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Vancouver

Vancouver with a Family

by WLai

A November 2003 travel journal

Last Updated: November 30, 2003

Journal Usefulness Rating 3 out of 5
Journal Usefulness Rating
8
Reviews

Seattle family's travel up to Vancouver for long weekends.

The hotel used to be a Delta (Canadian chain), but was sold to Marriott. Its great location is just a block away from the cruise ship terminal, and just a few steps from the heart of downtown Vancouver. The property still feels pretty new and is very well kept. We have stayed here twice now, and the staff is always wonderfully polite, from doorman/valet to front desk to housekeeping. They greeted us with a room upgrade and presented my four-year-old with a kids' goodie bag. Housekeeping was able to find a footstool so my child could get to the sink by herself. Security is good too, as you must have a guest key to use the elevator to get to the guest rooms. There is a well-equipped fitness center with pool that's open 24 hours a day, stocked with towels, water, and fruits. It really can't be beat, particularly for the price.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by WLai on November 28, 2003

Marriott Vancouver Pinnacle Downtown
1128 West Hastings Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6E4R5
(604) 684-1128

Opus Hotel

Hotel

This ultra-chic boutique hotel located in hip Yaletown is *the* cool place to stay in Vancouver. Don't be surprised to see celebrities staying here. The rooms are very well designed in a modern decor; the bathrooms are as cool as they come, stocked with L'Occitane En Provence soaps and lotions. There is a cocktail lounge downstairs, and a pretty nice bistro restaurant on premise. The location is right across the street from the Yaletown warehouse blocks, where more coolness awaits you in shops and restaurants. The only glitch was that we arrived really late (past midnight), and no room with a king-size bed was available, even though we booked it. Instead, they gave us an upgrade to a suite, but it only has a queen bed. Can't really blame them for the situation, I suppose. This is definitely the luxury place to stay if you aren't into the stuffy "Old World" ambience.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by WLai on November 28, 2003

Opus Hotel
322 DAVIE STREET Vancouver, British Columbia V6B5Z6
1-604-6426787

I've stayed at Listel Vancouver a number of times, and each stay has been very pleasant. The standard rooms are nice but nothing special, but see if you can get upgraded to Gallery or Museum rooms. The hotel's concept is that each room has original art on display. But for me, the more interesting part is the highly original furniture that is in the Gallery rooms. The pieces aren't made of super-expensive material, but are very creative. The Museum rooms are mini-suites that are luxuriously decorated, but they make me feel like I'm in an Ethan Allen showroom. The bathrooms, like those of many hotels, are nothing special, just your standard setup, but are nicely maintained and clean. This is a unique hotel worth seeking out, at the same price you'd expect from a Hyatt/Hilton. Nothing wrong with the standard business-class hotel, but just a bit boring.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by WLai on November 28, 2003

Listel Vancouver
1300 Robson Street Vancouver, British Columbia V6E1C5
(604) 684-8461

Amarcord is a cozy Italian restaurant in the hip Yaletown warehouse district. We arrived without a reservation, and the restaurant was close to full, but the owner seated us anyway. He was a nice older Italian gentleman, and pulled the chair for my four-year-old "princess" (his words). Food is your tried-and-true classic Italian dishes, such as veal picatta, pasta, etc. All are very well prepared, if a bit uninspired. The waitstaff are spotty, however; the waiter for the next table was as professional as they come, perfectly attentive but not intrusive, leaving a couple absorbed in their own world alone for 30+ mins until they were ready to order. But our waiter took a long time to take our order, bring us water, checks, etc.

All in all, a good restaurant that's cozy and has good food. If you get the right waitstaff, you'll have a very good experience. B+

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by WLai on November 28, 2003

Amarcord
1168 Hamilton St Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 2S2
+1 604 681 6500

Sun Sui Wah

Restaurant

Best Chinese restaurant in Vancouver. My Chinese family and the local English press both agree on this. Both the dim sum lunches and the dinners are superb, and I've taken many visitors here and not a single one has been disappointed. If you are not familiar with the cuisine, be adventurous and ask your waiter to suggest a menu for you - they won't take you for a ride. The seafood is generally superb. We once ordered a King Crab, which is huge, and on recommendation from the waiter, had it cooked into three dishes, and all of them are sublime. Chinese cuisine just doesn't get a whole lot better than this.

The Vancouver location on Main St. is equally fabulous.

  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by WLai on November 28, 2003

Sun Sui Wah Seafood Restaurant
3888 Main St Vancouver, British Columbia V5V 3N9
+1 604 872 8822

Yuji Japanese Tapas

Restaurant

This is a new Japanese restaurant at Kitsilano, and it's superb. It has so much more to offer than sushi/sashimi, although it certainly does good there too. The tapas are small morsels of yumminess, excellently prepared, sauced, and presented. Don't be shy to try the various tofu preparations - it'll be like nothing you've ever tasted. In particular, I'd recommend the Pork Toro Tofu Hot Pot, and Tofu in Mustard Sauce, and the Tomato Stuffed with Chicken and Tofu. All are surprisingly simple, yet very well composed together. The kobe beef morsels and grilled duck breast are paired with excellent seasoning and saucing. We visited this place just days after the opening, and the service does have some glitches, but the staff are friendly are are trying hard to please. Highly, highly recommended, probably the best Japanese restaurant I've been to in a long time (Nobu in LA included).
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by WLai on November 29, 2003

Yuji Japanese Tapas
2059 West 4th Avenue Vancouver, British Columbia
(604) 734-4990

Tojo's

Restaurant

Tojo's is undisputedly among the top five Japanese restaurants in Vancouver, if not the top one itself. The sushi is absoultely top-notch, and try the tasting menu if you can. Celebrity sightings are a regular thing at Tojo's, and even if there isn't a celebrity in the crowd, the view of the Vancouver downtown across False Creek is impressive.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by WLai on November 30, 2003

Tojo's Restaurant
777 West Broadway Vancouver, British Columbia V5Z 4J7
+1 604 872 8050

The Vancouver Aquarium is a very nicely managed aquarium, that's on the small side, perhaps (compared to Sea World San Diego, e.g.), but is very charming in its own right. It has all the standard attractions, such as dolphin shows, etc., but the intimate size makes it very special, as you are more up close and personal with the animals. The key attraction for our family was the Beluga whale as seen underwater. They are so other-wordly in the blue water that you can look at them for hours. It's also nice because you don't have to walk a whole lot given its small size, but can entertain and educate for a good afternoon.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by WLai on November 28, 2003

Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre
P.O. Box 3232 Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 3X8
(604) 659-3474

About the Writer

WLai
WLai
Seattle, Washington

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