Vancouver Arts and Culture Gallery Row

If you love art, good food and good theatre, then this is your travel itinerary. It starts at the Vancouver Art Gallery, a world-renowned venue for both local and international art. Then it takes you through Gallery Row, some of the city's most exclusive private galleries. By the end of this itinerary, you're enjoying good food and getting ready to take in some theatre.

Location: This travel itinerary starts in the downtown core, then continues over the Granville Street Bridge to the South Granville neighborhood.

Fact: Did you know there are over 100 art galleries around Vancouver, British Columbia?

10:00 a.m.
Vancouver Art Gallery
750 Howe Street
between Robson & Georgia
(604) 662-4719
Call ahead to learn of the VAG’s current exhibit.
Its permanent collection includes an exquisite collection of Emily Carr paintings, which capture the majesty of the province’s wilderness.

1:00 p.m.
Rest your feet at the VAG’s café or patio. Enjoy a bite and relax.
Liked something you saw? Don’t miss the VAG’s gallery shop.

2:00 p.m.
Travel to South Granville. You have three options: cab, bus or walk.

Cab: Grab a taxi and ask to go to 7th Avenue and Fir Street.

Bus: Walk a block and a half west (along Robson or Georgia) to Granville Street and catch a bus traveling south (the 16 Arbutus or 20 Granville).

Getting around: Get off the bus at 7th Avenue (second stop after the bridge, or just ask the bus driver to let you off at 7th). Go to the corner of 7th and Granville. Turn west. Walk most of the way down the block to the Diane Farris Gallery at 1590 West 7th Avenue.

Walk: This will be about a 40-minute walk. If the weather is nice, you’ll have a spectacular view of English Bay and Granville Island as you cross the bridge.

On Howe Street, head south. Continue south until you read the Granville Street Bridge on-ramp. Walk across the Granville Street Bridge using the sidewalk on the right side of the bridge. As you come to the end of the bridge, you’ll be on an off-ramp. Cross at the pedestrian crossing of the Fourth Avenue exit, to follow the Fir Street exit. Continue along the Fir Street exit. The off-ramp ends at 7th Avenue
and Fir.

At the corner of 7th and Fir, walk east to the Diane Farris Gallery at 1590 West 7th Avenue.

In South Granville
There are several private art galleries in this area whose exhibits are changing regularly.

Diane Farris Gallery
1590 West 7th Avenue (between Fir and Granville)
604-737-2629

Walk east to the end of the block and Granville Street.

This is Gallery Row.

Between 6th and 8th, you have several galleries to enjoy.

4:00 p.m.
Petley Jones Gallery 2236 Granville Street 604-732-5353
Monte Clark Gallery 2339 Granville Street 604-730-5000
Marilyn Mylrea Studio 2341 Granville Street 604-736-2450
Continue south along Granville. Cross Broadway (which is considered 9th Avenue). Stroll up Granville to 15th Avenue. There are other galleries along the way, as well as some great shopping.

5:00 p.m.
Ready for something to eat?
If you like Indian food, it doesn’t get any better than Vij’s.
Go to 11th and Granville. Vij’s is about 50 metres east on the south side of 11th Avenue.

Vij’s 1480 West 11th Avenue 604-736-6664
Hours: from 5:00pm. It doesn’t take reservations. So if you want to be seated before 9pm, you need to arrive early and plan to wait. But it’s well worth it.
If you have plans for the theatre tonight and would like something lighter or faster, try Rangoli, Vij’s cafeteria-style takeout alternative next door.

Rangoli 1488 West 11th Avenue.

Alternative:

Bin 942 1521 West Broadway (Broadway just west of Granville)

Known for its tapas and small dishes, Bin 942 is perfect for pre-theatre nibbles. Or have a few plates and make a meal of it.

Hours: from 5:00 pm. It doesn’t accept reservations.