As we are easing into the fall season, I thought I would write about a spot in Vancouver that is a must-see during this time of year. Granville Island is a great place to go throughout the year in Vancouver. However, there is something extra magical about it during fall.

I would argue it is the best time of year to visit. Particularly because of the abundance of deciduous trees present. Their leaves start turning beautiful shades of red, yellow, and orange. Take a walk and admire them in the cool crisp air while we still have some sunny days to enjoy before winter sets in. By the time you’ve soaked in the vibrant hues of the trees all over, you’re ready to head inside to the Granville Island Public Market to warm up. Grab a hot chocolate or some other tasty treat to fill your belly. That’s a perfect fall day in my books.

Markets

Granville Island has two main markets, the Public Market, and the Maritime Market. The Public Market is always bustling with busy vendors and customers winding through its dense floorplan. The Public Market carries a huge variety of food. From bakeries to butchers to produce to seafood, the list goes on. There are also vendors selling goods other than food there as well. However, the Maritime Market is where most of the shops selling goods are. The shops range from selling art to clothes to toys to jewelry. It can be overwhelming on your first visit to know where to start!

Baked Goods

One food vendor that has gotten even more popular over the last few years thanks to a shout-out from Seth Rogan, is Lee’s Donuts. Seth visits Lee’s Donuts along with restauranteur David Chang on the 1st episode of the Netflix original show, “Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner”. On my last visit to Granville Island, I made sure to grab a box to go to see what all the hype was about. They offer a selection of both yeast and cake donuts. The lineup to purchase these delicious delicacies can look super long but it does move quickly. I can vouch that it is well worth the wait. These donuts are heavenly. I would recommend trying the Honey Dip (their most famous donut) or even the Sugar Raised to get an appreciation for the donut in its simplicity. They do carry a long list of other fun flavours that are always rotating. Add in a few flavours and you’ve got yourself a box full of pure happiness. They also have different seasonal flavours to try so make sure to stop by throughout the seasons! Learn more about Lee’s Donuts here.

Another spot to get amazing fresh-baked goodness is at A Bread Affair. They are recognized as the first certified organic bakery in BC. A Bread Affair uses the best ingredients and makes their baking in small batches. They even source their ingredients locally, using BC-grown wheat. You can get everything from loaves of bread to cookies to pastries to sandwiches. Try their world-famous grilled cheese. Or not a fan of classic “sandwiches”? Get an ice cream sandwich instead! We all know sometimes that’s the kind of sandwich we need. Anything you order from A Bread Affair you know will be made with high-quality ingredients. Everything is going to be amazing. Check out A Bread Affair here.

Savoury Foods

The market is also great for grabbing food other than baked goods of course. Head over to Duso’s for some authentic Italian food. Recognize the name? They also sell their products in certain local grocery stores and markets but Granville Island is their flagship store. The founder, Mauro Duso, came to Canada from Italy and was one of the first to own a store at Granville Island Public Market. Duso’s has a wonderful selection of pasta and pasta sauces. Similar to A Bread Affair, Duso’s also cares deeply about its ingredients. Their pasta is organic, and their ingredients are locally sourced. They love supporting Canadian farmers and are “the only Canadian pasta maker to use cage-free eggs” (Duso’s). You can still feel the authenticity that spans all the way back to the original Italian recipes these offerings come from. Make sure to pick up some tortellini and pesto sauce when you visit. Visit Duso’s website here.

Let’s move on to another savoury option you need to try at Granville Island, Benton Brothers Fine Cheese. This company was started by two brothers who traded in their engineering degrees for a cheesier existence. Since 2007 they have offered a large selection of cheeses from the classics to the unique. Their knowledgeable staff will help you pair your cheeses with whatever you’re making! Did someone say, charcuterie board? Their cheese is cut fresh off the wheel and you can be sure everything is authentic and has no artificial flavours. They have gained the reputation of having some of the best artisanal cheeses in Vancouver! Read more about Benton Brothers Fine Cheese here.

Shops & Artists

Now that you have some food places to try when you visit, let’s talk about some of the stores and artists that make up Granville Island’s Maritime Market. The Maritime Market is where you can find the creatives. There are paintings, sculptures, ceramics, florists, glass & metalwork and more to explore. You can find Aboriginal art at Eagle Spirit Gallery or the Inukshuk Gallery. Need some stationery? Head over the Paper-Ya to stock up on beautiful hand-made paper from around the globe. Looking to support local artists? Circle Craft Co-op is a great store to browse. It is filled with work from 130 artists from across BC. They have jewelry, ceramics, scarves, cards and so much more. The Maritime Market is a great spot to check out to shop for gifts. Never too early to start shopping for Christmas, right?

Another great aspect of Granville Island is that it’s so easy to get there. You can drive and pay for parking, you can walk along the False Creek walking trail, or you can take the bus or ferry. The two ferry options, the AquaBus Ferries and the False Creek Ferries are a unique way to travel to Granville Island (and even further along throughout False Creek if you’d like). I would recommend this option if you’ve never been on one before! They are cute little boats.

Once you’re there, spend the whole day browsing the shops, eating good food and admiring the views. With Granville Island being located underneath the Granville Street Bridge, you get views of downtown, Burrard Street Bridge and False Creek. I hope this blog inspires you to head to Granville Island this fall to admire the beauty of the trees and scenery and support some local businesses!

Please make sure you check on the current COVID-19 restrictions as they may be limiting certain vendors or hours of operation. See most recent information about Granville Island here.