Robson Street, Vancouver

I guess I would compare Robson St. to Ste-Catherine St. in Montreal, even though it is a bit smaller (and minus all the stripclubs). Located in the heart of downtown Vancouver, Robson St. is lined with stores big and small, trendy and casual, especially between Jervis and Burrard St. It is probably the busiest street in downtown Vancouver on the weekend - when people are not out shopping, they are likely to be resting their feet in one of the street's numerous coffee shops. If you don't feel like shopping I don't know that it is worth going on Robson St., other than to enjoy the busy atmosphere. There is, however, a really nice Chapter's bookstore located at 788 Robson St.!

It is considered the fashion pulse of the city and I can tell you it is!! This chick street is home of a lot of boutiques, souvenir shops, cafes, restaurants. I don't know how many times I walked it form the beginning to the end and I was never tired of it. This is also an excellent place to stop for a Starbucks' caramel macciatto. I just love Robson Street!!!!!!!

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When I visit a new city I'm always drawn to the historic, cultural, or ethnic districts, but in Vancouver, the Robson Street corridor really drew my interests. Perhaps because of the Asian influence or maybe because it just felt more lively and real than the other neighborhoods we visited, I was especially comfortable here. Even better, our hotel was just off Robson, so we spent more time here than anywhere else, stopping at several of the area's bars and eating at four of five Robson Street restaurants.

Robson Street starts at BC Place and runs over 1.5 miles to Stanley Park and is considered one of the most expensive and trendy retail areas of Canada. It was named after John Robson, British Columbia provincial premier from 1889 to 1892. The area is packed with expensive stores, fancy restaurants, trendy cafes, and some pretty good nightlife. The north-western end of Robson is unofficially known as Koreatown as it is full of Korean restaurants and shops, along with foreign language schools.

Our hotel was in the Koreatown area, and we spent a lot of time up an down this street stopping at the Bunker, a great Korean BBQ, Fogg 'N' Suds bar, a few sushi places, and even getting frequently hit up by local druggies and drug dealers.

Lots of shops, lots of places to eat and drink, lots of places to spend your money. We went here so i could get some new jeans as the prices compared to England are great. Got a pair of Gap jeans for £40 and a pair of Levi for £22.

We went for a curry along here, A Taste of India, AVOID, it was crap.

Shenanigans Irish Bar was ok, lots of TV's to watch the hockey and basketball on and reasonably priced beer.

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Ah, yes... Robson Street. The street that many tourist brochures advertise as "Vancouver's Rodeo Drive", which kind of makes me want to roll my eyes. However, it does have a Santa Monica 3rd Street feel to it, without the beach. This ain't Beverly Hills, but it's consumerism at its finest. Think of it like an outdoor mall.

Robson Street is the heart of the downtown shopping district. It's a street that goes east-west, splitting downtown down the middle. Realistically, there's only about 2 blocks of Robson where the height of shopping exists, and that's between Burrard and Bute.

Robson Street exists to see and be seen. It's a place where wannabe models show off their latest clothes and where guys in flashy cars try to blast their music the loudest. It's also a street where local residents try to avoid, as it's nearly impossible to walk down Robson on your way to somewhere else without tripping over the ankles of hundreds as they lull across the sidewalk with their eyes fixed on the window displays of trendy clothing boutiques.

Robson Street once used to be a residential street flecked with German delis and shops. Prior to the 1980's, the area was fondly called "Robsonstrasse" for this reason alone. However, the German characteristics have disappeared entirely and have been replaced by flagship stores of every big retail franchise.

Robson Street is the heart of Vancouver shopping, but it's not really unique to Vancouver. Chances are you've seen the stores in other cities and countries. The Gap, Banana Republic, Esprit, Zara, Bebe, Danier Leather, La Senza, Buffalo, Lush, Nike, The Body Shop, and half a dozen Starbucks await you on Robson Street.

There are also a bunch of restaurants on Robson, whether they're coffee shops, sushi bars, local franchises such as Milestones, Earls, and the Cactus Club, or finer dining establishments such as Cin Cin or Hapa Izakaya.

In the end, if you like busy sidewalks, a lively people-watching environment and you crave a shopping spree, Robson is certainly worth a visit.

A lot of people call Robson street a tourist trap. And it sorta is, but in a good way.
Sure, there are a lot of chain stores, fast food places, generic shops, but this is what you get in heavily trafficked tourist areas. (see Fisherman’s Wharf in SF, South St Seaport in NYC) The wife and I like walking up and down the street, watching the street performers, grabbing a quick bite of sushi, avoiding the Starbucks to get to Blenz, and basically watching people act as if the Gap was the greatest thing ever.
We stay in D’Town hotels every time we get to Vancouver, so Robson street isn’t a schlep to get to. It’s usually just a block or two away from the hotel, so it’s a great way to pass the time and to shop for gifts for people back home.
If you want some good and quick Japanese food, then Robson street is the place for you.
There are plenty of these quick food places near the Western end of the street.

One of the best shopping experience.... somehow on the day I was there.... almost every store on that street is having a sale... It was the beginning of July... but before July 4...probably on Canada Day?? ( sorry...never keep track with dates *.* ) ....my fav.. david buitton!!!

One of the best shopping experience.... somehow on the day I was there.... almost every store on that street is having a sale... It was the beginning of July... but before July 4...probably on Canada Day?? ( sorry...never keep track with dates *.* ) ....my fav.. david buitton!!!