VC09 - Downtown

The 800 block of Granville Street has become a destination for stylish, budget-conscious young things (who likely frequent the clubs further down the street). Look for Puma, Adidas Originals, American Apparel, Spank, and Urban Outfitters.

Birks is the official jewellery supplier to the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, and its complete collection of pendants, charm bracelets, cufflinks, and other logo-imprinted gifts is available at its historic Hastings St. store. 698 W. Hastings St., 604-669-3333. Close by find Cartier, Chanel, and Palladio.

The Railway Club dates back to 1931, when it was a members-only pub for Canadian Pacific Railway workers. Though it bears little resemblance to the original, it’s still laid out like a series of train cars — and about as wide — with the stage at the front, bar in the middle, and tables and booths in the caboose. Live music nightly. 579 Dunsmuir St. (second floor), 604-681-1625.

The labyrinthine Pacific Centre runs between Granville and Howe streets and is bookended by Robson and Pender streets. Many of the franchises here have locations on nearby Robson St., so focus your attention on Level 3, entering via the doors on Georgia and Howe. There’s La Swiss’s vast selection of watches from the likes of Oris, Breitling, and Fendi; TeenFlo has a smart collection of stylish, beautifully made women’s clothing from lines like Twenty8Twelve and Rory Beca, plus its own line of well-made pieces that are perfect for work; and Harry Rosen, the men’s department store, which is renowned for impeccable service and high-quality brands. All roads lead to Holt Renfrew: start with the entry-level brands — Marc by Marc Jacobs, Vince, Theory, American Vintage — before hitting the heavyweights (Prada, Armani, Chanel, et al.) and the massive selection of luxury cosmetics and skin-care lines downstairs. 737 Dunsmuir St., 604-681-3121.

Conclude your visit to the Vancouver Art Gallery with lunch in the Gallery Cafe. No pretence, just fresh salads, panini, and quiche, and Mission Hill wines by the glass, all ordered cafeteria-style. If weather permits, sit on the lovely patio overlooking Robson Square and watch the city go by. 750 Hornby St., 24-hour info line: 604-662- 4719.

Cibo is a glamorous restaurant off the lobby of the Moda Hotel: white marble accents, chartreuse-and-grey-striped upholstery, and 100-year-old timber beams. The food is elegant, too: locally influenced Italian from British chef Neil Taylor, formerly of London’s famed River Café. 900 Seymour St., 604-602-9570.

Sinclair Centre is a federally designated heritage building, incorporating the Federal Building, the Winch Building, and the Customs Examining warehouse, all built between 1910 and 1937. Restored in the ’80s, it’s now a striking retail centre housing ultra-luxe stores like Escada and Leone. 757 W. Hastings St.

The epicentre of downtown’s luxury retail renaissance is the intersection of Burrard and Alberni — steps from the cruiseship terminals and hotel lobbies, naturally. Look for: Agent Provocateur, Hermès, Wolford, Tiffany & Co., Louis Vuitton, St. John, Gucci, and the latest arrival, Burberry, which opened on the ground floor of the Shangri-La Hotel in the fall. Find a well-edited selection of women and men’s ready-to-wear from the Burberry Prorsum and Burberry London collections, and all the trademark accessories. 1101 Alberni St., 604-974-1110

The private-club atmosphere at Gotham Steakhouse is popular with visiting NHL teams and celebrities (recently spotted: Nickelback, Michael Bublé, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and the cast of Twilight). 615 Seymour St., 604-605-8282.

STATISTICS:

Average age - 33
Residents per block - 130
Percentage of renters - 50
Median household income - 35,009
Typical household - Singles

REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE:

#2008-1111 Alberni St.
$785,000
{Maintenance Fee} $565.43
{Specs} 1,135 sq. ft., 2 bed/2 bath south-facing unit in the newly completed Shangri- La Residences. Building amenities include infinity pool, fitness centre, and valet service.