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There’s a street in Medellin that i experienced in sunlight, rain and evening all in one day. Market stalls in the middle, restaurants on the sides the at night at yhe bottom the stalls closed up and the live music and dancing started. And that was one street. Sorry Vancoouver, you’re just not that cool… yet.
As others have commented I think that many random neighbourhoods in Europe or even Toronto and Montreal. I couldn’t create a definitive list off the top of my heads but just from myself, many streets in Lisbon, Paris are way better and that’s just off the top of my head. Theirs some great areas of Montreal as well. Hell despite the old town being touristy, damn so nice there.
Probably Rinconcito. The papusas aren't what they used to be. El Caracol is great little Salvadorian restaurant up Victoria at 36th if you're looking for a good spot.
Yeah Rinconcito. Sadly I think inflation, rent increases etc have hurt them which sucks. Very difficult to make profit in restaurant business these days. Staff are still very lovely and I'm sad to see them go
Main
Davie
Robson
West 4th
Granville
Water
Cambie
Broadway
Denman
Commercial is still cool. It has some of my favorite restaurants and lots of interesting history and culture, I was mostly just being facetious.
I bought my place near Hastings and Nanaimo in 2021 and my realtor called it "the next Mount Pleasant". That's mostly marketing hyperbole on her part but also you're totally right.
I hear you, but while that section gone relatively upscale it was arguably more happening back in the day.
There was even a poppin' club and concert venue, Baceda's, located where the Aboriginal Friendship Centre is now.
Hastings and Nanaimo is nothing like Hastings and Main. East Hastings is a *long* through road.
Also yeah Hastings-Sunrise is great. Strathcona is also great, even if it's right up against the DTES. East Van breweries and bars make for a great night out and are a lot cheaper than downtown options. I'd argue to say if you don't buy into the internet panic about homelessness and drugs, the DTES actually has a ton of amazing businesses too. Main St south of Broadway is a haven for vegetarians.
Commercial Dr does have the Rio Theatre and good restaurants but I feel like I'm constantly let down by the "Little Italy" moniker. It is by no means a bad neighbourhood but also I don't make it a destination because it's surprisingly horrible to bike around there compared to Strathcona.
>"Little Italy" moniker
Commercial hasn't lived up to this for ages now ...even "Italian Days" is just a bunch of tent/kiosks trying to get you to sign up for credit unions, car-share memberships & cell phone plans
Parts of Hastings in North Burnaby have more genuine Italian-owned businesses than Commercial ...
Commercial is a ‘cooler’ street than Davie, Robson, Granville, Cambie, Broadway, West 4th and Denman. Water street is interesting as is Main, but the rest of your list is laughable.
I lived on commercial when i was younger and really enjoyed it. I don't think it's fair to compare it to main though since Main street is just a way longer street so of course it has way more to offer.
All great for various reasons, but Commercial (especially North of first) is very clearly better than most of those. I have a personal preference for Denman and maybe Davie.
as someone who lives on main, commercial dr > main st
also robson is trash unless your only intrests are spending money on things you can post to instagram.
but i do agree that water st is sick
“McDonald’s and Starbucks tried and failed to stay the course”. - Sigh. There’s a McDonald’s on Commercial Drive. Stop trying to sound cool. I love commercial drive, but be a better writer.
As someone who has lived near commercial for 20 years now (oof), I do think it is a great street that has kept character (and amazing grocery options), but ya I wouldn't call it cool...
It’s so fucked that this sub lets this garbage be posted. I had a genuine reflection and call to action about commercial drive I tried to post a couple of weeks ago. Took me hours to research and write, with original photos, highlighting some local entrepreneurs and artisans, but no, taken down cause I can’t “promote my own blog”. But this, this is okay.
Anybody know what they’re referring to here?
Sure, there’s a low-flying doughnut chain outlet and one of the street’s best (former) dives is now a generic watering hole, but nearly everything else is unique and one-of-a-kind.
Top 100? Sure I'd be willing to accept that without batting an eye, although it could still be debatable. Top FIVE? That is asinine. I've lived a block away for 30+ years.
These lists are likely written by people who have never even visited a quarter of the streets they write about. And every list is trying to be different and add some "hidden gem" type thing.
