This ironic antidote to the digital age lures ink-stained locals with its journals, handmade pencil boxes and T-shirts printed with typewriter motifs. If you have time, make your own pin badge or just browse the racks of hyper-cool greeting cards, mostly fashioned by the store's friendly art-school-grad co-owners. Don't miss the tiny under-the-stairs gallery showcasing global zines.

A former pop-up favorite with a now-permanent Chinatown location, this delightful bookstore is lined with tall stacks of well-curated, mostly used titles. There's an impressively large selection of Indigenous-themed books, alongside good selections covering travel, history and literature – plus a bargain $1 cart outside. Love mysteries? Try finding the store's secret room, hidden behind a pushable bookcase door.

Head upstairs to this large, under-the-radar gallery space and you'll find a kaleidoscopic array of stands showcasing the work of 40+ Vancouver and BC artists. From paintings to jewelry and from fiber arts to handmade chocolate bars, it's the perfect spot to find authentic souvenirs to take back home. The artists change regularly and there's something for every budget here.

Arguably Vancouver's coolest record store and certainly the only one named after a much-missed cat. There's a brilliantly curated collection of new and used vinyl and CDs, and it's co-owned by musicians. (If you're curious about the red cat, his name was Buddy and, although he passed away in 2006, he's fondly commemorated via the handsome portrait poster behind the counter.)

You'll feel like you've entered a tranquil forest clearing when you open the door of this delightful nature-themed photography gallery. Cooper's striking work focuses on BC's jaw-dropping wild beauty, from coniferous trees to grizzly bears. Take your time and don't be surprised if you fall in love with a handsome image of a bald eagle perched on a mountain tree.

Proving the printed word is alive and kicking, this small but perfectly curated secondhand bookstore is a dog-eared favorite among locals. A perfect spot for browsing, you'll find tempting tomes on everything from nature to poetry to chaos theory. Ask for recommendations; they really know their stuff here. Don't miss the bargain rack out front. The store is in the heart of an area historically known as Book Row. Once you're done here, check out the other used-book stores that call this area home