Discover our locals' 195 hidden gems in Vancouver

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City Guide made by Locals from Vancouver.

Let's explore Vancouver’s hidden spots with Spotted by Locals! From scenic parks and cozy cafes to local breweries and historical buildings, our Spotters share the city’s true character. Experience Vancouver through the eyes of true locals.

Our Spotters from Vancouver:

Our Vancouver Cityguide - Made by Locals

Know your way in Vancouver like a local.

Spotted by Locals

✓ Discover Vancouver through the eyes of a local!

✓ Hidden gems that can’t be found in traditional guidebooks

✓ Our locals share their personal favorite spots in Vancouver

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Check out our latest hidden gems in Vancouver

Our latest Spots in Vancouver

Wall for Women

Interactive street art

Depicting a woman rising with newfound strength, this wall honours women living in or fleeing domestic violence.

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Art & culture

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Oct 3, 2025

Dolce Amore

The gelato mafia

They have a dedicated affogato bar that lets you customize your affogato with whichever ice cream you want and you can even add a shot of liqueur.

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Snacks

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Oct 3, 2025

Angus T

Fun flavour croissants

My personal recommendations are the black sesame and earl grey croissants as they are pretty unique and not flavours you will find everywhere. 

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Snacks

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Oct 1, 2025

Gifts and Things

Cute gift shop

My personal favourite parts of this shop are their tote bag wall and their section of mushroom themed merchandise.

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Shopping

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Sep 21, 2025

Catfe

Cat lovers heaven

Regular special events such as art classes, meowditation, and cat yoga also give you unique ways to spend time with the cats.

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Coffee & tea
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Relaxing

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Sep 21, 2025

Vancouver Library Rooftop

Garden and viewpoint

It has a calm, family friendly atmosphere, where children run around next to university students searching for study motivation in a different atmosphere.

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Relaxing

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Sep 21, 2025

The Dominion Building

Standout piece of history

At the time, it was built in the finance district to house the Dominion Bank. When it was constructed, it was the tallest building in the British Empire.

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Art & culture

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Sep 21, 2025

Mr. Red Cafe

Fresh Northern Vietnamese food

"Mr. Red Cafe" is the 'quintessence of Vietnamese cuisine'. This restaurant is just simply delicious. Let me tell you, it's not typical Vietnamese fare...

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Restaurants

by

Adelina

Wong

Sep 18, 2025

Fun Alley

A hidden colourful hangout spot

Benches to sit on and watered plants show that Fun Alley was designed as a place for people to hang out, not just a place to glance at and keep going.

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Art & culture
017-plant-1
Relaxing

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Sep 14, 2025

Jingle Bao

Colourful dumplings in the West End

Magnificent Seven — seven soup dumplings with different colours and flavours and their giant soup dumplings, which are served with a straw for easy slurping.

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Restaurants

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Sep 14, 2025

La Grotta del Formaggio

A taste of Italy

La Grotta del Formaggio, a Vancouver classic, offers hefty custom sandwiches, unique pastas, and diverse cheeses in Little Italy since the 1970s. Enjoy!

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Coffee & tea
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Restaurants
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Snacks

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Sep 1, 2025

Grounds for Coffee

Best cinnamon buns in the city

While they are a cafe selling coffee and various baked goods, the main reason people come through the doors is to get one of their delicious cinnamon buns.

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Coffee & tea
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Snacks

by

Rebecca

Heggs

Sep 1, 2025

Heading to Vancouver?

195 Insider Tips from our local Spotters

Authentic Stories by Real People

Escape the Crowd & Travel Slow 🐌

... for just €9.99

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Going to Vancouver?

✓ Escape the Crowds

✓ Find Spots nearby

✓ Authentic Stories

... for just €9.99

What to expect?

Authentic & Unbiased Content

Our local Spotters share personal tips and secrets about their city. Nothing sponsored! These unique insights can’t be found in traditional guidebooks. Discover the city through the eyes of a local!

Go off the Beaten Path Gems

We focus on hidden gems and unique places that aren’t crowded with tourists. Our Spotters’ tips help you avoid the crowds and have truly special experiences, far from the tourist masses.

Responsible Travel

By visiting our locals’ favorites and lesser-known places, you contribute to a more sustainable way of traveling. You support the local economy and reduce the pressure on popular tourist spots. And in the end, those are the best places right?

Hi! Nice to meet you.

We are Spotted by Locals. An online travel community publishing city guides in 80+ cities. Our hand-picked local writers and photographers create all the content.

Our 488 Spotters (and counting) live in the cities they write about, speak the local language, and regularly update their tips. Their insights help around 1.4 million travelers each year discover the hidden gems of cities.

With insider advice from locals, we offer a unique, sustainable travel experience, allowing travelers to slow down and immerse themselves in the local culture, beyond the tourist hotspots.

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Made with the 💚 of 499 Spotters.
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