An Afternoon in The Village

Stroll the seawall, hop on a kayak, and order up two scoops of salted caramel ice cream; The Village is yours to explore.

Is Olympic Village the “most sustainable neighbourhood in the world”? Hailed as such when first built for the 2010 Olympic Games’ athletes (all 2,800 of them), this waterfront community functions on recycled rainwater, green roofs, and even solar-powered garbage compactors. The area has since become one of Vancouver’s most desirable neighbourhoods for residents and visitors alike—unsurprising, considering its hip restaurants, parks and activity centres, plus a lineup of craft breweries just a crawl away. There’s plenty to see and do in “The Village”—and that’s exactly why we played hooky one super hot summer afternoon to explore the sights (strictly for market research purposes, of course).

Below, our guide to Olympic Village:

Start with the seawall.

Stroll the seawall with a JJ Bean coffee in hand. Look out for your furry friends in Hinge Park’s off-leash dog park, then spot a pair of giant birds in the plaza (that is, once they “fly” back home following extensive repairs in Calgary and China).

Pack in a paddle.

Next, hop on a kayak to take in city views at sea level. Note some new Vancouver landmarks: Parq, Vancouver’s casino resort, with its bronzed mirror exterior and curved roofline, plus the dramatic “Finger Paint” mural that runs the height of a recently completed high-rise northeast of the Granville Street Bridge.

Satisfy your cravings.

After working up an appetite, grab a bite at Tap & Barrel, Craft, or Flying Pig—or get in the queue for the newly-opened Brewhall. Its collabs with Parallel 49, Strange Fellows, and Red Truck are worth waiting for.

Make room for dessert.

Then it’s time for dessert. And not just any dessert…Earnest Ice Cream is *the* place to go for a tasty treat. While there are (too) many delicious flavours to choose from—including vegan and dairy-free options—we like to stick with the classics: salted caramel and whisky hazelnut. Mmhmm.

Interested in living in the neighbourhood? View our featured Olympic Village listings.