- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
Kitsilano Beach
Category: Active Life Beaches Beaches [Edit]
1500 Yew StVancouver, BC V6K 1C3
Neighbourhood: Kitsilano
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
32 reviews for Kitsilano Beach
32 reviews in English
-
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
I like Kits beach, but I have to say I prefer it in the winter and at night.
I do find myself enjoying the sun on Kits beach from time to time, but more frequently I end up there late at night or in the middle of the night.
The playground is fun, the beach is lovely and it's all best enjoyed when there aren't a million people or kids.
This is also the best place in the Lower Mainland to watch the sun rise. -
Review from Jon L.
9/23/2011 2 photos
Kitsilano is not like any of the beaches in California or Hawaii that I have visited. But it is comparatively good for a Pacific Northwest beach. There is actually a large area with sand. I would not call any land by the water as a beach. It needs to have a lot of sand by the water.
I did not venture onto the sand though. I stayed in the grassy area of the park. In addition to the beach, there is a giant (Olympic-sized?) pool in the park. Unfortunately, it was closed and full of seabirds nesting on top of it.
Parking is somewhat available. Was available to find a space on the street by the park. Though I think it might be more difficult to come by on warm and sunny days.
For the neighborhood it is in, I think this is a great park to have. Kitsilano seems to be a pretty eclectic area and this place fits right in. It has a great view of downtown Vancouver and the West End. Though I found it to be so-so compared to all of the other beaches I have visited.Listed in: Parks for Recreation
-
Review from Hilda L.
8/16/2011
On my recent venture to this part of town, I noticed 2 things:
1) I don't see a lot of Asians.. it's rare for Asians to be a minority anywhere in Vancouver.
2) Everyone here is good looking. I mean, really good looking. They look like they are all models and just stepped out of a photoshoot. And everyone is showing quite a lot of skin. And they certainly have the bodies to do so.
Needless to say, I feel a little inadequate to hang out here.
But the eye candy sure is worth it. Excuse me while I go wipe my drool. -
Review from Trish W.
Vancouver, BC
1/29/2012
The landscape and geographical location of this beach are very nice. However, it draws a crowd of which I am not a big fan. This is the kind of beach you go to and see people wearing necklaces because it matches their bikini, and where people wear high heels, rather than flip-flops. I generally believe that the usual clientele here couldn't decide if they wanted to go to the beach or the nightclub. So they went to Kits Beach.
That all said, it's a lovely place to spend an evening, when all the chachi people have gone to the nightclubs. It also has a nice grassy area and a large swimming pool.
Definitely far from the best beach in Vancouver though! -
Review from Roanna Z.
7/9/2011 2 photos
We threw a couple of picnic blankets down on the grass in Hadden Park just up from the beach and sat half in the sun and with the shadows of the trees protecting us from any possible sun-burn. It was perfect!
I took a walk on the beach and enjoyed the crunching gravel and crushed shell sounds underfoot, even with the perfect weather the beach wasn't crowded at all. I walked toward the Marine Museum and past to the dog off leash park. Twenty dogs were out there enjoying a doggy club med.
Heavenly fur-family enjoying their freedom.
I'd come back here with a picnic anytime!
There are toilets nearby too. -
Review from S R.
5/8/2011
On a nice day, there are few beaches I'd rather spend a day at. Granted, nice days are a little harder to come by up here, but I think it makes this place even more vibrant on a sunny weekend. People here appreciate good weather and don't take it for granted.
Some of the negative reviews seem to have unfair expectations. If you like your beaches to be secluded and ideal for serious beach-type activities like swimming and surfing, you really need to head somewhere like the north shore of Oahu instead. Kits Beach is an urban beach, which means less personal space and lesser water and sand quality, but much better people-watching and a more lively scene, which is definitely more my speed and may be yours too. -
Review from Brad H.
Vancouver, BC
2/17/2011
Ranked one of the top sexiest beaches in North America by Forbes magazine, this beach really has a lot to offer. With lots to offer including, a heated pool, tennis courts, basketball courts and beach volleyball courts there's always something going on here. Great views of the mountains and city.
If you're lucky there have even been whale spottings from the shore. This is definitely one of my favourite beaches and I would have given it a perfect 5 star rating if they could only leave the rims up on the basketball courts all year round! -
Review from Michael H.
9/16/2011
When visiting Vancouver in the summer, a trip to Kits beach is a must for those wanting to chill out and relax. The views are amazing. The beach is set up nicely with logs to prevent sand from blowing in your face while laying down. There are refreshments and restrooms nearby as well. Parking is close. Don't expect amazing water and unbelievable sand. It's about as good as you get for the area however.