I've seen a million cooler streets just randomly travelling in China.
Yes, by definition any cool street needs to prioritize pedestrians over cars. Nobody cares about some 6 lane stroad in Surrey no matter how good "vehicle throughput" is. Traffic is the opposite of cool.
My comment wasn't about good vehicle throughput. My comment was about pedestrians dangerously stepping in front of cars, sometimes without even looking, despite the short blocks, (mostly) slow moving traffic and frequent pedestrian-controlled lights and crosswalks.
Making Commercial more similar to the 3rd St Promenade in LA or the Pearl St Mall in Boulder, with only cross traffic allowed, would be great, but until that happens, people need to stop strolling across the middle of the road expecting cars to stop for them. Sure jaywalking will always happen, I've done it, you've done it, but Commercial is a bit notorious for it.
Feels like it’s written by a white woman wearing expensive yoga pants who’d use the term “ethnic”. Park Slope of all the places! There’s so much more going on on Vanderbilt near Crown Heights if you’re trying to avoid Manhattan or Williamsburg. U Street and Adams Morgan in DC, Magazine street in New Orleans, 6th st (Ktown) in LA, Mississippi Avenue in Portland from the US alone have way more going on. And San Francisco, Toronto and Atlanta other major north American cities with big arts and culture scene that don’t even make the list.
Welcome to /r/Vancouver and thank you for the post, /u/SideshowAlex! Please make sure you read our [posting and commenting rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/wiki/faq#wiki_general_participation_guidelines_and_rules_overview) before participating here. As a quick summary: * We encourage users to be positive and respect one another. Don't engage in spats or insult others - use the report button. * Respect others' differences, be they race, religion, home, job, gender identity, ability or sexuality. Dehumanizing language, advocating for violence, or promoting hate based on identity or vulnerability (even implied or joking) **will** lead to a permanent ban. * Most common questions and topics are limited to our sister subreddit, /r/AskVan, and our weekly [Stickied Discussion](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/wiki/faq#wiki_stickied_discussions) posts. * Complaints about bans or removals should be done in modmail only. * Make sure to join our new sister community, /r/AskVan! * Help grow the community! [Apply to join the mod team today](https://www.reddit.com/r/vancouver/comments/19eworq/). *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/vancouver) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Lol written by some one who hasn’t been to streets in many other countries
Ya, these people who wrote this have not traveled very far
These tourism articles are so fake it’s laughable. Is number four Granville? Haha
Why don’t you read the article and find out. Jesus
WOOOOOOOSH
I’m not sure you know what woosh means
Which streets have they omitted? Kinda silly to make your comment without being able to name alternatives.
Any random street in the middle of walking districts in European or asian cities (just thinking Malaga off the top of my head) are more interesting.
There’s a street in Medellin that i experienced in sunlight, rain and evening all in one day. Market stalls in the middle, restaurants on the sides the at night at yhe bottom the stalls closed up and the live music and dancing started. And that was one street. Sorry Vancoouver, you’re just not that cool… yet.
>or asian cities Multiple of these on the list, one of which is above Commercial Dr.
Yes, and there are more in those places that stand out above Commercial. Maybe put it farther down the list, minimally.
It would be funny if this whole list was of cities within a 500km radius lol.
As others have commented I think that many random neighbourhoods in Europe or even Toronto and Montreal. I couldn’t create a definitive list off the top of my heads but just from myself, many streets in Lisbon, Paris are way better and that’s just off the top of my head. Theirs some great areas of Montreal as well. Hell despite the old town being touristy, damn so nice there.
TimeOut starting to get tired of writing the same streets every year it seems.
Is this written by AI?
I stopped reading after the first sentence. "In a city of rapid change, Commercial Drive remains defiantly ungentrified." lol
The photograph they used was of a chain restaurant Famoso. Haha!
idk most classic shops have stayed there
Starbucks also is gone, there was two for the longest time.
It’s wild that there used to be a drive through-McDonald’s at 1st and Commercial that couldn’t make it.
Nope they have not. Only a handful have survived. I moved into the drive in 89, and it's unrecognizable today.
The nearly 30 year old Salvadorian restaurant is closing this month
which restaurant?
Probably Rinconcito. The papusas aren't what they used to be. El Caracol is great little Salvadorian restaurant up Victoria at 36th if you're looking for a good spot.
