Vancouver has a mix of vibrant, walkable neighbourhoods, each with its own vibe—whether you want trendy cafes, ocean views, or a laid-back residential area. If you're new to the city, choosing where to live can feel overwhelming. This guide breaks down the best neighbourhoods Vancouver Neighbourhoods and best places to live in Vancouver with real insights on what it's actually like to live in them—pros, cons, and what to expect.
If you're wondering about the cheapest places to live in Vancouver, best areas for students or families, or a queer community, you'll find everything here. Whether you're moving from Ontario, Montreal, or internationally, this will help you pick the right spot.
Vancouver Neighbourhoods
1. Mount Pleasant:
- Pros: Central location with a young, hip, creative vibe. Lots of cool restaurants, vintage shops, cafes and breweries along Main. The cool area, a couple blocks off a busy street, is green and has a residential feel. My favourite area, the best neighourhood in Vancouver.
- Cons: Some areas aren’t well connected with transit.
2. Kitsilano (aka Kits)
- Pros: Right near the beach. It is considered very much family and upscale Yoga vibes.
- Cons: It used to be very expensive so a lot of rich folks. Can feel a bit pretentious, and less hip spots to go to.
3. Westend (Downtown)
- Pros: Close to downtown but with a quieter, more residential feel. Access to beaches like English Bay and Stanley Park. Centrally located close to everything. I loved living there.
- Cons: Parking is expensive there is no free parking, driving downtown is annoying. Expensive. For me, I just lived here too long. Not well connected with public transit.
4. Commercial Drive (”The Drive”):
- Pros: Hippy spirit, diverse population, and great food scene, very lesbian, connected to transit.
- Cons: It’s kind of disconnected from the rest of Vancouver, I just don’t have friends who live in this area, but other people expressed the same.
5. Fairview
- Pros: Centrally located with excellent views of the city and easy access to downtown, Main Street and Kitsilano.
- Cons: Generally I don’t think it has great cafes, restaurants and the rest. It seems kind of an in-between place to me.
6. Coal harbour (Downtown):
- Pros: Access to shopping, good transit connection.
- Cons: The bars and restaurants aren’t innovative and old school. Not really a vibe. A whole lot of empty apartments as investment properties.
7. East Vancouver:
- Pros: Probably the cheapest area around Vancouver. Can be residential.
- Cons: Some areas can be less safe at night (Downtown Eastside area), far from any cool restaurants, bars, etc. Not really near anything you would want to be near.
8. Yaletown (Downtown):
- Pros: Has social bars that are a mix of bar/club, can find something most nights.
- Cons: Feels pretentious and posh, upscale shops and restaurants that are expensive.
9. Shaugnessy/Dunbar/Kerrisdale
- Pros: Sometimes you can find cheap houses with roommates, close to Wreck Beach. Close to UBC if you’re going to school there.
- Cons: Nothing going on here, pretty far from everything, generally not well connected, a lot of old money with empty mansions.
10. Gastown:
- Pros: Some good restaurants, used to be the coolest place to go, nostalgic.
- Cons: Dangerous now, a lot of homelessness, and all the bars are closing. Touristy with the Steamclock. I don’t recommend living here.
11. Downtown Eastside:
- Pros: Nothing
- Cons: Homelessness in Vancouver is extremely bad and this is where most of the unhoused hang out, it is very sad to see and I wish there was a better system. It is unsafe and sad, I wouldn’t go or stay anywhere in this area.
Vancouver Neighbourhood Map
You can check out Hoodmaps, it is a bit hilarious and a bit negative, but it’s pretty accurate about the areas of Vancouver.
FAQ
What is the best place to live in Vancouver for students?
If you are going to UBC the best bet would be near the university in Shaugnessy, Dunbar or Kerrisdale. Kitsliano is a lot nicer and near the beach, but a little further.
What are the best areas in Vancouver for Families?
- Mount Pleasant
- Fraserhood (border of Mount Pleasant)
- Kitsilano
- North Vancouver
- Or in the suburbs
Where are the Irish communities in BC?
- Kitsliano, is where a lot of Irish love to be and reside.
Where is the Vancouver Gay Neighbourhood?
- Davie street takes pride in being a very queer street, there are gay bars, clubs, shops. This is where Vancouver’s Pride celebrations are held.
- Commercial drive is home to a lot of queer women.