-
Review from Andrea B.
Burnaby, BC
8/7/2010
Kit beach is the mecca of people watching!!! In a matter of 60 minutes, I managed to see...
- a couple make out while doing kama sutra moves (aka. straddling each other),
- a good looking should-be couple chatting it up benchside,
- 2 separate guys sitting under a tree strumming their guitar as if it were planned,
- a Dumbledor look-alike,
- and well, you get the point.
Who needs TV when you got Kits beach to keep you entertained!
There's a little something to satisfy everyone here: beach, grass, restaurant, swimming pool, etc. It has everything which also means there's tons of people...but good looking and fit people! Kits beach has a reputation for luring in the nice-to-look-at folk. Why? Because they're running and frolicking on the beach ALL THE TIME! Just be warned, once you step on Kits beach property...it's a free-for-all and 99.9% someone is people-watching you too. :) -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
5/12/2010 2 Check-ins Here
In the early morning (okay, 9 am), mid afternoon and just before sunset, and while the swarms of tourists and teenagers are still hibernating, Kits Beach is alright. Well, part of Kits Beach. The last time I sat on the grassy area parallel to Cornwall was 5 years ago. I remember the day very well. That's the day 24 Hour took a picture of me in a bikini and asked me what I thought about Reality TV (yes, I still have the article). But I digress.
Whether the tide is out or in it's a picturesque place for a stroll and on a clear evening you can guarantee a beautiful sunset. Plus, just after the sun sets, a little stroll down the tree lined streets gives me just a glimpse into the beautiful homes that face west, what? If you don't want someone fantasizing about living there, close the blinds! -
Review from BB H.
Burnaby, BC
5/25/2010
Tennis courts are plentiful but, to be frank, nothing all that special. The park itself is lengthy but, for some bizarre reason, tons of people like to sit up on the grassy areas miles from the actual beach.
Not a beach person so all I can say is it's average at best for tennis. Like the old dudes who park themselves at the one or two courts all day long pretty much everyday. Now that's living. -
Review from Nano H.
Vancouver, BC
2/4/2009
Anytime you are feeling down you can head on over to Kits Beach, then remember that you live in the best city in the world. Kit's beach is so beautiful on a gorgeous winter day LOCALS will come out of their condos/apartments/illegal basement suites to take pictures.
Housing a huge grass field which doubles as a tanning salon/bocce tournament ground in the summer, turns into a great place for a snowball fight in the winter. For the physically active and fit it's a great place to run through, or go swimming in Kit's Pool. If you're getting a bit nippy, in the Summer you can go to Kit's pool to get a quick snack, or head on over to Watermark and pick up something a bit better.
If sand is more your thing, all you have to do is head up a few more metres and you'll be facing the ocean and a whole lot of logs. If you enjoy Volleyball, there are a number of courts available during the summer as well (through registration I think).
To top it all off...if you MUST bring your dog, you can just head down to the dog park about five minutes away and unleash Rover and have a fun time as well.
All in all, Kits beach is breath taking any time of the year and is something any visitor to Vancouver, or any local who hasn't been should DEFINITELY check out. -
Review from Esther Y.
8/30/2008 6 photos
I think I'm spoiled by San Diego, Orange County, and Monterey/Carmel/Half Moon Bay beaches. How can you expect to find a beach like that in the north? So I won't be too harsh on Kitsilano Beach, but don't expect an awesome beach here if you're from California or Hawaii. That said, Kitsilano Beach is a pretty cool place to hang out and people watch...when I came there was a guy doing crazy balancing acts. That was kinda fun.
Beautiful place to watch the sunset as well. And it's very close to some great restaurants.Listed in: Vancouver on the Cheap
-
Review from Simon K.
The only time I really come here is to watch the fireworks during the 'Celebration of Light', but was finally able to come through here in the daytime to see how this beach has changed over the years. I have to say that it is not as pretty as what it used to be.
The sand is rough, almost gravel like in some areas. There seems to be more trash here now, as walking around, I noticed alot of litter, which is really unfortunate. Also the water quality, frankly was green and smelly. Maybe I was here a bad day of the summer.
Other than the above, it is a pretty nice area to walk around. The houses around here are quite unique. The restaurant on the beach (Watermark) is a nice place to go to. And there are some pretty nice restaurants just across the street, from Hapa to Local, and of course a Starbucks for your crazed coffee fix.
