The 9 Best Architectural Buildings in Downtown, Canada

August 3, 2021 Vivienne Hutton

Vancouver was founded as “Gastown” by an Englishman with a penchant for beer and storytelling. Today Gastown is a historic section of the Canadian metropolis, and the lively pubs still reflect the area’s former status as a sort of community drinking center. The city’s forests, grand parks, and impressive suspension bridge beckon travelers to explore them, as do the city’s shops and museums. Relive the glory of the 2010 Winter Games with visits to Olympic venues and the marvelous Olympic Cauldron.
Restaurants in Vancouver

1. Marine Building

355 Burrard Street, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 2G8 Canada +1 604-684-4819 http://www.vancouverhistory.ca/archives_marine_building.htm
Excellent
67%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 458 reviews

Marine Building

Reviewed By APP06 - Cambridge, United Kingdom

With so many new highrise buildings going up in Downtown Vancouver you could be forgiven for missing this architectural gem. In fact we nearly did but we were drawn by the impressive entrance (see photo) containing such intricate detail. Once there we read the informative plaque and then went inside to be greeted by a most impressive Art Deco interior. Completed just before major recession hit there is so much impressive detail inside the building including the airy windows and the lifts. We spent a pleasant 20 minutes or so looking around and there is no charge so why not have a look? A pleasant oasis of Old Vancouver amidst so much of the new!

2. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

578 Carrall St Chinatown, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 5K2 Canada +1 604-662-3207 [email protected] http://vancouverchinesegarden.com
Excellent
37%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
7%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 1,549 reviews

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden

The Garden is temporarily closed and will reopen in 2021. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is a site of cultural heritage, learning, and reflection in Vancouver's historic Chinatown. Modeled after Ming Dynasty private scholar’s gardens, it is the first of its kind built outside of China. This neighbourhood gem has been named one of the world's "Top City Gardens" by National Geographic.

Reviewed By stellamarina00

This is a small, peaceful place you can explore at your own pace. I think the small size is actually a pro. The guide was really great, and unless you are very knowledgeable on traditional Chinese culture, symbolism etc., I strongly recommend taking the guided tour. When I visited the tea ceremony was unfortunately not available. I would come back in the future both for that and to see the garden in a different season (still enjoyable in winter though).

3. Cathedral Place

Cathedral Place 1118-925 Georgia St W, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3L2 Canada +1 604-684-0925 http://www.holyrosarycathedral.org
Excellent
30%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
20%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 10 reviews

Cathedral Place

Reviewed By Samson360 - Vancouver, Canada

Located in the busy Vancouver City Centre, visitors are easy to find it at West George Street and Hornby Street. It is a 23-story building mixed with commercial and cultural components. The sitting area at the ground floor is comfortable. The cafe inside the lobby provides a good atmosphere and you may sit there, enjoy a cup of coffee while browsing at the beautiful decoration. This is really a gem in this famous Downtown area.

4. Waterfront Station

601 Cordova St W, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1G1 Canada
Excellent
31%
Good
57%
Satisfactory
11%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 185 reviews

Waterfront Station

Reviewed By pratiknruparel - Calgary, Canada

This is the first/last station for the Vancouver sky-train! Very nice architecture and very scenic! Could be crowded if visited during certain time of the day but still worth visiting!

5. Hudson Bay Company

674 Granville Street, Vancouver, British Columbia Canada +1 604-681-6211
Excellent
11%
Good
67%
Satisfactory
22%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 9 reviews

Hudson Bay Company

6. Hotel Europe

43 Powell St, Vancouver, British Columbia V6A 1E9 Canada
Excellent
7%
Good
54%
Satisfactory
39%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 28 reviews

Hotel Europe

Once billed as the best hotel in the city, this 1908 flatiron building is one of the world's best examples of this style of triangular architecture. Now used for government-subsidized housing and not open to the public, the hotel still has its original Italian tile work and lead-glass windows. The glass tiles in the sidewalk on Alexander Street once provided light for an underground saloon.

Reviewed By WorldTravelers34 - Chicago, United States

The six-storey flatiron building at the convergence of Water, Alexander and Powell Streets in Gastown is the old Hotel Europe. It's also known as the Angelo Calori Building, after the hotelier who had it built in 1909. The areaways were filled in and bricked up many years ago. What remains of the cellar is used for storage. And the upper floors of the building were converted into subsidized housing units in 1983. Some locals believe that The Hotel Europe houses one ghost for sure and possibly two.

7. The Sun Tower

Sun Tower 128 Pender St W, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1R8 Canada
Excellent
29%
Good
14%
Satisfactory
57%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 7 reviews

The Sun Tower

8. Sam Kee Building

8 Pender St W, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 1R5 Canada +1 604-669-7777 http://www.jackchow.com/Jack_Chow_Insurance/Home.html
Excellent
19%
Good
38%
Satisfactory
29%
Poor
5%
Terrible
9%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 21 reviews

Sam Kee Building

9. HSBC Building

885 Georgia St W, Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3E8 Canada
Excellent
0%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
50%
Poor
7%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

3.0 based on 14 reviews

HSBC Building

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