If you’re looking for fun things to do in Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighbourhood, you’re in the right place.
A lot of Vancouverites readily dismiss Kerrisdale as a dull residential hub, but we actually really enjoy visiting Kerrisdale Village (AKA “The Village”) from time to time, especially when the sun’s out.
Sure, Kerrisdale isn’t considered the “coolest” neighbourhood in Vancouver (Mount Pleasant, Kitsilano, and the West End can all duke it out for that) but what it lacks in nightlife and edginess, it makes up for in quaint bakeries and charming shops that make it a great day-out destination.
If bakery hopping, sipping tea, and going thrifting sounds like your idea of a good day, read on.
In this post, we’ll be rounding up some fun things to do in Vancouver’s Kerrisdale neighbourhood. Let us know in the comments if we’ve missed any of your favourites!
Enjoy an afternoon tea
Perhaps one of the most iconic addresses in Kerrisdale is the Secret Garden Tea Company, purveyor of quaint afternoon teas and a mainstay of almost every Vancouver girlie’s Instagram.
If you’re looking for a classic afternoon tea experience with tiered trays, dainty sandwiches, picture-perfect pastries and the most darling tea cups and saucers, this spot is a must-visit.
In operation since 1995, they are not only one of the most photographed teahouses in Vancouver, but also one of the oldest.
Adonia Tea House nearby is also a popular choice.
Go thrifting for a great cause
Second hand shopping is another fun Kerrisdale activity to add to your list, especially because a few of the shops donate proceeds to various causes around the city.
HOB Boutique for example raises funds to support end-of-life & bereavement care at Vancouver Hospice Society.
There’s also the Salvation Army Thrift Store.
Enjoy some bakery treats
If there’s one thing we love to do in Kerrisdale, it’s grab a treat. There’s just something about this neighbourhood that invites you to slow down and relax for a bit… preferably with a sweet treat in hand.
Luckily, there are several excellent bakeries in Kerrisdale to choose from. Faubourg for instance is a great choice for French-style pastries like macarons and croissants, whereas Saint German offers a selection of delicious Asian-style baked goods like buns and their famous Mango Cake.
Of course, it could never hurt to just walk around and grab whatever looks good. There’s tons of great options in the area!
Eat at Ryan Reynolds’ favourite restaurant “in the entire world”
It’s no secret that Vancouver is (pretty openly) obsessed with their favourite son, Ryan Reynolds, so when he declared that one Kerrisdale Greek restaurant was his favourite restaurant in the entire world, well… safe to say it made a lot of local headlines!
Minerva’s is a Greek restaurant that has been serving the Kerrisdale community for over four decades. Today, it continues to be family owned and operated, and clearly, their charms are not lost on Canada’s favourite Ryan, who has been known to frequent the establishment with his wife, Blake Lively.
So, why not give it a try and see if it lives up to the hype?
Check out filming locations
Despite being a relatively small and quiet neighbourhood, Kerrisdale has made its way into several TV and movie features over the years.
For instance, various streets of Kerrisdale have been featured in Once Upon a Time, Final Destination, and McGyver, just to name a few.
While Point Grey Secondary has been featured in Riverdale and the ‘To All the Boys’ trilogy.
So, if you’re looking for some (admittedly dorky) things to do in Kerrisdale, give location hunting a try!
Final fun fact: while no actual filming took place there, did you know the iconic teen movie Superbad was based off of Seth Rogen’s experiences at Point Grey Secondary? Wild stuff.
Go for a skate
Another fun thing to do in Kerrisdale if you need a break from eating and shopping is skating at the Kerrisdale Cyclone Taylor Arena, which offers public skating for about $10 per adult (including rentals).Â
From April to August, the rink gets turned into an indoor playground, meaning family-friendly fun available year-round.
Photograph the famous Kerrisdale clock
And if you’re looking for something to do in Kerrisdale for the gram, we’ve got you. One of the most quintessentially “Kerrisdale” sights in the neighbourhood can be found on the corner of 41st and Yew – the Kerrisdale Clock.
Over the past few few years, the clock has become a bit of a symbol of the neighbourhood, and a community hub in and of itself, with concerts in the summer and other special events throughout the year.
Fun Fact: This clock is still set back manually every year during Daylight Savings, by the same man who built it – Ray Saunders, also famous for his work on the Gastown Steam Clock!
Attend Kerrisdale Days (or one of the neighbourhood’s other main events)
Last but not least, if you’re really looking to have a special day in Kerrisdale, make sure you time your visit for one of their special events.
If you come in September for instance, you can pay a visit to the neighbourhood’s famous annual Kerrisdale Days, a fun weekend event that has performances, sidewalk sales, horse carriage rides, and plenty of family-friendly entertainment.
Or if you come around the Holidays, the neighbourhood is also quite well known for their cute storefront decorations and festive events.
Click here to see their events calendar.
Did we miss any of your favourite things to do in Kerrisdale?
Let us know in the comments!