The parking situation is way better than going to English Bay, but be warned, the parking patrol is out, and you will be ticketed if you do not follow the signs, and after being ticketed you will be towed quite quick. -
Review from Sarah A.
5/9/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Beautiful beach all year round. Conveniently located. Great for people-watching.
-
Review from Nadine N.
Vancouver, BC
9/23/2008 5 photos
I love Kits Beach. Sure, it's nothing like the beaches I grew up with in Southern California, but you just can't beat the view of the mountains, West End and Stanley Park. Seriously gorgeous! It's probably my favourite view in the city.
If you hate dogs you'll probably want to avoid Kits Beach. There is a designated section of dog beach, but plenty of people have their pooches off leash all over the place. Despite the sheer amount of dogs, the beach is pretty well kept.
Kits Beach is a great place to people watch. If it's a sunny day in the winter, you can bet there will be lots of beach goers enjoying this beautiful beach. -
Review from Chloë E.
Vancouver, BC
12/2/2008
Kits Beach has that scungy feeling of the day after a party. This summer as I walked to work through the park I'd frequently have to step over pools of urine expelled by some bladder-bursting twerp onto the sidewalk, or side-step littered debris on the beach.
Due to its popularity Kits is perhaps Vancouver's worst beach (although Sunset may be a challenger). It's not horrendous, but since Vancouverites are spoiled for choice when it comes to sandy shores we can pick and chose here.
The logs are not a bad spot if you're waiting for a friend. But for a day at the beach enjoy the fresher breezes, nicer views, and fewer people at Spanish Banks. If, however, people-watching is your thing, Kitsilano is definitely a high traffic area. -
Review from Mercedes G.
Vancouver, BC
9/25/2008
As beaches go, how can a person really complain about anything? Nothing makes me happier than sun, sand and ocean and Kits Beach satisfies in all of these areas. That being said, I have to be in the mood to lay my self down on Kits sandy beaches, mainly because it is always busy with people ready to be seen...and I just don't go to the beach to be seen anymore. I prefer to blend in and melt away to iPod tunes and sunshine, not the sounds of teens staging battles (this actually happened, amusing? yes. relaxing? no.) a few feet from my catatonic body.
Now that I sound like an old fuddy duddy, I still adore going to the beach and Kits is no exception. -
Review from Cameron M.
Toronto, ON
11/21/2008
I'll come right out and say it. Kits beach is for tourists and suckers. On a sunny summers day it is crowded , noisy, and crammed shoulder to shoulder with people. Kits suffers from the fact that it's easy to get to by bus and easy to find so it's constantly full and dirty and loud. If you want to cruise and look at attractive people in swimwear, then head here, if you want a nice beach there are so many other options.
What options? Well if you have a car or are really committed to a little walking I'd suggest Spanish Banks. It's running along the same part of the Ocean, has beautiful sand and is so much quieter regardless of the day or time of year.
I honestly tell everyone I know who is visiting to avoid Kits beach. Unless you are in it for the crowd, admittedly we all love some sexy tanned people sometimes, there are numerous better options of beaches around the city. -
Review from Cheri L.
8/8/2008 2 photos
It's pretty awesome to walk a block from my boyfriend's apartment to Kitsilano Beach. If it's an overcast morning, the beach is relatively empty, the swings hang still, and the park is serene, lulled by the sound of ocean waves. If it's a hot and sunny afternoon, the crowds swell, bikinis and tan flesh are exposed, men in muscle tanks stroll down the pathways, families and friends congregate, and all kinds of people are out and about.
From many spots, you can look in the distance and see the city and other shores, while the snow-capped mountains across the water are pretty unbelievable sights. (The houses along the beach -- some cute and quirky, others huge and swanky -- remind me of the homes and cottages along the coast of Monterey in Pacific Grove, which in turn have always reminded me of relaxed coastal living along the sparkling French Riviera.) In short, Kitsilano is a gorgeous neighborhood.
Here, both visitors and residents are reminded of the various urban, suburban, and natural elements that blend to create the beauty that is British Columbia. I'm a big fan of Kitsilano and this beach.Listed in: Beyond the Bay
-
Review from Jenni B.
4/29/2009
In terms of scenery this just might be one of the best beaches in Vancouver, nicely showing off this city's best assets - ocean, city, and mountains - all at once.
A good place to go to lay out with friends, play volley ball, or go for a swim (in the pool though please, not the ocean, it's dirty here). Also ideal for a stroll one on of our hot summer nights.
You may have to bring a dog to fit it, or be running along the beach. Really, next time you're there just watch.... -
Review from Luisa S.
