Greater Vancouver, BC Tourism Guide with hotels, events and attraction in the historic city of New Westminster.
Shop Historic Downtown
Downtown New Westminster was the first commercial area of the city. Its proximity to the river and steamboats ensured a steady supply of goods and settlers. Other parts of the city had small commercial areas but this was the central shopping area for many years. The Great Fire of 1898 wiped out the downtown core but it rebounded quickly. Major stores, theatres, hotels, restaurants, and even an opera house made historical downtown the place to be.
Today, Downtown is known for its wide range of shops including antique stores and wedding shops. Potential brides and grooms from all over the Lower Mainland know that Downtown New Westminster is the place to visit to create the wedding dreams are made of. Bliss Bridal, Whiteday Wedding, The Bridal Gallery and Lisa’s Bridal Salon are just a few of the dozens of bridal shops that call Columbia Street home. Yet Downtown New Westminster is much more than tulle and tuxedos.
Against the backdrop of the iconic Army and Navy department store (502 Columbia Street,) remarkable growth is afoot. New retailers, galleries, and boutiques are calling Columbia and Front Street, the main downtown thoroughfares, home.
More specialty stores with products as varied as maps, specialty papers, bamboo, antiques and more are moving in, creating an eclectic mix similar to Vancouver’s Broadway corridor, all with a small town charm. Traffic in the area is kept to minimum due to posted 30km speed limits, making this a great area to park and take a stroll.
A delightful eatery, Heritage Grill (447 Columbia) is a great spot to begin your Downtown exploration. Offering an eclectic West Coast / European menu this local hot spot serves up live music every night. Whether it be lunch or dinner Heritage offers your favourite mains with a unique twist: seared halibut with mango salsa, chorizo sausage penne marinara or the delectable Heritage lamb burger – all amazingly priced under $9.99.
There are a number of other eateries located downtown. Take a walk and you’ll be sure to find something that tempts your palate: Taverna Greka (326 Columbia,) Stefanos Restaurant (315 Columbia,) Green’s Deli (412 Columbia,) The Old Spaghetti Factory (just off Columbia, at 50 Eighth Street) and The Keg (800 Columbia) in the restored train station, to name a few. In Columbia Square (1005 Columbia) you’ll find Boston Pizza, Cockney Kings Fish and Chips, as well as the famous Burger Heaven (77 – 10th Street) across the street.
If you are looking for a few (hundred) laughs, visit Lafflines Comedy Club (26 – 4th Street,) open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Lafflines has hosted international and local comedians and comedy troupes at their New Westminster location for nearly 20 years.
Looking for espresso? Tucked behind the Provincial Law Courts, just one block up from Columbia, you’ll find The Hideout Café (716 Carnarvon Street) – a newly opened coffee house serving locally roasted espresso, old-fashioned milkshakes, incredible salads, paninis, wraps, and pastries. Of course there’s also Starbucks conveniently located on the main drive: 601 Columbia.
Next to Starbucks, you'll find Drink Urban Lounge (609 Columbia Street) - New Westminster's hottest martini bar! Enjoy a large selection of martinis and cocktails in a chic urban decor. Great spot with a group of friends to start off the night.
Back on the 600-block of Columbia Street you’ll find three fabulous shops side-by-side: Lofty Living Furniture Co. (610 Columbia,) The Urban Gypsy and Polkadot (616 Columbia,) a New West hot spot for women’s fashion, direct from LA, New York and Milan.
On the flip side of this hip new growth, New Westminster is also a hot spot for antiquing. It’s no surprise considering the city’s rich historical past. On Columbia Street you’ll find Collector’s Choice Antique Mall (659 Columbia) boasting 1500 square feet of furniture and collectibles, Scholars Quay Antiques (554 Columbia Street), as well as historic Copp’s Shoes (638 Columbia,) British Columbia’s oldest shoe store.
Plans are in place for a new Downtown Arts & Conference centre and a number of new residential and commercial developments are under construction. Keep your eyes open for many exciting new developments...
