The neighbourhoods of Vancouver are as vast and diverse as the city’s landscape. One of my own personal favourites has always been the historic area called Gastown. Known for its famous Steam Clock, Gastown is the oldest neighbourhood in the city and is the picture-perfect collection of old buildings and cobblestone streets.
Away from the hustle and bustle of Robson Street shopping and big department stores like Nordstrom and The Bay, Gastown offers an area full of independent boutiques and modern gift stores. Here you are guaranteed to find something unique to bring home as a souvenir, or a unique piece of attire that you will have on repeat long after your time in the city has come to an end. That’s why I was excited when Expedia.ca asked me to share my favourite shops in Gastown.
Check out these Five Great Shops in Gastown:
If minimalist design and natural hues are items you usually gravitate towards, then you’ll have to check out Oak + Fort. One of the first shops lining Water Street as you make your way into Gastown, Oak + Fort features stylish basics at affordable prices that are a favourite amongst Canadian fashionistas. Their location in Gastown is the company’s first brick and mortar store and offers customers a wide range of unique pieces (including jewelry) in a relaxed and airy shopping environment.
The iconic John Fluelog brand is synonymous with Vancouver and has a rich local history spanning 45 years- many of which have been spent in Gastown. The flagship store is a must see, not only for the shoes, but the impressive architecture of the shop which is situated in an all glass solarium-style building and doubles as Fluevog headquarters. Known for his unique aesthetic, each shoe is truly a piece of art. The designs may be an acquired taste- but they are definitely worth a look.
Nicole Bridger’s boutique is confirmation that fashion can be on-trend and environmentally sustainable. Priding herself on creating ethical clothing for the modern conscious woman, Nicole’s pieces are made from sustainable fabrics with low-impact dyes. Additionally, her lines are locally made in Vancouver (a stunning 90%+ of the Nicole Bridger line is made in Vancouver- with a small portion of work being outsourced to fair trade factories overseas). If you want to leave Gastown with a stylish piece that truly represents your visit to the city, then you must put Nicole Bridger on your list.
A modern day general store, the Old Faithful Shop is located in a landmark 1903 building on Cordova Street. This shop is full of old classics with a modern twist; think apothecary style soaps, pour-over kettles and linen throws just to name a few of the treasures you can find here. The care the owners have in the selection of items is noticeable and will have to taking your time as you peruse all there is to find in the store. It’s a great place for vintage- looking wares and gifts to bring home to family and friends.
The Latest Scoop was founded as a local Vancouver pop-up shop back in 2004 but has since become a staple in the city with locations on South Granville and in West Vancouver. However, they have returned to their pop-up roots with an adorable shop in Gastown that launched this spring. The boutique features an ever-changing mix of fashion and lifestyle gems that are hand-selected by their globetrotting buyers. It’s a must-see when waltzing through Gastown but be forewarned- I have yet to enter and leave empty handed.
Have you explored Gastown? What are some of your favourite shops?
*This post is in collaboration with Expedia.ca. All content and opinions in this post are my own.
