A Taste of Provence in Yaletown

Our original plan for our first weekend in Vancouver had been to stay in Yaletown Vancouver – a trendy part of town overlooking False Creek.

Once home to the Western Terminus for the Canadian Pacific Railway, it had become a rather forlorn and run down industrial area until it was revitalised by the Expo86, a World Trade Fair with the theme, “Transportation and Communication: World in Motion – World in Touch”.

32 later it is a “happening” part of town with many trendy boutiques, bars and hip restaurants dotted along the waterfront. However the best laid plans of mice and men… for various reasons our pre-booked apartment in Yaletown failed to materialise and so we ended up staying in a hotel closer to Granville Island (see here for previous post). Not wanting to miss out, however, we decided to wander down to Yaletown one evening to check it out and find somewhere for dinner.

I don’t normally do food posts alone but the Provence Marinaside proved to be an inspired choice and deserves a special mention. Famed for its seafood and blending of the flavours of southern France with the abundant produce of British Colombia it was a memorable evening out – the food was beyond superb and the mainly French staff very friendly and helpful. Our waiter was from Montelimar in the Drôme area of southern France (famed for its nougat) and the sommelier, also originally from France, spent a considerable while going through the very lengthy wine list. Provence is definitely not a budget option but was well worthwhile for a special evening at the start of our trip.

Perhaps it is best to let the photos do the talking!

On the way back we walked past the Yaletown Roundhouse, home to the famous Engine 374.

Engine 374 pulled the first transcontinental passenger train, which arrived in Vancouver on 23rd May 1887. After being retired from service in 1945 it eventually found a permanent home in the Pavilion at the Yaletown Roundhouse, where you can visit it today (obviously it was closed when we walked past but fortunately still illuminated).