Spanish Banks, Vancouver: Address, Spanish Banks Reviews: 4.5/5
Spanish Banks
Spanish Banks
4.5
About
This expansive beach offers fantastic picnicking opportunities, swimming, beach volleyball, or simply a panoramic view of Vancouver and the mountains. Spanish Banks tends to be a quieter beach which makes it very family-friendly.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: West Point Grey
West Point Grey is one of the city’s oldest neighbourhoods, especially known for its easygoing and admired beachfronts. Locals crowd the Spanish Banks and Jericho Beach, especially in the summer, where a sprawling view of the English Bay awaits. The central village is an oasis of sovereign shops, many of them in local operation for years. The neighbourhood has a more personal feeling to it, and can be a wonderful and much-needed break from the bustle of big-city life, being a little haven of peace and quiet with an almost village temperament in the heart of Vancouver.
Best nearby
Restaurants
324 within 5 kms
Spanish Banks East concession
6
0.3 km
The Galley Patio & Grill
55
1 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • Canadian
NSCS Discovery Cafe
3
1 km
D.I.C.E.D
1 km$$ - $$$ • Bar • Cafe • Pub
Burgoo
186
1.5 km$$ - $$$ • American • Canadian • Soups
Bombay Masala Indian Restaurant
8
1.5 km$$ - $$$ • Indian
Bella Roma Pizzeria Restarante
70
1.5 km$$ - $$$ • Italian • Vegetarian Friendly
The Diner
19
1.4 km$ • Diner • Canadian
The Kitchen
11
1.4 km$$ - $$$ • Barbecue • Asian • Korean
Hime Sushi
45
1.5 km$$ - $$$ • Japanese • Sushi • Asian
Attractions
428 within 10 kms
Locarno Beach
23
0.4 kmBeaches
Jericho Beach
364
1 kmBeaches
Stanley Park
28,835
Parks
Pacific Spirit Regional Park
319
1.9 kmParks
Granville Island
19,635
Neighbourhoods • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Northwest Marine Drive
12
0.8 kmScenic Drives
Museum of Anthropology
3,795
3.3 kmArt Galleries • Speciality Museums
University of British Columbia
548
2.8 kmEducational sites
Nitobe Memorial Garden
349
3.4 kmGardens
Rogers Arena
693
3.6 kmArenas & Stadiums
Contribute
Popular mentions
4.5
511 reviews
Excellent
338
Very good
145
Average
26
Poor
2
Terrible
0
Michael M
Vancouver, Canada2,673 contributions
Jan. 2022 • Couples
This special series of beaches are located in the West Point Grey neighbourhood along English Bay with spectacular views of the North Shore Mountains.. this snowy New Years Day was chosen by us to experience winter’s atmosphere..parking is readily available along Northwest Marine Drive..there were many individuals out to enjoy the day- cross country skiing on the snowy beach, Polar Bear dipping in the frigid English Bay and scores of Vancouverites experiencing The 2022 beginning year on this very open beach with smiles as wide as the ocean..
Written January 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Reggie
Regina, Canada836 contributions
Oct. 2021 • Family
Love walking along this area. So beautiful every direction one looks. So much to see in this lovely part of the city.
Written November 8, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
RogueTowel
Vancouver, Canada52 contributions
Jun. 2021
Good beach with amazing views and lots of amenities. Before you go know that it's pay parking, very popular and can get busy, but is fairly long, so there's usually at least some room to swim and sit (if not park).
Written June 28, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Reggie
Regina, Canada836 contributions
Aug. 2020
Lovely area to walk around. Beautiful view of the ocean and the mountains. Best on a sunny day, but also lovely to get out and walk on a cloudy, cool day.
Written August 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
S F
Vancouver, Canada382 contributions
Aug. 2019 • Family
It is difficult to decide what rating to give the Spanish Banks West Concession Stand.
Tough to beat the view one gets seated at the outdoor tables, provided close to the order counter - a view spectacular, even as compared to the many great views along this beach strip, which extends from the first beach one reaches after driving down from U.B.C. campus to the last beach after Kits Beach, just ahead of Burrard Bridge.
But food is limited, at later times being just package goods like crisps, cookies & some drinks, which was what we had as we arrived close to closing time.
Hot foods such as burgers & hotdogs are available but we were told emphatically that was not an option. It was not that late - early part of a misty late summer evening.
One knows one does not argue with, indeed beseech or beg ,when staff are packing up ahead of the shutters not down yet but coming down shortly.
Same with Canada Post outlets.
One gets a snake of the head in either case.
Service was not great - if one wants friendly outside service with staff willing to go the extra mile to make customers happy go to Japadog.
We settled for packaged goods they just passed to us. But the view & location were perfect - a five-star rating.
We - my wonderful son, his two terrific children &me had just come from an exhilarating time at U.B.C.’s new swimming facility, followed by an exploration of the campus, very changed from the one we knew as students in the 1990s,- my son then doing an undergraduate premed B.Sc. & me an interdisciplinary .PhD , followed by teaching as an adjunct professor into the early 2000s.
