The lively 16-block area of Commercial Drive in Vancouver - between Broadway and Venables - is an enormously popular district with locals, but is often overlooked by tourists. The main reason for tourists to come here is to discover the most diverse mix of people, dining, shopping, and entertainment that Vancouver has to offer; in fact Commercial Drive might just be the most culturally diverse neighbourhood in North America. Any walk along ‘The Drive’, as it is known by Vancouverites, will quickly show you that there is an almost complete absence of chain stores and fast-food outlets. Not that this will concern you for too long as you will soon be open-mouthed at the abundance of culinary and shopping choices that this vibrant community has on offer. If you fancy an ice-cream on Commercial Drive the selection, from the hundreds on offer, will include chili, Gorgonzola, or lavender. If you want a coffee, the options on Commercial Drive aren’t small, medium, or large; they’re Colombian, Vietnamese, or Cuban.
If you want to buy handmade Kama Sutra chocolates from Holland; eat Ethiopian Dorowat, chicken breast cooked in sweet onion with a barbecue-like sauce; watch international football matches from Spain; or buy belly-dancing supplies from Turkey, then Commercial Drive is the place for you.