Popular Gardens in Surrey

"Surrounded by unassuming low white walls in Vancouver’s Chinatown, the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Chinese Garden can be easy to miss. But trust us — you won’t want to. Described as an “urban oasis of tranquility and reflection,” it was named the best city garden in the world by National Geographic in 2011, and that’s an accolade that’s hard to argue."

"The Dr. Sun yat-sen classical Chinese garden is the heart of Vancouver. This place reflects the cultural heritage and histories of Chinatown. The garden is at the heart of Chinatown."

"Having the highest point in the city, it is worth the trip to enjoy the view of both the mountains and the Vancouver skyline. Queen Elizabeth Park, a former quarry, has dancing fountains that delight spectators both day and night, plenty of green spaces, tennis courts, the Queen Elizabeth Pitch and Putt , and an off-leash dog area. Queen Elizabeth Park is also home to The Bloedel Conservatory, which has 500 tropical plants and over one hundred exotic birds."

"One of the last relatively unchanged areas of dune and wetland along the Kapiti Coast, this undulating 650-hectare beachside park offers swimming, walking, cycling and picnicking opportunities, as well as a tram museum and horse riding outfit. There are three entrances: off Wellington Rd in Paekakariki, at MacKay's Crossing on SH1, and off the Esplanade in Raumati to the north."

"Built in on a former quarry 500 feet above sea level, the 130-acre Queen Elizabeth Park is the highest vantage point in Vancouver, with extraordinary views that extend to the North Shore Mountains and beyond. But there’s more to Queen E, as locals call it, than just the vistas. With manicured lawns and impeccably groomed flowering plant beds, the gardens are the main draw."

"Get down on one knee surrounded by the beautiful blossoming flowers in the VanDusen Botanical Garden. This is the perfect option for a nature lover as the garden covers an impressive 55 acres of land and is outfitted with flowers from all over the world. If you’d prefer an indoor venue, the Bloedel Conservatory (4600 Cambie Street) is just a hop, skip and a jump away and is equally gorgeous."

"This highly popular green-thumbed oasis is a 22-hectare, 255,000-plant idyll that offers a strollable web of pathways weaving through specialized garden areas: the Rhododendron Walk blazes with color in spring,... Top ChoiceMuseum in Gastown & Chinatown"

"Cresting the hill in Queen Elizabeth Park, this balmy, triodetic-domed conservatory is an ideal rainy-day warm-up spot, as well as Vancouver's best-value attraction. For little more than the price of a latte, you'll find tropical trees and plants bristling with hundreds of free-flying, bright-plumaged birds. Look for the resident parrots but also keep your eyes peeled for rainbow-hued Gouldian finches, shimmering African superb starlings and maybe even a sparkling Lady Amherst pheasant, snaking through the undergrowth. The attendants might even let you feed the smaller birds from a bowl."

"It’s a giant greenhouse filled with tropical birds and plants. Come on, this one is just as beautiful inside as it is outside. Perfect for the rare triptych Instagram post- exterior/bird/plant."

"These Gardens are unique as they are a peaceful oasis within a busy shopping mall, but also draw avid gardeners to learn about plants suitable for their North Shore gardens. There is something of interest for everyone at any time of the year. Learn more about the gardens."

"This chicken joint located in Chinatown is pumping out the best fried bird in the city. On top of that, the Juke Box that we mentioned above includes a quarter slab of ribs on top of two delicious pieces of fried chicken, so you can get the best of both worlds. The sweet and spicy wings with pickled chili & peanut furikake, and the hot wings are (obviously) also worth ordering."

"If you’re looking for classic fried chicken and ribs, this is the place to be. Juke Fried Chicken also offers an awesome selection of veggie and traditional BBQ sides, along with a killer cocktails program. Little Juke, the brand’s newest outpost, even offers classic rotisserie chicken."

"A post shared by OEB Breakfast Co. (@oeb_breakfast) on Apr 13, 2020 at 7:00pm PDT. The Yaletown outpost of the Alberta-born OEB all-day breakfast spot is offering take out and delivery. Their epic menu is condensed, but still offers a number of their decadent breakfast poutines as well as their three-egg "scramblettes," plus waffles, French Toast, and sandwiches."

"Originally from Calgary, OEB (Over Easy Breakfast) landed in Yaletown last year and immediately became a hit with the local brunch crowd. Its virtual waitlist usually fills up immediately on weekends, attesting its popularity. Menu items include French toast, Belgian waffles, a wide variety of bennys, and classic breakfast plates."

"A post shared by Fable Diner (@fablediner) on Sep 17, 2019 at 11:32am PDT. Mount Pleasant's upscale diner is still slinging things like their Trucker's Breakfast and signature Pork Pancakes - and more. Check out their online menu to see what they've got and how to get it, as well as their option to help feed frontline workers."

"A post shared by Fable Diner (@fablediner) on Aug 31, 2018 at 10:49am PDT. Fable is exactly as it sounds: Farm-to-table. Located at the ground level of the iconic Lee Building, this modern day diner brings farm-fresh food and homemade delicacies right to your table."

"Mount Pleasant Fable Diner is a great spot to head for a solid plate of pancakes. If you find yourself at this gem, try the Roast Duck Pancakes. This dish features kimchi, roast duck, kewpie mayo, green onions, crispy business, and cilantro."

"Their award-winning cheesecake is often considered the best in the city. Based on a New York-style recipe, their cake is creamy, rich and not too sweet, especially given the welcome dollop of unsweetened and light-as-air whipped cream on the side. Choose from classic with fruit compote, blueberry, chocolate, chocolate-cherry, key lime and a rotating selection of other flavours."

"End your walk at Trees Organic Coffee on the edge of Gastown. It’s a great place to people watch, especially because it’s conveniently located next to an Instagrammable pink street. Not only do you get to watch people take cheesy photos, but you can take some of your own as well."

"The combination of the fluffy texture, the graham cracker crust, and the amount of love in it makes it incredibly hard to have just one slice."

"Because Michele’s Cake Shop definitely knows how to make it happen. With beautiful, creamy, fruity and unique cakes, this Chinese bakery hasn’t lost its touch since 1989, serving Vancouverites the absolute freshest variety of flavours, from Matcha to Chestnut and the out-right favourite, Fresh Mango Cake. These cakes are a must have for anyone with a preference for something sweet and moist, and look great with candles ready to be blown out on your special day."

"Pizza Garden is pretty dang good for being more of a chain brand of pizza. That being said, they have tons of locations and a large menu. So you can get your favorite pizza pretty much anywhere in metro Vancouver and you gotta love that."

"One of the newer kids to join Vancouver’s burgeoning “Yeast Van” brewery district on the east side, Luppolo is just as much about community-centric hospitality as it is about making good beer. Named after the Italian word for hops, Luppolo offers a selection of eight beers rotating on tap, so there’s always something new and different to try. From mixed fermentation batches to brews made with wild yeast and bacterial strains, Luppolo has something unique for all palates."

"This rather small brewery operation is serious about presenting customers with a good time in their tasting room along with a good tasting beer. In case you were wondering, Luppolo means hops in Italian, reflecting the Italian heritage of some of the owners. That’s not all you’ll see of Italy here either."