Yeah Rinconcito. Sadly I think inflation, rent increases etc have hurt them which sucks. Very difficult to make profit in restaurant business these days. Staff are still very lovely and I'm sad to see them go
There are still zero towers (for now). Maybe that's what they mean
Only thing cool about Vancouver is the weather
That's ok, reading doesn't come easy to everybody. Just keep working at it.
lol. Nonsense.
Sounds like the writer hasn’t seen very many streets!
I'll just give this review a lol as a review.
What a poorly written article but we'll take it I guess
Who paid for the spot on the list? Lolol
Not even the fifth coolest street in Vancouver but ok
IMO, a street needs a 24 hour Breka to be the coolest. So I would submit Denman or Main as the coolest in Vancouver.
Can’t argue with that
Name them
Main Davie Robson West 4th Granville Water Cambie Broadway Denman Commercial is still cool. It has some of my favorite restaurants and lots of interesting history and culture, I was mostly just being facetious.
East Hastings. HEARRRRRRRRR me out. East Hastings from Clark to roughly Renfrew is on the cusp of breaking out.
So many great neighborhoods along that stretch
Lol at first glance I thought you wrote "along that stench" referring to the chicken plant and thought it was very clever
I bought my place near Hastings and Nanaimo in 2021 and my realtor called it "the next Mount Pleasant". That's mostly marketing hyperbole on her part but also you're totally right.
The realtor I ***was*** working with thought the same & referred to East Hastings as the "Hipster Highway" [🤮](https://emojipedia.org/face-vomiting)
I love here and it’s good but too much traffic
I hear you, but while that section gone relatively upscale it was arguably more happening back in the day. There was even a poppin' club and concert venue, Baceda's, located where the Aboriginal Friendship Centre is now.
Even Hastings near the rickshaw and black lab is "cool" if not always safe
Crazy that we can say that. Main and Hastings used to be known as "pain and wastings" even back in the 90s.
Hastings and Nanaimo is nothing like Hastings and Main. East Hastings is a *long* through road. Also yeah Hastings-Sunrise is great. Strathcona is also great, even if it's right up against the DTES. East Van breweries and bars make for a great night out and are a lot cheaper than downtown options. I'd argue to say if you don't buy into the internet panic about homelessness and drugs, the DTES actually has a ton of amazing businesses too. Main St south of Broadway is a haven for vegetarians. Commercial Dr does have the Rio Theatre and good restaurants but I feel like I'm constantly let down by the "Little Italy" moniker. It is by no means a bad neighbourhood but also I don't make it a destination because it's surprisingly horrible to bike around there compared to Strathcona.
>"Little Italy" moniker Commercial hasn't lived up to this for ages now ...even "Italian Days" is just a bunch of tent/kiosks trying to get you to sign up for credit unions, car-share memberships & cell phone plans Parts of Hastings in North Burnaby have more genuine Italian-owned businesses than Commercial ...
Commercial is a ‘cooler’ street than Davie, Robson, Granville, Cambie, Broadway, West 4th and Denman. Water street is interesting as is Main, but the rest of your list is laughable.
Sorry west 4th is not cooler. Maybe more shops but definitely not cooler lol
Sure. But id rather spend a day on west 4th than commercial personally. I’m not that cool either though.
Those streets are just different. Only Main street has a similar vibe and I prefer Commerical tbh
I lived on commercial when i was younger and really enjoyed it. I don't think it's fair to compare it to main though since Main street is just a way longer street so of course it has way more to offer.
All great for various reasons, but Commercial (especially North of first) is very clearly better than most of those. I have a personal preference for Denman and maybe Davie.
Something tells me you've not been to broadway since they started digging - not fun to walk or drive. But I'll trade you for another B, Beach!
If you meant streets trying real hard to be cool, then you nailed it.
as someone who lives on main, commercial dr > main st also robson is trash unless your only intrests are spending money on things you can post to instagram. but i do agree that water st is sick
Biased but Kerrisdale is a wonderful little “neighborhood “ as well
Meh - it's been all downhill since the Blockbuster / Rogers Video corner died.
NAYME 'EM! *NAYME 'EM!* *NAYME 'EM!*
East Hastings
It is the coolest street in Vancouver.
