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Current and former students at Simon Fraser University tell us where to eat, drink, and pet cats in Vancouver.
British Columbia is host to more than 400,000 post-secondary students, and Metro Vancouver is a popular destination for students from around the world (one in every six students is international). This diversity has helped shape a uniquely rich and vibrant student community. Here are our suggestions for where to drink coffee, listen to live music, and more.
Socialize over good food and drinks
Alibi Room (309 W Pender Street)
Lamplighter Public House (92 Water Street)
Six Acres (203 Carrall Street)
Nuba (207 W Hastings Street)
Tacofino Taco Bar (15 W Cordova Street)
The Warehouse – Hastings ($5.95 menu!) (156 W Hastings Street)
Socialize with music and more
The Railway Stage and Beer Cafe (579 Dunsmuir Street)
The Roxy Cabaret (932 Granville Street)
Guilt & Co. (1 Alexander Street)
The Revel Room (238 Abbott Street)
Fortune Sound Club (147 E Pender Street)
CreativeMornings Vancouver/Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0)
If you have a sweet tooth
East Van Coffee Roasters (319 Carroll Street) sells fair trade coffee and handmade artisan chocolates. It is also a social enterprise supporting women re-entering the workforce.
PureBread (159 W Hastings Street)
Cartems Donuts (534 W Pender Street) is a good destination when an ordinary donut just won’t do.
Earnest Ice Cream (1829 Quebec Street) is worth the walk.
Spend an afternoon or evening just outside downtown
Visit Granville Island for the afternoon or an evening. Take bus #4, #7, #10, #14, #16, or #50 just 15 minutes out of downtown. Visit the Granville Island market, walk along the waterfront, or grab some food at one of the restaurants featuring local, fresh food. Want to see a great comedy show? Visit Vancouver TheatreSports for an improv show at 1502 Duranleau Street. Students with a valid ID get a student rate on tickets.
For the animal lover
Catfé (88 W Pender Street, inside International Village Mall) allows customers to pet cats while sipping coffee and nibbling a pastry.
Get out in some snow
If the weather co-operates, the three local ski hills (Grouse, Seymour, and Cypress Mountain) just across the Burrard Inlet will open in late November. Cypress has cross-country ski trails and snowshoeing in addition to downhill. All three can be reached on public transit.
Cite as: Current and former students at Simon Fraser University. 2019. “You’ve Attended Some Awesome Sessions. What Next?” Anthropology News website, September 24, 2019. DOI: 10.1111/AN.1269