The Kosher Guide to Vancouver: Oak Street, Kosher Check and Where to Sleep for Shabbat

Vancouver's kosher food is centred on Oak Street and West Broadway, all under Kosher Check - the Orthodox Rabbinical Council of British Columbia. There is no kosher hotel kitchen in the city, so planning revolves around Oak Street: from there it's a walk to the synagogue, the bakery and the grill.

Schara Tzedeck synagogue

Schara Tzedeck (rated 4.7), Orthodox Ashkenazi, on Oak Street, is the synagogue the whole neighbourhood is built around - next to Sabra and within walking distance of most restaurants. Check service times on the site before you arrive.

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The restaurants: Maple Grill, Sabra and Nava

Maple Grill (rated 4.5), on West Broadway, is the sit-down meat restaurant, under Kosher Check - book evenings. Sabra Kosher Bakery (4.4), on Oak Street near the synagogue, combines a bakery with shawarma and falafel - come early on Fridays. Nava Creative Kosher Cuisine (4.4), inside the JCC, is dairy (not Cholov Yisrael) - good for lunch the day after meat. Maple Cafe (4.5), also on Oak Street, is a Cholov Yisrael dairy cafe.

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Where to stay and Stanley Park

For Shabbat, sleep near Oak Street or South Granville, not downtown if you want to walk to shul. The Listel Hotel Vancouver (4.4), downtown, is fine on weekdays, but for a walking Shabbat prefer the Oak Street area. Stanley Park Seawall (4.8) is a full day out - no kosher food in the park, so eat on Oak Street before or after the walk.

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Practical tip: Omnitsky Kosher BC on Fraser Street is a Kosher Check butcher and deli - good for a Shabbat stock-up if you're in an apartment. Before booking a table anywhere, check koshercheck.org that the certificate is current. Every address and exact hour is on BooKasher's full Vancouver destination page.