early, the seafood-forward happy hour at Coast (1054 Alberni St.) features $1.75 oysters and $5 glasses of wine from 2 ’til 5 weekdays; Como (201 E 7th Ave.) gives away free snacks with a drink purchase (gildas galore!) to anyone hanging around the bar between 4 and 5 daily; Maxine’s (1325 Burrard St.) features $5 highballs and $7 glasses of sparkling—a smokin’ deal.

Secret #19: Skip the Phnom Penh Line

The Vietnamese chicken wings continue to draw crowds to Chinatown, but if you want the goods without the wait, find the same wings at Phnom Penh’s official satellite kitchen in Mount Pleasant, located inside of Woks and Wings. With a Phnom Penh mini menu (wings, beef on rice) served in takeout containers, it’s meant to just be a grab-and-go spot, but if you’d rather hang in the W&W lounge with your order—perhaps grab a drink, too?—the friendly staff don’t mind at all. 1 E Broadway, @phnompenh.restaurant

Secret #20: Sauna with a Splash

 

With a sauna spa on every block these days, one doesn’t need to head to Deep Cove for a little bit of heat. But Sisu Swim Sauna’s floating sauna (three-hour rental, $1,543) has something the other hot-cold circuits don’t: the option to do your cold plunge in the ocean (from the roof of the boat, if you’re really bold… and have signed the waiver). sisuswimsauna.com

 

Secret #21: Find Out How Celebs Like Their Coffee

 

The Birds and the Beets has become a surprising hot spot for celeb sightings. In the past year alone, Joe Jonas, Olivia Rodrigo, Lucy Dacus, Phoebe Bridgers, Lola Tung, Tegan and Sara, Destroyer and BBNO$ have all been spotted at the Gastown coffee shop. Grab a latte and see who might pop in next. birdsandbeets.ca

 

Secret #22: The Not-so-Secret Patio That Feels Hidden

 

Saan Saan’s patio isn’t exactly a secret, but it certainly feels like one. Tucked behind the shop, the courtyard of the gluten-free, Hong Kong-inspired café is bigger than you’d expect, bright with Asian-inspired decor and surprisingly peaceful thanks to the tall buildings that block out city noise. 227 Main St., saansaan.ca

Secret #23: Spend the Night in Douglas Coupland’s Brain

 

When the Fairmont Pacific Rim tapped the venerable artist and author Douglas Coupland to design a suite, he didn’t just hang up a few of his paintings and call it a day: he created an immersive art exhibit (that also happens to be an extremely comfortable spot to spend the night). His Suite X is “an immersive living gallery” built as a replica of Coupland’s own living room and jam-packed with details that reflect his obsession with contemporary culture, Canadiana and technology: a staycation like no other. And for the price of your stay (starting from $3,500 a night), you’ll get to bring home an exclusive coffee table book by Coupland, too. 1038 Canada Pl., fairmontpacificrim.com

 

Secret #24: When the Swing Set Is Too Wet

 

Vancouver parents must google “what to do with kids when raining” more than anyone else on earth. It would be simpler, though, to head to Let’s Play Inside, a local-parent-created web resource to consolidate all of the city’s best (or at least most indoor) activities for the playschool set. Sort by day of the week or neighbourhood to find community centre drop-ins, museum schedules and more. letsplayinside.com

 

Secret #25: Extend the Life of Your Raincoat

 

If your preferred raingear is Arc’teryx, you’ll be ready to weather the storms for years to come—the company will wash and re-waterproof your jacket for free if you take it to the West 4th store. (Look for the “technical washing” machines constantly spinning in the back, gently laundering Gore-Tex and down coats.) And it doesn’t take long: our tester reported that their jacket got turned around in just a day. 2201 W 4th Ave., stores.arcteryx.com/kitsilano

Secret #26: Try the City’s Wildest Ice Cream Topping

Osetra opened in the former Haifa space in the fall, and their focus on seafood extends right into the dessert menu: the fior di latte and lemon gelato ($21) comes topped with a dollop of Osetra caviar and a drizzle of golden, single-origin olive oil. 410 W Georgia St., osetravancouver.com

Secret #27: The Hip Listening Bar That Only Seats a Few Dozen

Ostensibly, you would go to the teeny tiny Bleach listening bar in Chinatown to enjoy tunes from a rotating cast of DJs (or, as the website puts it, to enjoy “a curated, intimate and relaxed environment to appreciate the sonic arts”). Or maybe you could claim you’re there to snack on the innovative, ever-changing small plates menu (themes include “Shit Our Moms Cook”) while sipping natural wine. But let’s be real: you’re there to feel impossibly cool.
611 Gore Ave., bleachstudios.xyz

Secret #28: Skip Brunch and Go Dancing Instead

Morning Disco is a collective of artists and DJs committed to hosting feel-good dance parties at the crack of 11 a.m. at spots like the Mount Pleasant Vintage patio. If music from the likes of Niña Mendoza and Rita Spirit doesn’t get you feeling good on a Sunday morning, the knowledge that partial proceeds from ticket sales go to good causes like the Gaza Soup Kitchen will surely wake you up. @morningdiscoofficial

