Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Drop by on weekends for a meaty brunch that will fill you up for a week. And don't
miss the drinks list: far from being an afterthought, there's an excellent array of well-
made cocktails here.
BONETA
WEST COAST
$$$
( 604-684-1844;
www.boneta.ca
;
12 Water St; mains $15-24; from 5:30pm; 4)
Typify-
ing Gastown's ever-moving transformation, this chichi but comfortable dining room re-
located from just around the corner within a few years of opening. The new room is far
warmer and the menu of international-influenced West Coast dining remains top-notch.
This is the place to come for that delectable duck breast or velvet-soft lamb dish you've
been craving.
Expect plenty of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, and try one of the cocktails:
the mixologists here really know their stuff. A good location for a romantic dinner date.
JAPANTOWN
The Chinese weren't the only group to arrive from Asia in the early days of Van-
couver. A couple of blocks east of Chinatown, in an area that's now part of Strath-
cona, Japantown was once home to many residences, shops and businesses that
served the fledgling city's Japanese community. Centered on an area around
Op-
penheimer Park
, this intriguing historic district is worth a wander if you're in the
vicinity. You'll find some of the city's oldest small wooden homes, many of them
time-capsule reminders of a sometimes forgotten period in the city's history.
The best time to visit is in early August, when the park's unmissable weekend-
Japanese heritage and culture. One of Vancouver's most popular community
festivals, and bound to be a highlight of your trip, this sensory extravaganza in-
cludes traditional music, performances and tasty nosh as well as a minimarket of
arts and crafts. Arrive early to avoid the crowds at the highly popular food stands.
Even more than the event's legendary Spam sushi tradition, the
Omikoshi shrine
procession
is a festival standout. It's a camera-luring event that makes everyone
stop what they're doing and rush over.
Chinatown
