The Area - Commercial Drive

“The Drive” as it is affectionately known to locals, was Vancouver’s first suburb, long referred to as the city’s Little Italy. While many of the original Italian, Spanish and Portuguese immigrants have since moved to other areas of town, you’ll still find a number of family-owned cafés serving authentic food and drink, and televising satellite soccer matches from around the world (careful who you cheer for!). More recently the area became home territory for vegetarians, artists, environmental activists and hemp lovers, but now young families and professionals are also being drawn to the Drive’s eclectic atmosphere: the result is a refreshingly diverse neighbourhood offering an infinite variety of tastes, sights and smells.

Eat:
Moules frites and an imported bottle of Belgian beer from the rotating fresh sheet at Stella’s Tap & Tapas Bar, 1191 Commercial Dr., (604) 254-2437.

Drink:
Sangria (by the pitcher or the glass) at restaurant/gallery/theatre Havana Café. The heated patio offers the Drive’s best people-watching while the theatre offers inexpensive and often inexcusable productions. 1212 Commercial Dr., (604) 253-9119.

Browse:
The girly paradise of Irish linens, custom-embroidered pillows, Czech crystal and Italian bath products at the mother-and-daughter-run Farfalla. 2012 Commercial Dr., (604) 215-8707.