Secret #29: Where to Source Wildly Cheap Produce

Sunrise Market has been family-run for more than 60 years, and, yes, it’s the same Sunrise behind the tofu you’ve seen in every local fridge. Their shop is a goldmine for wildly cheap produce, rare pantry finds and ingredients you won’t spot at your average grocer. 300 Powell St., @sunrisemarket

Secret #30: Score Free Tickets to Indie Comedy Shows

If you love a free laugh (and who doesn’t), sign up for Little Mountain Gallery’s newsletter. They occasionally send out same-day emails offering complimentary tickets, often enough that it feels like a little comedy score. Keep an eye on your inbox, and you might nab a night out for nothing. 110 Water St., littlemountaingallery.ca

Secret #31: Go for a Walk with Some Strangers

1. The annual Jane’s Walk Vancouver is a festival of free, citizen-led “walking conversations” that takes place each May, inspired by the work of urbanist Jane Jacobs. janeswalkvancouver.ca

2. Hogan’s Alley Walking Tour is an opportunity to see Strathcona from a new perspective; the recurring tour covers about four kilometres and decades of storytelling from the legacy of the neighbourhood’s Black community. hogansalleysociety.org

3. Vancouver Heritage Foundation hosts walks year-round, all over the city: if you’ve ever wanted to dig into the history of Kensington Cedar Cottage or downtown South Vancouver, this is your chance. vancouverheritagefoundation.org

Secret #32: Romance Fans, Unite!

If you love love, Perfect Match Bookshop exclusively stocks romance novels. Browse the stacks or connect with other rom-com fans at regular events: you’ll find Romance Book Club, silent reading sessions in partnership with Catoro cat café, craft nights and pop-up markets populating the calendar. 545 E Broadway, perfectmatchbookshop.com

→ OR If sci-fi or murder mysteries are more your scene White Dwarf books in Point Grey specializes in all things space and fantasy—plus, after consolidating with the former Dead Write murder mystery book store, it also has an extensive collection of crime fiction to peruse. 3715 W 10th Ave., deadwrite.com

Secret #33: Rent-to-Own Masterpieces

Though the Vancouver Art Gallery does a big business renting pieces from its showroom to the film industry for set dec, the everyman can get in on this market of masterpieces, too. The rental catalogue is a juried selection of B.C.-based artists: borrow some paintings, photography and sculptures (prices vary) to spruce up your space. If you fall in love with a piece and want to commit to it forever—a “foster fail,” as the saying goes—your rental price will go toward your final purchase. artrentalandsales.com

Secret #34: There’s a Bowling-Themed Uni Bar Steps From Kits Beach

The restaurant group behind Kingyo has outdone itself with Toyokan Bowl, a kitschy, bowling-themed restaurant dedicated to over-the-top sea urchin dishes on the corner of Cypress and West 1st. What do bowling pins and uni have in common? We don’t know, and we don’t care. (If bowling isn’t your sport, just head downstairs to Toyokan Plaza for an aesthetic inspired by 1960s Japanese Olympic volleyball instead.) Second floor, 1898 W 1st Ave., bowl.toyokan.ca

Secret #35: Memorize the Locations of These Photobooths

Eight years ago, photographer Ian Azariah started rescuing chemical analogue photobooths. A dozen of his refurbished Phototronic machines are now peppered across the city, ready to print a good ol’ photo strip on the spot for you. No digital countdown, no digital backdrops, just three minutes and four poses: click-click-click-click. Here’s where to find them all.

• Westbeach, 2138 W 4th Ave.
• Slice of Life (there are five here!), 1636 Venables
• The Lido, 518 E Broadway
• Gore Street Vintage, 298 E Georgia St.
• Hero’s Welcome, 3917 Main St.
• The American, 926 Main St.
• Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby St.
• Funk Coffee Bar, 1025 Dunsmuir St.

Secret #36: Move Your Body

Hit the Links at Lunch → Okay, maybe you can’t squeeze in a full 18-hole game on your lunch break, but Hideout Golf in the West End offers the opportunity to get a few swings in with a stellar midweek deal: $50 gets you an hour of time on their golf simulator, plus a burger (they’ve got crinkle fries!) and a beer. Fore! 1755 Davie St., hideoutgolf.ca

Stop Soggy Cycling → Though we don’t personally identify as all-weather cyclists, we know plenty of pedalheads who happily brave rain, sleet and snow—and who know that a successful ride comes down to having the right gear. Our driest, smartest cyclist friends recommend the San Poncho rain cape ($250), which is roomy enough to wear over a backpack and has loops that can hook onto the handlebars to create a tent over your legs. Various locations, westpointcycles.com

Forest-Bathe Somewhere New →  If you’re sick of getting lost on Pacific Spirt’s Huckleberry Trail, maybe UBC’s Greenheart TreeWalk is more your speed for communing with nature: stroll the suspended walkway through a grove of soaring Douglas firs and cedars, many more than a century old. 6804 SW Marine Dr., botanicalgarden.ubc.ca