As I said to my son as we looked almost in disbelief at all the new development; if dropped from a helicopter blind folded at Oxford, or Cambridge or Harvard, I could tell which campus I was on when the blindfold came off &I knew them not as a full-time student, as I was at U,B. C, but as places visited with friends at them or, in the case of Oxford & Cambridge, when I stayed in residences white presenting papers at conferences.
U,B,C was so drastically changed that I was unsure I would recognize it once the blindfold was removed.
Neither of us are anti-development but surprised at just how many chains etc, were located on campus.
My son has to try hard to point out buildings he had had classes in to his children as he told them of the great times he had had as a student, & I, too, recognized little from what I knew from walks then across campus. Don’t even think of blindfolds on Spanish Banks!
Posted by S Fuller
Tough to beat the view one gets seated at the outdoor tables, provided close to the order counter - a view spectacular, even as compared to the many great views along this beach strip, which extends from the first beach one reaches after driving down from U.B.C. campus to the last beach after Kits Beach, just ahead of Burrard Bridge.
But food is limited, at later times being just package goods like crisps, cookies & some drinks, which was what we had as we arrived close to closing time.
Hot foods such as burgers & hotdogs are available but we were told emphatically that was not an option. It was not that late - early part of a misty late summer evening.
One knows one does not argue with, indeed beseech or beg ,when staff are packing up ahead of the shutters not down yet but coming down shortly.
Same with Canada Post outlets.
One gets a snake of the head in either case.
Service was not great - if one wants friendly outside service with staff willing to go the extra mile to make customers happy go to Japadog.
We settled for packaged goods they just passed to us. But the view & location were perfect - a five-star rating.
We - my wonderful son, his two terrific children &me had just come from an exhilarating time at U.B.C.’s new swimming facility, followed by an exploration of the campus, very changed from the one we knew as students in the 1990s,- my son then doing an undergraduate premed B.Sc. & me an interdisciplinary .PhD , followed by teaching as an adjunct professor into the early 2000s.
As I said to my son as we looked almost in disbelief at all the new development; if dropped from a helicopter blind folded at Oxford, or Cambridge or Harvard, I could tell which campus I was on when the blindfold came off &I knew them not as a full-time student, as I was at U,B. C, but as places visited with friends at them or, in the case of Oxford & Cambridge, when I stayed in residences white presenting papers at conferences.
U,B,C was so drastically changed that I was unsure I would recognize it once the blindfold was removed.
Neither of us are anti-development but surprised at just how many chains etc, were located on campus.
My son has to try hard to point out buildings he had had classes in to his children as he told them of the great times he had had as a student, & I, too, recognized little from what I knew from walks then across campus. Don’t even think of blindfolds on Spanish Banks!
Posted by S Fuller
Written April 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
SMH-BC-CDA
British Columbia, Canada3 contributions
Sep. 2019
Sit on/beside a log and read a book, have a picnic. Dinner/evening will provide an amazing view of the sunset. Bike to this spot on the nearby path, wade in the water to cool off. Enjoy the view of the north shore and downtown.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Wilson L
Vancouver, Canada3,376 contributions
Sep. 2019
It's a great beach to check out. Super nice area, highly recommend it. Great views and nicely maintained.
Written February 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
LauwersS
Stabroek, Belgium79 contributions
Sep. 2019
This beach is very impressive. You have a beautifull panorama when you're walking on this beach. Parkingspace more than enough.
Written October 21, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
just0netraveler
Victoria, Canada247 contributions
Sep. 2019
A nice walk along the sea West of Kitsilano Beach will get you to a quieter area.
Beautiful scenery and if you keep going you end up in Pt Grey and can see the parks in the area.
Lovely beaches and a great place to enjoy a sunset!
Beautiful scenery and if you keep going you end up in Pt Grey and can see the parks in the area.
Lovely beaches and a great place to enjoy a sunset!
Written October 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Rosemary P
Vancouver, Canada18 contributions
Sep. 2019
I like to get a Chai, grab my best friend, and go for a long leisurly walk along Spanish Banks in the mornings. The weather is cool, few people on the beach, dogs running in the dog park, gulls, waves, and good conversation. If we are not watching the waves and birds, commenting on the small sail boats racing across the harbour, listening to the wind, we are talking talking talking. This beach has a way of brining out good conversation, meaningful dialogue, and very silly storeis.
Best way to start my day
Best way to start my day
Written September 11, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
Frequently Asked Questions about Spanish Banks
- We recommend booking Spanish Banks tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Spanish Banks tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Spanish Banks:
- (3.45 km) Vancouver’s best, unique Coach House in Kitsilano
- (6.77 km) Loden Hotel
- (6.40 km) Level Vancouver Yaletown - Richards
- (7.13 km) L'Hermitage Hotel
- (6.75 km) Wedgewood Hotel & Spa
- Restaurants near Spanish Banks:
- (0.30 km) Spanish Banks East concession
- (4.92 km) Rain Or Shine
- (1.51 km) Burgoo
- (5.03 km) Teahouse in Stanley Park
- (5.00 km) AnnaLena