Pedestrian-friendly Yaletown is Vancouver’s "little SoHo", a former red-brick rail terminal turned into a warehouse district lined with swanky New York-style lofts and chichi boutiques. The focal point of the modern-day yuppie enclave exudes a hip and inviting atmosphere - especially at night, when its sophisticated drink and dine spots are packed to the rafters with the city’s beautiful people checking each other out.
Walking along Yaletown streets provides a bounty of attractions. The neighborhood has plenty of pricey boutiques to window shops, art galleries to linger in, and lots of places to stop for lunch, coffee or a splurge-worth dinner. Some of the best seafood restaurants are here, as is Yaletown Brewing Company, where you can sample its home-brewed beer.
If you’re curious about the area’s almost-forgotten rough-and-ready past, follow the old rail lines embedded in many of the streets and amble over to the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. You’ll find a mothballed steam train that recalls the area’s original raison d’etre.
Yaletown, located on the east end of downtown Vancouver, is roughly bordered by Nelson Street, Homer Street, Drake Street, and Pacific Boulevard. Hamilton and Mainland streets are the trendiest arteries through the neighborhood. Yaletown is easily accessible via public transportation and within walking distance to downtown attractions.
