Shopping Areas
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This area has many European boutiques, and used to be called "Robsonstrasse" because of the
German stores, delis, and restaurants. These days it's gone majorly upscale with designer
boutiques and trendy restaurants, including such names as Chanel, Zegna, Fluevog, and Louis Vuitton. There’s also some major name brands like Banana Republic, French Connection and Club Monaco that mingle with popular local boutiques. (Robson Street happens to have the highest retail rents in Canada because of its foot traffic.) The street is also rather famous for the corner with two Starbucks. A very nice way to spend your way to or from Stanley Park. Robson is also very handy if you are staying at one of the many hotels right on Robson. At the end of Robson is Denman Street, best known for its blue light poles. Denman stretches from Georgria and Burrard Inlet to Pacific and False Creek, and is home to many little boutiques and neighbourhood restaurants.
Granville Granville Street is the centre of the downtown shopping experience. The block south of Robson is home to the alternative scene, with clothing, leather and body piercing shops. There’s also several used record shops and an army surplus store for color. At this end of downtown, you’ll also find the Virgin Megastore, Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Café. Nearby, is the Pacific Centre, a three storey underground/indoor shopping experience with over 200 stores and services nestled among the Eaton’s the Bay, and Holt Refrew department stores. South of Granville is the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Law Courts and the transit mall. Gastown This district is the oldest part of Vancouver, dating back to its reconstruction after the Great Fire. The area was getting rundown until it was revitalized in the 60’s and now has lots of touristy shops along its brick-paved streets. The area is starts just west of the Seabus Terminal (which can take you to North Vancouver) near the upscale Sinclair Centre (757 West Hastings). The Funky side of Gastown is centred around the one-of-a-kind steam powered clock. On the 300 block of West Hastings nicknamed "Vansterdam," you can also find a number of hemp and drug-paraphernalia stores. At the eastern end of Gastown is Carrall St with a number of art galleries. The whole area is abound with lots of great restaurants and bars, too. Chinatown 
This area is North America's second biggest Chinatown, after San Fransisco's. Mandarin and Cantonese the mother tongue in 30 per cent of Vancouver homes, making Chinese the dominant "minority" ethnic group. Lots of interesting shops with really neat food items (so many varieties of fresh and dried seafood and mushrooms) You’ll also find inexpensive Chinese housewares and unusual Chinese apothecaries (offering time-tested herbal cures for pretty well everything). Weekend evenings (Friday to Sunday from 6:30 to 11:30) Keefer and Pender Streets become an open-air public market. Try the "Dim Sum" if you have some time for a long leisurely lunch break during shopping. Relax at the Dr Dun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden or at the Chinese Cultural Centre.
Yaletown This area used to be the city’s garment district, but has undergone a major revitalization since the Expo 86 world’s fair. It is now a trendy centre for shopping and nightlife. Its pretty quiet before noon, when the downtown lunch crowd hits, but picks up quickly. It can be amazing/ridiculous on a sunny Friday afternoon for the see-be seen crowd. Mainland and Hamilton (between Davie and Nelson) are the main shopping streets, with a concentration of home furnishing and design shops. The restaurants cater to both the corporate types and the many multimedia and gaming companies headquartered in the area.
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This island, on False Creek’s side away from downtown, has a real farmer's market, and lots of galleries, boutiques and touristy stores. It was an industrial area, revitalized about 30 years ago, to bring life into Vancouver’s inner city. The "heart" of the Island is the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, named for the famous West Coast artist of tall trees and totems. Some really interesting restaurants, sounds of passing seagulls, and views of yachts cruising by, both big and small...there's something special about eating seafood at sea level.
West Broadway, going east-west has a lot of interesting and less expensive stores, especially between Macdonald and Alma. Recently small eclectic stores have begun to outnumber the pool halls and souvlaki stands. There’s also some famous destination shopping, including the renowned Mark James menswear store (2941 W Broadway). Most of the evening action occurs around the Hollywood Theatre (3123 W Broadway). Going east from Cambie Street is the area called "Camperland," named for the dozen-or-so outdoor stores and outfitters, anchored by 30,000 square foot Mountain Equipment Coop (130 W Broadway). The smaller stores in the area tend to specialize in a single sport.
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