Gastown is Vancouver's oldest neighbourhood, anchored by the iconic Steam Clock on Water Street and cobblestone streets that tell the story of the city's founding in the 1870s. Named after 'Gassy Jack' Deighton, the saloon keeper who sparked the original settlement, the district has evolved from a gritty industrial waterfront into one of Vancouver's most dynamic urban neighbourhoods. Today it straddles a fascinating identity: heritage brick warehouses house award-winning restaurants, independent design studios, tech startups, and boutique fashion retailers. The neighbourhood sits at the intersection of tourism and authentic local life, where creative professionals share sidewalks with longtime residents and visitors arriving from Waterfront Station. Bordered by the Downtown Eastside to the east, Gastown maintains a raw, unpolished edge that keeps it honest and genuinely interesting. The architecture alone — cast-iron facades, Edwardian commercial buildings, and exposed timber lofts — makes it one of Canada's most visually distinctive urban streetscapes. Residents value its walkability, proximity to the seawall, and a dining and nightlife scene that punches well above its compact geographic size.