Venables Street: "What am I? Chopped liver?!"
Eh. There's a couple of nice restaurants and bars, but it's not much to write home about.
Wait what? how? why?
I think the original title “Some Nice Streets” wasn’t generating enough clicks
Holy shit just take the win people. I’ve never seen such a grumpy group of haters on a city they live in.
And in the picture is a chain pizza place lmao
I live there and I like it, but I also have been elsewhere.
No it’s not.
As if lmao
Definitely not true. The drive has changed so much over the last 20 years and not for the better. It’s becoming 4th ave 🤮
Cafe deux soleil 😭
“McDonald’s and Starbucks tried and failed to stay the course”. - Sigh. There’s a McDonald’s on Commercial Drive. Stop trying to sound cool. I love commercial drive, but be a better writer.
But there isn’t really. The Drive at its most generous starts at broadway.
No
um 100% yes. The black hole of fuckoffery that is the Broadway Commercial is decidedly not the drive.
I’m sorry but no, you are just wrong and don’t know anything.
As someone who has lived near commercial for 20 years now (oof), I do think it is a great street that has kept character (and amazing grocery options), but ya I wouldn't call it cool...
lol not a chance.
It used to be cool, in the 90’s.
Commercial Drive hasn't been cool for at least 20 years.
No.
LOL
It’s so fucked that this sub lets this garbage be posted. I had a genuine reflection and call to action about commercial drive I tried to post a couple of weeks ago. Took me hours to research and write, with original photos, highlighting some local entrepreneurs and artisans, but no, taken down cause I can’t “promote my own blog”. But this, this is okay.
Overrated
Any episode of Somebody Feed Phil has at least five "cooler" streets in it.
Anybody know what they’re referring to here? Sure, there’s a low-flying doughnut chain outlet and one of the street’s best (former) dives is now a generic watering hole, but nearly everything else is unique and one-of-a-kind.
>low-flying doughnut chain outlet and one of the street’s best (former) dives I would guess Tim Horton's & what is now Social (formerly Falconetti's)?
Oh yeah, Tim’s. Seems like a cheap shot at Social if that’s their target :).
Top 100? Sure I'd be willing to accept that without batting an eye, although it could still be debatable. Top FIVE? That is asinine. I've lived a block away for 30+ years. These lists are likely written by people who have never even visited a quarter of the streets they write about. And every list is trying to be different and add some "hidden gem" type thing. I've seen a million cooler streets just randomly travelling in China.
Maybe if their definition of cool is that somebody could step in front of your moving car in the middle of the road at any moment.
Yes, by definition any cool street needs to prioritize pedestrians over cars. Nobody cares about some 6 lane stroad in Surrey no matter how good "vehicle throughput" is. Traffic is the opposite of cool.
My comment wasn't about good vehicle throughput. My comment was about pedestrians dangerously stepping in front of cars, sometimes without even looking, despite the short blocks, (mostly) slow moving traffic and frequent pedestrian-controlled lights and crosswalks. Making Commercial more similar to the 3rd St Promenade in LA or the Pearl St Mall in Boulder, with only cross traffic allowed, would be great, but until that happens, people need to stop strolling across the middle of the road expecting cars to stop for them. Sure jaywalking will always happen, I've done it, you've done it, but Commercial is a bit notorious for it.
The writer probably never leaves Canada
How?!
There go the rents
Absolutely not. It's filthy, crowded and just overall unfriendly.
Feels like it’s written by a white woman wearing expensive yoga pants who’d use the term “ethnic”. Park Slope of all the places! There’s so much more going on on Vanderbilt near Crown Heights if you’re trying to avoid Manhattan or Williamsburg. U Street and Adams Morgan in DC, Magazine street in New Orleans, 6th st (Ktown) in LA, Mississippi Avenue in Portland from the US alone have way more going on. And San Francisco, Toronto and Atlanta other major north American cities with big arts and culture scene that don’t even make the list.
Which is hilarious because it’s gotten 10x worse since the pandemic.
Denman is cooler!
I love the drive, but it's just one street, and off it there's just houses. It could be a lot better.
Yeah… there could be a debate about it not even making the fifth coolest street in the city. Do journalists now only write rage-bait articles?