The Ultimate Guide to Vancouver Gifts: The West End, Downtown & Yaletown

If you’re feeling exhausted, take a breath of fresh air as you stroll through the city center. From street wear to an owl-focused great outdoors tour, this’ hood has the best of the concrete jungle.

READ MORE: Our Complete 2021 Vancouver Neighborhood Gift Guide

Variety Pack of Hot Truff Sauce

Lucifer’s house of warmth, 779 Denman Street
You’re probably a hot sauce person or you aren’t, but for those on your list who’s dosing every dish, Lucifer’s is the go-to in Vancouver. Get schmancy with this Truff Kit ($ 90) – there’s a hit of black or white truffle in each bottle and varying degrees of heat. All of them are great for spicing up a slice or anything Italian. lucifershouseofheat.com

Occupy Chinatown

Vancouver Art Gallery, 750 Hornby Street
Whether you start with a tour of the current show—Power of the soul by Jan Wade – or go straight to the gift shop, you win. Local artist Paul Wong’s new art book ($ 80) may look striking lying on a coffee table, but open it up and experience a beautifully detailed exploration of Chinese-Canadian identity – think 110 colorful images of family, food and our fast-paced Chinatown. vanartgallery.bc.ca

12 day Christmas calendar

Lush, 1020 Robson Street
If there’s ever been a time to soak in a bath bomb, it’s now, and the handmade version of Lush is truly the gold standard. This advent calendar ($ 115) is full of seasonal scents – eggnog, candy cane … cinnamon bun? – in shower gels, body butter and, yes, bath bombs. lush.ca

Market bag

Great finds, 1014 Mainland Street
One of Yaletown’s must-sees, Fine Finds is packed with at least 18 local jewelry designers, as well as best-selling Blume teas and gorgeous Hollow Tree candles. Wear your civic pride with a neighborhood-branded Market tote ($ 45). finefindsboutique.com

Agrium hoodie

Arc’teryx, 813 Burrard Street
This new high-performance jacket ($ 500) from an outerwear favorite is made using a plant-based liner and a process called spike dyeing, which saturates the yarn itself with color and results in less water wastage. It is a minimum environmental impact with maximum comfort. arcteryx.com

Super basic pin

Emporium of the book and the art of the little sister, 1238 Davie Street
Little Sister’s has been an anchor for Davie Village’s queer community since 1983, and it’s a rich source for everything from LGBTQ + reads to great outfits and erotica – and great gifts, like these enamel pins. made in Vancouver ($ 20). petitessoeurs.ca

Alyssa hirose

Electric bicycle rental

Cycling town, 646 Hornby Street
If, like us, you’ve been a little jealous of those motor cruisers that barely let you sweat while climbing the Lions Gate Bridge, maybe it’s time to test the waters yourself. Rent a pair of e-bikes at Cycle City ($ 34 for 2 hours) and you and your gift are perfectly placed to get straight from here to the heart-wrenching hill of Prospect Point in Stanley Park. cyclevancouver.com

Liron Gertzman / Stanley Park Ecology Facebook

Owl prowling

Stanley Park Ecological Society, 610 Pipeline Road
Do you know a dike stroller who wants to know a little more about the inner sanctuary of the park ecology? The Stanley Park Ecology Society offers regular seminars every month on topics such as Things You “Otter†Know as well as BIPOC birding groups, but if walking with strangers isn’t their thing yet, you can. also offer a gift certificate to a more personalized, private or totally virtual tour (from $ 100). stanleyparkecology.ca

Maxine’s, 1325 Burrard Street
From the gorgeous brass bar to the perfect rattan cafe chairs on the patio, the Ste. Maxine’s designed by Marie will make you swear you are dining somewhere on the Seine. And that alone would be enough, but the food is also delicious. Stay on the theme and go for the steak fries with a perfectly peppery watercress salad, or just pop in for a happy hour for a glass of rosé and people watching Burrard. maxinescafebar.com

READ MORE: Our gift guide from Vancouver to South Granville