Great food near downtown Fairmont Vancouver

Hi all, I've never gone wrong with your recommendations in Vancouver, but most of my food explorations have been in the West End. This year's trip to Vancouver has us headquartered at the downtown Fairmont, so it'll be a whole new food neighborhood for us. I'd love to get some suggestions for great sushi, Greek or Turkish or really unusual eating options within a short stroll of the hotel. Sadly, most of the visit I am hotel-bound, without a lot of opportunity to get very far afield, so quick and close options would be great. Thanks in advance!

[BIG jim]

If it's truly different you're after, may I humbly suggest Simba's on Denman. Not much of a room, but a fascinating menu (when's the last time you went out for East African?) and more importantly, a proprietor who talks you through that menu...and beyond. Warning: heed the hot sauce lesson.
http://www.simbasgrill.com/

[sballard]

That sounds really good. I've honestly never had East African, but am always looking to try new things. Not much opportunity for African food here in south central Pennsylvania. Thanks for the tip!

-Shawn

[PolarBear]

We stumbled on Simba back in July, thoroughly enjoyed our experience and would return. You can check out my brief notes:

http://www.chowhound.com/topics/show/...

Have a great trip and be sure and report back.

[sballard]

Thanks Again! I'm getting really excited now (Sept. 17th can't get her fast enough!). I've decided to arrive a day earlier and leave a day later so I should have time more time to explore the city. I'll post a report once I get back.

Thanks Again for the great suggestions!

-Shawn

[sballard]

I'm heading to the Vancouver Fairmont in mid-september. Never been to Vancouver, so I'm very interested to hear how you made out dining wise around the Fairmont.

Thanks in advance!

-Shawn

[wildebeest]

Close by the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is:
Joe Fortes Seafood and Chophouse. 3-5 minute walk. 777 Thurlow

On Hornby (leave out of the east doors to exit onto Hornby)

Bacchus at the Wedgewood Hotel 3-5 minute walk. (great hotel dining)
Rare Restaurant 10 minute walk (ex- Chef's from Joe Fortes and West).
Il Giardino 10 minute walk (Classic italian)
at the foot of Hornby and then east on the seawall is "C" and "Nu". 15 minute walk. (innovative food.)

Enjoy dining in Vancouver.

[sballard]

Thanks so much! I'm looking forward to trying
these places out. I'm glad there are so many in
close proximity to the hotel as I probably won't
have much time for exploring.

Thanks Again!...Shawn

[sballard]

Sounds like Sushi is the way to go in Vancouver. Do you have any suggestions for good Sushi within walking distance of the Farimont?

Thanks!...Shawn

[TheeAce]

For Japanese, you're likely going to be lucky with sushi. It's everywhere and it's cheap. the big thing right now locally are the many izaka-ya (Japanese small plates) places on W Robson, particularly Guu with Garlic and Hapa Izaka-ya. Shiru Bay is supposedly izaka-ya too but it's in Yaletown. Gyoza King is rad, it's open late and the gyoza are wicked. There is a great ramen house with a line outside on Denman and Robson, forget what it's called. Yoshi's at Georgia and Denman used to be the shiznit for straight up sashimi, still a classy place. Then there is En, on S Granville at Broadway. French influenced Japanese, not too pricey, understated and perfect. A local treasure. You can hop on a southbound bus on Granville downtown (a couple blocks east from the Fairmont) and get off at Broadway to go En or any S Granville restaurant. This way drinking is possible! Yay drinking. Plus I think taking public transport makes you feel like part of the city when you are a traveller (LA excepted of course).

Generally near the Fairmont:
Cafe Artiggiano: best latte's on earth, seriously. On Hornby at Robson across from Art Museum.
Bacchus at the Wedgewood Hotel for divine club sandwich-type lunch, also on Hornby just south of Robson (dark blue awning).
The Crepe Place on Robson near Burrard has some wicked sandwiches. Oh, and Crepes. With a walk-up window.
People will tell you to go to Cin Cin on Robson for italian. It's generic. Truly nothing interesting.

Have fun.

Check out Yaletown for great eats - head north on Hornby to Davie, east to Hamilton or Mainland. It's a pleasant 20 minute-10 block walk. You will find a number of great restaurants -
Amacord - Northern Italian
Urban Thai, Simply Thai - Thai food
Diner - Canadian home cooking
Shiru Bay - Japanese fusion
Coast, Blue Water - Westcoast seafood
Global - contemporary fusion
Chocolatal - for choco desserts and fresh made Mexican hot chocolate drinks (try the Azteca, yum)

Have fun eating!

I usually stay at the FVan too. The locals may have better recs, but when in a hurry for sushi I've dropped in to Tsunami sushi on Robson (it is on the 2nd floor, so you have to be looking for it). It is a conveyor boat (as opposed to conveyer belt) sushi bar (there are tables too), and while not fine dining, better than some of the other sushi-in-a-hurry places I've tried downtown.