Curator extraordinaire, Kate Duncan, gives us the scoop on her fave neighbourhoods, restaurants and shops.

Furniture designer Kate Duncan also happens to be somewhat of a curator: her annual Address Assembly event brings her favourite makers together under one roof for a furniture-fair-meets-pop-up-shop. So it’s only natural that in her free time, she’s also managed to craft an excellent collection of neighbourhood haunts. A tastemaker’s work is never done.

“My favourite place to grab a coffee is the Birds and the Beets. Their espresso game is strong.”

“My favourite brunch is Ask for Luigi. Hands down. Hangovers are cured with carbs and mimosas, right?”

“My favourite shops in the city are Nouvelle Nouvelle and Still Life. I need all the help I can get to dress myself, and the guys who work there make me feel beautiful.”

“Gastown is so romantic. If you look up, the view is breathtaking and the cobblestone streets sound beautiful under my stilettos.”

“I love to grab a beer at Strange Fellows because they let me bring my dog in. There really is nothing better than going for a beer with my dog.”

“Somebody, take me to Kissa Tanto immediately, if not sooner. Their entrees make my eyes wide and the interior by Ste. Marie makes me swoon.”

For more designer guides to the best Vancouver neighbourhoods, subscribe to the WL newsletter!