Whether you’re looking for aesthetic cafés or iconic Vancouver backdrops, there’s no shortage of Instagrammable places in Gastown to photograph.
Once the city’s original downtown core, today Gastown is like a little time capsule filled with cobblestoned streets, vintage lamp posts, and Victorian buildings that house a myriad of boutiques, restaurants, bars, and….. tourists.
But hey, in spite of Gastown’s popularity with visitors and locals alike, we still think of it as one of our favourite places for date night or catching Happy Hour downtown. Yes, it’s THAT pretty.
And if you’re looking for the best Instagram spots in Gastown, you’re in luck. In this post, we’ll be recapping some of the most photogenic places in Gastown that you need to add to your list ASAP. Let us know in the comments if we’ve missed any of your favourites!
Hotel Europe
Ah – Vancouver’s very own Flatiron building. While it’s not dramatic or imposing as its New York City counterpart, it remains one of the most Instagrammable spots you can find in Gastown.
This heritage building dates back to 1908, and is known for its unique triangular shape. Once upon a time, it was a hotel that housed passengers coming into the city from the nearby steamship docks. These days, it’s home to residential units managed by the Affordable Housing Society, and of course, a classic Gastown Instagram hotspot.
Looking for extra photogenic points? Wait for one of the city’s yellow cabs to pass by for a nice pop of colour:
Woodward’s 43 Building
While Hotel Europe is usually hailed as the best photo spot in Gastown, we’d contend that the W43 Building (often referred to as just the Woodward’s Building) is an equally amazing focal point for photos.
Standing at 122m tall (400 ft), this imposing flatiron style building was built in 2009, with a distinctive rust-coloured metal skeleton that sets it apart from the glassy skyscrapers popular elsewhere in Vancouver.
Fun fact: there’s a W-shaped hot tub on the roof, which is also home to one of the most amazing views you can get in the city. Unfortunately, it’s not open to the public, so take this as a sign to befriend someone that lives here.
The Gastown Steam Clock
This steam powered clock is one of Vancouver’s most iconic attractions, and also by far one of the most photographed places in Gastown.
Despite its 19th century inspired aesthetic, this clock was only installed back in 1977 to cover a steam grate…
As the first clock of its kind (and one of the few remaining steam-engine powered clocks in the world), it’s little wonder why tourists come here en masse during their visits to Vancouver.
The Gastown Steam Clock is beautiful day or night, but if you get a chance, be sure to come here for night photos, when the nearby buildings light up in gorgeous colours, creating the most photogenic frame possible.
TIP: Be sure to time your visit for the start of the hour to capture the clock’s hourly steam puff display.
Gaoler’s Mews
This red-bricked mews is by far one of the most photogenic locations in Gastown, but what many passerbyers don’t know is the area’s (somewhat) dark history.
Over the years, Gaoler’s Mews has been home to a jail, a fire hall, and an execution site. It’s also reported to be super haunted.
But hey, are you really going to let some ghosts get between you and one of the most Instagrammable spots in Gastown? Just look at that red brick wall, waiting for you to pose in front of it:
L’Abattoir
Perched along Gaoler’s Mews and Blood Alley is one of the most photogenic restaurants in the city – L’Abattoir, famous for its French influenced West Coast menu.
Besides excellent food and cocktails, they have an-ultra photogenic space, with high ceilings, red brick walls and unique black/white tiling.
If you’re looking for a photogenic place for dinner in Gastown, this is it!
“Time is Precious”
Located on the side of a building above 1 Water St, this simple little neon sign is one of the most Instagrammed spots in all of Gastown.
… but who exactly put it there?
Surprisingly, it was the Wilson family (yes, as in, Chip Wilson, founder of Lululemon). According to this interview with his son John James Wilson, the Wilson family owns the building and “wanted to use the visual space as an area to gift the city a piece of art.”
Perhaps not so coincidentally, “Time is Precious” is a marketing slogan often used by local fashion brand Kit and Ace, founded by… the Wilson family…… whose flagship boutique is just down the road.
Art or marketing though, there’s no denying this neon sign (especially at night) is one of the most Instagrammable places in Gastown.
Revolver Coffee
Gastown is known for having some of the best coffee shops in Vancouver. One of them is Revolver Coffee, which also happens to be very aesthetically pleasing.
The narrow, minimalist interior here is sparsely decorated with wooden benches and tables on one side, and an exposed brick wall on the other.
The star of the show though? A world map on one wall made up of 20,000 metal nails.
If you’re looking for an Instagrammable cafe in Gastown (and just a great cup of coffee in general), this one is well worth a visit.
Steamworks Brewery
A very underrated Instagram spot in Gastown is Steamworks Brewery, located just a few steps away from Waterfront Station.
The interior of this iconic brewpub is beautifully rustic, with a splash of Steampunk flair. Think wooden beams, copper beer tanks, artwork in the brewery’s signature whimsical steampunk style, and a great view over towards the North Shore mountains.
They even have a hidden gem wedding venue that looks amazing.
Belgard Kitchen
Lastly, while technically outside of Gastown, we figured we had to include the photogenic Belgard Kitchen in our roundup of Instagrammable Gastown spots.
Belgard Kitchen is a restaurant located in Railtown’s Settlement Building (which also houses Settlement Brewing and Vancouver Urban Winery).
Serving a wide selection of local fare, wine, craft beers and ciders, there are many reasons to pay Belgard Kitchen a visit… although for the purpose of this post, we have to say it’s a visually gorgeous space, with soaring ceilings and exposed beams that cultivate a rustic-chic look that you’d never expect based on the exterior.
If you’re looking for a photogenic spot for drinks and bites, this spot is a must-visit.
Did we miss any of your favourite Instagrammable Spots in Gastown?
Let us know in the comments so we can add more recommendations to our list!