Introduction
This working-class neighbourhood, which stretches from Clark Drive to the east to Cambie in the west, and Great Northern Way to north and 16th to the south, has become increasingly gentrified over the last twenty years. An influx of small-business owners have moved into Mount Pleasant, while condo developers have seen the opportunity to attract young professionals who want to live near downtown.
Lifestyle
On sunny weekdays, moms and strollers can be seen parked outside of coffee shops, while worker bees hold business meetings or toil away on laptops inside. Artists and musicians come out at night to frequent restaurants and bars, like the Cascade Lounge, which tend to attract more locals than visitors. That changes on weekends, however, when people from all over the city are drawn to Mount Pleasant’s shops and restaurants.
The Vibe
Most of the action in Mount Pleasant is on Main Street, where you’ll find hipster enclaves like Dandelion (a lifestyle store with a healthy record selection), Gene (a coffee shop), Hot Art Wet City (lowbrow art gallery), and Brassneck Brewery, not to mention ground zero for East Van vegetarians: The Foundation.
Meet the Neighbours
New condo developments are drawing more young families as well as singles looking for shopping and nightlife options. The neighbourhood fauna includes lots of struggling artists, many of whom have been making Mount Pleasant their home for years, as well as aspirational twenty- and thirty-somethings. Lots of long-term renters and some homeowners keep the coffee shops—Tim Hortons and otherwise—buzzing.
In the Area
There’s a terrific new library, a community centre, lots of churches, schools (including the Centre for Digital Media, Goh Ballet School and Vancouver Community College), and parks (including Guelph Park, also known as “Dude Chilling Park” thanks to a sign placed there in jest). For history, Mount Pleasant has Heritage Hall and the 65-year-old Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. Further south on Main you’ll find even more shopping, eating and drinking options.
1.4 km
Planes, Trains & Automobiles
Broadway and Main is a hub for buses, but to catch a Skytrain you’ll have to go a bit further north (to Main and Terminal, which is also next to the train station). Downtown is 10 minutes away by bus (less by Skytrain), anyway. South Cambie and Commercial are also short bus rides away. Mount Pleasant’s quiet residential streets are perfect for cycling, and bike paths run through the area.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
Mount Pleasant has lots of eating and drinking options, though these turn around—your favourite new restaurant might not be there six months from now. There are lots of little nooks and crannies to explore in Mount Pleasant, however, and you can find just about whatever kind of lifestyle you’d like. That said, some longer-term residents have not taken kindly to all the gentrification.
Dollars & Sense
Food and beverage prices are average for Vancouver, but savvy imbibers save money by filling up their growlers at one of the local breweries. Coffee-drinkers can cheap out at Tim Hortons or splurge at Forty Ninth Parallel (though even there it’s possible to get a coffee and the doughnut-of-the-day for $4). Mount Pleasant also has lots of grocery-buying options.
Featured Homes for Sale in Mount Pleasant
A hand-picked selection of new home and condos for sale in Mount Pleasant. For those who love the thrill of anticipation of getting into a brand new home or condo.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Forty Ninth Parallel
Forty Ninth Parallel offers both awesome coffee AND doughnuts—and not your typical, sit-in-your-stomach globs found in the popular chains but high-end, artisanal doughnuts. Almost always busy, especially on weekends, the doughnuts always fresh!
more infoDandelion Emporium
The Dandelion Emporium has a record selection carefully curated by the store’s music-loving owners. It also has a groovy selection of cards and gift items (like the Indie Rock Coloring Book).
more infoBrassneck Brewery
With such a diverse selection of beers, along with one of the city’s most sociable tasting rooms, make Brassneck a must-visit for any beer enthusiast. Don’t trip over a hipster cyclist filling up a growler!
more infoBudgie’s Burritos
Surviving on a steady diet of burritos doesn’t sound like such a bad idea if they’re from Budgie’s Burritos. The lowbrow art theme continues at this reasonably priced hole-in-the-wall serving awesome Tex-Mex cuisine.
more info8th + Main
Lots of clothes for him and her, plus a lot of other nifty items and knickknacks, sourced from all around the world. 8th + Main is a trendy addition to this already hip neighbourhood.