Vancouver, BC
9/24/2008
As a child, I wholly--and maybe naively--regarded Vancouver beaches with a high degree of satisfaction. Little did I know then that rocky beaches and cold water did not make for the most pleasant of beach experiences. Maybe this is why I am still very skeptical of Vancouver beach culture, more so now that I've been to places where the water is swimmable, clear and warm. Who knew such places existed?
That said, I still enjoy going to Kits. It's the site of so many forgotten childhood memories and even more remembered ones. The view is beautiful and the atmosphere lovely. -
Review from Sheila W.
BC
11/28/2008
Oh the beautiful people that gather at Kits Beach are what summer is all about. Radios, bikinis, Frisbee, guitars, Hacky Sack, mini-dogs wearing clothes ... there are endless distractions while you lay in the sun on the grass.
If you think of beach as meaning "a place with nice sand where you would like to go swimming," then perhaps Kits Beach is not the place for you. Although people do it, I would not enter the water there. I think of it more as a park and a pleasant place to enjoy a warm afternoon. -
Review from Darien C.
BC
11/28/2008
Kits Beach is the picnic spot. The sand and water are cleaner and the population is less dense. Picnic benches dot the grass and BBQ pits are permanently in place. If you're looking for an entire day at the beach, and you'd be crazy not too, Kits is ideal.
Unlike the downtown beaches, you can actually establish an area for you and yours, it feels less like you're rubbing elbows. Nothing infuriates me more than bums asking me for change while I'm eating. It's my biggest annoyance with eating on patios downtown, Cactus Club Robson and Chill Winston being the most prime examples. Kits Beach fortunately is fairly devoid of those seeking hand outs. This alone makes this far better than the downtown beaches for a meal. -
Review from Stephen Y.
Vancouver, BC
3/7/2009
Kits beach is very crazy in the summer and the traffic is just hellish. Locarno beach offers much more real estate (but maybe less grassy area)
Skim boarding (I wish) .... walking the fluffy dog who's scared of water.... countless countless long hellish runs to and fro downtown and up the killer UBC hill.
Having said all that- love it or hate it....Kits beach is part of the Vancouver vista and has been for years.... It s still an awesome place to watch the sunset in this awesome city -
Review from Thu N.
North York, ON
1/25/2010
On sunny days, this is a great place to visit. Lots of people are out and about playing tennis, pick up beach volleyball, running, walking their dogs. The views of West Van, North Van and the West End are unbelievable from here. Take a walk towards the view of the West end, we saw a fun dog park and one of the nicest views that I love about the city. There's also a poem about rain carved on a rock which helps me love Vancouver even in the rain.
-
Review from Bryan W.
Vancouver, BC
10/6/2010
This beach was ranked one of the sexiest beaches in North America and i can see why. This beach has a beautiful view in the summer and you can swim in the ocean.This beach attracts all sorts of people. A very happening place.
-
Review from Susan D.
7/27/2010
I suppose that this would be an interesting experience walking with your loved one and your dog. However I don't recommend going with a group of people because there isn't much you can do as a group. There is an outdoor pool, but Vancouver weather is rather cold for that.
-
Review from Lee N.
Vancouver, BC
8/12/2009
Kits Beach is only to be visited on a clear winter day. Walking from the pool around to the Musuem gives a broad view scape of this city we all love, try it you'll like it.
-
Review from David L.
1/25/2010
What's the big deal about Kits beach? Lots of stoners, smokers and drunks in the summer time at this beach, which equals poor air quality and rowdiness.The sand at this beach is equivalent to the sand found at your elementary school playground, just add cigarette butts and a lot of litter. Water on the shoreline is always muddy. I always hear about no swimming warning due to poor water quality. Although, it's as crowded as a beach in Waikiki in Hawaii, this beach is only for those who want a tan and nothing else when it's sunny outside.
-
Review from Anita T.
Toronto, ON
8/27/2008
Vancouver is definitely not known for white sandy beaches, but Kits Beach comes pretty close to the exotic (for Vancouverites anyways!). On a sunny day - even a weekday - its hard to find a place to sit... but when you do, it is definitely worth the wait! You get to lay back, enjoy the rare sunshine, and take in the pristine views of Vancouver. The mountains, the city - you get to see it all. And you can bring anyone here! You'll see kids playing with their dogs while some are playing with their frisbees; and then you'll see the elderly going for the evening stroll. It's a fabulous atmosphere to be able to hang out in!
-
Review from Maria J.
10/4/2008
Very nice to beach to take the kiddies or just have a romantic walk on the beach.
