In this post, we were exploring Kitsilano, also known as West 4th; as a destination for your holiday shopping and merriment. Not only do they have a large selection of unique boutiques and great new restaurants to considering. They also are paying everyone’s parking each Sunday for the month December coming up to Christmas day. And this removes the main hinderance of not wanting to make the trip down to the area. Free parking is available from Balsam to Fir Street on December 7th, 14th, and 21st, as a way of giving back to the neighbourhood.
To get the full show West 4th experience we dedicated a whole day to walking the area. And the following are a few of the shops and restaurants that West 4th’s BIA recommends.
Our morning started off at Provisions for breakfast. Popular as an early morning café in Whistler village, this is Vancouver‘s first location, and it is already just as busy as the original. It opened in June of this year, taking over Browns.
They serve the usual suspects of pastries like croissants and cookies, plus hot caffeinated beverages.
Their Signature cruffins are also very popular. This is a cross between a croissant and a muffin. You get the flaky layers of a croissant in the compact and travel-ready handheld form of a muffin. There are a few flavours to choose from like Strawberries and cream, Lemon blueberry, and Apple crumble.
The group appreciated that their cookies are kept on a hot plate so that they always come to you warm, and still soft and gooey at its centre. Double chocolate, white chocolate macadamia nut, and the table’s favourite: classic chocolate chip.
However, I am more of a savoury girl, so was very excited to see a Smashburger available as well. Those in the know, know this is the one to try.
What’s sets their burgers apart is the patty. This has to be one of the thinnest beef patties I have ever seen, let alone had in a burger. However, this deceptively little slice of beef has big flavour. These are specialty patties that Provisions custom orders at the butcher shop. And to it they add Wagyu beef fat for crispy edges. The results, a delicious mouthful that and easy to eat because you aren’t trying to wrap your mouth around it.
I Sadly, we did not have enough time to try their new spicy crispy chicken sandwich, which has been receiving just as much fanfare. This is the spicy version of their popular fried chicken sandwich, but made with the focaccia bread.
With only four hours and six stops to visit we were out just as quick as when we sat down. Thankfully, all our walking in between stops helped us to digest some, because we had two more food stops ago.
But first some light shopping at Arc’teryx, Vancouver’s popular outdoor lifestyle brand. We got a tour of their store and a look at their, at the time, jumpstart to Black Friday savings. It was busy, but we managed to walk away with a branded toque of our choosing. I went for a lovely, citron green as it is not commonly seen, let alone on a toque.
Next, we went to Ayoub’s, West 4th location of this popular Iranian dried fruit and roasted nut chain. As one of the older locations, I appreciate how they still use the individual bulk bins on pedestals. I feel that their opulence really adds to the overall shopping experience.
And best of all they allow sampling, so you can try before you buy. They make great gifts for host and hostesses, especially during this celebratory season.
All their nuts are roasted on location, their fruits are imported as is, and they have a bakery in Burnaby that supplies each location with its butters and dipped chocolate stock. The location’s nut specialist was actually trained by Mr. Ayoub 26 years ago.
Then it was time for lunch at Kitsilano’s first and only hand roll bar, Kagura. The concept is a roll of sushi served like a burrito, instead of being sliced up into bite size morsels. Each roll is hand rolled to order for the best texture and taste. You place your order and the chef watches your pace to make sure you are never without food once it starts coming.
During our visit, they were still in the soft launch stage, and offering an amazing discount for the neighbourhood community. Here we were able to try our choice of their hand rolls and found the seafood incredibly fresh. The favourite was definitely the Negitoro. Full review of that experience to come in its own post.
From here it was one more shopping stop, the last on our tour and the hardest one to pronounce: Fjallraven. This is the Swedish outdoor trekking brand that is sustainably sourced. They pride themselves on their life time warranty, and repairing items instead of making a new item. They are most well known for their bags and backpacks in a wide variety of shapes and colours.
We learned how their items are waxed to increase their durability, and that if you purchase any pair of their pants, the staff will do it for you free of charge. We also picked up a waist pack in the same material, branded specifically for Vancouver as a souvenir of our visit.
From here, the last stop on our tour was dinner at the newest location Fred’s, with two other locations in Ambleside and Schelt.
We made it just in time for aperitivo hour. So enjoyed cocktails, however was still full from breakfast and lunch. Full review of our visit and what we managed to fit in our bellies to come in a separate post.
In closing, we got a lovely look at West 4th through its food and shopping scene and loved how much more they have to offer.
And as taken from the press release:
“This December, Kitsilano’s West 4th Avenue is bringing back the magic of the holidays the old-fashioned way – with connection, community and a dash of nostalgia. From free parking and cozy café gift cards to daily giveaways and heartfelt stories from local shop owners, the Kitsilano 4th Avenue Business Improvement Association (BIA) invites Vancouverites to slow down, shop local, and rediscover the joy of meaningful moments.”
Celebrate the Little Things
This year’s campaign – “A West 4th Kind of Christmas: Connection, Not Clicks” – celebrates the simple pleasures that make shopping Kitsilano truly special. Across the neighbourhood, festive storefronts, familiar faces, and the scent of freshly brewed coffee set the scene for a season that’s as heartwarming as it is local.
Free Parking Sundays – Enjoy free two-hour metered parking on December 7th, 14th and 21st from 9 am to 6 pm between Balsam Street and Fir Street. Perfect for an stress-free shopping experience while you check off your gift list. Find more details here.
Kitsmas Crew Sunday Giveaways – Watch for our cheerful Kitsmas Crew spreading joy with $3,000 worth of café gift cards to some of West 4th’s favourite spots, including Cowdog, Silk Road Tea, Their There, Lumine, Provisions, Nuttea, Ooh La La, Purebread, TurF and 49th Parallel/Lucky’s Donuts.
24 Days of Giveaways – From December 1st to 24th, follow @shopwest4th on Instagram for daily giveaways, exclusive stories, and interviews with beloved local business owners – sharing what the holidays mean to them and their favourite finds for gifting season.
