Yaletown, Vancouver

Yaletown started as a working class neighborhood that had been recently rediscovered by the yuppies. While it has its upscale restaurants, it still has the downscale feeling in some of its shops and restaurants. Its old warehouse buildings with their converted lofts are bordered by brand-new skyscrapers that are bringing a more mass-market upscale feeling to this side of False Creek.

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Some claim Yaletown to be Vancouver's "SoHo" district, but since I've never been to New York's "SoHo", or London's "SoHo" (or any other neighbourhood named "SoHo" for that matter), I really can't say for sure. Nevertheless, if trendy upscale yuppy boutiques, cosmetic surgery offices, expensive studio apartments and funky hip restaurants are characteristics of "SoHo" neighbourhoods, Yaletown is such in Vancouver.

Yaletown is located in the south-eastern corner of downtown. I didn't even know it existed until 1995. Prior to the 90's, Yaletown was a forgotten warehouse district, home to all sorts of fun industrial things like railroad yards and meat packaging plants. (There's probably a reason why I never went there. I was also a child prior to the 90's, so that's probably the main reason!)

Nevertheless, throughout the 90's, Yaletown turned from a once-cheap warehouse/industrial district into the trendy urban neighbourhood as described above. Luckily, opposite to Vancouver fashion (where they tear down the older brick buildings for glassy highrises), the developpers decided to keep Yaletown's brick warehouses and railroad-embedded alleys, and turned them into award-winning pubs (like Yaletown Brewing Co), uber-chic hotels (like the Opus), trendy restaurants (like Section 3), and high end boutiques (like Atomic Model). Even the grocery stores in this area are trendy. Urban Fare, for instance, offers an extensive selection of gourmet, organic and international food, including their famous $100 Parisian loaf of bread (flown in from France daily!).

Yaletown is Vancouver's trendy place to live. All those stereotypes about the urban Vancouver yuppy - they come true in Yaletown. But unlike other neighbourhoods in downtown Vancouver (like Gastown or Robson Street), Yaletown is not touristy. Yaletown, with exception to the Opus Hotel, is designed for its locals. You'll have an authentic Vancouver experience here, free from the tourist traps...

... but it does come at a price. ;)

Yaletown is located on the False Creek's waters edge of downtown Vancouver, where once situated a rundown warehouse district of Vancouver. Its rebirth started in the late 1980's, and has gradually transformed into a trendy urban community comprising a mix of residential, office, restaurants, boutiques, cafes, and more. Today's Yaletown covers a much wider area than before its rebirth.

No doubt one of Vancouver's trendier neighbourhoods. There is also the Yaletown Brewing Company if your into micro breweries. I explored Yaletown in earlier morning before 10 am and most things were closed.

I would recommend taking in Yaletown either noon time or evening when all the cafes are open. There were plenty of amazing looking places to eat, indoors and outdoors.

I would recommend you enjoy an evening meal down in that area.

Yaletown is a hugely redeveloped are to the south of town. Apparently it was the Expo 86 site.

After years of neglect the area was redeveloped into what you see today, multiple high rise appartments, shops and a boardwalk along False Creek.

The area is very clean, very modern, very chic.

If you are into trendy stuffs and restaurant, don't miss out Yale Town in Downtown
It's an area where many small stylish shops (home decor, bathroom, clothing, sunglasses...)operated. You can also find a lot of restaurants and cafes with patio sitting to enjoy the fresh air. The mini cooper dealer also situated there so you can check it out if you have time.

Don't forget to visit the cafe called 'Don't show the elephant'. They have this LED window for the bathroom that goes matt when the door's lock and goes clear otherwise. Watch out for people who didn't lock it properly. hehe

The engine that linked Canada together from Atlantic to Pacific on May 23, 1887.

Now after more than 100 years, the engine has its new permanent home at 374 Pavilion.