Step Into the Sumo Ring → Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a 400-pound Japanese man to sumo, as Sumo Sundays sumo club has proved since 2022. Big boys are absolutely welcome, but so are sumo-curious athletes of all body types. Beginner-friendly classes and drop-ins cover the fundamentals; come push yourself out of your comfort zone as you’re trying to push your opponent out of the ring. 487 Alexander St., sumosundays.ca

Secret #37: Two Stealth Stalls at BC Place Serving $5 Beers and Hot Dogs

Did you know that BC Place has two F&B stalls serving up $5 beers and $5 hot dogs, but they blend in a little too well? There is nothing distinctive about them at first appearance, so you’ll need to wander a bit to track down the Dawson’s Dogs stalls in sections 201 and 227—but the savings are worth the search. 777 Pacific Blvd., bcplace.com

Secret #38: Get Free Print Magazines

Could this be the hottest tip on this whole list? You can get a free yearly print subscription to Vancouver and Western Living delivered to any address in Canada. Head to vanmag.com/subscribe or westernliving.ca/subscribe to sign up for zero (zero!) dollars and finally commit to your goal to read more.

Secret #39: Try Your Luck at a Real Estate Auction

Every November, the City of Vancouver holds an auction of properties that are three years overdue on their property taxes (homeowners: consider this a reminder to pay yours!). Place your bid for (relatively) dirt cheap homes—if the registered owners don’t make amends within a year, it’s yours. A long wait to find out if you’ve snagged a deal, sure, and more often than not, the owners pay up and get their homes back: but if it works out, you may just have won the Vancouver real estate game. vancouver.ca

Secret #40: The Craft Is Calling

Make Something Cool at a Risograph Workshop → For a creative fix that beats another wine-fuelled paint night, join Steph Ford’s tiny risograph workshops (think of it like a photocopier but for screen-printing, $35). With only four spots per session, you’ll learn the machine, pick your colours and leave with a stack of prints or a zine you actually made. It’s messy, colourful and wildly satisfying. 2414 Main St., fluoropress.com

Turn leftover travel coins into a jewellery keepsake Soigné’s coinmaking workshop → ($60) is a clever way to finally do something with all that spare change you’ve been hoarding in a mostly cashless world. In two hours, you’ll heat, bend and polish a coin into a handmade ring, then leave with a one-of-a-kind piece. 393 Powell St., soigne.ca

Screenprint Up a Storm at Blim → Cut down the screen time and ramp up the screen-printing time with a class ($120) at Blim in Chinatown. Once you’ve taken a few classes, you can stock up on screen-printing supplies to keep up with your new hobby… or give up on the apparel and rent out their button-maker instead (from $40 plus supplies). 115 E Pender St., blim.ca

Stock Your Stationery Stash → An absolute must-visit for stationery nerds, Porchlight Press’s East Van studio doubles as a retail treasure trove, packed with handmade cards and prints, and a chance to watch vintage machines in action. They also run hands-on workshops, from letterpress basics to greeting card making, for anyone keen to get crafty. 585 McLean Dr., porchlightpress.com

Live it up at a Taxidermy Workshop → The ancient art (science?) of taxidermy is alive and well in Mount Pleasant. For those looking to learn how to pin a scorpion, stuff a rat or clean a sheep skull, Pretty Dead Taxidermy is here to guide you with a variety of truly unique workshops (from $125). Not game to get your hands dirty? Stuffed pufferfish ($120) and hipster squirrel sculptures ($225) are available for purchase. 2333 Ontario St., prettydeadtaxidermy.com

Secret #41: How to Find Out About Underground DJ Nights, According to Our Youngest, Coolest Friends

Social media, it turns out, is everything when it comes to finding cool underground music events here in Vancouver. Our expert sources recommend following event organizers like Blueprint Events or Resident Advisor (and chat with them at events, too: “They’re usually very friendly”). Follow local DJs, artists and collectives to get word on upcoming shows—@therapy.yvr, @hi.ed.crew and @iammadamlolacolby are good places to start. Look outside of Vancouver talent, too: regional and international festival pages and community listings (our source recommends @jupitertoronto, @sundream_____, @thosewhodance__ and @deephousebible) can help you discover artists who might visit Vancouver one day. If you notice those accounts reposting stuff from content creators who are integrated into the scene, those insiders are worth following. (“They’re kind of like music-event influencers.”) Don’t forget to follow performance and event venue pages: Village Studios in Davie Village and Conscious Lab downtown are popular spots for underground, house and EDM nights. Once you start actually going to events and meeting other music lovers—or schmoozing with the DJs—even more connections and invites will emerge organically. “Make friends. Talk to organizers. Who you know is key.”

Secret #42: Unlock a Double Feature at the Improv Centre for $20

If you’re catching the early show at the Improv Centre, don’t sprint for the exit when the lights come up. On nights with a 9:30 p.m. follow-up, you can pop by the box office after the first performance and snag a double-feature ticket for $20. Considering the second show normally sits around $35, it’s a solid little loophole. The catch? You can’t buy it online, so you’ll have to try your luck in person and hope there’s room. 1502 Duranleau St., theimprovcentre.ca