Day off in Downtown New West
The best way to spend your day Downtown
If it's your day off, Downtown New West is the place to be. We have food and fun, enough to last you all day and night - here's how to hit Downtown right.
Step 1: Breakfast
Whether you live in Downtown New West, or you're visiting for the day, start your morning right with a delicious and nutritious breakfast!
For a meal prepared using all fresh and locally sourced ingredients, try sesame buns stuffed with feta cheese from Lou Lou Lounge, located just off Sixth on Victoria St. If Dutch is what you're after, Angelina's Restaurant is known to serve some of the best Dutch Pannekoeken in town! The Hideout Cafe (pictured above) is another great option: your destination for the best Fair Trade, organic coffee in town and delicious homemade baked goods.
Step 2: Relax and Energize
After breakfast, ease into the morning with a relaxing spa experience or yoga session at one of three different yoga studios of varying practices to suit your interests.
Downtown New West has many salons and spas to start your day pampered. Check out our full salon and spa listing to find one that best suites you.
If you're looking for a more challenging or energizing experience, try Hot Yoga New Westminster (pictured above); Yoga practiced at 40 degrees Celsius helps to release toxins from your body, leaving you feeling fantastic and ready to conquer the world.
If there's still time before lunch, check out Polo Health and Longevity Centre for an energizing IV Vitamin therapy session. Just one session will leave you feeling energized for days!
Step 3: Lunch
After relaxing at the spa or practicing yoga, you've likely worked up an appetite. Downtown New West has a vast selection of lunch options for any budget, diet, or craving.
If you're in the mood for sushi, you're in luck. Downtown New West has over 8 sushi restaurants: Bao Sushi, Hayashi Sushi, Hi Sushi Japanese Restaurant, Ki Sushi, My Sushi Cafe, Okonomi Sushi Restaurant (pictured above), Sushi Yen, or Togo Sushi. You're sure to find your new favourite sushi place in Downtown New West.
If you're more of a soup, salad, and sandwich kind of person, be sure to check out The Columbia Street Sandwich Company. The aroma of their daily soups and fresh baking wafts up to the BIA office, tempting us to try everything almost daily. If southern bbq is more your speed, try Re-up BBQ, which recently made Food Network Canada's "Top 12 Great BBQ Joints in Canada".
Step 4: Shop
I hope you brought your good walking shoes because early afternoon is the best time to catch all the vendors at the River Market. With 17 shops and vendors to browse, you'll be sad there are only 24 hours in a day.
If you're on a budget, check out the free activities at the Anvil Centre, on Columbia Street across the tracks from River Market. The New Media Gallery features super cool interactive exhibitions that are unlike anything we've seen in New West. Also in the Anvil Centre, the Museum and Archives celebrates the history and people of our city from time immemorial through to today.
Have errands to run? Our grocery stores include Best Season Produce Ltd, Donald's Market, Safeway, and Save on Foods. Between these four grocery stores, you are sure to get the best value and the best product available.
If gift shopping is on your list, be sure to check out these stores for locally handcrafted, one-of-a-kind gifts for that special someone. Brick and Mortar Living (pictured above) is filled with local designs, unique gifts, jewelry and nostalgia for the home. If you're lucky, you can even catch a Sixth Street Pop-up a few doors down, featuring a different shop every few weeks! Lofty Living offers trendy, unique, and inspiring finds – they have candles, jewelry, crocheted sweaters, and exclusive Lofty Living prints.
Step 5: Dinner
Downtown New West is home to many pubs and restaurants with patios galore. If you're early enough, you may even be able to catch the tail end of happy hour before 6PM.
Wild Rice (pictured above) is unique to Downtown New West, serving farm-fresh vegetables, Ocean Wise seafood, and hormone-free meats. Their patio has a perfect view of the Fraser River!
Aldo's Ristorante Italiano is in its 22nd year here in New West, and for good reason. His delicious homemade authentic Italian pasta is truly amazing, and Aldo knows wine pairings like the back of his hand.
Taverna Greka is in its 33rd year, and has been voted the best Greek Restaurant for seven out of the last thirteen years by New Westminster's The Royal City Record. Also with a breathtaking view of the waterfront, enjoy homemade traditional Greek dishes from this Downtown New West family business.
Step 6: Entertainment
Follow up dinner with a lovely walk along the New Westminster Pier Park Boardwalk: the best boardwalk around Vancouver! Catch a movie at Landmark Cinemas 10 to round off your evening and truly make the most of your day off in Downtown New West.
