48 Hours: A Staycation Weekend on Vancouver’s North Shore

A change of scenery, just for a couple of days—that’s all I wanted—without taking a ferry, driving for hours or hopping on a plane.

A weekend on Vancouver’s North Shore filled the bill and exceeded my (usually rather high, but in a nice way) expectations. Here’s where to stay, eat and stroll, over two relaxing days in North and West Vancouver.

Day One

A seaside hotel is a B.C. experience we should never take for granted. My husband and I checked into the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier in North Vancouver on Friday evening and were dazzled by our top-floor guest room view that swept across the red roofs of the buildings that make up the Shipyards District, across the water and into the twinkling skyline of Vancouver. We live here. And how lucky are we?

Dinner at The Lobby Restaurant was relaxed and casual in the hotel’s main floor restaurant, with a nice classic cocktail list and fresh seafood (try the steelhead). Plus, there are sweet deals throughout the week that will surely bring us back, like the two-course lunch for $25.

Losing daylight and ready to explore the evening’s offerings (especially leaving the car in the parkade and not having to drive anywhere), we left the lobby. Literally outside the door is the Shipyards Night Market, which takes place every Friday night until late September. The vibe was hot summer night, even though it was only May, with the market vendors set up, food trucks sizzling and a different band playing on stage in the beer garden every Friday. Dancing. Salty sea air. No pretense. Free admission. Why have I never been here?

Day Two

Coffee. The morning started with lots of it, even though the festivities shut down at 10 p.m. last night. That, plus brunch at the Pier 7 Restaurant + Bar, a short walk across the plaza from the hotel to a waterfront spot for an omelette with B.C. smoked salmon and lemon whipped mascarpone.

We spent the afternoon strolling through the Shipyards. So much to see, but I knew a no-miss would be a visit to The Polygon Gallery to check out Simranpreet Anand: Living with the Eternal in the ground floor Gallery, and James Harry: Eye of the Ancestor, an installation right at the entrance. Pick up the Diane Evans: Photographs 1976-2023 book that is an homage to the late and very talented B.C. photographer, instructor and curator.

Don’t forget Deckchair Cinema returns this summer for outdoor movies shown right on the pier. If you’ve never kicked back with a cold drink and one of the carefully curated films shown here under the stars, add it to your summer list.

Next up? A pop into the Lonsdale Quay Market, a place I’d not visited in years. The main floor food hall is great for a snack or lunch, and the Artisan Wine Shop for B.C. wines and gifts is worth a peek.

MONOVA museum and archives of North Vancouver is a stone’s throw away from the Market and a great place to learn about the region’s storied history.

The evening concluded with dinner at the Shipyards District’s newly rebranded restaurant, Provisions Italiana at the Seaside Hotel. The meal was lovely and hearty. My husband enjoyed their signature Roman-style pizza, while I tucked into gluten-free penne with beef cheek Bolognese and whipped ricotta. Starters were veg-forward with grilled broccolini and squash deliciousness, but the star of the show was clearly the branzino—always a favourite of mine on Italian menus.

Day Three

On our last morning, we took a walk up to Lower Lonsdale to Loam Bistro for brunch. The restaurant is owned and operated by a husband-and-wife couple that lean into local ingredients and interesting brunch dishes, like bone marrow omelette and a prosciutto and hot honey sandwich. The whimsical design, including a 12-foot tree inside the restaurant, made for a fun meal.

It was finally time to move the car that afternoon, but not too far, as a visit to the new Refine Fitness Studio in West Van was in order. Founded by two sisters-in-law with an approach that is inclusive rather than intimidating, the studio welcomes all ages and experience levels. Classes range from Re-Define (high-repetition, low-weight training) to Re-Align (Pilates-inspired movement) and Re-Balance (yoga), plus lots in between.

We got even more fresh air with a waterfront walk at Ambleside Park, and a deep breath of gratitude gazing out at the ocean, mountains and city skyline.

Back home in the city that evening, we were rested and restored from a North Shore weekend that delivered. It was a nice reminder that, sometimes, you just have to rediscover what’s right in your own backyard.