The 30-year-old entrepreneur shares her top Vancouver restaurants, outdoor experiences, and favorite local brands.
Mikaella Go co-founded a sneaker brand designed for life on the go—come wind, rain, sand, or other inclement weather. Her company, Vessi, developed a new knit technology that has amassed a following of 175,000 on Instagram, and was partially inspired by the need for the perfect travel shoe that can take on the unexpected.
But when the world came to a grinding halt in March 2020, she took the opportunity to get to know her home city better than ever before.
“Vancouver is such a great place to live,” says Go. “It’s so clean. The air is so fresh. The food is great, and it’s so multicultural.”
Go gives Here the inside scoop on the Vancouver she’s come to know and love—from amazing vegan dumplings to her favorite weekend trips in British Columbia. Then, check out Go’s packing list featuring locally made goods, like Vancouver-designed sustainable swimsuits, comfy athletic wear, and more.
Just be prepared, she says. “It rains quite a bit here, so make sure to bring your Vessis!”
Where To Dine
I’m a pescatarian, and luckily Vancouver has amazing seafood. Masayoshi has hands down the best omakase I’ve had. The seafood is so fresh and the chef is amazing. Nine Dumplings Nine Dishes is the best undiscovered spot inside Robson Public Market in Downtown Vancouver—I love their vegan dumplings. My favorite vegetarian dish in the city is the “Same Same But Much Different” pasta at The Red Accordion—you’d be surprised it’s made with cauliflower! They have great cocktails too.
Where To Stay
The JW Marriott Parq Vancouver is centrally located with any amenity you’d need for your trip, whether it’s business or pleasure. Also, the views are amazing.
Where To Drink
Bartholomew in Yaletown is at the top of my list—it’s just a super cute spot that makes great martinis. If you want live music and a great ambiance with delicious cocktails, try Guilt & Co in Gastown. But 33 Acres is absolutely a Vancouver must! If you want to get to know the Vancouver brewery scene, this family-owned joint is a great place to start. Their 33 Acres of Sunshine is my favorite summer beer. If you want to check out more breweries, you can also do a brewery bike tour.
Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
If you make your way to Granville Island (a small peninsula and cultural center in Vancouver) you have to go to Lee’s Donuts! It’s been around since the 70s and their “Honey Dip” recipe is a classic.
Finding Reconnection through Solo Travel in Vancouver →
Shop Local Vancouver
There are so many amazing indie fashion boutiques in Vancouver. Hey Jude in Gastown is a wonderful shop for vintage clothes along with other design-focused and sustainable/ethical products. But you can’t go wrong with Old Faithful Shop—there’s truly something for everyone here, from adorable kitchenware to Japanese knit socks.
Local Goods & Makers Shine on Seattle’s Ballard Avenue →
British Columbia’s Great Outdoors
The essential Vancouver outdoor activity is to rent a bike and bike the Seawall—the super scenic route along the perimeter of Stanley Park, which juts out into the inlet. There are several places to rent from, like Spoke’s Bike Rental and Seawall Adventure Centre.
In terms of weekend trips, Whistler Mountain is an obvious choice—for good reason. Just under two hours away, there’s skiing in the winter, hiking in the summer, and gorgeous views year round.
If you’re looking for some top-notch wine, Okanagan Valley is so gorgeous. It’s not as built up as Napa Valley, and the lake is beautiful. There’s great biking, farmer’s markets, and it’s just four hours from Vancouver.